AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS. to come, or, the newworld, the new heaven and earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness? and, I say, it was these gifts or the Holy Ghost whereof we have treated, which were thosepowers of this world to come. By them it was, or in their exercise, that the Lord Christ erected his em- pire over the souls and consciences of men, destroying both the work and kingdomof the devil. It is true, it is the word of the gospel itself that is the rod of his strength, which is sent outof Sion to erect-anddispense his rule: but that hidden power which made the word ef- fectual in the dispensation of it, consisted in these giftsof the HolyGhost. Men may despise them, or make light of them whilst they please, they are those powers which the Lord Christ, inhis wisdom, thought meet alone toen- gage in the propagation of the gospel, and setting up of his kingdom in the world. - 7. The recovery and return of the people from the captivity of Babylon, wasa type of thespiritual redemp- tion ofthe church by Jesus Christ: and howGod effected that as a type hereof, he declares, Zech. iv. 6. Not by ar- ty, nor by power, but by sty Spirit, Saith the Lordofhosts ; so much more was this work to be effected. So, after his resurrection, the LordChrist tells his apostles, that theywere to be his witnesses in Jerusalemand in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts ofthe earth, that is, all the world over, Acts i. 8. But how shall they be able so to bear testimony unto them, as that their witness shall be received and becomeeffectual? Saith he, ye shall receive power for this end; I have given you authority to preach the word before, and now I will give you such an ability for it, as none shall be able to withstand or resist; and this is after the HolyGhost is come upon you, that is,. in the communication of these gifts whereby you may be enabled unto your work. In ,them consisted that mouth and wisdom which he pro- mised he would give them, which all their adversaries werenot able to gainsay or resist, Luke xxi. 15. Where- fore, that which I shall close this discourse withal, shall be a brief endeavour to declare how these gifts were the spiritual powers of the gospel unto all the ends we have before mentioned, as designed by Jesus Christ; whence it will appear how little there was of the wisdom, skill power, or authority of men in thewhole work of propa- gating thegospel, andplanting the churchof Christ, as we shall afterwards manifést, how by the dispensation o the other more ordinary gifts of the Spirit, both the 75 gospel and the church are continued and preserved in the world. First, The persons whom the Lord Christ chose, call- ed and designed unto this work, were by these gifts enabled thereunto. As no mortal men had of themselves any sufficiency for such a work, so the persons particu- larly called unto it by Jesus Christ, lay under all the disadvantages that any persons could possibly be liable unto in such an undertaking: For, (l.) They were all of them unlearned and ignorant, which the Jews took notice of Acts iv. 13. and which the Gentiles despised them for. (2.) They were poor, and of no reputation in the world, whichmade them contemned by all sorts of persons. And (3.) They seem in many instances, to have been pusillanimous and fearful, which they all manifested when they so shamefully fled and left their Master in his distresses, the chief of them also swear- ing, that he knew him not. Now, it is easily under- stood what great disadvantages these were unto the un- dertaking ofso great a work as they were called unto; yea, how impossible it was for them, under these quali- fications, to do any in thepursuit of it. Where- fore by the communication of these gifts unto them, all theseimpediments arising from themselves were removed, and they were furnished with endowments of quite ano- ther nature, wherebytheywere eminently fitted with that spiritual wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, which surpassed all the wisdom that was of the world, or in it, by what ways or means soever it were attained. They both had and declared a wisdom which none of the princes of this world were acquainted withal, I Cor. ii. Those who during the abode of Christ in the flesh with them, could not understand a plain parable, and were ever and anon at no small loss about thesense and mean- ing of their matter, having very low and carnal appre- hensions about his person, work, and office, were now filled with a knowledge of all heavenly mysteries, and with- wisdom to declare, manage, and maintain them a- gainst all opposers. Kings, princes, rulers of syna- gogues, werenow all oneto them; they had a mouth and wisdom given them, which none of their adversaries could resist. Wherever they came, in all nations, to all sorts of people, of all languages, they were now cm.- sled, in their own tongue and speech, to declare and ,reach the gospel unto them, being always filled with a treasure of wisdom and spiritual mysteries, whence they
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