The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…

OF THE SENDING OF THE HOLY GHOST.

Acts. 2. 14, 15, 16, 17, &c. 14 But Peter standing with the eleven, lift up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and ye all that inhabit in Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken unto my words. 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, since it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that, which was spoken by the Prophet Joel. 17 And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons, and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.

Acts. 2. 14, 15, 16, 17, &c. 14 But Peter standing with the eleuen, lift vp his voyce, and saide vnto them, Yee men of Iudea, and yee all that inhabite in Hierusalem, bee this knowne vnto you, and hearken vnto my words. 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, since it is but the third houre of the day. 16 But this is that, which was spoken by the Prophet Ioel. 17 And it shall be in the last dayes, saith God, I will powre out of my Spirit vpon all flesh, and your sonnes, and your daughters shall prophecie, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dreame dreames.

IN the former part of this chapter is set down the work of God in sending down the holy Ghost on the Apostles, as also the effects hereof, both in the Apostles, and in the hearers, wonderful in the one, diverse in the other, the Apostles speaking with such strage tongues, the hearers hitherto not greatly moved, but secretly murmuring & saying, they had drunk deeply, and so became eloquent. Whereat Peter taking this good occasion confuteth them by two reasons, first telling them it was but yet nine of the clock, or the third hour of the day, at what time men use not to be drunken. Nay, saith he, it is so far off, that we are drunken, as ye suppose, that it is with us clean contrary. For the thing is not come to pass, that one of your own Prophets foretold you, it is not superfluity of drink, but an abundance of God his spirit, not promised by special privilege to us alone, but to all sexes, conditions, and estates of men whatsoever, if ye be prepared to receive it. For as the Lord hath bestowed the gifts of his spirit on us, so will he also do it to you, if ye wilfully refuse not: and therefore the Lord is ready now to work wonders in the world; & whoso either wittingly refuseth, or carelessly abuseth these graces, shall be snared in these judgements, yet so, as the Lord being more ready to magnify his mercy, than to show his justice, will accomplish this, that whosoever calleth on the name of the Lord, shall both escape the judgements threatened, and also obtain these. And thus much both generally & briefly for the scope of this place. More particularly we may observe three special points: first, the liberal testimony of Joel, and his rich commendation of the grace of God in bestowing such graces on his Church under the kingdom of Jesus Christ, and this is set down, vers. 17. 18. the second thing is, that at what time the Lord will thus deal with his people, the Lord will send many judgements, as heresies, offences, dearths, plagues, and wars, which here are declared in figurative and borrowed speeches of blood, fire, vapour of smoke, and such like, whereby he will punish and avenge himself for the contempt of so gracious mercies, as vers. 19. 20. and the third thing is the means how we shall escape such heavy judgements, and attain to such heavenly graces, and so persevere in them, which is declared vers. 21.