The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 179

—

Bigbtb Cbapter.

THE APOSTOLATE. XXIX.

The

Apostolate. may have

" That ye also

fellowship

with us: and tnily our fellowship is

with the Father, and with His

Son Jesus Christ."

The apostolate bears

—

i

John

i.

3.

the character of an extraordinary manifesta-

it, in which we discover a proper work Holy Spirit. The apostles were ambassadors extraordinary different from the prophets, different from the present ministers of the Word. In the history of the Church and the world they occupy a unique position and have a peculiar significance. Hence the

not seen before or after

tion,

of the

apostolate is entitled to a special discussion.

Moreover, the apostolate belongs to the great things which the

Holy

Spirit has wrought.

All that the Holy Scripture declares

concerning the apostles compels us to look for an explanation of their persons

and mission in a special work of the Holy

Spirit.

Before His ascension Jesus predicted repeatedly that they should be

His witnesses only after they shall have received the Holy Spirit an extraordinary manner. Until this promise is fulfilled they

in

remain hiding in Jerusalem. And when they raise the banner of the cross in Jerusalem and in the ends of the earth, they appeal to the power of the Holy Spirit as the secret of their appearance.

The

apostolate

was

holy,

and we

call

them

holy apostles, not be-

cause they had attained a higher degree of perfection, but "holy" in the Scriptural sense of

and

its furniture, for

By

sin

many

being separated, set apart, like the Temple

the service of a holy God.

things have

become unholy.

Before sin entered

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