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 clothed with suitable words, so as fully to express to every man, in his own native language, the truths contained in the heavenly discourse of the apostles. Thus while they spake, under Divine influence, the language of heaven, the truths thereof, upon being received by the devout hearers, would be heard by each in his own tongue.

The inspiration under which the apostles were, is expressed by the cloven tongues of fire which sat on each. Tongues are mentioned in Scripture to signify doctrine, and the oral confession of the Lord. The tongues are said to be cloven, or rather, divided, to teach us that the heavenly doctrines of the Lord are always to be applied to two distinct purposes,—to goodness and truth—love and wisdom—charity and faith. These, in reality, cannot be separated, and hence the cloven or divided tongues, give not the least idea of separation, but only as the dividing of two branches springing from one root. As by tongues are meant the doctrines of heaven, so the celestial love of God, from whence all doctrine proceeds, is denoted by their appearance being as of fire; for celestial love is the hallowed fire of heaven. One of the privileges of all true believers in the Lord is, "They shall speak with new tongues." (Mark xvi. 17.)

O contemplate the Creator of heaven and earth in his true character as He has been pleased to