that the H. Ghost at his Coming would Convince the World of his Righteousness or Innocency which was then Eclips'd as it were by the Calumnies and the Obloquies of Men but would be clearly manifested to all and would shine out again to a perfect day at the Coming of the H. Ghost But how should the H. Ghost Convince the World of our Saviour's Innocency Because says he I go to my Father and ye see me no more That is * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 D. Crysost in loc by publishing at his Descent how that our Saviour was ascended unto his Father so as we see him now no more on Earth and urging This as the great Argument of his most Righteous and Holy Life And this the H. Ghost should do by the Ministry of the Apostles and the Mighty Power with which he should go along with them in the whole Course of it giving them full Evidence of the Truth of these Things and enabling them to convince others of them and the World should not be able to stand out against the Force of their Testimony How this was perform'd by the Apostles at the Descent of the H. Ghost we have an ample Account in Scripture This was so remarkably fulfill'd that on the very Day on which the Spirit of God descended upon these Holy Men viz. the Day of Pentecost the First Thing they did was to Vindicate our Saviour's Innocency against the Jews by these same Arguments of his Resurrection from the Dead and Exaltation at the Right Hand of God For when great Multitudes flock't to the place where they were assembled 't is said that Peter standing up with the Eleven spake in this manner (o) Acts ii 22. Ye Men of Israel hear these words Jesus of Nazareth a Man approved of God among you by Miracles and Wonders and Signs which God did by him in the midst of you as ye your selves also know Him being delivered by the determinate Counsel and Foreknowledge of God ye have taken 23. and by wicked hands have Crucified and Slain 24. Whom God hath raised up having loosed the pains of Death because it was not possible that he should be holden of it 32. This Jesus hath God raised up whereof we are all Witnesses And being by the Right Hand of God exalted 33. and having received of the Father the Promise of the H. Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear Therefore let all the House of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have Crucified both Lord and Christ Now 36. what was the Effect of this Discourse Was any body convinc'd of our Saviour's Innocency by it Read what follows (p) Vers 37. When they heard this they were pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles Men and Brethren what shall we do O the Mighty Power of the Spirit of God! which brought the very Murtherers of our Lord those who but few daies before had so bitterly revil'd him and persecuted him to the Death to acknowledge his Innocency and their Guilt and come trembling and crying at the feet of his Apostles Men and Brethren what shall we do Here indeed it was that the Blessed Apostles Conquer'd and overcame the World Where-ever they went this was the thing they constantly Preach'd and enforc'd on the Belief of Mankind That it was no strange thing that a Good Man should Suffer That Jesus was a Righteous and an Innocent Person That the Ignominious Death he had been put to was no Argument at all of his Guilt but of the implacable Malice of his Enemies whose horrible Hypocrisy drew from him those sharp but just Reproofs that in Revenge made them seek his Destruction If any doubted it they bade him consider how God had glorified him after Death crown'd him with Honour in the Highest Heavens who had been so ill intreated and so shamefully reproached upon Earth Seated him on his own Throne far above all Angels and Principalities and Powers and Mights and Dominions and every Name (q) Eph. i. 21. who had been despised and rejected of Men (r) Isa liii 3. For it was most certain God had rais'd him from the Dead They saw him spake with him eat and drank with him after his Resurrection many days (ſ) Luk. xxiv 30.42 Joh. xxi 12 c. They touch'd him and handl'd him (t) Luke xxiv 29. Matt. xxviii 9. They thrust their hands into his Side and they put their fingers into his very Wounds (u) Joh. xx 25.27 So that they were sure it was a Real Body which they beheld and felt and not a Spirit or a Phantasm that deluded them and that it was the very self-same Body which had been dead and breathless before that was now quick and alive again for