Exposition of the Apostles Creed, Part 3 · Sermon 26
The descent of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2.1, 2.
They were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty winde, and it fill'd all the house where they were sitting.
THE place at large was Jerusalem; in particular foreign, an upper room,Act. 1.13, 14. conceiv'd to be that in which our Saviour eat the Passover with his Disciples. In this they continued in prayer and supplication. Continue they did till the fifty dayes were fully come; for so they were commanded,Vers 4. That they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father. Here they were foreign, altogether; which is expressely noted of this company, which was the first Church, that they continued together. When they pray'd, they pray'd altogether; when they heard, they heard altogether; when they brake bread, they brake it altogether.Cap. 4.24. Cap. 8.6. Cap. 2.46. Not one in one place, and some in another, but altogether. But men may be together, whose minds are yet far enough asunder; for there is Ecclesia malignantium, an Assembly of malignants. These were no such people: For they had but one mind. Many bodies they had,Psa. 83.3. but one soul and mind informed them all; they were altogether with one accord. Their heart was not divided nor distracted; one thing they aimed at, one end they all pursued, foreign. To the same purpose they were collected, and it was, how they might set forth foreign, the wonderful works of God,Vers. 11. how they might advance the Name of Jesus of Nazareth.
In the place there was Retiredness; in their prayers devotion; in their devotions uniformity; in their minds unity and concord; in their intentions sincerity; in their stay patience and expectance; and while they were thus qualified and prepared, the holy Ghost fell upon them.
The Spirit of God is a loving and clean Spirit,Wisd. 1.4, 5, 6. and therefore he loves a loving and a clean heart to dwell in. That soul which is levened with malice, and sluttish with sin, is no place for him to come to. It is to Repentance that St. Peter perswades this company to whom he preach'd, before he makes them any promise of the Spirit. Repent, saith he,Cap. 2.38. and by Baptisme wash away your sinnes, and then ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. No repentance then, no Spirit. For repentance disposeth the soul, by emptying it of wickedness to receive grace. This is the method in which David prays, Purge me, cleanse me, wash me, make me whiter than snow. Psa. 51.7, 9, 10, 11, 12.Hide thy face from my sinnes, and blot out all my iniquities. This first, then follows a petition for the Spirit, Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right Spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from m…. Restore unto me the joy of thy countenance, and uphold me with thy free Spirit.
Now how we are to be dispos'd for the receipt of the Spirit, cannot be better learn'd than from this place.
1. They were in foreign.
In a room they were, separate from the incumbrance of the multitude, in an upper room, as near heaven as well they could get. And in this the Spirit of God comes upon them. Make choice of that place which will admit the fewest occasions of withdrawing thy soul from good thoughts; and be aptest to mount thy heart upward, and expect a blessing. Here the gifts from above descend upon them who were farthest from earth and trouble, nearest to Heaven.
2. They continued in Prayer and Supplication.
But it was not so much the place that they retired to, that moved Christ to perform his promise, as their importunity and constancy in their petitions. Promised he had,Joh. 16.23. Act. 1.14. That whatsoever they should ask in his Name, should be obtained; and therefore here they continued to sollicite him. Two things especially they needed, and therefore two kinds of prayers they used; foreign is a petition by which a man desires to be freed foreign, from those things which may trouble and grieve him. But foreign is a suit made foreign, for good things. To be sent they were as sheep among Wolves;Mat. 10.16. they supplicate therefore for protection against them. A great Office they were call'd to, and they wanted many good gifts for the discharge of it; and for these they petition, and upon their prayer the holy Ghost descends.
The case is ours, a high calling we have, and many duties are required at our hands; whether we are to perform any publick office, or private duty, that which alone can enable us to it, are the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Being then sensible of our own wants, let us petition as they did, and we may speed as they did. The Holy Ghost no doubt, will come down that way that we stand most in need.
