PREACHED AT ST. MARY’S, OXFORD, BEFORE THE UNIVERSITY, AUGUST 24, 1744.
Whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. <263304> Ezekiel 33:4.
“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.” <440431> Acts 4:31.
- THE same expression occurs in the second chapter, where we read,
“When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all,” (the
Apostles, with the women, and the mother of Jesus, and his brethren,)
“with one accord, in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from
heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind. And there appeared unto them cloven
tongues, like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all
filled with the Holy Ghost:” One immediate effect whereof was, “they
began to speak with other tongues;” insomuch, that both the Parthians,
Medes, Elamites, and the other strangers who “came together, when this
was noised abroad, heard them speak, in their several tongues, the
wonderful works of God.” ( <440201> Acts 2:1-6.)
- In this chapter we read, that when the Apostles and brethren had been
praying, and praising God, “the place was shaken where they were
assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost” Not that
we find any visible appearance here, such as had been in the former
instance: Now are we informed that the extraordinary gifts of the Holy
Ghost were then given to all or any of them; such as the gifts of “healing,
of working” other; “miracles, of prophecy, of discerning spirits, the
speaking with divers kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues.”
( <461209> 1 Corinthians 12:9,10.)
Whether these gifts of the Holy Ghost were designed to remain in the
Church throughout all ages, and whether or not they will be restored at the
nearer approach of the “restitution of all things,” are questions which it is
not needful to decide. But it is needful to observe this, that, even in the
infancy of the Church, God divided them with a sparing hand. Were all
even then Prophets? Were all workers of miracles? Had all the gifts of
healing? Did all speak with tongues? No, in no wise. Perhaps not one in a
thousand. Probably none but the Teachers in the Church, and only some
of them. ( <461228> 1 Corinthians 12:28-30.) It was, therefore, for a more excellent
purpose than this, that “they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.”
- It was, to give them (what none can deny to be essential to all
Christians in all ages) the mind which was in Christ, those holy fruits of
the Spirit which whosoever hath not, is none of his; to fill them with
“love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness;”( <480522> Galatians
5:22-24;) to endue them with faith, (perhaps it might be rendered, fidelity,)
with meekness and temperance: to enable them to crucify the flesh, with
its affections and lusts, its passions and desires; and, in consequence of
that inward change, to fulfill all outward righteousness; to “walk as Christ
also walked,” in “the work of faith, in the patience of hope, the labor of
love.” ( <520103> 1 Thessalonians 1:3.)
- Without busying ourselves, then, in curious, needless inquiries, touching
those extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, let us take a nearer view of these his
ordinary fruits, which we are assured will remain throughout all ages; — of
that great world of God among the children of men, which we are used to
express by one word, Christianity; not as it implies a set of opinions, a
system of doctrines, but as it refers to men’s hearts and lives. And this
Christianity it may be useful to consider under three distinct views: