SERMON XXVIII.
THE UNIVERSALITY OF THE PENTECOSTAL GIFT.

WHITSUNDAY.

ACTS ii. 4.

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost."

LET no man imagine that this great miracle, of which we keep the remembrance to-day, is a thing gone and passed away from us, so that we who now live have nothing more to do with it, than to believe it, and thank God for it. It is not so at all, my brethren. We are as much concerned in the work which God wrought on Whitsunday, as in what was done on the other great days which all Christians think so much of. Why do we honour Christmas Day? Not merely because it was the Birthday of our best friend and only Saviour, but because it was the very way to our spiritual new-birth. He was made Man, our Head, that we might become members of Him, and through Him children of God. Why is Good Friday so very solemn and precious? Because it is the day not only of the greatest martyrdom, but also of the only meritorious Sacrifice. He died for our sins: for one as much as for another. We, blessed be His Name, have each one of us as great an interest in His Passion as the very thief who hung at His side, and to whom He promised, "To-day shalt thou be with Me in paradise." Why is Easter so joyful a day? Because we are risen with Him: "in Christ we are all made alive." And why is Ascension Day, in one sense, even more triumphant than Easter? Because we are not only risen, but in spirit and mystery we are even ascended and taken up into heaven with Him: as it is written, "He hath raised us up with Him, and made us sit with Him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Just in like manner, this day of Pentecost was meant to be the great day of comfort to us, quite as much as to the Apostles and the rest, on whom He came down on the first Whitsunday in the Upper-room on God's holy hill of Zion. We have as much need to be filled with the Holy Ghost as they: and the same encouragement from God's glorious and merciful promises; and that at this very time. Let us consider these things a little more particularly, as in the Presence of the Holy Spirit, even now waiting to come down upon us, and fill us every one with Himself, and in humble fear lest by some unworthiness we forfeit that unspeakable Gift.

First then, I say, that we have as much need to be filled with the Holy Ghost as ever the Apostles had: for they, as one of themselves said, were "men of like passions with" us, and we are Christians of like privileges and calling with them. The Blessed Virgin Mary, and the holy S. Peter and S. John, and the rest of the hundred and twenty, who were together keeping their Pentecost more than eighteen hundred years ago, were born, as we are, of the fallen race of Adam; they needed a Redeemer as we do, and as they could not wash away their own sins, so neither could they by their own power graft themselves into Jesus Christ, so as spiritually to rise from the grave, and ascend to heaven with Him. They could no more do this, than they could mount bodily from earth to heaven, and go up through the air, as our Lord did, by the Virtue that abode in Himself. In all these great things, upon which their salvation depended no less than ours, they by nature were as helpless as we are: they needed the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, to enter into them one by one, and make them partakers of Christ, Who is our Life. They wanted Him as we do, to be their Regeneration and Renewal, their Justifier and Sanctifier: their case, in that respect, was all one with our case, and with that of all the elect people of God, of every one, who is chosen out of the world to be a Christian.

But you will say, perhaps, "The Apostles, and the others in that first generation of Christians stood in more need of the Holy Spirit than we do, in respect of their special calling, which was to be the beginners of the Gospel, by the miracles which they wrought, by their preaching in all languages, by the heavenly wisdom which guided them into all truth without possibility of error, and by the boldness and fervent zeal which enabled them to stand before rulers and kings, and to endure all manner of torments, and joyfully to die for Christ. They" (some persons, may think) "having this high calling, which is not your calling and mine, needed the Holy Ghost more than we do: and therefore we have no such immediate part in the miracle of Pentecost as they had." I have met, before now, with persons who spoke in this way; but surely, my brethren, it is a great and dangerous mistake. As the Apostles' nature was like yours and mine, and they needed the Holy Ghost as we do, to turn and renew them day by day, making them, from children of Adam, perfect children of God; so your calling and mine is so far like that of the Apostles, that we have first to save each one his own soul, and then to take each one his part in the great work of the Church for the salvation of all souls, to the glory of God. And who is sufficient for these things? Which of us all can either save his own soul, or help to glorify God by saving others, without His special grace? Doubt it not, my brethren: the simplest and most ordinary Christian needs to be filled with the Holy Ghost for the work of his own calling, and for his own part in the Church, quite as much as the Apostles needed it to speak with tongues, to write the Scriptures, to set up and govern the Church. From the Holy Ghost alone such marvellous grace can proceed: and accordingly, we find that good Spirit promised, at His first coming, to all converts, quite as much as to the blessed Apostles. For thus it was said to all the multitudes, men, women, and children, out of every nation under heaven, who stood by at the Day of Pentecost, "The promise is unto you, and to your children and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." What promise? The gift of the Holy Ghost which he had spoken of just before "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Neither is that heavenly Gift spoken of as belonging to Holy Baptism only, but, every where in the New Testament, you will find the Holy Ghost promised; sundry ways and divers measures, to all Christians m all times of their warfare and pilgrimage here on earth. For thus saith the Lord "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give shall be in him a well of water springing up unto everlasting life;" and, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive. It was to be not a sudden flood, coming down and doing its work at once; but a living stream from a perpetual fountain, from a spiritual Rock following them, and always at hand for them to drink of and wash in. It was to be all things to all men: grace given to every man "according to the measure of the gift of Christ." It was never to be at one stay, but always to flow and flow more abundantly; so that to such as are endowed with it might be said at all seasons, "Grow in grace; abound more and more, from Baptism to Confirmation, from Confirmation to Holy Communion, from one Communion to another: so that your whole life shall be as the patriarch's ladder reaching from earth to heaven, and not the Angels only ascending and descending but the Holy Comforter in Person always present, to help you up the successive stairs, till you come to the Lord Jesus Himself, standing visibly above it "