3. They continued, foreign.
But then we must have another condition, which I here find in them, we must persevere, continue, and be constant, and wait upon God, and give him leave to perform his promise in his own time. Many things there were that might at this time dishearten them, and make them stagger in their resolution. The place was such, that in Hierusalem the cause and doctrine of Christ was ill spoken of. Their enemies many and mighty, Scribes and Pharisees, that then were in authority; who if they spared not their Master, were not like to spare them.Act. 1.15. Their number was small, about 120. Their persons of no great regard, they themselves poor fishermen, with whom there were join'd some women;Ver. 4, 5. nor power, nor wealth, nor eloquence yet they had, to carry on so great work. Add to this, the promise made to them of power from above, was indefinite. No time set or prefix'd for this Baptism of the Spirit; sure they were it would not be many dayes hence; but how many, they knew not. Yet against all these difficulties they opposed resolute and undaunted hearts, and still waited: still they continued in prayer.
This is a true Character of a faithful soul, ever to wait upon and trust to the promises of God. This is indeed a hard and a difficult trial. Saul was not able to bear it. Jehoram was much displeased at it, Why, saith he,1 Sam. 13.8, 9. & 28.6. 2 Reg. 6.33. Judith 7.30. Rev. 6.10. Gen. 48.18, 19. should we wait on the Lord any longer? Flesh and blood murmurs at it. Onias would stint the Lord to five dayes. What should I say, that the very souls under the Altar cry, How long Lord, holy and true? They, even they in their haste, would as Joseph did, alter Gods hands; where he layes the right hand, they wish the left; and where he layes the left, they wish the right; what he thinks good, men think evil; and so on the contrary.
But this is, as I said, in their haste;Psal. 73.17. for when they go into the Sanctuary of God, they are of another mind. For then they are resolv'd to be expectants, and wait still; then content to let God take his own time, yet in their continual prayers to remember him of it. This is the afflicted people of whom God thus speaks by his Prophet Zephaniah, Zeph. 3.12.I will leave in her an afflicted, a poor people, and they shall trust in the Lord. And well they may; For, loe this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us: Isa. 25.9.This is the Lord, we have waited for him, we will be glad, and rejoyce in his salvation.
1. He is the Lord; Potens est. Able he is to make his promise good.Gen. 46 3. Feare not, saith he to Jacob, to go down into Egypt; assuring him that his hand, his help should go along with him; and the heart can wish no more. For as Philo Philo.the Jew told Caligula, Ubi auxilium humanum deficit, incipit divinum, Where man cannot or will not help, God both can and will.
2. He is our God; Verax est, He is faithful and true. Let it be shew'd when ever he brake his word, and I am content you wait no longer. Man may, but God will not change; Hath he said, and will he not do it? To Abraham he made a promise to be perform'd after 400 years,Gen. 15.13, 18 yet the good Patriarch pray'd him not to shorten the time, although he knew that in Egypt his seed must abide foreign, be used more like slaves,Chrysost. than servants; That God had said, he would judge their Oppressors, they who held his seed in captivity, this sufficed him.
3. Vult, He will do it. He will save, saith our Prophet; His Will is manifest by his promise. For promised he never would, except he had meant to perform it. The just Lord is in the midst of thee, he will not do iniquity; Zeph. 3.5.every morning doth he bring his judgements to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knows no shame.
These are the three props of our confidence. These made the Apostles wait, and they must make us wait ever on our God; his goodwill, his truth, and his power. His goodwill was shew'd in promising; of his power or truth they made no doubt; and therefore they continued to pray for the performance. The fittest Motto for a Christian soul, is, Sileo & Spero. For in silence and confidence shall be our rest. Quieta pietas, optima. Doubt it not, your God will come, and he will not tarry. Blessed are they that wait for him. God hath his times, and opportunities of time to help.Isa. 30.15, 18. Hab. 2.3. Gen. 37.28. Act. 12.7. Esth. 4.14. The Ishmaelitish Merchants come by, when Joseph is in the pit. The Angel descends, when Peter is in the prison. Though man hold his peace in a hard time, yet shall enlargement and deliverance come to Gods people from …ome other place. Relie then upon Gods promise, continue in prayer and supplication; his time is the best, wait and expect for that, as the Apostles and this holy company here did, and never doubt but the Comforter will at last come.
4. foreign, All with one accord.
