7G A DISCOURSE ON TILE HOLY SPIRIT, could draw forth as every occasion did require. (2.) Whereas they were poor, the difficulties wherewith such i condition is attended were also by this means utterly taken away: for although they had neither silver nor gold by their work or employment, but their outward wants and distresses were rather increased thereby; yet their minds and souls were by this communication of the Spirit, so raised above the world, and filled with such a contempt of all the desirable things in it, and of all the pride of men upon their account, as that their want of possessions and outward enjoyments made them only the more ready and expedite for their work, whence also such of them as had possessions sold them, gave their price to the poor, that they might be no hinder- once unto them in their design. And hence also it was that those who even after the resurrection of Christ were inquiring after a temporal kingdom, wherein no doubt a good part of its glory, power, and advantages would fall to their share, as most do whoyet continue to dream of such a kingdom in this world, immediately up- on the communication of these gifts, rejoiced that they were counted worthy of shame for the name of Christ, when they were imprisoned, whipt, and despitefully used, Acts iv. (3.) They had boldness, courage, and constancygiven unto them, in the room of that pusillani- mity and fear which before they had discovered. This the Jews took notice of, and were astonished at, Acts iv. 13. And they bad reason so to be, ifwe consider the power and authority of that work wherein they were then assaulted, with the speech of Peter unto them, ver. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. which he spake as failed with theHoly Ghost. See also Acts v. 28, 29, 30. 31, 32. And in the whole course of their ministry throughout the world the like undaunted courage, resolution, and constancy, did always, and in all things, accompany them. Wherefore these gifts, in the first place, may be esteemed the pow- ers of the world to come, in as much as by them those unto whom the work of preachingthe gospel, propagat- ing the mysteryof it, the conversion of nations, the plant- ing of churches, and in all the erection of the kingdom of Christ was committed, were enabled by them unto the utmost capacity of human nature to discharge, effect, and accomplish the work committed unto them. By vir- tue, and in the strength of these spiritual abilities, did they net upon the whole kingdom of Satan and darkness in the world, contending with the gates of hell, and all the powers of the earth, attempting the wisdom of the Greeks, and the religionof the Jews, with success a- gainst both. They went not forth with force and arms, or carnal power, they threatened no man,' menaced no man with the carnal weapons of force or penalties, they had no baits or allurements of wealth, power or honour to inveigle the minds of corrupt and sensual men, but as was said in the warranty and power of these spiritual gifts they both attempted and accomplished this work. And things continue still in the same condition according unto their proportion. Such as is the furniture of men with spiritual abilities and gifts of the Holy Ghost, such is their fitness for the work of the ministry, and no other. And if any shall undertake this work without this provision of abilities for it, they will neither ever be owned by Christ, nor be of the least use in the employ- ment they take upon them. A ministry devoid of spirit- ual `gifts is a sufficient evidence of a church under a de- generating apostacy. But these things will be farther spoken unto afterwards. 8. Secondly, By these gifts were all their administra- tions, especially their preaching the gospel, rendered ef- fectual unto their proper end. The preaching of the word, which is the sword of the Spirit, was the great in- strument whereby they wrought out and accomplished their designed work in the conviction and conversionof the souls of nien. It may therefore be inquired, what it was that gave efficacy and success unto the word as preached or dispensed by them? Now this, as it should seem, most beeither, that the subject-matter of it was so suited unto the reasons and understandings of men, as that they could not but admit of it upon its propo- sal; or that the manner whereby they declared it was with such persuasive artifices as were meet to prevail with the mindsof menunto anassent, or to impose upon them against the best of their defences. But the apostle declares, that it was utterly otherwise in both these re- gards. For the matter of the doctrine of thegospel unto the minds of carnal men, such as all men are until re- newed by the work of the gospel itself, is folly, and that which is every way meet to be despised, 1 Cor. i. And for the manner of its declaration, they did not therein, neither would they, use the enticing words of human wisdom, any arts of oratory, or dresses of rhetoric or eloquence, lest the effects which were wrought by the word should have seemed, in any measure, to have pro.
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