We are then to make no question, that, whatever other differences inward or outward there may be between us and that first generation of Christians who with the Apostles were assembled in the Upper-room on the first Whit-Sunday, in this respect we are on a level with them, that we, coming together in the Church, shall be filled with the Holy Ghost as they were, provided only we come prepared as they did: and that when we have received the Gift, It will make Itself known in us by tokens of the same kind, as those whereby It was discerned in them at the beginning.

Consider then, my brethren, with all seriousness of heart, how you have come prepared here to-day. Consider: for indeed it is no small matter, whether we be at this time, according to Christ's offer, filled with the Holy Ghost, or no. There is too much reason to fear, that such as at this holy season allow the Blessed Comforter to come so near, without any earnest endeavour to grow in grace, will find themselves in a condition too like that of Saul: of whom we read, "The Spirit of the Lord departed from him, and an evil spirit," by the Lord's permission, "troubled him." For you may be quite sure of this, that a man's inward house cannot remain empty; and if Christ be not dwelling there by His Spirit, we know who is on the watch to enter in. A fearful thought, that the very time when the great God of heaven and earth had appointed to come and visit you, should be the time for you to open your doors to the foul, intemperate, unclean, profane spirit I And yet who can help fearing it, when he considers the way in which too many spend this glorious Whitsun-week: yea, how they look on to it beforehand, for weeks, may be, or even for months: contriving how they may most enjoy themselves, without any scruple or fear lest they should be forgetting God, and serving only the lusts of their own hearts. God preserve you from every thing like this! God grant that we, and all who are near and dear to us, may so spend this accepted time, that we may be all filled with the Holy Ghost, and not with the unclean spirit!

And it will be so, my brethren, if we come prepared, as that congregation of saints came prepared to their Whit-Sunday. They, when they came down from the mountain where they had seen our Lord ascend, did not make haste to forget Him, did not hurry back to the world as persons glad to escape from a painful duty, but did their very best to keep their hearts fixed upon Him. They returned from Mount Olivet to Jerusalem, not in order to be busy in the streets and markets, the assemblies and diversions and ordinary ways of the world, but to abide, as continually as duty to their neighbour permitted, in the Upper-room, that place of most heavenly remembrances: where our Lord had given them His own Body and Blood, and where He had given them the gracious promise of the Comforter. Well for those who, at this time, bearing in mind that they hope soon to be filled with the Holy Ghost, try to make much of the great spiritual mercies with which that bountiful Spirit has already favoured them: who have not yet forgotten their Christmas and Easter, who have not (with too many, alas!) suffered the great Day of our Lord's Ascension to pass away unobserved and unthought of. Well for those who have continued with one accord in prayer and supplication: neither in Church nor at home permitting themselves to follow their own fancies and humours in so serious a matter: but forcing themselves to keep their rules of prayer as well as they could, whether, at the time, they felt inclined for prayer or no. Well for those who have charitably and discreetly prayed for and with one another; seeking out, as far as they had a choice, those companions who would most help them to keep near to our Saviour: as the Apostles continued with the holy women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brethren. Well for those who are here to-day, not by chance, nor because they had a fancy to come, nor because decency and custom seemed to require of them that they should come now and then; but because they dare not on any Lord's Day forsake the assembling of themselves together; because they are happy to keep and obey the loving laws of their loving Saviour, Who has twice marked the First Day of the week for His own: once, as all of you know, by His Resurrection from the dead on Easter Day: and again, (what some of you perhaps may not have observed) by sending the Promise of His Father as on this day. Well, I say, for those, who are now here, because they know from the Word of God, that the way to be ready for His Spirit is, to be "all with one accord in one place," all of one faith, and hope, and love, in one Holy Catholic Church.