But they had another excellent quality, which no question the holy Spirit regarded; they were all at unity and peace among themselves; though many, yet they had as it were but one heart, and one mind. For the Ho…y Ghost found them at his descent, as in one place, so foreign, of one judgment.Joh. 14.27. Peace was the Legacy which our Saviour bequeathed to his Disciples, My peace I leave with you; and here they were found all peaceably and quietly together; no division, no stir, no schism among them. He found not Peter contending for the supremacy;Luk. 22.24. Mark 10.37. nor James and John ambitious of the right and left hand; but all in quiet, and at prayer when he came.
'Tis an excellent thing for brethren to be at unity in an house, but much more for the houshold of Christ.Psa. 133.1. Eph. 4.5. As they have but one Lord, one Spirit, one Baptism, one Hope, so also should they have but one Heart. To such a company hath God promised his blessing; and to such an Assembly the Spirit of God comes.Psa. 133.3. This loving Spirit is like the dew of Hermon which fell upon the hill of Zion. For as that sweet dew did never fall in a storm or tempest; so this good Spirit never comes into that man, who is furiously carried away with rage,Theodoret. envy, malice. Tranquillo tempore ros, tranquillo tempore descendit Spiritus, In a calm aire the dew, and in a calm time the Spirit descends.
He is the essential love, and love-knot of the Father and Son; He is the same bond of love betwixt God and man; He joines together Christ and his Church. He makes men to be of one minde in an house. There cannot then be a greater opposition and bar to his work, than discord, and dis-union of minds. For he will no more inform divided hearts, than the natural spirit will dis-membered and dis-united bodies. How falsely then do they boast of the Spirit, who are so rent, divided, separated; so torn into factions, divisions, subdivisions among themselves? may we not well fasten upon them St. Judes mark?Jude Ep. v. 19. These are they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit! Talk they may of (as much they do) but the Spirit they have not; positively they have it not. While their heart is divided, their accord is gone, and with it the Spirit is gone too. The Church of God being a flock united under one shepherd;Joh. 10.16. Psa. 122.3. Hierusalem, not Babel; a City built, and at unity in it self, and not a City of confusion.
Gen. 15.10.When Abraham was to offer unto God a sacrifice, he divided the beasts; the Heifer, the Goat, and the Ram: but as for the birds, the Turtle, and the Dove, he left them whole. What are these beasts, but those foreign, those sensual men in St. Jude, Ambros. Ser. 14. in Psa. 118. Gal. 5.20.walking and poring on the earth? What are these birds, but the spiritual, soaring and mounting toward heaven? Those like beasts are alwayes divided, sundred into divers parts by hatred, debate, emulation, contention, sedition, heresies: while those other mild and Dovelike minds remain alwayes whole and entire, like a City that is at unity in it self, where both the Governor, Magistrates, and people joyn in one for the common good.
In such a holy unity the Disciples were assembled; in such an unity they pray'd, in such an unity they remained; there was not a harsh word to hinder, or a discord to break off this holy meeting. In this Assembly they purpose to fill up their Colledge;Act. 1.21, &c. no man gainsayes Peters motion; with a common consent they give forth their lots; with one voice they pray. And when the lot fell upon Matthias, nor he that was chosen was proud of his preferment, nor he that was passed by murmurs at it. And the reason was, because they were all with one accord
5. foreign.
This is their last Qualification; this generally is referr'd to the place. And they make the Note this, that unity of mind was not enough, except they continued under one roof. For, say men what they will, division of places will not be long without division of minds. Good reason therefore had the Israelites to be jealous and offended with the two Tribes and a ha f, for erecting their Altar in the Borders of Jordan, Josh 22.11, 12and thought it a sufficient ground of Warre, till they were satisfied. For they conceived if they came not up to Shilo, they would quickly part from the sincerity of their Religion. For did it not so fall out afterward,1 Kings 12.32. Josephu…. Joh. 4.19. by the erection of the Calves by Jerob…am in Dan and Bethel, and the Samaritane Temple? You say, at Jerusalem; but we say, in this Mountaine; Mark I pray to what pass the matter comes; You say, but we say, and that to Christs own face, by a Woman. No such thing heard of, so long as the people went up three times in a yeare according to Gods Ordinance to the Temple at Hierusalem to worship.Heb. 10.39. This is an Item for those who are filij substractionis, withdraw themselves to perdition. Never let them presume to keep the unity of faith, who flie that place where the faithful meet to serve the God of unity. Of this, lamentable experience is too sure a proof. For we live to see it verified. Scarce men of one minde in one house, since they met not in one house. Corners beget a bastard-brood of imaginations; imaginations will-worship; will-worship heresies; heresies divisions; divisions hatred and alienation of minds; And it will be no better, till we meet again foreign, in the same place.
