5 1 o 0/ thé Miracles xrrou7ht in Vol. it. miraculous Gilts and Powers werc ccalcd : but that fine miraculous Cures wcte wrought upon the Prayers of Chriftians, at the Tombs of_the Mnrtytgs is a cen- t-in-nation of the Thing, that 'God deuigned to honour the Primitive Chtiilians and Martyrs with theft Gifts,. and not to continue them to the fucceedinv Âgts of the Church; and therefore God was pleated that fo many wonderful Things.fhould be done at their Sepulchres, to thew that he did intend; that ths*.-mitaculous Powers and Gifts fnould dye with them, and continueno longer in the living Mom bers of the Church. lI J_i 3B now aulign a_plain Reafon of the_Ccaf raf::thefe miraculous Gifts after fuch a Time; namely, becauf there was not the like Necetîìty and Occa< lion for them, that there was before. They were at firft in a gnat Degree ne- ceffity to introduce the Gofpel into the World, which was deriitute of all other Athos and Advantages; to recommend it to the Efteem and Liking. of Mankind ; to give Credit to a new Doarinc and Religion, fo contrary to.the inveterate Pre- judices of Men, bred up in another Religion very different from this, and fo op- pofite to the Lulls and fnterefts of Men ; to make way for the more fpeedy and effeftual planting of this Religion in the World ; to ftrcngthen the Elands of the firft Publilbers of it, and to give credit to their Tcfiimony, concerning that firange Relation of theirs, of the Refurre&ion of Chrift front the Dead ; to be a fenfi. bit Evidence and Convi&ion to Men, of the Divinity of that new Do&tine which was preached untothem, and to fupport and confirm them in the Bdief and Profefhon of it, againft thofe terrible Sufferings and Perfecutions, which for the Sake of it they were expeled to. For there Keafons God was pleated to flied abroad fo plentifully thefe miraculous Gifts, among the firft Preachers of alai- Inanity 5 and as there Reafons tested or abated, fo did there miraculous Powers and Gifts: and therefore as loonas the Gofpel was planted, which it was in a great Part of the then known World, during the Life of the Apoftles, the Gift of Tongues ceafed, and we bear no more of it, becaufe there was no farther Life and Occafion for ir. Other Gifts did continue longer, but abated'by Degrees, according as Chriflianity gained Ground and; Eftabüihment, and they grew lets frequent, as there was lets need of them. The Power of carting out Devils, which was moti common (for every Chrifiian had it) continued longeft 5 and there was Reafon it fhould continue to long as the Devil reigned, and the Pa- gan Idolatry was kept up, to fbew that the Spirit of Chritl was fuperiour to the Devil, and would finally overcome him and overthrow his Kingdom, according to that of St. 7 ¿n, t john 4. 4. re are of-God, little children, and have overcame them : decade greater is he that is in yen, than he that is in the World. And this appeared in that they were able in the Name of Chritt to cart him our whereever he had taken Poffeftion, which God permitted to be very frequent in thofe Times, for the more glorious Manifeftation of his Power, in cafiing out the Prince of this World. But when the Powers of the World became Chrdt an, and the Heathen Idolatry was every where overthrown, and Satans Kingdom every where deftroyed, then this miraculous Gift alto ceafed, there being no farther Occa- liion for ir. And now that the Kingdoms of the world were become the Kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Chritl, and that the Gofpel was planted, and had taken firm Root, and was fully fettled and eftablirh'd,thefe miraculous i owers,. which were at fitti neceflary toballance themighty Difficulties and Oppolitions winchChr.ftienity [net withal,_ and to fupply the Want of all Manner of Countcnançe from the Ci- vil Authority; were withdrawn, and did ceafe, becaufe there was no need of their longer Continuance. Befides that it is to be confidered, that thofe miraculous Powers.which mani- felled themfelves in the firm, Ages of Chrifiianity, were intended by God CO give a Rending Confirmation to it in after Ages; as the Miracles,that were wrought at the Giving of the Law, and the Bringing of the Children ofJJii into Cass araan, were deligned for a ftanding Confirmation of the feovifh Religion,,, the Meg, mory whereof was fo carefully preferved and tranfmitted to after Ages, ,that they needed not to be repeated. .
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=