Blessed are they who have come so prepared: but not without a blessing, be sure, have those come also, who in any degree may be moved to wish themselves sincerely better Christians than they are: who, listening on such a great Day as this to the gracious promise of our Lord and the wonderful history of its fulfilment, and joining as they may in the devout praises and prayers of His Church, may feel, as the by-standers did on the first Whit-Sunday, pricked in their hearts, ashamed and sorry for the past, and ready to cry out to those whom Christ hath sent to help them, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Would to God, there were many such: and to such, every one of them, our answer must be the same which S. Peter made at this time, "Repent, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out:" not now in Baptism, but in true penitence; and ye too shall receive the free gift of the Holy Ghost. And thus, if so be, there need not be one in this or any other congregation of Christian people, who shall depart this day to his house without the great Pentecostal Gift, without being filled with the Holy Ghost.

Alas! that it should almost seem idle to utter such a hope! And yet we are bound to hope it, because we are bound to pray for it. But of this at least we are quite certain: that it is in the power of each one of us, if he will, to receive this Gift for himself, if only he seek it with a true heart.

And now I will just point out to you in conclusion, some of the principal signs and tokens, whereby each one of us may judge himself, whether he have been this day partaker of the benefit or no. And I will mention those only, which the history of the Day sets before us.

The Apostles and their companions were known to have received the Holy Ghost by their speaking with new tongues: and whether or no we Christians have received the same good Spirit on this His own Day, will be known (as one principal sign) by our setting or not setting a stricter watch over our tongue, than we have done hitherto. "By thy words," saith our Lord, "thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned;" and by our words will men and Angels, and the Almighty God Himself, judge us, every one of us, whether we have this day been partakers of the Holy Ghost. Let this, then, brethren, be one of our main cares, when we leave this place of holy silence, and are at liberty to speak, and converse with one another again. Let no lie, no corrupt communication, no unclean, no bitter, no angry word, proceed any more out of any of our mouths; "but that which is good to the use of edifying:" kind, sober, serious, cheerful, contented words: words of exact and careful truth: words that will leave no sting, no stain behind them, even in our neighbour's conscience or in our own. That will be an excellent token that we have received the Holy Ghost, when we cease to grieve Him by our words.

Another fruit of the Spirit in the Apostles was their Christian courage: their boldness and fervent zeal, to declare Christ's Name before kings and governors, not counting their life dear unto themselves, so that they might finish their course with joy, and perform, like good soldiers, the work ordained for them of God. We too, each in his place, have need of Christian courage. We are in danger, not so much from sword or spear threatening our lives, as from the mockery and evil report and worldly disadvantages, which constant profession of Christ's truth, and keeping His commandments, is, in a manner, sure to bring after it. Have we fortitude to stand this? If we were weak and wavering before, are we now, by God's blessing, stronger and more steady? Is there in any degree the same sort of difference in us, as there was in the holy S. Peter before and after Pentecost? Can we stand being laughed at, when we know we are doing God's will? This is another good sure sign. Have you, moreover, a brave and steady purpose, come what may, to enter upon immediately, and to continue stedfastly, the wholesome and religious rules of the Church, such as the Apostles and their converts from the beginning observed? Especially, that necessary rule of receiving Christ's Body and Blood in Holy Communion, at least so many times in a year. If you have not so resolved, you are still, so far, resisting and grieving the Holy Ghost.

One more mark I will set down. That first Church in Jerusalem had none among them that lacked: "for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the Apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need." By this we may perceive that an open hand is an excellent sign of the Holy Ghost dwelling in a Christian. Freely to give, to be a cheerful giver, is what they cannot help, who have freely received of that Unspeakable Gift. The vessels that are so blessedly filled must needs overflow for the benefit of the souls and bodies of all around them. Which of you, if he pleases, will not be able to try himself by this token?

In one word, my brethren, love, Christian love, heavenly charity towards God and our neighbour, that is what God the Father purposes, for His Son's sake, to "shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." The Holy Ghost is sometimes called the Eternal Love of the Father and the Son: His Day is very especially the Day of Love: if we are filled with Him, we are filled with love: love, ever occupied in doing good, and in keeping the commandments of the Beloved. Pray we, strive we, above all for this; it is all fruits of the Spirit in one: it is very heaven begun on earth: it was the last best gift of our departing Saviour. For thus He made an end of His final prayer to His Father: "These have known that Thou hast sent Me. And I have declared unto them Thy Name, and will declare it, that the Love wherewith Thou hast loved Me, (i. e. the Holy Ghost) may be in them, and I in them." My brethren, He was praying for us. Should not our great care be, so to love, so to obey Him, that we may not cast away the fruit of so loving, so aweful a prayer!

Project Canterbury