2. This I acknowledge is the judgement of all the Expositors I have cast my eyes on, who refer foreign to the place, and then no question they understand the Substantive foreign. But what now and if foreign be the Supposite, as is most usual in the Greek Dialect? then the sense will be, They were all minding the same thing, how they might advance the Name of Jesus of Nazareth; how they might enlarge the Church by execution of their Commission, Go and teach all Nations; how they might draw in the Jews,Mat. 28.19. and convert the Gentiles. Now these thoughts might be a notable motive to move their Master, who gave the Commission, to send down the Holy Ghost (without whose power it could never be done) upon them: It being usual with God to bestow Gifts upon all those he sends upon his Errand.
Every true servant of God is his Coine. Now to mony that shall be currant, three things are requisite. First, that the mettal be pure and lawful: Then, that it hath a right stamp and superscription. Lastly, that it be of a just weight. Good works proceeding from faith and charity, is as it were the material part, all of pure gold. The letters in the posie carry the Name of God. And that which makes it full weight, is the pious and honest intention out of which they are done. Amor meus pondus meum; eo feror, August.quocun{que} feror. If therefore thy love carry thee to God and his glory, that pious intention will make it down weight. The Apostles shew'd evidently whose coyn they were. Their works were pious, their lives blameless; we hear hitherto of nothing but prayers and supplications. In every place they came, they produced their Commission, and publish'd it in their Masters Name. And at this time 'tis evident their intention was honest and pious; for gathered they were foreign for that end and no other; with which their Master was so well-pleased, that Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty winde,Verse 2. and it fill'd the house where they were sitting.
When the Holy Ghost was given, you have heard, and what Qualifications there were in them that receiv'd him. It remaines now, that I acquaint you with the manner how he came, which was evident to two senses, the eare, and the eye. To the eare in a noyse; To the eye by a light. A noyse or sound, put case of a Trumpet, to awake the drowsie world to hear. A light, to let them see the day of their visitation;Luk. 1.68. & 19.42. that they now look up, and continue in blindness no longer. Audible and visible this his coming was; whence Saint Peter saith, Verse 33. Christ being by the right hand of God exalted, hath shed forth this, which you now see and heare. And heard first it was; For it was
1. A Sound.
Before men enter the house, they usually knock at the door, and so shew that there is some body present, that would willingly be admitted in: So the Spirit here first by this sound gives notice of his approach, stands at the door as it were, and knocks, that they to whom he was sent, might open unto him. And it seems he knock'd so loud,Rev. 3.20. that all Hierusalem heard it: For at this sound the multitude came together,Verse 6. and was amaz'd to hear it. It seemes to me, to have been like the voice of some Trumpet, clear, and certain, which brought these devout Jews and Proselytes that dwelt at Hierusalem, so directly to the house whence this sound proceeded, to know the cause of this sudden Alarum.
Being assembled, probable it is that the Apostles miraculously honoured with the fiery tongues, which sate upon their heads as some conceive, went out unto them. Carthusian thinks into the Temple; For the upper Chamber in which they were, was not capable possibly of such a multitude, of which three thousand were converted upon Peters Sermon. However it were, this sound was loud, distinct; and it wrought so much upon them, that it brought them together to enquire of this wonder.
