AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS. '] ceeded from them, 1 Cor. 2, 4, 5. Wherefore, not to mention that internal efficacious power of grace which God secretly puts forth for the conversion of his elect, the consideration whereof belongs not unto our present design, and I say that it was by virtueof those gifts that the administrationof the gospel was so efficacious and successful: For, (1.) From them proceededthat autho- rity over the minds of men wherewith the word was ac- companied. When the Lord Christ was anointed by the Spirit to preach the gospel, it is said, He taught as one having authority, and not as theScribes, Matth. vii. 29. Whatever was his outward appearance in the flesh, the word, as administered by him, was attended with such an authority over the minds and consciences of men, as they could not but be sensible of. And so was it with the primitive dispensers of thegospel; byvirtue of these spiritual gifts, they preached the word in thedemonstra- tion of the Spirit and of power, 1 Cor. ii. 4. There was accompanying of their preaching an evidence or demon- stration ofa power and authority that was from God and his Spirit. Men could notbut conclude, that there was something in it which was over them or above them, and which they must yield or submit unto, as that which was not for them to contend withal. It is true, the power of the gospel was hid unto them that were to pe- rish, whose minds the god of this world had effectually blinded, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ should shine into them, it Cor, iv. 3, 4. Whence it came topass, that the wordwas rejected by many; yet, where- ever God was pleased to make it effectual, it was by a sense of a divine authorityaccompanying its administra- tion by virtue of those spiritual gifts. And therefore our apostle shews, that when men prophesied or declared the mind of God from the word by the gift of prophecy, unbelievers did fall down, and worshiping God, report- ed that God was in themof a truth, 1 Cor. xiv. 24, 25. They were sensible of a divine authority which they could not stand before or withstand. (2.) From hence also proceeded that life and power for conviction which the word was accompanied with in their dispensation of it. It became shortly to be the arrows of Christ, which were sharp in the hearts of men. As men found an autho- rity in the dispensation of the word, so they felt and ex- perienced an efficacy in the truth dispensed. By it were their minds enlightened, their consciences awakened, their minds convinced, their lives judged, the secrets U of their hearts made manifest, as I Cor. xiv. 24, 25. until they cried out in multitudes, Men and brethren what shall we do ? Hereby did the Lord Christ in his kingdom and majesty, ride prosperously, conquering, and to conquer, with the word of truth, meekness, and righteousness, subduing the souls of men unto his obedi- ence, making them free, ready, willing in the day ofhis power. These were the forces and weapons that he us- ed in the establishing of his kingdom, !' which were mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds, casting down of imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedi- ence of Christ," 2 Cor. x. 4, 5. So doth the apostle describe the success of these administrations as an abso- lute conquest, wherein allopposition is broken, all strong holds and fortifications are demolished, and the whole reduced unto due obedience. For by this means were all things effected ; all the strong holds of sin in the minds of men in their natural darkness, blindness, and obstinacy, all the high fortifications of prejudices, and vain, proud, lofty imaginations raised in them by Satan, were all cast down by and before gospel administrations, managed by virtue and authority ofthese spiritual gifts which the Lord Christ ordained to be the powers ofhis kingdom. 9. Thirdly, Those of themwhich consisted in miracu- lous operations were suited to fill the world with an ap- prehension of a divine power accompanying the word, and them by whom it was administered. And sundry things unto the furtherance of the gospel depended hereon: As, (t.) The world which was stupid, asleep in sin and security, satisfied with their lusts and idola- tries, regardless of any thing but present enjoyments, was awakened hereby to an attendance unto, andinquiry into this new doctrine that was proposed unto them. They could not but take notice that there was something more than ordinary in that sermon which they were summoned unto by a miracle. And this was the first and principal use of these miraculous operations. They awakened the dull, stupid world unto a consideration of the doctrine of the gospel, which otherwise they would have securely neglected and despised. (2.) They weak- ened and took off these mighty prejudices which their minds were possessed with by tradition and secular en- joyments; what these prejudices were I shall not here 40
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