send his Holy Spirit down upon them and would baptize them with the Holy Ghost 16 John 13. and Fire 15 John 26.5 Act. 5. or with the Holy Ghost appearing in a fiery Shape and by that Spirit would shew them things to come and from his Promise made not to them only but to Believers in general that they should receive the Holy Ghost * Note that at the Feast of Tabernacles they were accustomed to compass the Altar with Branches in their Hands crying out Hosanna but on the last Day of the Feast they were enjoyn'd to compass it thus seven times saying some Prayers in which they oft repeated these Words Hosanna and Hatzlicha save now and prosper us and as they add by the Institution of their Prophets they then fetch'd Water from the Fountain of Siloah and brought in into the Temple to their Priests who poured it out upon the Altar with the Wine of the Sacrifice singing these Words of the Prophet Isaiah With joy shall ye draw Water out of the Wells of Salvation 12 Isa 3. and whilst they were thus singing th y expected the Holy Spirit should fall upon them Talmud tract de festo Tabernac cap. câ—aâ—l And hence we learn why this Day was called the great Day of the Feast and why our Lord spake then to them of the Holy Ghost under the Metaphor of Water 7 John 38 39. and lastly from the Promise made by St. Peter to all Jews and Gentiles then presâ—nt at Jerusalem and being Witnesses of the miraculous Gifts of this good Spirit confer'd on the Apostles in these Emphatical Expressions 2 Acts 38 39 Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the Remission of sins and ye shalt receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost for the Promise is to you and to your Children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call These things being so plainly foretold and certified and made the matter of a Promise we have good reason to conclude that they were true for had no signal Evidence been given of the Completion of all the Promises now mentioned upon the Primitive Professors of the Christian Faith the Expectation of the Christians must have been entirely frustrated and the whole Story of the Evangelist St. John and of the Acts of the Apostles must have been convinced of Falsehood especially when they so roundly do pronounce of Christs Disciples they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and that great Grace was upon them all 4 Acts 31 33. 2. Moreover that this was the usual Effect of Baptism especially where 't was attended with the Imposition of the Apostles Hand that some of those miraculous Gifts were for a time confor'd on all at Baptism seems highly probable from the Baptists Words who when Jerusalem and all Judaea and all the Region about Jordan had been baptized of him speaks thus to them Mat. 3.11 I indeed baptize you with Water to Repentance but he that cometh after me shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and Fire from the Tenor of the Promise 2 Joel 28. It shall come to pass in the last days I will pour out of my Spirit upon all Flesh From St. Peters Engagement 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to every baptized Person that he should receive the Holy Ghost and that because the Promise did relate to all the Jews 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and all the called Gentiles from St. Pauls Question to the Disciples of St. John 19 Acts 3 5 6. What Baptism have ye receiv'd who confess that with it ye received not the Holy Ghost and his baptizing them in the Name of the Lord Jesus that so the Holy Ghost might fall upon them From his express Words to the Church of Corinth even where he is discoursing of these extraordinary Gifts 1 Cor. 12 13. That by one Spirit they were all baptized into one Body and from his Declaration to the whole Church of Ephesus 1. Eph. 13. that after they believed and were baptized they were all sealed with the Spirit of Promise and from the close Connexion of the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Just M. Dial. 2. p. 94. D. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or baptized Persons with the tasting of the Spiritual Gift and being made Partakers of the Holy Ghost and of the Powers of the World to come 6 Heb. 4 5. Here then we find a Promise of the Holy Ghost without restrictions and a Completion of it answerable to the largeness of the Terms in which it was compris'd and consequently Matter of Fact avouched in Confirmation of the Apostles Testimony of which no Person that was baptized could be ignorant and of the Falshood of which Testimony no Christian could be Witness from his own Experience without a Demonstration of the Falshood of the Assertors of that Faith 3. Their Writings give us great Assurance of the Completion of this Promise to Believers the History of the Acts of the Apostles begins with the Descent of the Holy Ghost on the Disciples at the Day of Pentecost Acts 2. and the Experiment they gave of his miraculous Assistance to Men of every Nation under Heaven it proceeds to tell us how he fell on the Samaritan Converts at the Imposition of the Hands of John and Peter Acts 8 17. how at the Preaching of the same Apostle he fell upon the Family Acts 10 44. the Friends and Kindred of Cornelius and upon twelve Disciples of the Baptist upon the Imposition of the Hands of the Apostle Paul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 1.11 The same Apostle beginneth his Epistle to the Romans thus I long to see you that I may impart unto you some spiritual Gift that you may be established And he concludes it thus I know that when I come to see you I shall come in the Fulness of the Blessing of the Gospel of Christ Rom. 15.29 In his Twelfth Chapter Rom. 12 6. he declares that he had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 divers Gifts according to the Grace given to them particularly that of Prophesie In his Fifteenth Chapter he declares he was the Minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles Rom. 15 16. ministring the Gospel of God to them that the Oblation of the Gentiles to God might be acceptable being sanctified by the Holy Ghost adding Rom. v. 81. that Christ had efficaciously wrought with him to make the Gentiles obedient in Word and Deed by mighty Signs and Wonders and by the Power of the Spirit of God In his First Epistle to the Church of Corinth he abounds in such Expressions as manifestly do respect these Gifts not only exercised by him but received by them I thank my God 〈◊〉 11 5 6 7. saith he for the Grace given you in Jesus Christ that in every thing you are enriched in him in all Vtterance or Tongues and all Knowledge even as the Testimony of Christ was confirmed in