This sound at the sixth verse is call'd foreign, a voice; so that a man may guess there was somewhat Articulate in it; and if so, they must run together the more willingly. Christ by his Spirit descended not now as at his Nativity all in silence,Psa. 72.6. as raine into a fleece of wool, but openly, and with a great sound; not in humility, but in Majesty, that he might make it known, that he was exalted, that he was gone to heaven, that he was seated on the right hand of God. And from thence he shed forth this, which they saw and heard. Saw, in the fiery tongues; Heard, in the sound and voice. This shews,
1. That the Spirit of Christ is no dumb Spirit, but vocal; A sound gone out into all Lands, heard in all ages. Enoch sounded it abroad by his prophesie, Noah by his preaching, Moses caused it to be heard by the Jews; and when John came, he noysed it abroad. For he was vox clamantis; Christ was the Word,Joh. 1.23. Psa. 19.3. he the sound only to bring it to the ear. And what were the Apostles else? voices only, whose sound went out into all lands.
And it is not without reason, that the holy Ghost thus descended in a sound first, that brought the multitude together, and after spake by the Apostles tongues more distinctly to them. For it shews us the way by which the holy Ghost works by the Word.
Rev. 14.2.Revel. 14.2. There came a voice from heaven, and it was first as the voice of many waters; then as the voice of a great thunder, after as the voice of harpers with their harps.
1. The noyse of waters goes first, and the roaring thereof is heard afar off, and causeth men to run together to enquire the cause. But it is no distinct voice. Thus the sound of Gods Word affects men at the first hearin…. They come to the Assembly of Gods Saints, they hear it as it were a great noyse, they are amazed and astonished at it, but perfectly understand not what it means. Come, saith Augustine before his conversion, let us go and hear the eloquence of Ambrose; no more let us go and hear like the Athenians, ready to lend an ear to every new thing.
2. But to this noyse of waters, there succeeds the voice of Thunder. For God hath among his Embassadors some Boan…rges, sonnes of thunder; Mark 3.17. Plutarch.that upon occasion, as Pericles, can speak Thunder and Lightning, strike fear and terrour into them, whom the meer sound and voice of the waters brought together. Such was the Parable of Nathan to David; 1 King. 11.1. Isa. 38.1. Jon. 3.4.the message of Isaiah to Hezekiah; of Jonah to Nineveh. And this operation of the Word, though very fearful, is exceeding healthful; for by sense of wrath the Lord makes ready and prepares his servants to receive the sweet musick of mercy.Isa. 26.17. A dolore parturivimus salutem, Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in paine, and cryeth out in her pangs, so have we been in thy sight, O Lord. For the Spirit of bondage or a servant,Rom. 8.15. makes way to receive the Spirit of Adoption and assurance of a Son, by which we cry Abba Father.
3. Now after this succeeds Harpers. These are skilful Musicians, and melodious musick they bring to our ears after the Thunder. For such is the operation of the Holy Ghost by the Word, that after the heart is terrified and mollified by the Thunder-clap, it sounds forth a pleasant and pleasing time of mercy to the penitent. The Thunder was over, and David hears,2 Sam. 12.13. God hath put away thy sinne. The clap, morioris, thou shalt dye, is past; and Hezekiah hears, I have added to thy life 15. years. Isa. 38.5. Joh. 3.10.Nineveh appears in Sackcloth, and God spares that sinful City. Every Chapter of the Book of God endited by this holy Spirit, is as it were a several string of this Harp; which being touch't by a finger taught to strike from above (for except the musician be skilful, the instrument will make no melody) brings to our ear a heavenly harmony. One string or verse sounds forth mercy and Remission; another Grace and Renovation. This peace and consolation, that joy unspeakable, altogether glory and eternal felicity. In a word, no tongue can express the comfort, the joy, the power, the word of the Spirit hath to allay and pacifie the manifold risings and perturbations in the hearts of the Saints of God. They come penitents, they depart with a pardon;Luk. 18.14. they come Publicans, they depart justified; they come in teares, they depart in joy; they come disturb'd, they depart in peace; they come oppressed with cares, they depart reliev'd with content. O happy, thrice happy that soul to whom the Spirit of God upon his Harp plays this Lesson!