another Body could not have had the Prints and the Marks and the Scars upon it which they saw As for his Ascension into Heaven and his Session at the Right Hand of God it was as Certain and Undoubted as his Resurrection from the Dead For after he had remain'd on Earth forty daies (x) Acts i. 1 c. Luk. xxiv 50. both to assure them by many infallible Proofs that he was indeed risen and to instruct them in the Things pertaining to the Kingdom of God he assembled them on the Mount of Olives where after he had blessed them whilest he was yet speaking unto them and they beheld him he was taken up and a Cloud received him out of their sight They saw him visibly mount up and take his Flight towards the Mansions of Eternal and Immortal Bliss And tho' he was able in a moment in the twinkling of an Eye to have passed from the Earth to the Highest Heaven he set out at first and march'd up but slowly so that they stood gazing up a long while after him as he went up (y) Acts i. 10 11. that they might the better observe his Ascending And lest it should be thought that he had been only carried up in the Air †So some Ancient Hereticks thought and there left in some of those Wild and Unknown Regions two Angels came down in bright and shining Apparel * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibid. who most expresly assur'd them that our Everlasting High-Priest was entred into the Holiest of all (z) Heb. ix 8 11 12 24. the Third and Inmost Heaven where is the Throne of God on which he was to sit and that they should see him one day come down from thence in like manner as they had now seen him taken up (a) Acts i. 11. namely when he should return to Judge the World Thus did these Holy Men by the mighty Power of the Spirit of God which strengthen'd them in an extraordinary manner upbraid the World with its Cruelty and Injustice to their Lord by shewing how God had Justified him thô Men had Condemn'd him He
Prince of this World be cast out (t) Joh. xii 31. And again The Prince of this World cometh and hath nothing in me (u) xiv 30. St. Paul calls him yet somewhat more even The GOD of this World (x) 2 Cor. iv 4. These were some of the Usual Names and Appellations by which the Devil was Known and Understood among the Jews †Vid. Doctiff Lightf Hor. Hebr. Thalmud in Joan. Cap. xii Vers 31. who thereby intended to express that Empire which he had at that time over the whole World that little corner of it where they dwelt Palestine only excepted There indeed the true God was Confess'd for in Juda God was known his Name was great in Israel (y) Ps lxxvi 1. But every where else a dark Night of Idolatry and Paganism cover'd the face of the Earth and Wretched Men forsaking the God that made them (z) Deut. xxxii 15 16 17. paid Religious Service to the Devil * Toto passim Terrarum Orbe rerum potiebatur Satanat colebaturque ab cmnibus propemodùm Gentibus Nationibus Ubiq extabant Delubra in illius Honorem crecta ubique Arae ubique Sacrisitia c. Author Comment in Luc. adscript Tito Bostrens Ep. in Auctuar Biblioth Patr. Tom. xi He had Sumptuous and Magnificent Temples erected to his Honour Glorious and Goodly Shrines which were every day throng'd with vast Multitudes of Worshippers of all Countries under Heaven He had all the Rites and Ceremonies of a Public and Solemn Ministration appointed him Flamins and Priests ordain'd to attend and to serve at his Altars which sent up a Cloud of Incense towards Heaven and reek'd with the Blood of the Victims that were offer'd him But that Murtherer (a) Joh. viii 44. chiefly delighted in Human Sacrifices †Euseb Praeparat Evang. lib. ix cap. 15. alibi passim Lactant. Divin Instit lib. i. cap. 21. Minuc Foelix in Octav. Porphyr 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lib. ii Sect. 53 54 c. Parents made him a Burnt Offering of their Children and drown'd the Cries of the Dying Innocents with the Noise of Drums and Cymbals He had Vestals and Holy Virgins consecrated to him He had Augurs and Sybils and Prophetesses that spake in his Name and deliver'd his Oracles to Men when they consuited him about Future Events Our Lord then tells his Disciples in the Text that the PARACLET at his Coming would overthrow this Empire which the Devil had set up in the World and this Prediction was most exactly accomplished at the Descent of the H. Ghost For that Blessed Spirit coming down on the Apostles arm'd them with such an irresistible Power that they soon led Captive the