Ver.8. the a7t'h Chapter of St. JOHN: 89 an of the outward Revelation, I have given to them the Words which thou gavefl me. We have a general Saying, lions. t o. i 7. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. This is the ufual Method and way of Grace's working, God will infinuate the Efficacy of his Spirit by outward Counfel and Inf rulion, and by the Ear tranfmit his Grace to the Heart, that he might work fortiter, firaviter, yle It reproveth the Folly of two forts of Men ; there are fome that think the Word cannot work, unlefs it be accompanied with Miracles ; and others that think the Spirit will work without the Word. 1. Thofe that think the Word will not work without Miracles, and therefore expeh a reviving of Miracles, to authorize that Miniftry which they mean to receive: Vain Thoughts! In the Primitive Times, when Miracles were iti force, we read of fbme converted by the Word without Miracles, but of none converted by Miracles without the Word. Ads t r. 20,2 I. Some of Cyprus, and Cirene, when they were come to Antioch, fake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord jefus. And the Hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned to the Lord : They wrought no Signs, on- ly preached the Lord Jefus. There is not one Inftance in the whole Word, of any one converted by a (Ingle Miracle. It is natural to us, to idolize vifible Helps and Confir- mations. Thofe mentioned Alb r t. were not Apoffles, but private Brethren, who in that extraordinary Time ufed their Gifts, and were fuccefsful. 2. Thofe that expert the Illapfes of the Spirit; without waiting upon the Word. It is true, God can work immediatly, but the Queffion is about his Will. God is not tied to means, but we are bound and tied. God may ufe his Liberty, but this doth not diflolve our Duty and Obligation ; we are to lie at the Pool, if we expel the flir- ting of the Waters. There is a great deal of difference between the want of Means, and the contempt of them. I fhould always fufpel that Grace that is wrought in us in the neglel of the Means. The regular way of Faith, is by the Word ; it bath pleafed God to confecrate it. God could have converted the Eunuch without Philip, but we are to fubmit to his Will. Paid 'that received his Confternation miráculouily, had his Confirmation from Ananias ; Chrift had preached him into Terror from Hea- ven, but he fendeth him to Ananias for Comfort. Vfe 2. It ftirreth us up to attend upon the Word:It is God's Inlirunient, Rom.i.16; lam not afhamed of the Gofpel ofChriji : for it is the power of Gad to Salvation, to every one that believeth ; the meaning is, it is a powerful Inftrumentto work Faith. As the firft Sermon that ever was preached, after the pouring out of the Spirit, converted three thouf.ind Souls. An Angel could flay an hundred and eighty five thoufand Men in a Night, by his own natural Strength; but it is eafier to kill fo many Men, than to con, vert one Soul : All the Angels in Heaven, if they Ihould join all their Forces toge- ther, they could not convert one Soul to God ; but yet this Power will God difcover in the Miniftry and cooperation of weak Men. Thofe that do not delight to hear the Word, have no mind to fee the Miracles of Grace: The Power is of God, yet it is wonderfully joined with the Word; it is not inclosed in it, but rent out together with it when God pleafeth. It is God's Ordinance, and tinder the Melling of an ln- ftitution. e. Obferve again; The Certainty of Chrifi;an Dollrine. The Word delivered to the Apoftles, was received from the Father by Chrifh. It was no Invention of his own, but brought out of the Bofom of the Father. John 7. 16. My Doílrine is not mine, but his that feat me. So, john 14. so. The words that I fpeak, I jean not of my felt; that is, not as Mediator. It was prophefied of Chrift, who was the great Prophet of the Church; Deut. 18. s8. I will raife them up a Prophet from among their Brethren, like un- to thee, and will put my Words in his Mouth, and hefbball fpeak unto them all that I fball command him. Chrift faith, his Father gave it him. Chilli was confecrated Prophet of the Church by the Trinity. Mat. 3.17. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well - pleafed. There was the Father's Voice, the Holy Ghoft as a Dove, and the Son was there in Perron. Vfe. Which 1}tould ftablilh us the more in the Truth, and is a Patern to Minifters. It is excellent when we can fay, My Doilrine is not mine, but his that fens me: Or, as Poet, That which I received of the Lord, I have delivered to lox, t Cot. t I. 24. M m m 3. Obfetve,
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