し coft) fuddenly there came a found from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind; and it filled all the house, where they were fitting; and there appeared unto them cloven tongues, like as of fire; and it fat upon each of them and they were all filled with the Holy Ghoft. God chofe, by an admirable providence, the day of Pentecoft for this great mystery, that is, the anniverfary of the promulgation of the old law to declare to the world the new; and abolish'd a religion founded on fear, and temporal bleffings, to make room for that of the Meffias, built on love, and promises of eternal happiness. The descent of this Holy Spirit in a moment changed the apoftles into other men. Before, they were not able to understand those truths, our Saviour taught them three whole years, with no lefs charity than patience; They underStood none of these things, Luke xviii. 34. They were fcandalized at fome truths, and foon forgot others. But now the Holy Ghoft, of idiots, made them doctors. They not only remembred those myfteries Christ had revealed, but also understood and believed them. They practifed the duties of the most fublime perfection: and thofe very men, who would have diffuaded their Master from dying on the crofs, as ignominious, fuffered contumelies, reproaches and ftripes, not only with patience, but even with joy and pleasure. All former fymptoms of fear vanish'd from their hearts. The fire, that defcended from heaven, enflamed them with zeal and charity. They forgot their own safety, to promulge their Master's Divinity; and refolved to facrifice their lives wholly to his intereft. Immediately St. Peter began his miffion with no lefs courage than fuccefs: for, in two fermons, he converted eight thoufand, and perfuaded those very people to adore him as God, whom, whom, fifty-two days before, they had murdered as the worst of men. In fine, twelve fishermen filled with the Holy Ghoft, without credit, human science or eloquence, overcame philofophers, orators and princes; and perfuaded not only the barbarous, but also the civiliz'd world, to abandon thofe religions, error first establish'd, and impiety maintain’d and propagated; to adore a crucified God; to receive truths, fo far above the reach of reafon, and principles of morality, fo fevere to fenfe. And when they could not conquer the obftinacy of idolaters, neither by reafon nor miracles, they confirmed their doctrine by their fufferings, and fealed with their blood the teftimony they had given of their Mafter's Divinity. Nothing but an impulse of the Divine Spirit could animate them to fuch a stupendous enterprize: nothing but the fame Spirit could execute it with inftruments fo weak, fo difproportionate, in all appearance, to the greatnefs of the defign. This Holy Spirit, that defcended vifibly on the apostles, will enter into the fouls of all Chriftians, if they afk the favour with confidence, and make thofe preparations these bleffed men did for his reception: The Father will give his Holy Spirit to those who ask it. For tho' the promise was made immediately to the apoftles, it reaches every member of the church: and if we receive it not, we muft accuse our own negligence, not fufpect his fidelity. If you defire to know, whether you have received this Holy Spirit; examine your mind, and look into the prefent difpofition of your foul. If your confcience reproaches you with any grievous fin unrepented; if you are indolent in the fervice of God, unconcern'd for his glory, indifferent in religion, afraid to profefs it, and negligent in the practice practice of its duties; if you poftpone your falvation to the love of any creature, and your duty to intereft or pleafure; you have not received the Holy Ghost. Its effects are quite contrary: it is a fire that warms the moft frozen hearts; it infufes a defire to advance God's glory, and courage to remove all obftacles. It feats us above fear; above human respects, and turns all worldly affections into divine. In a word, it produces a calm confcience, pious defires, and an inward peace that furpaffes the fatisfaction of fense, and can only be exprefs'd by thofe that feel it. O Divine Spirit! how often have you called upon me to receive a vifit? and how often have I refused to receive you? You have knocked at the door of my heart by a thousand inspirations; and I as often have denied them admittance, to entertain objects often finful, and always vain or frivolous. Inflame my cold heart with a fincere love of thee, and an ardent zeal for thy glory. Give me a firm refolution to ferve thee, a courage to break through all oppofition, and crown my purpose with perfeverance. GOSPEL of St. John, Chap. xiv. Verse 23. Jefus answered and faid unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24. He that loveth me not, keepeth not my fayings, and the word which you hear, is not mine, but the Father's which fent me. 25. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet prefent with you. 26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghoft, whom the Father will fend in my name, he shall VOL. II. F teach teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have faid unto you. 27. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28. Ye have heard how I faid unto you, I go away, and come again unto you: If ye loved me, ye would rejoyce, because I said, I go unto the Father; for my Father is greater than I. 29. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and bath nothing in me. 31. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even fo I do; arife, let us go bence. The MORAL REFLECTION. F our bleffed Saviour's outward form was fo I IF majestick as to draw refpect, it was so amiable at the fame time, that it raised love. So that the apostles, who were blefs'd three whole years with his prefence, and enjoy'd his converfation, were fo taken with the one, and fo captivated with the other, that they could not think of a feparation without forrow. But there was certainly more of nature in this love, than of the Spirit; and therefore our Saviour told them: If they really loved him, they would rather rejoyce at his departure, than grieve. The apoftles were so fwayed by self-love, that they loved themselves more than their Mafter. For tho' they fancied they loved him purely for himfelf; yet, in reality, they loved him for themselves. They took more pleasure to see him, than to ferve him; and were more taken with his prefence, than his perfon. For, had they regard to their Mafter's intereft, would they have repined at his afcenfion into glory? or oppofed their defire to the decree of his eternal Father? They loved, yet they did not love; They loved indeed fweetly, but not prudently. Their love had more of fenfe than of reafon they loved their Saviour, but not their falvation: for he had affured them*, the Holy Ghost would not come till after his departure. This example reads all Chriftians a leffon of caution against felf-love; and at the fame time of its evil nature, which is able to violate the love of the most amiable object. This vice is fo tied to our corrupt nature, that it is extreme hard to fhake it off. It appears under fo It appears under fo many innocent, fo many pious difguifes, that nothing but a great circumfpection, and ferious reflection, is able to diftinguish it from genuine charity. Hence Many find themselves deceived in the end. They thought they laboured for God's honour; yet, in reality, they drudg'd for their own. They imagined they mortified fome paffion, but they gratified others; that they fought only to please God, but only pleased themselves; that they followed the Spirit of truth, yet found themfelves deluded by that of error. If you feel an impulfe towards virtuous action, which your state will not permit you to execute, tho' you are perfuaded you have no other defign but to pleafe God, ftand upon your guard you may eafily mistake nature for grace, and love of your felf for the love of God: And it is an infallible fign, felf-love has a greater part in the enterprize than true zeal, if the difappointment cafts you into trouble and difquiet: for fincere charity is calm and patient; it undertakes great things for God's glory, but chearfully leaves *St Bernard. a the |