Serin. CXLVI. on the Minds of Chrifinns. _299 becaufe fefs was not yet glorified. I (hall as briefly as I can explain thefe three things. Firfl, The Gift it felf, which is here called the Spirit, or the Holy Ghoft. By which we are to undcrítand a fpecial Power andPrefence of the Holy Ghoff with believers, the immediate Operationand Affiflance of the Divine Spirit communi- cated and imparted to them; and this comprehends in it thefe two things. r. Thofe extraordinary and miraculous Gifts which are bellowed upon the Apo- files and Primitive Chriftians, in order to the planting and propagatingof the Chriftian Religion in the World, and for the ufe and benefit of the Church, while it was under Perfecution, and deflitute of all fecular Countenance and Affeflance, and o thofe ordinary Human Advantages which are fufficient to preferve and maintain a Religion, after it is once firmly fettled, and generally entertained. And thefe Gifts were in a very remarkable manner, and fuch as no Religion that ever was in the World can pretend to the like, conferred upon the firft preachers of the Chriftian Doctrine, and planters of it in theWorld ; and they were in a high de- gree neceffary, to give Credit and Countenance to this Religion at its firil appea rance, and to awaken the drowfy World to an attentive confederation of it, to con- quer the prejudices of Men againft a new Religion, and to fupport and bear up the Teachers and Publifhers of this Dodtrine, againft that violent Oppofitionand Perfecution which would certainly be raifed againft it, and likewife to fupply the want of fecular Power and Authority to give Countenance andAffiftance to it. For thefe and fuch like Ends andReafons, God was pleafed at that tittle not on- ly to endue the Apoftles and firfi Preachers of Chriftianity with all forts of mira- culous Powers, but even the generality of Chriftians with feveral extraordinary Gifts ; and alfo to accompany the outwardpreaching of the Gofpel with a very ex- traordinary influence of God's Spirit upon the minds of Men ; to make way for the entertainment of it, by opening their underftandings, and enightning their minds to difcern fpiritual things, by fubduing their prejudices, and conquering theirlofts, and the vinous and perverfe inclinations of their wills, to the obedienceof Faith, by railing their minds above the World, above all the allurements and enjoyments of it, and above all the threatnings and terrors of it, and giving Men courageand refolution to embrace this Profèfiion, and with conffancy to adhere to ít, notwith- Handing all the dangers and fufferings which attended it. I (hall not now treat of thefe miraculousGifts particularly, having had frequent cafion heretofore * to dìfcourfe at large of the Nature, and feveral kinds, and par-, s e vol. ticular ufe and ends of them. I (hail only obferve to you, that this Power of Miracles, and this extraordinary influence of the Spirit of God upon the minds ofMen, was not intended always to continue in the Church, but only fo long as v,4°',* ser° there fhould be need and occafion for it, that is, till the Chriftian Religion was fully propagated and planted, and the Fury of Perfecution abated, and till Chri- Hianity had the favour and countenance of the Civil Authority, and theprejudice of Education on its fide. For when by this means it came to Hand upon equal terms ofadvantage with other Religions, God then withdrew his extraordinary aflìftance, and left it to be maintained and fupported by more human and ordinary ways, and in a great meafure by its own rational force and power upon the minds of Men. II: The gift of the Holy Ghat Both likewife fignifie and comprehend in it a more ordinary and gentle influence of God's Spirit upon the minds of Men, to all holy and good purpofes; by which I mean, an immediate Operation and Afli.. Hance of the Holy Ghofi afforded to Men, to relieve the weaknefs and impotence of human Nature, to help and ftrengthen us to the performance of what the Go- fpel requires of us. And this I fhall have occafion to explainmore particularly; when I have gone over the other partsof the Text. Secondly, You have here the qualification of the Perlons who were to be made partakers of this Gift, and that is believing and embracing the Gofpel. This he fpake ofthe Spirit, which they that believe on hint j'bould receive. The extraordinary and miraculous gifts of the Spirit werenot conferredon any but thofe who embraced the Faith of Chrift, and made profeflionof the Chriflian Q,q a' Religion.
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