state of every man is dependent upon something which has been within his own reach and power.

One thing, my brethren, is certain, that it becomes us, not to doubt or to speculate, but to believe and to pray. Thus we shall be convinced of the agency of the Holy Spirit by a surer process than that of reasoning and shall be enabled to say, like the Samaritans in the gospel history, "Now we believe, not because of thy saying; for we have heard him ourselves, and know that he is indeed the Lord and Giver of life." We know him, and he dwelleth with us. We know him, because it is his office to

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reprove of sin and of righteousness :" and we are convinced of sin, and are earnestly seeking "the righteousness which is of God through faith in Christ Jesus." We know him, because it is the Spirit that comforts; and we have comfort in the hope of "peace with God," through him "who died for our offences, and rose again for our justification." We know him, because it is the Spirit which sanctifieth: and we " through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body." We know him, because "the life that we live

in the flesh, we live by the faith of the Son of God;" and no man can believe "that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost."

Whoever preserves in his heart the consciousness of this experience, has "the witness of the Spirit" in himself: but whoever is altogether a stranger to it, is as yet a stranger to "the kingdom of God."

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WHIT SUNDAY.

SERMON XVII.

BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY GHOST, AND WITH

FIRE.

MATT. iii. 11.

"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire."

THE office assigned to John the Baptist, was to prepare the way for the Messiah's own ministry, by convincing men of their sinfulness, and of the just anger of God on account of it, and so disposing them to listen to a Redeemer. In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Then went out to

him Jerusalem and all Judea,

and all the region

round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

But while he faithfully discharged this office, he never forgot that he was but a messenger, sent to direct men to "the Lamb of God, which" alone "taketh away the sin of the world." He came for a witness. He was "not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light." And, in the words of the text, he carefully assures his hearers, that the Person whose advent he proclaimed, would bestow on them blessings far more important than any which he could offer. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: HE SHALL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND WITH FIRE. Thus he describes the influence of the Spirit, which, he says, the Lord Jesus Christ shall bring down upon the heart. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. Our Lord confirms this promise by his own words. "When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me :" "he will guide you into all truth; he will show you things to come." 1

'John xv. 26; xvi. 13.

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The event which we commemorate to-day, was the first accomplishment of these promises: when suddenly "there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where the apostles were sitting and there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them; and and they were filled with the Holy Ghost." 2 And, from that day to this, the same promise has been fulfilled in behalf of all who have received Christ Jesus as their Saviour: he has baptized them with the Holy Ghost and with fire.

The phrase, however, requires explanation. It agrees with the general tenour of the scriptures: which do not attempt to discover to us what with our present faculties we could not comprehend-the nature of God: but often elucidate to us that which in itself we are unable to understand, by comparing it with something whose nature is better known to us. The nature of the Holy Spirit, and its mode of operation, are beyond our research and must be left for that

:

Acts ii. 1-4.