The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-01-02

They could not repress ecstatic utter
ance; they gladly, eagerly testified to
the Life which had penetrated their
souls. to the Light which suffused and
glorified all things.
This bursting of the Spirit into speech
or into speeches. is described by the an
nalist: There appeared unto them tom
cues parting asunder, like as of fire;
and 1T sat upon each one of them. the
atmosphere itself seemed to be flame,
that bestowed on every one present a
tongue of fire. The necessity and gift
of speech, sat upon, that is rested upon
every one present; and not as momen
tary emotion, but an abiding exultant
mood.
2. Speaking in Foreign Lam
guageS,-vs. 40.
A multitude instantly gathered from
the crowded city about the house which
enclosed this phenomenal scene. The
house was probably reckoned by the
Jews one of the several Galilean syna.
gogues which we're in the city. 1t was
naturally the focus of popular interest,
because it was connected with the re-
cent Tragedy of the Cross.
There were, naturally, in the multitude
which was thus suddenly attracted to
+ this spot representatives of the mixed
population of Jerusalem. There were in
this multitude individuals of the He
brew faith. either as converts or by
birthright, who were versed in at least
ten different languages and dialects;
they had been aforetime jewellers in for
eign lands, and had now come or re-
turned to their religious capital. To
sucha heterogeneous, cosmopolitan null
titude the Christians. under the spell of
the Spirit, began to speak. 1t is prob.
able that certain of the Christians came
forth and mingled with their hearers
each speaking to separate circle of the
spellbound crowd.
The establishment of the curious null
titude was human. They acre all
amazed and nsarUelted, saying. Behold,
are not all these that speak Gdlileans?
and hOac hear aoe eUery man in our o,on
| language aCherei1t ace aUere born? 1t
was thing to the multitude unaccount-
able that every man heard them speak
| ing an has oocn language.
How are we to construe the fact here
stated? Its miraculous quality may be
| admitted; yet, as Bushnell says, mi
racles are credible only as being in some
sense subject to laws" Had the dis
ciples and the other Christians. while
prevailingly Galileans, been attendants
at the synagogues of the foreigners in
Jerusalem, where they had,-as they
| might have done,-obtained some know
ledge Of all the languages which they
were now moved to employ? Was there
a quickening spiritual sense in the cap
tivated hearers which enabled them to
translate for themselves the Voice of
the Spirit, as one renders the thoughts
| of music into his own vernacular? Did
immortal spirits. who had been while in
| the flesh citizens of various nations,
and in the immortal state were pleaders
for Jesus. take controlling possession of
the tongues of the Christians?
Our preference, according to our habit,
is for the most natural suggestion. Yet
at this border-la land of the spiritual
realm we confess to being, like the null
titude of old, in dazed mental state,
Our analytical power fails us.
But the clear and all-important fact is
that under such circumstances the Holy
Spirit was given to the disciples, accord
ing to the promise.
There were. Of course, in that human
multitude some scoffing beholders. The
Sadducean spirit, we recall, was at this
time strong in Jerusalem. Some be.
holders, having the Sadducean skepti
cism, were moved to say: They are filled
aoith aeaC acine. The irony of this charge
becomes apparent when we recall that
it was now quite six weeks before the
earliest yield of the vintage. 1t is as if
beholders of some excitement in New
England community early in the month
of July, should ironically say: 1.-THE
people are drunk with new cider,"-that
is. with cider from apples not yet grown.
The one memorable central fact,
which the disciples could not doubt and
which we cannot reasonably doubt, is
that the infant church was now bap-
tied by the Spirit.