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even more wonderful than the occurrence on that day. For we are informed that "while Peter was yet speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word." They also "spoke with tongues and magnified God." Peter says, "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them as on us at the beginning." Now, there is a marked difference between the persons on whom the Holy Spirit fell on this occasion and those "at the beginning." On the day of Pentecost, so far as the record shows, there were none in the house but disciples when the Holy Spirit descended, and they began to speak with tongues. Being all Galileans, the multitude, when they came together, marveled because they each heard them speak in their own language. But here these Gentiles-the audience these hearers, "spoke with tongues." Not only so, but Peter says, "As I began to speak the Holy Spirit fell on them." a Even before they were fully informed in regard to Christ, or had sufficient evidence to produce faith in Him, the Holy Spirit fell on them. Hence Peter says, "God gave them like gift as he did unto us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ." This is a marvelous statement and is conclusive proof that they were not pardoned by the Holy Spirit, nor when they were baptized by the Holy Spirit, else they were pardoned without faith in the Lord Jesus and before they heard the word by which they were to be saved. The Holy Spirit fell on them as Peter began to speak, consequently before they heard the story of salvation. Peter states that this is a fula Acts xi. 15.

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filment of the preceding promise in regard to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He says: "Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John, indeed, baptized in water, but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit." This undoubtedly refers to the promise of Christ to His apostles just before He ascended, after commanding them "that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father." He says, "For John indeed baptized in water, but shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence." a From this we learn that the apostles were not baptized in or by the Holy Spirit before the ascension of Christ, nor were they endued with it prior to this. That the promise to the apostles, both of the baptism and enduement of the Holy Spirit, was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost will not be disputed.

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There are only two cases given of the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. The first occurred at the opening of the "kingdom of heaven" to the Jews, the second at its opening to the Gentiles. The one on the day of Pentecost, the other at the house of Cornelius. We will make the statement still more sweeping by observing that the history of the world for two thousand years furnishes no other example of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We say this in full view of all the modern preaching about and praying to God for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

In giving a history of pardon it is important to discuss fully the supernatural which was connected with a Acts i. 5.

the various cases of pardon in the age of miracles. It is important to learn what was temporary and what was permanent, what was required to establish the new faith, and what was to continue or abide as the law of pardon. When we find men preaching and practising contrary to the facts of history, may we not demand the authority for such practise, or require them to give us a display of some kind of supernatural power and endowment now as was shown on the memorable occasions to which they refer as proof? If the baptism of the Holy Spirit is taught as existing now, we have a right to demand a divine promise that it was to continue and not be shorn of all the visible displays of the Holy Spirit, or to be shown these matchless displays now.

We are informed that the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles as it did on the apostles "at the beginning." How, then, did it fall on the apostles at the beginning? We are informed that "They were all with one accord in one place, and suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting, and there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." a This baptism of the Holy Spirit was something that could be seen and heard and enabled them to speak with tongues. It was a stupendous miracle-one of the greatest displays of the supernatural ever witnessed on

a Acts ii. 1-4.

earth. When the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurred on the day of Pentecost, three thousand Jews were convinced that Jesus was the Christ. The baptism of the Holy Spirit at Cæsarea convinced Peter and the Jews who were with him that the Gentiles were to share the blessings of the gospel of Christ. The apostles were baptized to convince the Jews of the Messiahship of Christ. The Gentiles were baptized to convince the apostles and Christian Jews that God had granted also to the Gentiles repentance unto life. If the first was important for the Jews, the last was equally important for the Gentiles. Without the one the Jews would not have believed. Without the other the Gen

tiles could not have heard, because the apostles and all the Christians yet considered it unlawful to preach to the Gentiles.

CHAPTER XX

OPERATIONS OF THE SPIRIT

Three Different Manifestations of the Holy Spirit. The Baptism. The Gift by Laying on of the Hands of the Apostles. The Promise to All upon Obedience. Two Improper Uses Noticed.

We now remark that there are three manifestations, endowments, or gifts of the Holy Spirit spoken of or promised in the New Testament scriptures. We will call attention briefly to each. We have scriptural authority for calling them all gifts. Peter said of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which occurred at the reception of the Gentiles, "God gave them the like gift as he did unto us who believed." a First, the baptism of the Holy Spirit was with an outward demonstration—something which could be seen and heard by others. "A sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind”; and "cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them." Not only had this baptism an outward manifestation, such as could be attested by those who were not subjects of it, but it was a direct gift from heaven, without conditions or any intervening person or agency.

Second, the gift of the Holy Spirit, which was conferred by the laying on of the apostles' hands, is never called a baptism. It was unlike the baptism, not bea Acts xi. 17, xv. 8.

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