and sat upon each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

We are not to suppose, that it was merely on the Apostles that the Spirit descended; doubtless, the whole number of the disciples were thus illuminated; and this idea gives a double beauty, and a double meaning, to that passage in the prophecy of Joel, quoted by St. Peter, in his address to the assembly on that occasion, where it is foretold, that in the latter days, both young and old, and those of both sexes, should be thus gifted. The effect produced by thus addressing their astonished auditors, each in his own language, may be imagined. They were all amazed, and various opinions were formed respecting the cause. Then Peter stood forth, and in the name of the rest, delivered a most eloquent harangue. By the early hour of the day, he refuted the charge of intoxication, which some had alleged against them; it was then but the third hour, (nine o'clock,) which was the time appointed for the morning sacrifice, to which the Jews paid great attention. He then boldly accuses them of having sacrificed the Lord of Glory, and plainly declares his resurrection, and his subsequent exaltation to the right hand of God, from whence he had thus shed

forth his Spirit upon his disciples. What a blessed change had been wrought in the heart of this Apostle! How glorious must that religion be, which could thus turn the coward into a zealous defender! Not many months before, the bare assertion of a maid servant, in the hall of Pilate, made him a perjurer and a traitor; now he boldly asserts the cause of his Master before an assembled multitude; and we are informed, that his discourse so far wrought upon the minds of his audience, that three thousand were converted and baptized that very day. Glorious harbinger of the approaching harvest! Blessed epitome of the future spread of the gospel! When these strangers returned to their various countries, doubtless the impressions of this day would long be remembered, and they would be anxious to diffuse among their countrymen the truths they had embraced.

After this event, we read that the disciples "continued steadfastly in the Apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer. And all that believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them unto all men, as every man had need." Permit me here to say a few words respecting community of goods, practised by this infant church, and by one sect among us still con

sidered as binding. It is, in my opinion, a mistaken idea, that we are strictly to adhere to practices at this distance of time, which was only applicable to the local circumstances of a primitive church. It might be necessary, in those times, for various reasons which do not exist at present. Our Saviour had frequently foretold the persecutions his disciples would experience after his ascension, and their consequent dispersion; their private property would, in that case, be seized by the Roman power, and all distinctions of rank would necessarily cease. Again, it was of the utmost importance to maintain that equality towards each other, that all might feel an equal interest in the concerns of the whole. But if we turn to the Epistles of St. Paul, (especially those addressed to Timothy,) we shall find him exhorting both the rich and the poor, a proof, that even at the short distance of fifty years, these distinctions had again arisen, and were permitted to exist in the church.

The chapter closes with a very favourable account of the progress of these early converts, under the divine blessing; by which means, there were added “ daily unto the church, such as should be saved." How strongly, my friends, does the subject we have been contemplating, recommend the institution, for the support of which we are assem

bled this afternoon,* namely, to relieve poor ministers in the country, whose income does not exceed forty pounds a year,† and to assist young students, who are looking forward to the sacred office.

I might here, with propriety, urge the necessity of a regular education for the ministry, and of a knowledge of those languages, in which the Scriptures were originally written, in order to understand and explain them. Even the three thousand converted by the first sermon of St. Peter, were not converted by the mechanism of a miracle, but by the force of instruction, and the energy of truth. The pressure of the times ought surely to afford no reason for withholding such assistance to our poor brethren; they feel such a pressure with double force. Many, I will venture to affirm, do not taste animal food more than one day in seven. Public affairs do indeed wear a serious aspect, but while the daily prints are so filled with accounts of amusements and spectacles, that the man of business is puzzled to find the commercial intelligence he seeks; let not any plead this excuse for lessening their bounty. The produce of one night's gaiety would probably

* Preached for the benefit of the Fund.
+ Now extended to sixty pounds.

render a whole family comparatively easy; and shall we set in competition a transient pleasure with such an exalted gratification? But I am persuaded, solicitation is unnecessary; your generosity on former occasions, I deem a pledge for your present exertions in so benevolent a cause; a cause, whereby Christianity is promulgated throughout this kingdom, and from which the most beneficial effects may be effected. May the divine blessing attend every endeavour to promulgate the interest of true religion; and may this institution especially meet with increasing success! Amen.