view, abundant matter of praise and admiration. In the former, it affords a sensible proof of his continued favour toward his church; in the latter, it appears to be a method contrived by infinite wisdom, for spreading the knowledge of his will among the nations of the earth.

As to the fact itself, nothing could be more as tonishing than for unlettered men, who had spent their lives in humble and laborious callings, thus at once to display a knowledge which requires the ap plication of years with men of great industry and talents. For even to understand a variety of languages is not a very common gift; but to become so far master of them as to discourse fluently and intelligibly with those whose native tongues they are, is altogether rare and uncommon. No argu ment, therefore, could more clearly indicate the power of God, than thus communicating by immediate inspiration to all the Apostles, what probably not one among them could attain by the study of his whole life; and the providential concourse of men out of so many different nations, put the matter out of all doubt, whether they really and truly understood those languages, or were mere pretenders and impostors: for the smallest failure must have drawn down infamy on themselves, and ruin on their cause; so that instead of having added unto them the same day three thou

sand souls, so absurd and impudent a fraud must have made all their hearers enemies, and exposed themselves to certain danger. So far, then, like all other public and indisputable miracles, it was a striking and convincing evidence of the Christian Revelation.

The miracle before us likewise bore testimony to the prophetic character of our Lord, being a manifest completion of his engagement to his disciples, that he would send the Comforter to them. Before the hour of his suffering arrived, we find him warning them of the trials and hardships which they must expect in the course of their ministry; but because sorrow had filled their hearts, he consoles them with a prospect of the future; assuring them, that it was expedient for them that he should go away," because he would send the Comforter unto them. And here let me observe the happy influence of this measure upon their minds; for hence we may date that boldness and resolution with which they now began to speak the word of God. It is very remarkable, that when Christ was led away to judgment, all his disciples forsook him and fled; that Peter, who seems to have been one of the most zealous and courageous among them, denied his Lord: yet after the event, which we are now considering, that none of them should betray any sign of cowardice or weakness; though deprived of their master's presence. That same Peter, who for fear of the

damsel had been guilty of falsehood, soon answers the high priest himself with all the dignity of the apostolic character, "We ought to obey God rather than man." So sudden and perfect a change was wrought in them by the Holy Ghost; a change not less necessary for their approaching trials and persecutions, than those miraculous gifts were to convince the gainsayer and convert the unbeliever.

Let us now consider the gift of tongues, as the means of propagating Christianity through the world. I have already taken notice of the multitudes assembled at this time in Jerusalem; which I did for the purpose of shewing, how clear and indisputable the miracle then wrought must have been. Nor does it less deserve attention in the point of view we are now taking. For the preaching of our Saviour being confined to Judea and the parts adjacent, the propagation of his doctrinç among the nations must, in the ordinary course of things, have been attended with insuperable difficulties and delays, Something was wanting to excite the attention of distant people, and set them on a candid enquiry into the evidences of the Revelation and it was fortunately supplied by the occasion before us. Natives and inhabitants of a great part of the then known world were now assembled, and were witnesses of the astonishing power of the Holy Ghost, in enabling a number of mean and uneducated Galileans to speak in their various lan

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guages. Roused by this extraordinary and amazing event, they were in some sort compelled to attend and give credit to the mighty things, which they heard concerning Jesus of Nazareth; and accordingly to the number of some thousands were then converted to the true faith. All of these, who returned home, or held any communication with their native countries, (either of which must have almost universally happened) would naturally and circumstantially report the wonders they had seen and heard, as being the grounds and reasons of their own conversion. Thus you see "their sound went out into all lands, and their words into the ends of the world." How might the case have stood, had not God thought fit to crown with this last act his scheme of divine and infinite love? The religion of Christ, we know, had to contend on the one hand with Jewish obstinacy and malice, and with Heathen contempt and superstition on the other. Even supposing it triumphant over these, its progress must have been much more difficult, tedious, and uncertain, by means of the few proselytes already gained. The continuance therefore of miraculous gifts, especially of this mighty power, by which the word of God ran so swiftly through the world," was, if not absolutely necessary, at least most highly expedient; carrying conviction to the hearers, and preparing a way for the success of the Apostles in their minis

try among different nations. Accordingly, beside the immediate conversion of some thousands already mentioned, daily additions were made to the church of such as should be saved. And upon their going forth on foreign missions, their pious labours, as we shall hereafter see, were crowned with like success; so mightily grew the word of God and prevailed."

Let me now lead your attention to some practical observations connected with this wonderful transaction. We, my brethren, are of those nations, who had lain in darkness and the shadow of death; and God knows, whether but for it we had not continued so to this day. Whatever value therefore we set upon true religion, (and surely its price is inestimable) we must in the same degree regard the means of giving it that great extent, in which we are partakers. For although we trust the merits of Christ will reach even those, who have not yet heard of his name, yet we esteem their condition infinitely more favoured and happy, who are blessed with the knowledge of his truth and heavenly example. No wonder then, that the gift of tongues conferred upon the Apostles, being as it were a direct address to all people, and inviting them in the most familiar way into the Christian Church, should meet the highest return of thankfulness of which we are capable. Had we the power of all those languages, or could speak even with the tongues of