Prince of this World Wherever they went by the Doctrine which they preach'd and the mighty Works which they did for the Proof and Confirmation of it they destroy'd his Kingdom and set up the Kingdom of Christ They beat down his Idolatrous Temples and built Churches on their Ruines * Euseb Praepar Evang. lib. iv cap. 4. They overturn'd his Altars and erected the Triumphant Cross They struck dumb his Oracles †Id. ibid. lib. v. cap. 16 c. Id. Demonst Evang. lib. v. in Proem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and publish'd aloud in all places the glad Tidings of the Gospel and by that means convinc'd the Unbelieving World that That impure Spirit who had so long reign'd in the Earth whose Nostrils had been fed with the Steams and Fumes of so many Sacrifices was now Judg'd and Condemn'd and That Jesus who had been Crucified and who sate at the Right Hand of God was the only God and Lord. When the H. Ghost came down and assisted the Apostles in Preaching up Jesus and the Power of his Resurrection (b) Phil. iii. 10. then fell Satan as Lightning from Heaven (c) Luk. x. 18. who had said I will exalt my Throne above the Stars of God I will be like the most High (d) Isa xiv 12 14. No sooner did the Light of the Gospel by the Ministry of these Holy Men display its Beams o'er the benighted World but the Powers of Darkness vanish'd and fled at its Glorious Appearance The Devil could not bear that Light which discover'd the Imposture he had kept the World under for so many Ages How Absolute was he in the World before when all the Mighty Kingdoms of the Earth paid him Homage and were daily prostrate at the foot of his Altars Well might he be call'd The Prince of this World who Reign'd on this side Heaven with so uncontroul'd an Empire and to whom were offer'd the Vows the Supplications and Prayers of the Idolatrous Nations Some worship'd him under one Name some under another but under those Various Names he had those Divine Honours paid him that were due to the only Supreme God For what were all those False Divinities of the Gentile World but Impure Daemons ‖ Ps xcvi 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuag Omnes Dii Gentium Daemonia Vulgat who nestl'd in those Unhallowed Places where those Divinities were Worship'd * Isti impuri Spiritus sub Statuis Imaginibus consecratis delitescunt afflatu suo authoritatem quasi praesentis Numinis consequuntur dùm inspirantur Vatibus Fanis immorantur Oracula efficiunt Minuc Fael in Octav. In eadem ferè verba S. Cyprian lib. de Idolorum Vanit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Scriptor Respons ad Orthodox apud Just Martyr and under those Various Names †Iidem sunt Daemones quos vulgus Deos esse opinatur qui dejiciendi hominis causâ varios sibi cultus per diversa Regionum condiderunt mentitis tamen assumptisque Nominibus ut fallerent Lactant. Divin Instit lib. iv cap. 27. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Athenag legat pro Christianis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Scriptor Respons ad Orthod utsupr drew unto themselves the Adorations of Mankind This is evident from Scripture where the Worship of Heathen Gods and Idols that is of those Spiritual Invisible Intelligences which the Idolatrous World thought to reside in the Visible Objects of its Worship in some Naturally as in the Heavenly and Elementary Bodies in others by the Virtue of Magical Consecrations and Telesms ‖ Rapere ad se Daemonia omnem Spiritum immundum per Consecrationis obligamentum Tertul. lib. de Idolol as in Images and the like Artificial Representations is expresly term'd a Worship of Devils (e) Revel ix 20. See also Lev. xvii 7. Deut. xxxii 17. ii Châ—on xi 15. c. Thus the Apostat Israelites who made their Children pass through the fire to Molech the Abomination of the Ammonites and the same with Saturn are said to have Sacrificed their Sons and Daughters unto Devils (f) Psal cvi 37. The Things which the Gentiles sacrifice says the Apostle plainly they sacrifice to Devils and not to God (g) 1. Cor. x. 20. And he calls the