that obey him When Peter was accused for transgressing the Jewish Rites by conversing with Cornelius and others uncircumcised Persons he apologizes for himself by saying The Holy Ghost fell upon them 11 Acts 15. as upon us at the beginning and by that fact convinced the Zealots of the Circumcision when the believing Pharisees contended that it was needful to Circumcise the Gentiles and to command them to keep the Law of Moses St. Peter by this Argument confutes them That God who knows the hearts of Men bare witness that though uncircumcised they were accepted with him 15. Acts 8. by giving them the Holy Ghost even as he did to us St. Paul speaks thus to the Church of Corinth My preaching was in demonstration of the Spirit 1 Cor. 2 4. and in power that they had received the Confirmation of the Faith bv the Arrabo the Pledge 2 Cor. 5.5 or earnest of the Spirit by whose Testimony they were abundantly confirmed in the Truth of what they did believe and in the Certainty of what they did expect These Gifts are represented by him as a convincing Motive to the Prophet or spiritual Person to acknowledge that what he wrote was the Commandment of God 1 Cor. 14.3 That the Gospel which he preached was the undoubted Truth and that which was to be retain'd in opposition to the Law he proves to the Galatians because the ministration of the Spirit and the Power of working Miracles was the result not of the Law but of the Gospel-Dispensation For thus he puts the Question to them 3 Gal. 1. 3 Gal. 2 3 Gal. 3 3 Gal. 5. O foolish Galatians who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the Truth this only would I learn of you Received you the Spirit by the Works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith Are you so foolish having begun in the Spirit are you made perfect in the Flesh He therefore that ministreth the Spirit and worketh Miracles among you doth be it by the Works of the Law or by the Hearing of Faith In his Epistle to the Thessalonians he argues their Election by God because his Gospel came not to them in Word only 1 Thes 1. v. 5 6. but in Power and in the Holy Ghost and much assurance and they received the Word in much affliction and with joy in the Holy Ghost In his Epistle to the Hebrews he shews the dreadful Issue of the Contemners of the Gospel upon this account that God bare witness to it by Signs 2 〈◊〉 4. and Wonders and divers Miracles and Distributions of the Holy Ghost according to his will Now Arguments of this nature neither could be urg'd by nor being offer'd could prevail upon wise and considering Men had not the Matter of Fact on which they did intirely depend been uncontestible 5. This argument receives yet farther strength from this consideration that those Gifts and powerful Operations of the Holy Spirit were either such of which even Infidels might from the Nature of them be convinced or such as from some outward or sensible Appearance or by their inward Operations and Effects made themselves known to them who had receiv'd them for instance the working of Miracles as the making the Lame to walk the Deaf to hear the Blind to see the Dead to live which were all Miracles of Mercy or the inflicting Blindness upon Elymas or Death on Ananias and Saphira 13 Acts. 11. 5 Acts 5 10. the delivering Men up to Satan the Rod which the Apostle threatens to the Disobedient in the Church of Corinth which were all Miracles of Judgment the casting out Devils by the Name of Jesus the healing the Sick by Imposition of Hands the Gifts of Prophecy and discerning of Spirits the Gifts of Tongues and the Interpretation of them if truly done were things self-evident and could not well be exercis'd without a sensible Demonstration to all that saw perceiv'd heard or felt them that they were perform'd And therefore by enabling his Servants to perform them God gave full testimony to the Word of his Grace Some of these Gifts 1 Cor. 14.22 23. saith the Apostle were signs not to them that believe but to them that believed not and by the Exercise of them he will be convinced and the Secrets of his Heart will be made manifest and he will be induced to consess that God is in you of a Truth and therefore these are fitly styled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Manifestation of the Spirit 1 Cor. 12.7 The Baptism of the Spirit was at the first attended with a lambent Fire so he fell on the Apostles in the shape of fiery Tongues 3 Mat. 16. when our Lord Jesus was baptized the Holy Ghost descended on him in the Shape of a Dove say the Evangelists Epiph. Haer. 30. N. 13. 8 Rom. 23. 2 Cor. 1.22 4 Eph. 30. Ch. 1. 13 8 Rom. 15 16. 4 Gal. 6 7. 1 Joh. 5 10. 1 Joh. 4.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Fire was kindled in Jordan saith Justin Martyr Dialcu Tryp p. 315. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a great Light shone upon the Place saith the Gospel of the Nazarens which the Syrian Churches also acknowledge in their Liturgy The Spirit then given to believers is stiled the first Fruits which rais'd an expectation in them of the Redemption of their Bodies ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 1 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 1.21 22. vid. 2 Cor. 5 1-5 5 Gal. 5. 1 Thess 1.5 2 Tim. 1.14 the Earnest of the Spirit in their Hearts the Spirit by which they were sealed up to the Day of Redemption the Earnest of their Inheritance for the buying out of the purchased Possession the Spirit by which they were enabled to cry Abba Father who testified to their Spirits that they were the Sons of God and should be heirs of Glory and the VVitness of God within them Which expressions plainly intimate that they who had this Spirit could certainly know he dwelt in them and could be thence assured of their Relation to God and of the Happiness which he had promised to them according to the saying of St. John hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit Moreover 6. The Primitive Professors of the Christian Faith afford us a full Testimony of the Continuance of those Gifts and Operations of the Holy Ghost in after Ages St. Clemens the Companion and Fellow-labourer with St. Paul in his Epistle to the (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 S S. 2. Church of Corinth saith that they were filled with an insatiable desire of doing good and that there was a full Effusion of the Holy Ghost upon them all Eusebius adds that the first Order of the Succession of the Apostles and the Evangelists which preached the Gospel after them (b) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hist Eccl. l. 3. c. 37. did many and strange Wonders
