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
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
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