42 What are no Signs PART II. does fo ? If we may judge by the Scripture, this is not agreable to God's Manner, in his Operations and Difpenfations ; but on the con- trary, 'tis God's Manner, in the greatWorks of his Power and Mercy which he works for his People, to orderThings fo,as to make hisHand vifible, and his Power confpicuous, and Men's Dependance on him molt evident, that no Flefh fhould glory in his Prefence, I that God alone might be exalted,* and that the Excellency of the Power might be of God and not of Mang) and that Chrift's Power might be mani- fefted in our Weaknefs, § and none might fay mine own Hand hath faved me. ** So it was in molt of thole temporal Salvations which God wrought for Ifrael of old, which were Types of the Salvation of God's People from their fpiritual Enemies. So it was in the Re- demption of Ifrael, from their Egyptian Bondage ; he redeem'd them with a ftrong Hand, and an outftretched Arm ; and that his Power might be the more confpicuous, he fuffer'd Ifrael firff to be brought into the molt helplefs and forlorn Circumftances. So it was in the great Redemption by Gideon ; God would have his Army dimi- nifhed to a Handful, and they without any other Arms, than Trum- pets, and Lamps, and earthen Pitchers. So it was in the Delive- rance of Ifrael from Goliah, by a Stripling, with a Sling and a Stone. So it was in that great Work of God, his calling the Gentiles, and converting the heathen World, after Chrift's Afcenfion, after that the World by Wifdom knew not God, and all the Endeavours of Philofophers had proved in vain, for many Ages, to reform the World, and it was by every Thing, become abundantly evident that the. World was utterly helplefs, by any Thing elfe, but the mighty Power of God. And fo it was in molt of the Converfions of particular Perfons, we have an Account of in the Hiftory of the new Teftament : They were not wrought on in that fìlent, fecret, gra- dual and infenfible Manner, which is now infifted on ; but with thofe manifeft Evidences of a fupernatural Power, wonderfully and fuddenly caufing a great Change, which in thefe Days are looked upon as certain Signs of Delufion and Enthufiafm. The Apoftle in Eph. i. 18, to. fpeaks of God's enlightning the Minds of Chriftians, and fo bringing them to believe in Chrift, to the End, that they might know the exceeding Greatnefs of his Power to themwho believe. TheWords are, the Eyes ofyour Under/fand- ing being enlightned, that ye may know what is the Hope of his Calling, and what the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints, and what is the exceeding Greatnefs of his Power to us-ward, who believe, ac- cording to the forking of his mighty Power, &c. Now when the I Cor. T. 27,28,29. 4* Ifai. 2. 2 Cor. 4. 7. § 2 Cor. T2, 9. ** Judg. 7. 2. Apoftle
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