328 SERMON PREACHED ON THE ISLAND. 
" 1. An exhortation. ' The Spirit and the 
Bride say, Come.' 
"Our blessed Saviour said to his disciples. 
a short time before He suffered, ' It is expedient 
for you that I go away ; for if I go not away, 
the Comforter will not come unto you.' And it 
is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, that on 
the day of Pentecost, the Holy Ghost, the Com- 
forter, descended upon the Apostles, and so 
endued them with power from on high, that, 
regardless of personal safety, they hastened forth 
into the midst of Jerusalem, and there, sur- 
rounded by a mixed and innumerable multitude, 
declared the wonderful works of God. 
" But the Holy Spirit did not descend upon 
the Apostles merely to invest them with mira- 
culous power, by which they might prove that 
Jesus was the Messiah, and that they, in conse- 
quence of their attachment to Him, while He 
sojourned upon earth, were thus singularly and 
favourably noticed. Far otherwise ; for one 
especial purpose of the coming of the Holy Ghost 
was to c convince the world of sin.' And that, 
this purpose was accomplished on the memorable 
day alluded to is certain ; for the multitude, after 
hearing Peter's declaration, i were pricked in 
their heart, and said unto Peter, and to the rest 
of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall 
we do?' 
" Oh, what a glorious specimen of divine 
mercy was here ! what a proof that God is long- 
suffering, slow to anger, and willeth not the death 
of a sinner, but that all should turn unto Him, 
and live ! Here, in the very place where Christ 
