flaming enthusiasm, fervent love, burning zeal, and should work
transformation into its own fiery substance. The rejoicing power, the
quick energy, the consuming force, the assimilating action of fire,
are all included in the symbol, and should all be possessed by
Christ's disciples.

But were the tongue-like shapes of the flames significant too? It is
doubtful, for, natural as is the supposition that they were, it is to
be remembered that 'tongues of fire' is a usual expression, and may
mean nothing more than the flickering shoots of flame into which a
fire necessarily parts.

But these two symbols are only symbols. The true fulfilment of the
great promise follows. Mark the brief simplicity of the quiet words
in which the greatest bestowment ever made on humanity, the beginning
of an altogether new era, the equipment of the Church for her age-
long conflict, is told. There was an actual impartation to men of a
divine life, to dwell in them and actuate them; to bring all good to
victory in them; to illuminate, sustain, direct, and elevate; to
cleanse and quicken. The gift was complete. They were 'filled.' No
doubt they had much more to receive, and they received it, as their
natures became, by faithful obedience to the indwelling Spirit,
capable of more. But up to the measure of their then capacities they
were filled; and, since their spirits were expansible, and the gift
was infinite, they were in a position to grow steadily in possession
of it, till they were 'filled with all the fulness of God.'

Further, 'they were _all_ filled,'--not the Apostles only, but the
whole hundred and twenty. Peter's quotation from Joel distinctly
implies the universality of the gift, which the 'servants and