Table where they feasted after those Sacrifices in honour of their Gods the Table of Devils (h) Ibid. Vers 21. But what is now become of all those False Divinities which swarm'd in the World when Our Saviour came in it They are gone They are perish'd from the Earth The Coming of the H. Ghost and the Preaching of the Gospel has convinc'd the World that they were indeed but Devils and the Nations who once worship'd them We among the rest worship now the Great God the Creator of Heaven and Earth and bow the Knees before the Lord Jesus the Saviour and the Redeemer of the World * Mr. Mede Disc on Jerem. x. 11. pag. 193. How successfully did the Holy Apostles †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. D. Crysost de Sto. Paulo Apostolo Hom. xxxii in Epist ad Rom. and the First Preachers of Christianity assisted by the Spirit of God go up and down the World erecting Churches on the Ruins of Idolatry How did they every-where by the Mighty Power that went along with them shake the Foundations of the Devil's Kingdom How did they expose to view the Impious Cheats the Obscene Mysteries the Ridiculous Pomps and Pageantries of his Religion How did they confound the Wisdom of the Philosophers and triumph'd over all the Ministers of Paganism In less than Forty Years time there was no Part of the then known and Habitable Earth where the Gospel was not Preach'd and in few Years more the whole World in a manner became Christian Where-ever Christianity appear'd the Devil was forc'd to quit his Idolatrous Temples He was aw'd by the Presence of the meanest Christian coming into them ‖ Cùm Diis suis immolant si assistat aliquis Signatamfrontem gerens sacra nullo modo litant Cùm enim quidam nostrorum sacrificantibus Dominis assisterent imposito frontibus Signo Deos eorum fugaverunt Lactant Divin Instit lib. iv cap. 27. His Service and Sacrifices grew into Contempt His Priests withdrew into Corners and Villages * Inde Religio Pagana Vid. Cl. Sarravij Epist Posthum pag. 90. Superstitio ultima resedit in Pagis ubi tenaciâ—re cultu Rustici sua Numina adorabant Certè Religio Pagana indè appellata quod in Pagis adhuc perseveraret cùm ab Urbibuâ— jam esset exterminata His forsaken Oratories were raz'd or fell of themselves to the Ground and if some for the Beauty or Conveniency of their Structure were thought worthy to be preserv'd they became the Mansions of the H. Ghost and the Name of Jesus was Invocated in them When a Strong Man armed keepeth his Palace his Goods are in Peace says our B. Saviour foretelling this Destruction of the Devils Temples But when a Stronger than he shall come upon him and overcome him he taketh from him all his Armour wherein he trusted and divideth his Spoils (i) Luk. xi 21 22. The Ceasing of Oracles which at the time of our Saviour's appearance began to be very rare but were not perfectly Silenc'd till the Descent of the PARACLET and in proportion to the Progress which Christianity made in the World is a Famous Instance of what the H. Ghost did then in it Viz. scatter'd those Evil Spirits that abus'd the Credulity and Simplicity of Mankind chac'd away the Father of Lies (k) Joh. viii 44. that he should deceive the Nations no more (l) Rev. xx 3. This I observe again because it was then much taken notice of not only by Christians †Vid. suprà but by the very Heathens themselves ‖ Cicer. de Divinat Lib. ii Porphyr apud Euseb Praep. Ev. Lib. V. passim who were amaz'd at that unusual Silence and wonder'd the Gods did not answer their Worshippers as formerly Plutarch we know wrote a Book about it * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Inter Opusc Moral Now how the World has been convinc'd by this remarkable Judgment which our Lord after his Ascension executed on the Devil the Prince of this World by sending the PARACLET I think I need not lose time to shew you It being That which has most evidently demonstrated that That Jesus must needs be a Great and a Mighty God who has thus overcome the Devil by the Force of his Spirit and has wrested the Worldly Power and Empire out of his hands 'T is that which has opened the Eyes of Men that were before blinded with Ignorance and Prejudice and turned them from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God (m) Acts xxvi 18. 