A DISCOURSE Confirming the TRUTH and CERTAINTY OF THE Christian Faith From the Extraordinary GIFTS and OPERATIONS OF THE Holy Ghost Vouchsafed to the APOSTLES and PRIMITIVE PROFESSORS of that FAITH By Daniel Whitby D. D. and Chantor of the Church of Sarum LONDON Printed for A. Churchill at the Black Swan in Pater-Noster-Row MDCXCI Imprimatur Geo. Royse R. Rmo. in Christo Patri at Dom. Dom. Johanni Archiep. Cantuar. a Sacris June the 30th 1691. THE PREFACE TO THE READER THAT this Discourse may not seem to take that for granted which cannot be proved and that some Notions in it seemingly new may give the Reader no Offence I crave leave to premise First That the Holy Ghost was certainly designed for a Witness to the Truth of our Lord's Resurrection and Exaltation to the Right-Hand of Majesty and given to confirm the Christian Faith For First Our Saviour doth assure his Disciples that this his Advocate should at his coming convince the World of Sin viz. of the great Sin of Infidelity because they believed not in him 16. Jo. 9 10. and of Righteousness or that He though condemned by the Sanhedrim as a False Prophet and a Deceiver of the People was a just and righteous Person one highly favoured by the God of Heaven because the sending of the Holy Spirit was a full Evidence that he was Gone to the Father that he was exalted to the Right-hand of God and had received from the Father the Promise of the Holy Ghost Secondly St. John the beloved Disciple doth inform us that the Spirit was the great Witness that Jesus was the Son of God Joh. 5.6 8. and that of the three Witnesses on Earth to this great Truth the Holy Spirit was the first Thirdly St. Paul doth frequently declare that by the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. the Gifts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 1.21 22. and Distributions of the Holy Ghost the Testimony of Christ was confirmed to all Christians and that God by giving this Holy Spirit to them did confirm them in Christ And upon this as well as other Accounts he seemeth to be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Advocate of Christ because he was to undertake the Defence of the Ministry and the Prophetick Office of our Lord against the Presidents of the Sinagogue and the great Sanhedrim of the Jews who had condemned him and procur'd his Death as a False Prophet Secondly I premise that the Sin against the Holy Ghost seems best explained by that Notion of the Holy Ghost which I have here espoused to make this as clear as I am able let it be noted First That there is a manifest Distinction in the New Testament betwixt the Power of working Signs and Miracles and the Gifts and Distributions of the Holy Ghost As when St. Paul speaketh of things wrought by him to make the Gentiles obedient in Word and Deed by mighty Signs and Miracles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 15. Rom. 19. and Powers of the Holy Ghost when he speaks of the Gospel preached by him in demonstration of the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor 2.4.1 and in Power and of the Duty of the Clergy to commend themselves to others by the Holy Ghost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 6.6 7. and by the Power of God VVhen he speaks to his Galathians of him that ministreth the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 Gal. 5. and worketh Miracles among them And to his Thessalonians of the Gospel coming to them in Power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Thes 1.5 and in the Holy Ghost And lastly to the Jewish Converts that God bore witness to the Word of his Grace by Signs and Wonders and divers Miracles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Heb 4. and Distributions of the Holy Ghost And that being baptized 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 6 Heb. 4 5. they were made Partakers of the Holy Ghost and had tasted the Powers of the World to come Secondly That the Holy Ghost was sent after our Saviour's Resurrection to bear witness both to the Truth of his Resurrection and of the Doctrine which he taught He giving in his Testimony with the Apostles of these things For when the Advocate cometh 15 Joh. 16 17. which I saith Christ will send you from the Father he shall testifie of me and you also shall bear Witness of me for you have been with me from the beginning Accordingly we saith St. Peter are his Witnesses of these things 5 Act 32 and so is the Holy Ghost which he hath given to those that obey him Thirdly That our Lord Jesus and his Apostles seem plainly to assert the Holy Spirit was to give in his Testimony after his Resurrection and Ascension to the Father This is so evident from the forecited Places and from that Expression of St. John 7 Joh. 39. the Holy Ghost was not yet because that Jesus was not yet glorified that it seems needless to add any thing in farther Confirmation of it Now hence it follows that the Holy Ghost was to be a succeeding Testimony to that of the Miracles wrought by our Saviour upon Earth and consequently that the Sin against the Holy Ghost was a Sin chiefly and compleatly to be committed afterwards which also seemeth probable even from the Tenor of oâ—r Saviours Words 12 Luk. 10. 12 Matt. 24. 3 Mark 29. Whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man as you now do who say He hath a Devil and casts out Devils by Beelzebub it shall be forgiven him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but whosever hereafter shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven him Fourthly Observe that this was the last Testimony God would exhibit to the Jews to evidence to them that Jesus was indeed the true Messiah and that on their Rejection of it depended their being given up to judicial Blindness and to utter Desolation and Excision from being any more hiâ— Church and his peculiar People Accordingly after this Blasphemy against our Lord both He and his Disciples sâ—ill call them to that Faith and Repentance which would assuredly procure their Pardon but then He warns them of the Greatness of their Sin as being next to that which was unpardonable informing them that as they had blasphemed the Miracles wrought by he Finger of God or by the Power of the Spirit before their Eyes so if they should add to this the Contempt of those internal Gifts and Operations of the Holy Ghost which were to be vouchsafed after his Resurrection for farther Confirmation that he was the Son of God their Sin should then become unpardonable And the Author to the Hebrews declares it a thing impossible to renew them to Repentance 6 Heb. 5 6. who being made Partakers of the Holy Ghost and having tasted the Powers of the World to come did notwithstanding wilfully apostatize from the Profession of