And finde we not all this verified in this place? First the Spirit of God descends in a sound like that of many waters; this brought the multitude together, and the effect was no more, but that foreign, they were confounded, troubled in minde, and knew not what to make of it. But after Peter falls upon them in Thunder and Lightning, You are the men that crucified Jesus, Verse 36,who is now raised and made Lord and Christ. Of him you are the betrayers and murderers; with which clap they were so terrified and affrighted, that they were pricked to the heart, and cryed out, Men and Brethren, 37,what shall we do! The Thunder is over, and now Peter takes, as I may so say, his Harp, and strikes up to them this sweet and melodious Lesson, Repent and be baptiz'd every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ, 38,for the Remission of your sinnes, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is made to you and your children. What promise?39, that of the Messias, that of Joel, Effundam Spiritum, I will poure out of my Spirit. 16,Did ever Harp sound forth a more pleasing Note! The delight was so great, that it drew them alwayes to be in the sound of it, to continue together, and to eat their bread with gladness and singlenesse of heart. But observe I pray, that this content came not till the thunder was gone,47. and the found that went before it. With that the holy Ghost began; that, if no more, yet as a Trumpet, may draw men together.
2. Next I pray take notice what kinde of sound it was. Not every noyse I warrant you; It was foreign, A sound, as is that of an Eccho, which is a sound at the second hand, or at the rebound. Spoken somewhat must be before, or else there is no voice heard. And a lively type this was of all the sounds that came from the Apostles mouths. For they were but Eccho's of that voice which spake first from above to them; they took the voice at the rebound, and return'd it. For they sounded not any thing into the world of their own heads, but what this Spirit said before. Exspirabant quod iste Spiritus inspirabat: They breath'd forth what this Spirit breath'd in; much like an Organ or Trumpet which sounds out, and diversifies the Notes from the Bellows or winde. Their sound indeed and their words went out into all Lands,Psal. 18. but it was Gods meaning; their voice, but his Doctrine.
And cursed be that preacher who takes himself to be more than an eccho. For if an Apostle, or an Angel from heaven preach any other doctrine than what he hath receiv'd from thence,Gal. 1.8, 9. let him be accursed. No prophesie was of Old foreign,2 Pet, 1.20. of private impulse; and therefore no Prophesie now must be of any private interpretation; that one which God hath put in our mouths,Numb. 22.38. that must we speak, being but as I said only Eccho's, Quae nec reticere loquenti—Nec prior ipsa loqui didicit.
Let then the New lights boast themselves to be voices, we will esteem our selves only to be but Eccho's;1 Joh. 1.1. and by the help of God, that which was from the beginning, that which we have heard and seen, that only we will report to you. Our message shall not be out of our own brain, it shall be from heaven, whence this sound came.
For four properties I told you this sound had.
1. It was from heaven.
2. It was sudden. It came suddenly.
3. It was powerful, as of a rushing mighty winde.
4. It was no common winde, for it fill'd the place.
1. It was from heaven, foreign.
Jam. 1.17.From heaven it was from whence every good gift comes; and needs it must be so, since in heaven the Father of all good gifts dwells. It was not more than ten dayes, since our Saviour was ascended thither, and behold what a Comforter he sends from thence! The best of us being used as he was but seven weeks before, would never more have thought of man, except it had been to raine down fire and brimstone from heaven in revenge. But how unlike are Gods thoughts to ours! Christ ascends to the Father, and he cryes to the Father, Arise O Lord and visit all people. The Heathen that know me not, and the Jews that crucified me. Ego visitavi, I have visited the world, and done the work that thou hast commanded me to do; and now O Father be but thou pleased, and I will perfect and consummate this work not only in gathering the lost sheep of the house of Israel, but all Nations to my fold. He could have cryed, Revenge my blood O Father! but he asks, Poure out thy Spirit from this thy seat of Majesty, that with me he may make and seal my Redemption to man. I come to send fire on the earth, Luk. 12.49.and what would I till it be kindled?
