Sent.CLXVI. on the Minds ofChriflians. 3ól thedifpenfation of this gift of the Holy Ghoft was particularly limited to this time tho' it is not neceffary we fhould know the reafons of it, yet there are three obvious ones, which may give us full fatisfa&ion in this matter. r. Becaufe it was not fo neceffary before in ourSaviour's Life-time. For during his continuance in the World, and converfation with his Difciples, hisPrefence fupplied all other defelts': but when he left them, they were, as he calls them, Orphans, deftitute ofhelp, comfort, and prote&ion; and therefore it was requifite; that upon his departure from them, this Comforter and Advocate fhould come to abide and continue with them for ever. But this does not feem to reach fully the reafon affigned in the Text, whyThe Spirit was not yet given, becaufeJefur wà- notyet glorified. Therefore, 2. It feems very convenient, riot only that our Saviour fhould be úiiibly taken up into Heaven, but that after he was afcended thither, he fhould give force re- markable Teftimony to the World, of the Power and Dignity to which he was there advanced; and that as a King he fhould give force evidenceof his Authority and Majefty, at his folemn Inauguration into his Kingdom,by difpenfing plentifully fpiritual Gifts, as the Princes of this World are wont at fuch a time to fcatter temporal Favoúrs and Benefits. And this the Scripture takes notice of as an evi., dente and teftimopy of his royal Dignity, and glorious Exaltation at the right hand of God, Atls 5. g t, 32. Him bathGod exalted(fpeakingof our bleffed Lord) with his own right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour, togive repentance unto If- rael, andforgivenefs of fins. And we are his witneffes ofthefe things; andfo allo is the Holy Ghefl, whom Godbath given to them that obey him. Where you fee that the Gift ofthe Holy Ghofl is mention'd as a Teftitnony of our Saviour's being exalted as á Prince at the right hand of God. But more exprefly St. Paul, Eph. 4. S: applies to our Saviour thefe words of the Pfalmift, Wherefore he faith, when he afcended up onhigh, he led captivity captive, and gavegifts unto men. 3. After our Saviour's Afcenfion, there was the greateft occafion that ever was for the beftowing of this gift ofthe Holy Ghoft, confidering what kindof Perfons they were, that were appointed to publifh the Gofpel to the World ; áhd that thiS great Work being tobe carried on by Inftruments in all appearance fo weakand mean, and contemptible, there Was an abfolute neceflity ofan extraordinary Téfti= mony to be given from Heaven to the Divinity of thiS new Doctrine, and of a Di- vine Power and Prefence going along with it, to encourage and fupport thofeweak Inftruments in carrying on of this Work, againft'the mighty Oppofition and Per- fecution it was likely to meet withal, andagainft fuch difficulties and obftacles'as were plainly infuperable by any human power and means. For as there never was a work of greater confequenceand difficulty than this undertaking; fo could this Divine Power and Affiftance never have appeared and manifeftedit felf, upon a fitter and moreworthy occafion. Since our Saviour, accordingto the wife coon- fel of God, intended, that after his Afcenfion into Heaven, his Gofpel fhould be publifhed to the World, it was highly requifite that the minds of Menfhould be prepared for it, and way made for the more ready entertainment and cafie 'mirage of it, . by force fignal teftimony ofthe divine Prefence attending the firft Publifhers of it, and by Circumftances, though not fo full of terror and amazement, as thofe which did accompany the giving of the Law, yet really ofgreater force and effi- cacy, and more apt to convince: the World of the truth of this Doftrine, and to inftnuate it more effeftually into the Hearts andConfciences ofMen. And now that I have given you abrief account of the three particulars, which from this Text offer theinfelves to our Confideration; I fhall return back to that which I intended more efpecially to infift upon, and that is, the more ordinary in- fluence of the Holy Spirit of God upon the minds of thofe who believe and em- brace the Chriftian Dofrine ; and this I fhall endeavour to explain to you under thefe four Heads. Firff, I fhall open to you theNature of it. Secondly, The Neceffity of it, to enable us to perform the Condition of the Gofpel Covenant. Thirdly, ThebleffedEffefs of it; Foürthÿ
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