you so that you are deficient in no Gift He spends his whole Twelfth Chapter in the Enumeration of those Gifts by which the Manifestation of the Spirit was confirmed among them viz. the Gifts of Wisdom 1 Cor. 12 8 9 10 29 30. Knowledge Prophesie and the discerning of the Mind of God the Gift of Miracles of Faith of Healing of divers kinds of Tongues and the Interpretation of them concluding with these Questions Are all Apostles Are all Prophets Are all Teachers Are all Workers of Miracles Have all the Gifts of Healing Do all speak with Tongues Do all interpret but covet earnestly the best Gifts 2 Cor. 8 7. In his Second Epistle he declares that they abounded in Faith in Utterance and Knowledge He chides them for abusing these extraordinary Gifts by making them Occasions of their Boasting in that mistaken Place 1 Cor. 4.7 What hast thou of these Gifts which thou hast not received and if thou hast received them wherefore dost thou boast as if thou hadst not received them and for their using them so as to breed Confusion in the Church 1 Cor. 14 26. saying How is it Brethren that when ye come together every one of you hath a Psalm hath a Doctrine hath a Tongue hath a Revelation hath an Interpretation Let all things be done to edifying His Apostleship being despised or questioned by some or being judg'd inferior to that of others he confirms and justifies it by declaring That his Preaching was not in the enticeing Words of Man's Wisdom 1 Cor. 2.4 but in Demonstration of the Spirit and in Power that they themselves were manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ ministred by him written not with Ink 2 Cor. 3.1 3. but with the Spirit of the living God and that he therefore needed no other Letters of Commendation to them that he was not a whit behind the very chief of the Apostles 2 Cor. 11.4 5. and that they had received no other Spirit than what they had received from him that in nothing was he behind the very chief of the Apostles the Signs of an Apostle being wrought among them by him in all Patience in Signs and VVonders 2. Cor. 12.12 13. and mighty Deeds and that in nothing were they inferiour to any other Churches In his Epistle to the Galatians he compares himself with the chief of the Apostles and the Pillars of the Church 2. Cal. 7.8 9. declaring that he who wrought effectually in Peter to the Apostleship of the Circumcision was as efficacious in him towards the Gentiles that these Pillars saw and perceived by the Grace given to him that the Gospel of Uncircumcision was committed to him as the Gospel of the Circumcision was to Peter and therefore gave unto them the Right-hand of Fellowship that he with Barnabas 3. Gal. 13 14. 1. Eph. 3.15 Rom. 29. 6. Heb. 4. should go unto the Gentiles and they unto the Circumcision Adding for Consolation to the Gentiles that Christ had redeemed them from the Curse of the Law that the Blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles that they might receive the Promise of the Spirit through Faith He magnifies the God of Heaven for blessing his Ephesians with all Spiritual Blessings in heavenly things * Note that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be so rendred in this Place is probable 1. From the Phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the Gifts of the Holy Ghost are stiled 15. Rom. 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Blessing of the Gospel and the Promise of the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Blessing of Abraham 3. Gal. 14. 2. Because these Gifts are stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thus when our Saviour had 3. John 12. discoursed of the Spirit received in Baptism he saith he had told them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and they who were Partakers of these Gifts are said to have tasted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vis of the heavenly Gift 7. Heb. 4. or Gifts in Christ Jesus he prays that God would farther give unto them the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation for the Acknowledgment of Christ and he exhorts them to be filled with the Spirit speaking one to another in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs The same Exhortation he repeats to his Colossians And a like Prayer he makes for them that they may be filled with the Knowledge of his Will in all Wisdom and spiritual Vnderstanding Two of his Admonitions to the Thessalonians are conceived in these Words quench not the Spirit despise not Prophesies * 5 Eph. 16.17 †3 Col. 16. 1 Col. 9. ‖ 1 Thes 5.19 20. The Author to the Hebrews pronounces it a dreadful thing to fall from the Profession of the Christian Faith 6 Hebr. 4 5. because upon their first embracing of it they had tasted of the heavenly Gift and of the powers of the VVorld to come and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost and therefore by revolting after they had thus received the Knowledge of the Truth chap. 10. vers 29. they did despite to the Spirit of Grace St. Peter advertiseth the same converted Jews that the Gospel was preached to them by the Assistance of the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven 1 Pet. 1.12 And he gives these instructions to them for the Use of their extraordinary Gifts ch 4. 10 11. As every Man hath received 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Gift so let them minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God if any Man sâ—eak let him speak as the Oracles of God if any Man minister let him do it as of the Ability which God giveth that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ St. John informs the Christians 1 John 2.20 27. that they had an Vnction from the Holy one and they knew all things necessary and that the Vnction they had received abiding in them they had no need that any Man should teach them but as the same Anointing taught them all things Moreover saith he c. 3.24 hereby do we know that we abide in Christ by the Spirit which he hath given us and that this was their Preservative against the many Antichrists that were in the World 4. That these extraordinary Operations of the Holy Ghost were thus vouchsafed to confirm the Christian Faith is farther evident from the Consideration that the Apostles do with the greatest Confidence produce this Testimony of the Holy Ghost as a convincing Demonstration of the Resurrection of our Lord and of the Truth of what they had delivered in his Name and as a full justification both of their Office and their Actions The God of our Fathers 5. Acts 30 31 32. saith St. Peter hath raised Jesus to be a Prince and a Saviour to give Repentance unto Israel and we are his Witnesses of these things and so is also the Holy Ghost which he hath given to those