When Moses ascended into the Mount, the Law from the Spirit descended. And now that Christ is ascended to heaven, the Spirit himself came down. There was then fire about the Mountaine terrible and full of smoak. But now fiery tongues, but nor terrour, nor yet smoak appears.Exod. 19.18. Then the people heard a voice that they knew not, and now the Apostles speak many tongues, which before they understood not. There when the Law was given, a Trumpet sounded; and here on a sudden a voice sounded from heaven. De coelo Lex, de coelo Evangelium; Law and Gospel, both from heaven. It was not in the Disciples power, but in Christs promise,Marl. in loc. that the Spirit came down. It was the work of God in heaven, not of any man on earth. If ever, upon this day, that of the Psalmist was verified, The heavens declare the glory of God; not by the beauty of the Sun,Psa. 19.1. or order of the stars, nor yet by the sweet dews and rains that distill from thence, but that from those celestial Orbs there came this heavenly gift, which taught the Apostles what to say, and the Church what to believe.
Oh how true is that of Saint James! Every good and perfect gift is from above; wisdom is from above, the true bread from above;Jam. 1.17. Joh. 6.31. Joh. 6.13. Psa. 57.3. Luk. 20.5. Luk. 22.43. Heb. 12.25. Judg. 5.20. 1 Cor. 15.47. Christ is from heaven. Blessing is from heaven, Deut. 26.15. Forgiveness is from heaven, 2 Chron. 6.27. Salvation from heaven. Righteousness from heaven, Psalme 85.11. The voice from heaven, Matth. 3.17. The Baptism of John from heaven; An Angel to comfort, from heaven; Light from heaven, Acts 9.3. The sheet opened and displayed, from heaven, Acts 11.5, 9. The words yet spoken to us, from heaven; Our defence from heaven, Joshuah 10.11. Our New birth from heaven, John 3.3, 5. Our Lord we expect, from heaven, 1 Thess. 4.16. In a word, this sound from heaven. All from above, all from the Father of lights.
How should this wing our thoughts, and mount them upward! When we hear any mighty noyse, or sudden sound, we presently turn our face, and look toward the place whence that sound proceeds.
Clarescunt sonitus, armorunque ingruit horror,Virgil. Ae…. 2.
Excutior somno, & summi fastigia tecti
Ascensu supero, a…que arrectis auribus asto, saith Aeneas.
Here we have a sound from heaven; at least then let us look upward, and lift up our eyes to the hills from whence comes our help.Ps. 121.1. This was one of those Psalms of Degrees, which was sung by the Priests upon the steps in ascensu, as they ascended to the Temple; and it teacheth to ascend and raise our thoughts on high, especially at that time when the sounds come from heaven.
The Revelations of the Prophets, the Moral Law of Moses, the voice of the Evangelists, the writings of the Apostles, nay all the good Sermons framed according to that Rule, that perswade to faith and a holy life, are sounds from heaven. The Holy Ghost which spake by the Prophets, yet preacheth by us; And will you not then turn your faces, and once look up,1 Pet. 1.12. and enquire whence the sound comes?
From any hollow or dark Cave of the earth it comes not; for it is no vapour or exhalation. Were it such, it would puff into your ears, Eat, and drink, for to morrow ye shall die. From flesh and blood it comes not,Isa. 22.13. Prov. 30.15. & 7.19. for then it would deaf you againe with the Horsleach note, Give, give; or the Harlots tongue, Come, let us take our fill of love. From hell it is not, for then it would carry you about from corner to corner; delude you here, and mock you there,Mat. 24.23. Jam. 3.15. Here is Christ, there is Christ; the noyse would be fearful, hideous, uncertaine: it would be earthly, sensual, devilish. And such sounds there be now too many; I desire you would be deaf to them; for though they roare loud, yet they are empty, vain, pernicious.
Psa. 40.6.Perforavit aures, God hath bored your ears for another purpose; and sent this sound from heaven to another end. Suppose you yet heard the voice from above,Luk. 9.35. This is my well-beloved Son, heare him. As that Preacher is happy, of whose Sermon it may be truly said, Hodie de coelo factus sonus, This day by his tongue there came to us a sound from heaven: So also is that hearer happy, who lends his attention to that sound. And the sooner the better; for it is fit that our attention should answer his speed; as the sound came suddenly from Heaven, so should we speedily listen, heare, and obey on Earth.