'T is That which has set up Christ's Throne in the World and made those that were before the Devil 's most Zealous Votaries become Converts renounce him as we do still at the Sacred Fonts and Profess themselves the faithfull Soldiers and Servants of our Lord †The Ancient Form of Baptism Whereby you see how exactly our Saviour's Promise to his Disciples has been fulfilled Nevertheless I tell you the Truth It is expedient for you that I go away For if I go not away the PARACLET will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you And when he is come he will reprove the World of Sin and of Righteousness and of Judgment Of Sin because they believe not on me Of Righteousness because I go to my Father and yet see me no more Of Judgment because the Prince of this World is judged The Consideration of these Things I fear has carried me too far For who can sufficiently repeat the Mighty Changes which the H. Ghost wrought in the World at his Coming the Glorious Triumphs of our Lord over all his Enemies on Earth after his Exaltation at the Right Hand of his Father But I must forbear Therefore to Conclude You have heard that the End of the Coming of the PARACLET was to do these Three Things I. To Vindicate the Truth of our Saviour's Mission as to his Office and to shew that he was the very Christ sent from God and therefore that 't is a very great Sin not to believe on him II. To Vindicate his Righteousness or Innocency as to his Life and Conversation among Men from the unjust Calumnies and Reproaches of the World and That by shewing how God had raised him from the Dead taken him up from the Earth and seated him next to his Divine Majesty in Heavenly Places which 't is not conceivable God would have done had he deserv'd the ill Usage he receiv'd among Men. III. To avenge him on all his Enemies bring them like so many condemn'd Captives at the Foot of his Throne and slay them before his face who would not have this Great King to Reign over them (n) Luk. xix 27 especially to avenge him on the Devil The Prince of this World by overthrowing his Kingdom casting him out of his Idolatrous Temples and causing the Name of Jesus to be Magnified in the World You have heard how eminently All these Things have
come to pass We have heard with our ears O God! Our Fathers have told us what Work thou didst in their days in the Time of old (o) Ps xliv 1. Now the best Use that we can make of this Discourse is to be confirm'd by it in the Belief of Christianity that Blessed Religion by which alone we can hope to be Eternally Saved That is to say in the Belief of Jesus his Life his Death his Doctrine his Miracles his Resurrection his Ascension into Heaven the Power he has now over the Quick and the Dead and the Final Judgment he will accordingly pass and execute on All at the Last Day when he shall come to reward every Man according to his Works (p) Matt. xvi 27. For these are the Things that I call Christianity all others being but Superstructures on this Great Foundation The World can have now no Plea for its Infidelity if it does not believe in this Jesus and in this Religion after the Truth of it has been attested by so many Instances of a Divine Power going along with it and setting it up against all Oppositions of Devils and of Men. And this I mention because I know how many there are who do really question the Truth of our most Holy Faith in this Sceptical and Degenerate Age. We abound with certain Vain and Frothy Men who are not afraid to Scoff openly at Christianity and These would pass in the World for the Great Masters of Reason Men of true Latitude of Thought who will not be enslav'd by Opinions grounded only on the Report of Priests that tell them I know not what Stories of one Jesus and the Mighty Works done by him because 't is their Trade to Preach up these Things and their Interest to have them Believ'd 'T is strange indeed that this Spirit of Infidelity should still possess the World after all that God hath done to Convince it and to ascertain the Truth of Our Holy Religion God no sooner made Man but he Reveal'd himself to him He appear'd frequently to the Patriarchs in the First Ages of the World Under the Law he gave a very clear Knowledge of himself to Mankind inspiring Prophets and sending them in his Name But in these last Days he has spoken unto us by his own Son who being the Brightness of his Glory and the express Image of his Person (q) Heb. i. 2 3. came down on the Earth and made himself like unto one of us that he might more familiarly converse among Men. He fulfill'd all the Prophecies that had been given many Ages before as Marks to know him by when he came He spake so as no Man ever spake (r) Joh. vii 46. And he seal'd the Truth of his Doctrine by such Miracles as none could do but He that had all the Powers of Nature subject to his Command And when he had finish'd what he came to do on the Earth when by a Free and Voluntary Oblation of himself upon the Cross he had made Atonement for the Sins of the whole World he rose gloriously from the Dead