Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/300

 III. These dispositions,  as  has  been  already  remarked, in regard  to  the  Apostles,  were  retirement,  constant prayer, mutual  concord,  and  the  company  and  protection of the  blessed  Virgin. Imitate them  in  these  dispositions, and  take  care  that  after  having  been  warmed  by the  influence  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  you  do  not  return  to your  former  state  of  coldness  or  tepidity.

I. The  time  which  God  had  ordained  having  expired, and the  Apostles  being  duly  disposed  by  prayer,  the Holy Ghost  descended  upon  them  whilst  "  they  were  all together  in  the  same  place." (Acts ii.  1.)  Learn,  hence, to be  constant  in  prayer,  to  be  united  with  your  brethren, and to  avoid  singularity,  if  you  wish  to  be  visited  by  the Holy Ghost. Besides, He  came  suddenly,  because  His visitations have  no  fixed  time,  and  therefore  ought  to  be sought  for  without  intermission,  and  to  be  waited  for with long  expectation.

II. "And it  filled  the  whole  house  where  they  were sitting." Ponder the  unbounded  liberality  of  the  Divine Spirit which  left  nothing  void  in  His  gifts. " The  earth is  filled  with  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord,  as  the  covering waters  of  the  sea." (Is. xi.  9.)  Although  they  were  all filled, yet  one  received  more  than  another  in  proportion to his  capacity. Hence the  blessed  Virgin  received  more than all  the  rest. Enlarge, therefore,  your  heart,  that you may  deserve  to  receive  a  large  proportion  of  His divine gifts. "Open thy  mouth,"  He  says  by  the  Royal Psalmist, "and  I  will  fill  it." (Ps. lxxx.  11.)

III. " And  there  appeared  to  them  cloven  tongues  as