by the Holy Ghost Ignatius the Martyr saith of the (c) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Proem Church of Smyrna that she was favoured with all Gifts and was deficient in no Gift Justin Martyr in his Dialogue with Trypho declares expresly of those who were converted to the (d) Novi nonnullos indies Christi Disciplinam suscipientes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dial. cum Tryph. P 258. A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 308. B. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 315. D. Christian Faith that they every one received the Gifts as they were worthy when they were Baptized some the Spirit of Knowledg some of Council some of Fortitude some of Healing some of Fore-knowledge some of Doctrine And again amongst us saith he even to this present Time the Gifts of Prophesie are preserved whence you Jews ought to understand that what of old was proper to the Jewish Church is now translated to us and a third time Our Men and VVomen have the Gifts of the Holy Ghost Irenaeus speaking of the wonderful Operations of our Lord sayeth thus (e) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 L. 2. c. 57. They who are truly his Disciples receiving Grace from him do the like VVorks in his Name as every one hath received the Gift from him some ejecting Devils so efficaciously that they who were delivered from them espous'd the Christian Faith and constantly persevered in it others had the Knowledge of things future Divine Visions and prophetical Predictions were vouchsafed to them others by Imposition of Hands cured the Diseased and others raised the Dead 'T is needless saith he to insist upon Particulars for the miraculous Gifts which the Church throughout the VVorld enjoys and the beneficial Miracles she worketh for the good of Heathens are innumerable And treating of these Words of the Apostles VVe speak VVisdom among those that are perfect he saith that (f) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 L. 5. cap. 6. the Apostle by the perfect Vnderstandeth those who have received the Spirit of God and by that Spirit speak all Languages as we our selves have heard from many Brethren of the Church having prophetick Gifts and by the Spirit speaking all Languages discovering the hidden things of Men and manifesting the Mysteries of God Here then we find by all these early Testimonies of Martyrs for the Christian Faith that in the first and second Centuries innumerable Gifts were still continued not only to some Churches but to all Churches every where that every one at their Baptism received some or other of these Gifts and that there was a full Effusion of the Holy Ghost upon them all that these are Relations not of things past and gone or only performed in a Corner but of things performed every day in the Face of the publick Assembly and so confirmed by the joynt Testimony of all Christian Churches that they were Miracles which their own Eyes had seen Tongues and Prophetick Gifts which their own Ears had heard Gifts which they urg'd against the unbelieving Jew for his Conviction and beneficial Miracles so truly wrought upon the Heathen that they were efficacious to engage them to espouse and persevere unto the end in the Profession of the Christian Faith And therefore this may well deserve to be esteemed Adv. Cols l. 1. â— p. 5. as Origen well stiles it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the proper Demonstration of our Jesus the Archetype or essential VVord no other Doctrine no other Pretender to the Power of doing Signs or Wonders having ever derived the Power from himself on others entayl'd it on them by Promise or engag'd that all Believers should receive it no Heathen Apollonius no Roman Jugler ever pretending to enable their Followers to speak with Tongues to interpret the Language of another to discern the Secrets of Mens Thoughts to confer all or any of these Gifts by Imposition of Hands And Secondly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the most Divine Convincing Demonstration of the Truth and the celestial Original of that Faith which gave the full Effusion of these Gifts to the Professors of it I have hitherto discoursed as if the Gifts of Healing Diseases casting out Devils and working other powerful Miracles were to be reckoned among the Gifts of the Holy Ghost and I indeed believe that all these are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Operations of the Spirit but then I humbly conceive that this Phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Gifts of the Holy Ghost doth in the Scripture bear another Sense and doth dictinctly * This is the constant Notion of the Holy Ghost among the Antient Jews See Maimon More Nebâ—thim Pa t 2. c. 45. Gradus Secundus Mr. Smiths Select Disc Tract of Prophesie Ch. of the Holy Ghost signifie the inward Gifts by which the Understanding is enlightned and is enabled to perform things which by Nature it could not do without immediate Workings of the Holy Ghost When therefore we read in Scripture of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I grant we generally are to understand miraculous Operations performed upon others as the Healing of the Sick making the Lame to walk the Deaf to hear the Blind to see the Dead to live the casting out and silencing of Devils and their Oracles but when we find in Scripture mention of the Holy Ghost and of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost or Spirit I humbly conceive we rather are to understand the Gifts of Wisdom Knowledge Faith Prophesie discerning of Spirits the Gifts of Tongues and the Interpretation of them My Reasons for this Notion which I submit to better Judgments are these following 1. Because our Saviour whilst he was upon Earth 10 Mat. 8. 10 Luc. 9.17.19 7 Joh. 39. 16 J h. 7. 2 A â—s 33. gave to his Apostles and to the Seventy Disciples Power to heal the Sick to cleanse the Lepers raise the Dead and cast out Devils and yet the Evangelist St. John informs us that the Holy Ghost was not yet because that Jesus was not yet glorified Our Saviour tells his own Disciples that the Paraclyte would not come till he departed And St. Peter That our Lord being exalted to the Right-hand of God received the Promise of the Holy Ghost the Holy Ghost therefore must signifie some thing distinguished from the Power of working Miracles 2. It is almost impossible to conceive that the Disciples of the Baptist mention'd Acts 19. had never heard of the other Miracles wrought by Christ and his Apostles and yet they do expresly say we have not heard whether there be an Holy Ghost this Phrase must therefore in their apprehension signifie somewhat distinct from what we properly do call the Power of working Miracles 3. The Prophecy of Joel which by St. Peter is mention'd as the Promise on which the giving of the Holy Ghost was founded is only a Promise of Visions Dreams and Prophecy but not of Miracles and the Gifts of the Spirit mention'd by the Prophet Isaiah are only those of Wisdom Chap. 11 2 3.
