tiS A DISCOURSE ON where these two things were effected, namely, that a suf- ficient, yea, an eminently cogent ground and reasonwas given, why men should impartially inquire into the doc- trine of the gospel, and an evidence given, that the teachers of it were approved. of God, unless men were signally captivated under the power of Satan, '2 Cor. iv. 4. or givenup of Godjudicially unto blindness and hard- ness of heart, it could not be, but that the prejudices which they had of themselves, or might receive from o- thers against the gospel, must of necessity be prevailed against and conquered. And as many of the Jews were so hardened and blinded at that time, Rom. xi. 7, S; 9, 10. I Thess. ii. 14, 15, 16, so it is marvellous to con- sider with what artifices Satan bestirred himself among the Gentiles by false and lying signs and wonders, with many other ways to take of from the testimony given unto the gospel by these miraculous operations. And this was that which miracles were designed unto towards unbelievers, namely, to take away prejudices from the doctrine of the gospel, and the persons by whom it was taught, so disposing the minds of men unto an attendance unto it, and the reception ofit: for they were never means instituted of God for the ingenerat- ing of faith in any, but only to provoke and prevail with men, to attend unprejudicately unto that wherebyit was to be wrought. Forfaith cometh byhearing, and hearing by the word ofGod, Rom. x. 17. And therefore, what- ever miracles were wrought, if the word preached was not received, if that did not accompany them in its powerful operation, they were but despised. Thus, whereas some, upon hearing of the apostles speak with tongues, mocked, and said, These men are full of new wine, Acts ii. 13. yet, upon preaching of the word, which ensued, they were converted unto God. And the apostle Paul tells us, that if there were nothing but miraculous speaking with tongues in the church, an un- believer coming in would say they were all mad, 1 Cor. xiv. 23. who by the word of prophecy would be con- vinced, judged, and converted unto God, ver. 24, 25. (3.) They were of singular use to confirm and establish in the faith those who were weak and newly converted. For, whereas they were assaulted on every hand by Sa- tan, the world, and it maybe their nearest relations, and that with contempt, scorn, and cruel mocking;- it was a singular confirmation and establishment to behold the miraculous operations which were wrought in the appro- TOE HOLY SPIRIT, of the doctrine which they did profess.. Hereby was a sense ofit more and more let into, and impressed on their minds, until, by an habitual experience of its good- ness, power, andefficacy, theywere established in the truth. 22.. Prophecy is added in the sixth place. Sos,,l, t,. ¢sous. To another prophecy, that is, is given by thesame Spirit. Of this gift of prophecy we have sufficiently treated before. 1 take it here in its largest sense; both as it signifies a faculty of prediction, or foretelling things future upon divine revelation, or an ability to declare . the mind of God from the word, by the especial and im- mediate revelation of the Holy Ghost. The first of these was more rare, the latter more ordinary and corn-, mon. And it may be there werefew churches wherein, besides their elders and teachers, by virtue of their office, there were not some of these prophets ; so of those who, had this gift of prophecy, enabling, in an eminent man- tier, to declare the mind of God from the scriptures, unto the edification of the church. It is expressed that there were some of them in the church at Antioch, Acts xii. 1, '2. and many of,them in the church at Corinth, 1 Cor. xiv. For this gift was of singular use in the church ; and therefore, as to the end of the edification thereof; is preferred by our apostle above all other gifts of the Spirit whatever, 1 Cor. xii. 31. chap. xiv. 1, 39. For it had a double use: (1.) The . conviction and con- version of such as came in occasionally into their church assemblies. Those unto whom the propagation of the gospel was principally committed, went up and down the world, laying hold on all occasions to preach it unto Jews and Gentiles, as yet unconverted. And where churches were gathered and settled, the principal work of their teachers was to edify them that did believe. But whereas some would come in among them into their church assemblies, perhaps out of curiosity, perhaps out ofworse designs, the apostle declares, that, of all the ordinances of the church, this of prophecy was suited unto the conviction and conversion of all unbelievers, and is oftimes blessed thereunto, whereby this and that man is born ill Sion. (2dly,) This exposition and appli- cation of the word by many, and that by virtue of an extraordinary assistance of the Spirit of God, was of singular use in the church itself. For if all scripture given by inspiration from God, so expounded and applied, be profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, the more
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