The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 163

XXVI. Israel

and the Nations. "Because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost."— Acis x. 45.

The

question that arises with reference to Pentecost

is

:

Since

imparted saving grace to men before and after Pentecost, what is the difference caused by that descent of the the

Holy

Holy

Spirit

Spirit?

An

may explain the difference. The rain descends man gathers it to quench his thirst. When house-

illustration

from heaven and holders collect

each in his own cistern,

it

family separately

;

it

comes down

but when, as in modern city

life,

for every every house is

by means of mains and water-pipes, no more need of pumps and private cisterns. Suppose that a city whose citizens for ages have been drinking each from his own cistern proposes to construct a reservoir that will supply every home. When the work is completed the water is allowed to run through the system of mains and pipes into every house. It might then be said that on that day the water was poured out into the city. Hitherto it fell upon every man's roof; now it streams through the organized system into every man's house. Apply this to the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, and the difference before and after Pentecost will be apparent. The mild showers of the Holy Spirit descended upon Israel of old in drops of saving grace but in such a manner only that each gathered of the heavenly rain /of himself, to quench the thirst of each heart separately. So it continued until the coming of Christ. Then there came a change; for He gathered the full stream of the Holy Spirit for us all, in His supplied from the city reservoir,

there

is

;

With Him

are connected by the channels of His ascension, this Connection with His saints was completed, and He had received the Holy Spirit from His Father, then the last obstacle was removed and the full stream

<nvn Person. faith.

And when,

all saints

after

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