Knowledge Vnderstanding Council Courage Piety and the Fear of God no mention being made of signs and wonders 4. Because throughout the History of the Acts of the Apostles where St. Luke hath occasion to mention the Miracles which the Apostles and Primitive Professors did he always uses the Words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wonders Signs Powers but where he speaks of Persons prophesying or speaking with Tongues the wonderous Things of God he doth as constantly ascribe this to the Holy Ghost descending on them Instances of the first kind you will find 2 Acts 22 43. ‑ 4.16 22 30 33. ‑ 5.12 ‑ 6 8. ‑ 8.6 13.14 3. ‑ 15.12 ‑ 19.11 Instances of the second kind occur 1 Acts 16. ‑ 2.4 11. ‑ 7.51 ‑ 8.17 ‑ 10.44 45. ‑ 19.2 6. ‑ 20.23 28. ‑ 21.11 ‑ 28.25 ‑ 5. Because where the Scripture mentions these things together it puts a manifest Distinction between Signs and Wonders and Gifts Vid. Supr prefat and Operations and distributions of the Holy Ghost as v. 9.15 Rom. 19.3 Gal. 5.2 Heb. 4.21 And therefore having spoken of these things hitherto in general and without distinction for farther demonstration of this Matter I proceed to speak more particularly of some of those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Gifts which in the stricter Acceptation of the Word do bear that Name 1. And first the Gift of Prophecy affords a signal Demonstration of the Assistance of the Holy Ghost vouchsafed to the Abettors of the Christian Faith I have already shewed that this Gift was exercised at Rome at Thessalonica 't is represented by St. Paul as a thing common and luxuriant in the Church of Corinth who declares 1 Cor. 14.26 31. v. 1. that each Man had his Revelation and that all might prophesie and that they should desire spiritual Gifts but above others Prophesie Moreover he instructs them how and when to use and when to limit and restrain this Gift and chides them for abusing the plentiful Effusion of it to the Confusion of the Church the Disturbance of the Peace and the Hindrance of her Edification Now the Word Prophesie imports sometimes only the Interpretation of the Scriptures or Will of God to the Edification Exhortation or Comfort of the Hearer sometimes the composing of spiritual Hymns of Praises and Thanksgivings by the immediate Assistance of the Holy Spirit in both which Senses it is used by St. Paul when mentioned among the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vouchsafed to the Church of Corinth but then it was so used or with such Evidences of Divine Assistance as to convince not only the Unlearned but Unbelievers that God was in them of a truth 1 Cor. 14.23 24. Sometimes it signifies the Prediction of future and contingent things as when the Author of the Revelations saith that the Testimony of Jesus was the Spirit of Prophesie 10 Rev. 19. 11 Acts 27 28. 13 Act. 1.21 Act. 9 10. and in this Import of the Word we have mention in the Acts of the Apostles of the Prophet Agabus who foretold the Dearth which was to happen in the Reign of Claudius Caesar and of other Prophets coming from Jerusalem to Antioch of Prophets and Teachers at Antioch of four Daughters of St. Philip which did prophesie And among the Gifts dispensed by our Saviour when he ascended up on high are reckoned Prohets and Evangelists Pastors and Teachers Thus Justin Martyr tells the Jew that the Gift of Prophesie Dial cumâ— Tryph. p. 308. which among them had long since ceased was conferr'd upon the Christians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for we have to this very time the Gift of Prophesie Lenaeus saith L. 2. c. 57. That Prophesie and Visions Predictions of things future and Revelation of things secret were frequent in his days And in Eusebius there is mention of an * The Prophets of Montanus saith he prophesied Euseb Eccl. Hist l. 5. c. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eusebius also adds that some thought Mâ—ntanâ—â— Aâ—cibiades and Theodotus might Prophesie because there were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Many strange Effects of this Divine Gift still remaining in divers Churches Hist Eccles l. 5 c. 3. Antient VVriter who to consute the Montanist all whose pretended Prophets were Extatick brings in a Catalogue of the renowned Prophets of the Christian Church who never suffered the like Phrensies and after calls for a Succession of these Prophets as a thing necessary in the Christian Church which had the Gift then ceased could not have been required from its Adversaries without the greatest Prejudice to the Church of Christ Now this was even by the Heathens admitted as a certain Rule Si divinatio ergo Deus and 't is as certain that if God vouchsafed the Gift of Prophesie to Christians in Confirmation of that Faith that Christianity is derived from God Add to this 2dly That they who were then called to Sacred Functions were either chosen to them immediately by the Holy Ghost or with their ordination they received some measure of these extraordinary Gifts this indeed we might reasonably expect who know the Manifestation of the Spirit was given 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the benefit of others 1 Cor. 12 7. that they should be more eminently vouchsafed to those Men who wee particularly designed for the perfecting of the Saints 4 Eph. 12. for the VVork of the Ministry for the edifying the Body of Christ We find that Christ himself was consecrated to his Prophetick Office by the descent of the Holy Ghost on him at Baptism and when he ordained his Apostles he saith unto them as my Father sent me 24 Lâ—ke 4. so send I you receive the Holy Ghost and would not suffer them to begin their testimony concerning him till they should be endued with Power from above or with the Holy Spirit 12 Acts 2. The Holy Ghost said separate me Barnabas and Saul for the VVork whereunto I have called them St. Paul speaks thus unto the Elders of Asia 20 Acts 28. 1 Tim. 4 14. 2 Tim. 1.6 Eph. ad Cor. ss take heed to your selves and to the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers And he advises Timothy not to neglect the Gift which was given him by Prophecy and the Imposition of the Hands of the Presbytery to stir up the Gift received by imposition of hands Clemens Romanus saith that the Apostles out of their Converts chose Bishops and Deacons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clemens of Alexandria adds that John coming from Asia ordained such to be of the Clergy who were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euseb Hâ—â— Eâ—cl l. 3. c. 23. as I may render it presented to him by the Holy Ghost Ignatius saith of the Bishops placed every where that a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Epâ—â— Epâ—â—â—â— 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Ep. ad Philadelph S. S. 1. they were appointed by