2. foreign; Suddenly there came a sound.
For that's the second property of this sound, that it was sudden. Suddenly the sound came, when they thought not of it. The gifts of the Spirit of God are free,Rom. 11.29. not tyed to times or tydes, nor persons, nor places; but they come on a sudden, when he will, and on whom he list. All acquisite habits, how perfect soever, require much time, much industry, much experience, many precepts: whereas those which are infused, and are far more excellent, are not delayed, but perfected in an instant; whence saith the Psalmist, Thy Word runneth very swiftly; Psal. 147.15.no motion so swift, none so quick: Nescit tarda molimina Spiritus sancti gratia: Greg.The grace of Gods Spirit knows not what belongs to labour; he sooner makes a new man, than the Sun doth a new day. This is a work of power, and therefore indisposition or unaptness of the subject shall not be able to retard it.
The Resurrection from the dead shall be foreign, in a moment, foreign, or foreign,1 Cor. 15.52. in the turn-cast, or twinkling of an eye; not successively, but suddenly; not by degrees of time, but in an instant. The rising from sin is another Resurrection, and 'tis but for the Spirit to say the Word, and 'tis done; the houre comes, and now is, when they who are in their graves,John 5.28. dead and buried in their trespasses and sins, shall hear the voyce of the Son of God, and live.
Chrysost.O quam mirus artifex Spiritus iste! O what a strange Artisan is this Spirit, who changeth not the substance and nature of the man, that you mistake not, but mends the faculties and affections of his soul in an instant. It falls upon a Publican, and makes him an Evangelist; it finds a Persecutor, and makes him a Doctor; it meets with a Herdsman, and turns him to a Prophet; with David a Harper, and makes him a Psalmist. In a word, with Mary the sinner, and makes her a Saint; of a common Harlot, more chaste than the most Virgins. Such as is the speed of an Arrow, which parts the yielding Aire with an incomparable celerity, so that the eye cannot well discern the motion; yet that it hath moved it knows, when it beholds it fixed: Such is the motion of the Spirit, progredientem non vidimus, progressum videmus. The work is so quick and secret, that we discern it not; but that it hath moved we know, when on a sudden we behold Saul to become a Paul, a deboist Prodigal to become another man. Sudden things startle us, and make us look about, and so well may this; for 'tis not possible to fix upon any other cause than this power of the Spirit: The right hand of the Lord brings mighty things to pass.Psal. 118.15.
And that which now on a sudden this good Spirit hath brought to my thoughts, is, that this very instant there is a sound from heaven ringing in your ears, and are you not awake at it? are you not affected with it? Despise not the present motions of grace, though suddenly arising in your hearts, but take the wind while it blows, as not knowing when it will, or whether it will ever blow again. The Spirit which works repentance and grace in our hearts, is not at our beck, we cannot set him a work when we would; let him therefore work when he pleaseth.
When David asked counsel of God whether he should go up against the Philistines, the return was,2 Sam. 5.24. When thou hearest the noise of one going in the top of the Mulberry Trees, then remove; for then shall the Lord go out before thee to smite the Philistines: So David did, and prevailed, and no marvail, when he followed Ductum Dei, God that led him,Peter Martyr in loc. and set him his time. Thus should every one observe, when God casteth into his mind good motions and desires, and then step in and apply himself to God; stir with him when he stirs; for this is the way to conquer any sin, though it be a Philistine. At the Pool of Bethseda, there were set-times when the Angel came down and troubled the waters, and whosoever did there step in, John 5.4.was healed of whatsoever disease he had. So are there certain times when God moves and stirs the waters; that is, the heart and the affections: and would but men be heedful of these seasons, of this kindly and unexpected work of the Spirit, and work with him, find they should a very strange effect: For as the Cameleon approaching a body of any colour, is instantly of the same stain; so also they who with diligence and endeavour are intentive to the approaches of Gods Spirit, carry away a deep and various tincture of grace on a sudden; his descent is not more sudden, than is their change; the alteration of the weather is not more sudden upon the shifting of the wind; which here also we find a type of him; for this sudden sound was