Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-08-14

ed by all the evangelists, and several 9
limos hv the writer of the Acts In order
ID ludce Of the sense Of this figure, and |
Of the propriety of such prayers as we
have referred 10, it may be profitable to
consider. first, what was implied IN prom
ise Of baptism with the Holy Ghost, and,
secondly, when was it verifed2
First, what was implied IN the promise
Of baptism with the Holy Ghost2 4
In order that the gospel Of Christ might
be established in The world and spread
through it, it was necessary that the Saw
Tor should give such tokens OF its heaven
" character and of the divine authority of
those whom he sent to preacht, as should |
afford to those who should embrace il, !
safe ground for their faith, and leave un-
believers without excuse for their blind
perverseness in rejecting it. For this
purpose he endowed his apostles with
power TO perform miracles and to speak IN
foreign tongues, and this work ne accom-
plished through the agency of the Holy
Shirt. Thus armed with miraculous gifts
aud faculties, they would be prepared to
90 forth and proclaim the gospel with
power which should overcome all opposi-
tlon, attended by signs of the divine pres
ence and aid which should confound all
their adversaries, and prove theirs TO be
indeed the work Of God. These favors
were 10 be communicated through efu-
siOns Of the Holy Spirit SO abundant as to
overwhelm and fill them; and hence by a
very natural and highly expressive figure
It was termed a baptism Of the Holy
Ghost.
Secondly. when was this promise YER
iiiedl
Undoubtedly after the ascension oil
Christ, asJerusalem. Just before Christ
took leave Of his disciples and departed to
heaven he ordered them TO wait at Jeru-
salem, for the promise of tine Father
which, saith he, We have heard of me-
This unquestionably refers to the gift o.
the Holy Spirit, as has been stated above
for if we make it refer to ordinary con
version, 10 devoted spirit, zeal, and unc
tion,, in preaching the gospel, this prom
ise was fulfilled to them already. Fo
what then were they to wait2 Here fol
lows promise that--they should in few
DAYS be baptized with the Holy Ghost;
promise which certainly implies that the
were not already baptized with it. Act
ia, 8. In accordance with this direction
and promise, we find that while the dis
ciples were sitting together on the day O
Peniecost, forms OF cloven or parte
tongues, as an emblem of miraculous pow
er which they were to receive, appeare
resting on them, and that they were ena
bled to speak great number OF foreig
tongues, as the Spirit gave them ute
nnce,' while they were thus filled wit
the Holy Ghost. Acts ii. l-6. E
bowed with this astonishing faculty
preach in various tongues, the apostl
were prepared 10 preach the doctrine
Christ to the vast multitude assembled
Jerusalem to celebrate the feast Of Pent
cost. Thus the glad tidings of salvatio
being declared to the representatives
all nations, were speedily carried to t
most distant parts of the earth.
This was the occasion, and probab
the sole occasion, when men were ba
tized with the Holy Ghost 1t was an c
traordinary act, performed 10 accompli
special purpose namely, the spre
of Christianity over the earth, after t
death of the Savior On this subject,
iudidious author observes, that the ext
ordinary gifts Of the Holy Spirit, bel
vouchsafed for one especial purpose on
the benefit of the Christian church,
soon as that church was established, a
the canon Of Scripture completed, th
were gradually Withdrawn; while the
binary operations, without which no CHI
of Adam can be renewed unto holmes
are to be continued forever, even unto I
end Of the world
liz the view we have taken be correct
pray to be baptized with the Holy Che
IS to pray 10 be endowed by the H
Spirit with the miraculous gifts bestov
on the apostles petition which wo
involve the greatest impropriety. S
more dreadful is ii then to pray 20 be b
Ktized with FIRE, phrase which has b
considered by the best commentators to
fer TO future punishment; and the m
ner ia which the esangelists esewh
use the term FIRE favors this interpr
ton. Matt. iii. l2, vii. 10, xviii. s.
Al.
We would not be understood to a.
ton the piety of those who use such b
ses in prayer, but we would respectf
and kindly ask them, if they had not
ter omit them, as long as there is gre
to fear that in using them they are Q,
of the presumption Of supplica;ing j
yah for the miraculous powers of the a
ties. LAMET