the Comforter is here, is
proof that the Advocate is there in the presence of the Father. Boldly
Peter and the other apostles now confront the rulers with their
testimony, "Whom ye slew and hanged on a tree . . . Him hath God exalted
with his right hand to be a prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to
Israel and forgiveness of sins; and we are his witnesses of these things;
_and so also is the Holy Ghost, whom God, hath given to them that obey
him_." As the sound of the golden bells upon the high priest's garments
within the Holiest gave evidence that he was alive, so the sound of the
Holy Ghost, proceeding from heaven and heard in that upper chamber, was
an incontestable witness that the great High Priest whom they had just
seen passing through the cloud-curtain, entering within the veil, was
still living for them in the presence of the Father. Thus has the "_dies
natalis_," the birthday of the Holy Spirit, come; and the events of his
earthly mission will now be considered in their order.

[1] "The Work of the Holy Spirit in Man," by Pastor Tophel, p. 32.

[2] See epistles to the seven churches: Rev 2: 11.

[3] John 14: 10.

[4] Lev. 23: 11-16.

[5] "Christ having reached his goal, and not till then, bequeathes to his
followers the graces that invested his earthly course; the ascending
Elijah leaves his mantle behind him. It is only an extension of the same
principle, that the declared office of the Holy Spirit being to complete
the image of Christ in every faithful follower by effecting in this world
a spiritual death and resurrection,--a point attested in every
epistle,--_the image could not be stamped until the reality had been
wholly accomplished; the Divine Artist could not fitly descend to make
the copy before the entire original had been provided_."--_Archer Butler_.

[6] John 20: 17. "Because though he and the Father are one, and the
Father his Father by the propriety of nature, to us God became a Father
through the Son, not by right of nature, but by grace."--_Ambrose_.

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III

THE NAMING OF THE SPIRIT

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"The name Paraclete is applied to Christ as well as to the Spirit; and
properly: For it is the common office of each to console and encourage
us and to preserve us by their defense. Christ was their [the
disciples'] patron so long as he lived in the world; he then committed
them to the guidance and protection of the Spirit. If any one asks us
whether we are not