6

The Apostle says, 'All that believe on him,' or, literally, for the sake of the Gentile Centurion and his friends, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins! Forgiveness is there; the banner of the cross, with mercy inscribed upon it, has been unfurled in the presence of the whole world: the mercy seat is accessible to every one; and the Son of Man has been raised up before the eyes of the human race, like the brazen serpent before the erring Israelites, in order that every one may be saved who will approach and look upon him with the eyes of faith. As soon as the gracious work of God, for the remission of sins, has taken place in thee, and the word reconciliation become the property of thy heart; then thy sinfulness is done away with through repentance and faith, thy misery is cured, thy corruption rooted out, and the former dark aspect of life and death is illuminated by a light from heaven. Thou art born again into a new life, and a new creation is at work in thy soul, a new creation, similar to that first change which took place in the hitherto void and barren earth, when the Spirit of God descended npon its chaos,-when light was separated from darkness, and the firmament from the waters,— when our planet was placed in connection with the sun and the stars of heaven,-when the earth and the waters brought forth living creatures abundantly— and when man was created in the image of God to rule over all.

The new life which begins in thee, as soon as thou believest in him whom God has sent, is in no way inferior to the first creation, for it is also the work of

God. It begins by the Divine word and light descending into the depths of thy soul's darkness, in order to manifest the waste and desert aspect of thy ungodly character, and the confusion in which both soul and body are plunged, as well as make thee capable and worthy of receiving the blessings of thy heavenly Father. But thou resistest the light and the word, because they are sharper than a two-edged sword; and because thou must be tried in the furnace before thy regeneration from above can be accomplished.

Ye who, like Nicodemus, though desiring the light, are still walking in night and darkness, must first go out into the wilderness to the first preacher of repentance, that through his baptism the old man may be destroyed; and then come, consoled and joyful, unto him who is the way, the truth, and the life; for he will not reject you, but baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with the pure fire of heaven!

CHAPTER XIII.

THE HOLY GHOST FALLS UPON THE GENTILES.

Gop is light! and God is love! says the Holy Scripture, thereby expressing, in the simplest manner, the highest and most joyful intelligence which could be conveyed to man, of the nature and character of God. Light and love cannot exist without manifesting themselves, without enlivening, illuminating, and creating new light and love; and this is the very essence of their character. But what benefit do we derive from knowing the nature of God, if we do not feel and acknowldge both our dependence upon him, and the mighty influence he is constantly exerting upon us? The word of truth has assisted us in this, by disclosing, in the mysterious name of Trinity, the three persons of the Godhead-Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This revelation of three persons in one God, comprehends the whole of Christian doctrine, and is both the foundation and the distinguishing characteristic of our faith. Our Lord Jesus himself, after his work on earth was perfected, and before he re-ascended to his glory, expressly declared it in the following words, Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,' Matt. xxviii. 19.

And John

says, 'There are three that bear record in

heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost and these three are one,' 1 John v. 7; and, indeed, all the Apostles bear witness to the same truth.

This truth, which it is impossible for human language clearly to express, is a mystery which, in its depth of meaning, is as far beyond human comprehension as heaven is higher than the earth. It is a secret which has been in part disclosed to us; and has two aspects, one in relation to God, and the other to man. The divine aspect can as little be understood as the character of God can be comprehended; and happily for us, it is not necessary for our salvation. We do not require to know the nature and structure of the sun in order to enjoy its light; nor to understand the connection between soul and body, in order to believe in their existence. The three divine names, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,' make known to us the whole history of God among the children of men; they comprehend the mighty deed and manifestations of the love of God, which he decreed from the beginning for our salvation; which he has begun in time, but which shall be accomplished in eternity.

In the one living God, we must acknowledge the Father, who chose us from all eternity, pre-ordained us to be his children, and created us in his own image ;the Son, who became man for our sakes, and, by his sufferings and crucifixion, redeemed us from sin and death; and the Holy Spirit, who, as the pledge of our redemption, sanctifies and renews us in the image of God; in short, one God in three persons, to whom we owe three inestimable blessings, election, redemption,

and sanctification. The Apostle Paul comprehends all in his benediction at the end of 2d Corinthians, 'The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all! Amen.'

God's great work of love, in the manifestation of himself in the flesh, and in the visible appearance of his grace, was accomplished in the pouring out of the Holy Spirit; and it is only the power of that Spirit which can perfect the heart-felt union of the faithful with the Father through the Son. No man can call Jesus, Lord, without the Holy Spirit; and this Spirit bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. This testimony the believing Cornelius was now to receive.

'While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.'-Acts x. 44-46.

THIS section describes the operation and consequences, both of the sermon of the Apostle Peter, and of the faithful reception of the Gospel by Cornelius, his relations and friends. In this simple picture we behold a regenerated life in Christ, awakened by the gift of the Holy Ghost.

When Peter had uttered these words, and, probably,