and in the Sight of many Withnesses was taken up into Heaven Presently after his Ascension he sent the PARACLET to confirm all that he had said or done before That Blessed Spirit came down and wrought New Signs and Wonders by the hands of his Apostles They spake with Tongues and in the Name of Jesus they cast out Devils They were endued with such Wisdom and Vertue from above that they drew after them the Admiration of the World the Heathens crying out That the Gods were come down on the Earth in the likeness of Men (Å¿) Acts xiv 11. The Effects of this Miraculous Power of the H. Ghost accompanying them were in very little time seen throughout all the World The Devil's Kingdom was overthrown his Oracles were silenc'd the Temples of the Idols were demolished Paganism was beat down and Christianity prevail'd wherever it appear'd These are plain Matters of Fact delivered down to us by Credible History and by the Constant and Universal Tradition of all Ages Now if Men will not be Convinc'd by these Things what can God do more to Convince them They that can doubt after this neither would they be perswaded I do not say though one rose from the Dead (t) Luk. xvi 31. for That our Lord hath done and a great deal more for their Conviction but thô a Voice should speak unto them from Heaven And here I cannot conceal my Thoughts that Infidelity or a Denial of the Truths of Christianity now that is since the Descent of the H. Ghost I very much suspect to be that tremendous Sin and Blasphemy against the H. Ghost which our Lord pronounces to be Unpardonable in this World and in that which is to come I am confident that if That Sin can be committed now it must be This or I know not what it is I say unto you all manner of Sin and Blasphemy shall be forgiven unto Men says our B. Saviour But the Blasphemy against the H. Ghost shall not be forgiven unto Men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man it shall be forgiven him but whosoever speaketh against the H. Ghost it shall not be forgiven him neither in this World neither in the World to come (u) Mat. xii 31 32. Our Lord here states a Difference betwixt Sinning against the Son of Man that is against himself and Sinning against the H. Ghost They that were Guilty of Sin against the Son of Man were the Jews who liv'd in our Saviour's time saw his Miracles and yet did not believe on him And thô this no doubt was a very great Sin nevertheless upon Supposition of the 〈…〉 and Acknowledgment of him which 〈…〉 sonably be expected from those furâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 that God was yet to make use of 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—iction had still room left for Pardon For when the Lord said this he was not yet Risen he was not yet Ascended into his Glory and the PARACLET was not yet come down All these Great Evidences of Christianity were still wanting to leave them without excuse And doubtless many were Convinc'd by them that did not at first believe But They are Guilty of Sin and Blasphemy against the H. Ghost who have liv'd since the Manifestation of that Blessed Spirit and have heard of all the Mighty Things he has wrought in the World to attest the Truths of Christianity and yet continue in their Unbelief This our Lord declares to be Unpardonable because Pardon presupposeth Repentance and Faith in our Saviour but Faith must proceed from a Conviction of the Mind and They whom these Things will not Convince can never be Convinc'd Because since the Descent of the H. Ghost no New Revelation is to be look'd for all Extraordinary Dispensations are ceas'd The Sending of the H. Ghost was the Last that God had resolv'd to use for the Conviction of Men and we must expect no other * Cameron Myrothec Evang in Loc. supr Alloquitur Dominus Pharisaeos qui Patris Oeconomiam quae antè Christi Adventum vigebat insuper habuerant suamitem Blasphemantes spreverant Ait ergò licet Oeconomias illas quamdiù duravere contempserint esse tamen spem veniae sub Tertiâ quae Spiritui Sancto tribuitur Sancti verò Spiritûs Oeconomiam si prosequantur odio sublatam esse omnem veniaespem quia Quarta Oeconomia minimè expectari debet Therefore They that doubt still after this must doubt on for ever Their Case is desperate and they must be abandon'd to their own perverse and Reprobate Sense GOD in his Infinit Mercy preserve us all from Hardness of Heart and from doing despite unto the Spirit of Grace (x) Heb. x. 29. AMEN THE END