78 A DISCOURSE ON declare, 1 have done it elsewhere. It is enough to ob- serve, that they were as great, as effectual, as human na- ture in any case is capable of. But although theywere sufficiently of proofagainst all othermeans of conviction, yet they could not but sink and weaken before the mani- fest evidence, of present divine power; such as these miraculous operations were accompanied withal. For althoughall the things which they cleaved unto, and in- tended to doso inseparably, were, as they thought, to be preferred above any thing that could be offered unto them; yet, when the divinepower appeared against them, they were not able to give them defence. Hence, upon these operations, one of these two effects ensued: (1.) Those that were shut up under their obstinacy and un- belief, were filled with tormenting convictions, and knew not what to do to relieve themselves. The evidence of miracles they could not withstand, and yet would not admit of what they tendered and confirmed, whence they were filled with disquietments and perplexities. So the rulers of the Jews manifested themselves to have been upon the curing of the impotent person at the gate of the temple. What shall tee do (say they) to these men,for that indeeda notable miracle bath been done by them? Acts iv. 16. (2.) The mindi of others were exceedingly prepared for the reception of the truth; the advantages unto that purpose being too many to be here insisted on. (S.) Theywere a great means of taking off the scandal of the cross. That this was that which the world was prin- cipally offended at in the gospel, is sufficiently known. Christ crucified was to the Jewsa stumbling-block, andun- THE HOLY SPIRIT, to the Greeksfoolishness. Nothing could possibly be or have been a matter of so high offence unto the Jews, as to offer them a crucified Messiah, whom they expec- ted as a glorious King to subdue all their enemies; nor ever will they receive him, in the mind wherein they are, upon any other terms. And it seemed a part of the extremest folly unto the Grecians, topurpose such great and immortal things in the name of one that was himself crucified as a malefactor. And a shame, it was thought, on all hands, for any wise man to profess or own such a religion as came from the cross. But yet, after all this blustering of weakness and folly, when they saw this doctrine ofthe cross owned by God, and witnessed unto by manifest effects of divine power, they could not but begin to think, that men need not be much ashamed of that which God so openly avowed. And all these things made way to let in the word into the minds and consci- ences of men, where, by its own efficacy, it gave them satisfying experience of its truth and power. 10. From these few instances, whereunto many of an alike nature might be added, it is manifest how these spiritual gifts were the powers of the world to come, the means, weapons, arms, that the Lord Christ made use of for the subduing of the world, destruction of the kingdom of Satan and darkness, with the planting and establishment of his own church on the earth. And, as they were alone suited unto his design, so his accom- plishment of it by them is a glorious evidenceof his di- vine power and wisdom, as might easily be demon- strated. OF ORDINARY GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT. CHAP. IV. THE GRANT, INSTITUTION, USE, BENEFIT, END, AND CONTINUANCE OF THE MINISTRY. 1 HE consideration of those ordinary gifts of the Spi- rit, which are annexed unto the ordinary powers and duties of the church, cloth, in the next place, lie before us. And they are called ORDINARY, not as if they were absolutely common unto all, or were not much to be esteemed, or as if that they were any wayy a diminishing term : but we call them so upon a double account; (I.) In distinction from those gifts which being
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