inistry to mankind. It was as though he had
said: Our Lord, on his Ascension, baptized those that had believed with
the Spirit of which Joel spake. The water of John's baptism symbolised
a negation, but this baptism is positive; it is as cleansing, purifying
flame; it was good to know Jesus after the flesh, it is a thousand
times better to know Him after the Spirit: and this gift is to us and
to our children, and to all that are far off, even as many as the Lord
our God shall call.

When they heard this they were baptized into the name of the Lord
Jesus. They exalted Him to the throne of their hearts as the glorified
and ever-blessed Son of God. They directed their longing eyes towards
Him in his risen glory, that He should do for them as He had already
done for so many. And in answer to their expectant faith, the blessing
of Abraham came upon them--they received the promise of the Spirit by
faith; the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they were equipped for
witness-bearing in Ephesus by the very power which had rested once on
Elijah, and also on their first teacher and guide; and, as the result,
a revival broke out in that city of such magnitude that the magic books
were burned, and the trade of the silversmiths grievously injured.

This power of the Holy Spirit is for us all. Of course we could not
believe in Jesus in the remission of sin, or the quickening of our
spiritual life, apart from the work of the Holy Spirit; but there is
something more than this, there is a power, an anointing, a gracious
endowment of fitness for service--which are the privilege of every
believer. The Holy Spirit is prepared, not only to be within us for
the renewal and sanctification of character, but to anoint us as He did
the Lord at his baptism. He waits to empower us to witness for Jesus,
to endure the persecution and trial which are inevitable to the
exercise of a God-given ministry, and to bring other men to God. It
would be well to tarry to receive it. It is better to wait for hours
for an express train than to start to walk the distance; the hours
spent in waiting will be more than compensated for by the rapidity with
which the traveller will be borne to his destination. Stay from your
work for a little, and wait upon the ascended, glorified Redeemer, in
whom the Spirit of God dwells. Ask Him to impart to you that which He
received on your behalf. Never rest until you are sure that the Spirit
dwells in you fully, and exe