Apostles in these Writings speak the Words of Truth and Soberness in that which they deliver'd touching these Gifts and Operations of the Holy Ghost and did not boast of that which they had not performed in those Churches or of that of which those Churches had no experience will be evident from these Considerations 1. That they suffer'd loss of Goods Life Credit and of all that could be counted dear unto them to confirm the Truth of what they taught and they perswaded Myriads in all those places to which these Writings were directed by them to follow the Example of their Sufferings propounding to them only the first Fruits the Earnest the Comfort of the Holy Spirit here the Joys of Heaven hereafter as the true Motive and Engagement to endure all these dreadful things Now if Persons void of Subtilty and human Artifices as the Apostles were deliver to the World a Doctrine which is according to Godliness and worthy of the God of Heaven as is the Christian Faith if they declare they had Commission from Heaven to divulge that Doctrine and that they expected at present no advantage by it but only the most dreadful Sufferings this being what their Master had foretold and that to which they were appointed 16. Joh. 2 33. 1 Thes 3.3 4. as we read in their Epistles if accordingly they did suffer all that Wit and Malice could inflict upon them and sealed their Doctrine with their Blood I say when all these Circumstances concur what reason can we have to dispute their testimony or think they could be acted by any Motive in the Publication of the Christian Faith but the Conviction of the Truth of what they published Again since Men who are convinced of a future Happiness are naturally so unwilling to quit the Pleasures and the Enjoyments of the World in Prosecution of that Happiness can it be thought that many Myriads who could have no conviction of it if these things were false should with the greatest Joy and Freedom part with Life and all the sweet Enjoyments of it to promote a known Delusion and in defence of those Epistles which made a frequent mention of Gifts and Miracles imparted to them when they had no experience of them especially if thirdly we consider that the Assistance and Comforts of the Holy Ghost were promised to all Christian sufferers and they were told that as their troubles did abound 2 Cor 15. 1. Pet. 4 14. their comforts should abound much more that when they were reproached and exercis'd with fiery Tryals they were happy People because the Spirit of Glory and of God would rest upon them this the Apostles taught them to expect and this say the Apostles ye have found for ye became Followers of the Lord and of us 1 Thes 1â— 6 having receiv'd the Word with much affliction and joy of the Holy Ghost Now if this promise was sensibly made good unto them they receiv'd the Earnest of the Truth of Christian Faith and an assurance of God's concernment to encourage and reward the faithful Christian but if they found no sensible experience of this Pledge and Earnest of these Consolations what reason had they to expect the Blessings of another World or to continue to take joyfully the spoiling of their Goods the Loss of Credit Life and all their worldly Comforts in propagation of that Faith which had so palpably deceiv'd them and to establish the Belief of those Epistles which contained these apparent Falsehoods Secondly If Men in their Epistles to their Proselytes speak largely of the Gifts which they have exercised and of the mighty Works they have performed among them and also of the Power conferr'd upon those very Proselytes to exercise those Gifts and do those Wondrous Works if in those very Writings they appeal to the Senses and the Consciences of those to whom they write and boldly tell them that their Eyes have seen and their own Consciences bear Witness to the Truth of what they say and if those very Writings which contain these bold Appeals are by those very Men to whom they do appeal received and embraced as Divine Epistles there can remain when all these Circumstances do concur no place for doubting of the Truth of this Appeal Now that this was most certainly the Case of our Apostles cannot be reasonably denyed if you admit that they then writ when what they said might easily have been confuted if it had been false for they with the greatest Confidence assert That God confirm'd the Word of his Grace by doing Signs and Wonders by their Hands that he bare witness to it by mighty Signs and Wonders 2 Heb 4. and Distributions of the Holy Ghost as hath been prov'd already Thirdly You have heard them also frequently asserting and testifying that the like Gifts and Operations were vouchsafed to those Churches to which these Letters were directed and that they were all Partakers of this Grace Fourthly For Confirmation of these Sayings they appeal unto the Searcher of all Hearts and to the Consciences of those to whom these Writings were directed even you your selves say they 1 Thes 2.10 11. are Witnsses and God also how holily justly and urâ—â—lâ—mably we behaved our selves among you for neither at any time used we flattering Words as you know nor a Cloak of Covetousnes God is witness Vers 3 4. our Exhortation was not of Deceit or Guile we have not followed curiniâ—â—gly devised Fibles we have not walk'd in Craftinefs nor hundled the word of God deceitfully 2 Cor. 4.2 but do by manifestation of the Truth commend our selves to every Man's Conscience in the sight of God Now these Considerations do mightily confirm the truth of what they have deliver'd in these Books for can it rationally be be conceiv'd that Men of such Abilities to write the deepest Mysteries and the exactest Precepts of Morality should be so strangely foolish as to confirm them chiefly by an Appeal to the Sences and Experiences of those Men who as themselves were well assured had never seen or done or found the least Experience of any of those things they mentioned but if we could suppose that the Apostles had been so strangely inconsiderate can we believe those Writings which contain'd an Appeal of so great Falshood and Hypocrisie and only were confirm'd by Perjury and impudent Appeals unto the Conscience of those Men who never found those Comforts of the Holy Ghost who never had these Gifts of Tongues Interpretation Healing Prophesie c. which these Epistles tell us were their daily Exercise I say can we believe that such Epistles should obtain to be embraced by those Churches to which they were indited and by all other Christians as the Word of God May we not with like Reason think a Mountebank who should in Commendation of his Balsoms pretend that he had wrought great Cures by them upon many Persons present and before their Eyes when both his Conscience and their Mouths were
able to attest that they receiv'd not the least Benefit from any of his Balsoms should by this impudene Untruth engage those very Persons he so shamefully bely'd to assert the Soveraign Virtue of them in contradiction to their own Experience Lastly if they who enter these Appeals and by them do endeavour to confirm their Proselytes in the Profession of the Faith they teach have many subtil and industrious Adversaries Men zealous to oppose that Faith and defirous to find Occasions of Advantages over them and apt for want of such Occasions to accuse them falsly and charged by the Apostles with false Accusation and yet these very Persons when these very Arguments and Demonstrations of the spirit are urged in Confirmation of that Faith which these deceitful Workers did gainsay could find no Ground of Cavil against these things or could prevail upon no Persons to believe that they had reason to accuse them of Falshood or Deceit in these Particulars we cannot reasonably suspect they used any Fraud or Falshood in their Words or Writings but this is certainly the Case of these Apostles and more especially of Blessed Paul 1 Cor. 16.9 1 Thes 2.14 1 Tit. 10.2 Tim. 3.2 3. Ep. of Joh. v. 10. 1 Phil. 25 16. 