Either the Holy Ghost Himself is a fire, as we learn from the Acts, when there sat as it were fire on the tongues of the believers; and thus the word of the Lord was fulfilled who said, “I am come to send fire on the earth, I will that it burn.” [Luke 12:49]
Or, we are baptized now with the Spirit, hereafter with fire; as the Apostle speaks, “Fire shall try every man’s work, of what sort it is.” [1 Cor 3:13] [ed. note, e: The fire here spoken of is interpreted by S. Austin, (Enchir. 68) and Pope Gregory, (Dial. iv. 40) of the “troubles of this life;” by S. Ambrose, (in Ps. 118, 20. n. 15. apparently, Hil. in Ps. 118, 3. n. 12) of the “severity of the divine judgment;” by S. Chrysostom, and Theophylact, (in loc.) and Pseudo-Athanasius, (Quaest. in Ep. Paul. 98. t. 2. p. 328. Ed. Ben.) of “hell-fire;” by Ambrosiaster, (in loc.) S. Jerome, perhaps, (in Isa. 1. fin.) and also by S. Austin and Pope Gregory, of a “purgatorial fire.”]
Reproduced in full. Translation: Oxford 1841 (Newman), public domain (Public domain).