your leisure, and read it, and think about it. An evangelist called Philip goes down to the city of Samaria, and preaches Christ to the people. His preaching is wonderfully successful. The inhabitants of the town listen to his statements with the greatest interest, believe them, give their hearts to Christ, and are baptized in the Saviour's name, both men and women, the whole population apparently turning to the Lord. Now we are expressly told that no one believes in the name of Christ that is, really believes - except through the teaching and help of God the Holy Ghost. These Samaritans, then, must have received the Holy Ghost in order to be enabled to believe. Just mark that. awhile, tidings of what has happened are taken to Jerusalem. "Samaria," it is said, "has received the Word of God;" and the Church at Jerusalem sends down a deputation consisting of two of their most important members, St. Peter and St. John, to enquire into the matter. When the Apostles come, they are perfectly satisfied that the work is the work of God: and what do they do? They gather the baptized Samaritans together, and pray for them, and lay their hands upon

After

them, and the result is, that these Samaritans receive the Holy Ghost. But we say, "Had

they not received the Holy Ghost before?" Certainly they had, if they were true believers in Christ. "What, then, was it that they received?" An additional gift of the Holy Spirit, more of the Holy Spirit, an increase of the Holy Spirit. And now they are able to do what they could not do before,―work miracles, perform cures, cast out devils, speak with tongues, and do other miraculous things.

This narrative very clearly unfolds to us the true nature of the rite which we call Confirmation. You have been baptized, and your baptism has not been a mere idle ceremony, a mere empty form. You have been endeavouring, God helping you, to live the life of the baptized, you have let Christ enter into your heart and conduct, you have been striving to please Him, and, if so, you have been under the influence of the Holy Spirit; for none but the Spirit could put such desires into your mind, and enable you to bring them to good effect. You have, then, like the Samaritans, received the Holy Ghost. But when you present yourself solemnly before God, after due thought and preparation, and

when the servant of God appointed for that purpose prays for you, and lays his hands upon you, then you have a right to believe that your graces will be strengthened, and that you will receive an increase of that gift of the Holy Ghost which has been already bestowed upon you.

Come to ConfirmaYou tion, expect

Come, then, with holy confidence, into the presence of God and of His servant. are just about to launch upon the open sea of life, with all its perils and trials.

You

know not what temptations you may be plied with, what difficulties you may have to encounter, what obstacles you may have to surmount. At all events, you may be sure that your course will not be altogether smooth and easy. Hitherto you have been sheltered, to a great extent, from trial; now you will have to confront it. What do you need? More of the gift of the Holy Ghost; the increase of knowledge; the increase of strength; the increase of true godliness; the increase of every spiritual blessing, to enable you to fight the good fight of faith, and to lay hold on eternal life, whereunto you have been called.

Come then, and receive what you so much require!

ing God to

meet you

and give you a blessing.

IV.

THE SOURCE OF OUR STRENGTH.

Our need TO the disciples-dismayed at the prospect

of power.

of parting with their Master, and not knowing how they should be able to carry on their work without Him-the Saviour addressed these encouraging words: "Ye shall receive power." Power! That was just what they wanted. In themselves, they were-they knew it weak and cowardly. They shrank from the Cross. The prospect of standing up to answer for themselves before the great ones of the earth was appalling to them. How were they,-unlearned men, without wealth, or social position, or influence, to face a gainsaying world, and to revolutionize the existing order of things? And yet this was their task: the task which their Lord had assigned to them to fulfil.

Power! Yes: power was the great necessity for them, in the circumstances in which they were placed.

by the Holy

But whence were they to receive this Power given power? They were to receive it by receiving Spirit. the Holy Ghost. It is God the Holy Ghost Who will impart to them the strength, and nerve, and force, and endurance, which they require for the spiritual enterprise. "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." And, although they did not then quite understand what the Saviour meant, they were comforted by the assurance. If they knew nothing else, this, at least, they did know, that Christ would not send His servants out to do a work for Him in the world without equipping them and qualifying them for it. In this belief they rested.

And in this belief-(for the words apply to us, as truly as to the disciples of old)—I wish that you also would rest. My younger friends, you have done the thing that is right, by presenting yourselves for confirmation. You have obeyed the Saviour's command, and have openly professed your allegiance to Him. And now you stand in