2 Gal. 4. for their Epistles do inform us that they had many Adversaries that they were in continual Perils from the Jews were oft encounter'd by the Philosophers and the Disputers of the World that even among themselves were many vain unruly Talkers and Deceivers which gainsaid their Doctrine many proud Boasters and Corrupters of the Truth which did endeavour to empair their Credit in the Church and who did prate against them with malitious words that there were some who preached Christ only out of a Principle of Strife and Envy that they might add Affliction to their Bonds and some false Brethren who came in privily to spy out thâ—ir Liberty Nor have we reason to suspect that all or any of these Adversaries negelected any Pains or Diligence which ought in reason to be used to search into the Certainty of what they offer'd for Confirmation of this Faith and for Vindication of their Apostleship from these Aspersions which these false Apostles laid upon them Since then we never find the Truth of these Relations question'd by any of their numerous and potent Adversaries the false Apostle or false Brother the inqusitive and learned Precisian or the malicious Jew and since we are assured by the Event that if Attempts of such a Nature have been made they all prov'd ineffectual and insufficient to lessen or take a way the Credit of these Writings in the Christian World I say seeing these things are so it may be certainly concluded that these Writings were not and could not be convinced of Falshood but contained Matter of unquestionable Truth Now hence it clearly follows that this Assistance of the Holy Ghost was a most full and ample Confirmation of the Christian Faith and a sufficient Evidence that it derived from the God of Truth for this they constantly declared 1 Cor. 3.9 1 Rom. 4 that they were Apostles sent from God Co-workers with God and faithful Stewards of his Mysteries that they were Servants and Apostles of that Jesus who was declared to be the Son of God with power and that they preached the Gospel by Virtue of the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven This then must be a certain Truth or else their Story must be false Moreover from what hath been discoursed I conclude that the Power by which these holy Men were acted could not derive from Satan it therefore must derive from God whence it will follow that what it was design'd to confirm must be certain Truth or God must be supposed to employ his Power to confirm a Lye and stablish an Imposture in the World by the Assistance of his Holy Spirit which is a great Absurdity and very much repugnant to to his Truth and Justice And if these things convince us of the Truth of Christian Faith Hence have we reason to infer That it is very worthy of our Labour and much concerns us to be well acquainted with this Faith God is not busied about Trifles when he is pleased by extraordinary Methods and Transports of Nature to shew the Glory of his Power we may be sure the Doctrine he thus confirms is worthy of all Acceptation of this Salvation saith St. Peter the Prophets have enquired and searched diligently 1 Pet. 1.11 12. because it was that glorious Work of Mercy and of Wisdom to which the Holy Spirit in them gave his Testimony and when we preached the same Gospel by the Assistance of the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Angels presently desired to look into it if then these Sacred Prophets thought it worthy of their Diligence instantly to search till they had found the Time appointed for this Revelation of the Will of Heaven it must be worthy of our Care to search those Scriptures which contain it If blessed Angels who continually behold the Face of God in Glory and who are less concern'd in these glad Tidings than we are thus earnestly desire to view the Mystery which contain it If blessed Angels who continually behold the Face of God in Glory and who are less concern'd in these glad Tidings than we are thus earnestly desire to view the Mystery which the Apostles had discovered by the assistance of the Holy Ghost it must be both our Duty and our Wisdom to be industrious to know it the Speculations of Philosophy may be neglected as being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Socrates but Ethicks well deserve our Study as being purposely design'd for the Improvement of our Souls Wherefore this Wisdom this Demonstration of the Spirit which wholely aims at the eternal Happiness of Man and is designed to make him wise unto Salvation and even advanced to Divine Perfections deserves as much to be prefer'd before all other Wisdom as the Concernments of our Souls deserve to be prefer'd before the Interests of our frail Bodies or our eternal Interests to be regarded more than temporal Inf II. If this Demonstration of the Holy Spirit doth so abundantly confirm the Truth of Christian Faith it must exceedingly concern us in Point of Interest and Wisdom to yield Obedience to all the Precepts of that Faith The Gentiles had the Law of Nature written in their Hearts their Conscience bearing them witness 2 Rom. 14 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Rom 24 26. and their inward Reasonings sometimes accusing and sometimes excusing them and the Result of their Trasgressions against this dim and imperfect Law of Nature was that God gave them up to vile Affections and to a reprobate Mind the Law was given to the Jews by Ministration of holy Angels and therefore every Transgression of it receiv'd a just Reward of Recompence 2 Heb. 3 4. How then saith the Apostle shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation which at the first was spoken by the Lord and was confirm'd by his Apostles God hearing witness to it by divers Distributions of the Holy Ghost Especially if we consider First That by Disobedience to the Christian Precepts we contradict the great Design of all those Demonstrations of the Holy Spirit which were vouchsafed to confirm it the Wonders wrought by the Power of the Spirit being intended 15 Rom. 18. faith St. Paul to make the Gentiles obedient in Word and Deed. Secondly That this great Confirmtion of the Christian Faith doth highly aggravate the Gunt of our Transgressions of the Christian Precepts for the stronger is the Motive to believe the greater is the Guilt of Disobedience because such Motives may be easily discerned and so our Ignorance of them must be less excusable and we cannot resist their Evidence but we must offer violence to the Convictions of our Consciences were Christian Faith confirmed only be probable Inducements to believe it our Disobedience to its Precepts would be most irrational they being in themselves most excellent and such as our own Reason must approve as beneficial to our selves and others the Motives which engage to the Performance of them are infinitely to be prefer'd besore whatever stands in competition with them the Evils which they threaten to the disobedient more terrible and lasting than any we can suffer by being stedfast in this Faith and surely then whoever owns the Certainty of Christian Faith and lives in Contradiction to it or by his Practice gives the Lye to his Profession can have no Shadow of Excuse or Hopes or Mercy at the great Day of his Account In a word seeing this Demonstration of the Holy Spirit doth convince us of the Truth of Christian Faith it must add Strength to all the Motives Engagements and Encouragements to lead a Virtuous and holy Life which this Religion above all others doth afford For ifall that is delivered in these VVriting and Epistles indited by the Apostles and Evangelists be the Revealed VVill of Heaven then all the Promises and comfortable Passages recorded in them will be assuredly made good to all true Christians and the Assurance of these inestimable Blessings must lay upon us strong Engagements to be stedfast immoveable always abounding in the VVork of the Lord as knowing that our Labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. FINIS