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SERM.
IV.i
CHRIST EXALTED
AND
THE
SPIRIT
GIVEN.
63
ders; and
with divers miracles,
and
gifts
of
the
Holy
Ghost, according
to
his own will."
St.
Paul
assures
the
Corinthians,
that
when
an
unlearned
man,
or
an
unbe-
liever came
into their
assemblies,
and heard
them
speak
by
inspiration the doctriríes
of
the gospel
in a
proper
manner,
"
he
is
convinced, he
is
judged,
the secrets
of
his
heart
are
made manifest, and falling down
on his
face, he
will
worship
God, and
will
report that
God
is
in
you
of
a
truth
;"
1
Cor.
xiv. 24,
25.
And indeed
without
these
demonstrations
of
the Spirit
attending
the gospel
in
the first
publication
of
it,
it
was
not
to
be
supposed,
that
so
new
and strange a
religion should make
its way
like
lightning through
the nations,
in
opposition
to
the
prejudices
of
mankind and the power
of
princes,
and in
a
few
years
illuminate
so
many
dark
countries, which
had
lain for
long
ages
under
the shadow
of
death.
When christianity was
well
established in the world,
these
extraordinary
gifts
died
away
by
degrees.
t
As
for the graces
of
the
Spirit, the design
of
them
was
directly
to
change sinners into saints, and
to
raise
a
church
for Christ among
men.
These
were
communicated some-
times in an
extraordinary manner and degree
in
the
pri-
mitive
days, in
order
to
give
the
gospel
a more speedy
success,
after the exaltation
of
our
blessed
Lórd
But
these
are continued
also
in
following ages,
and
sent
down among men daily,
by
our
blessed
Saviour in his
glorified state,
who
is
exalted
to
be
a Prince and a
Saviour,
that
he may
maintain
an
everlasting kingdom
on
earth,
through
all
ages, by
bestowing
repentance
on men,
and
forgiveness
of
sins; Acts
v.
31.
It
is
by
these influences
new converts
are made, sinners
are called and sanctified
churches are
raised or
continued
in a
long
succession,
and the
family
of
Christ restored,
when
it
is
diminished
'by
the persecution
of
tyrants
on
earth, or
by
calling
away
the
saints
to
heaven
by
death
in
the course
of
nature.
Thus
I
have given
you
a
very
brief account
of
the
in-
fluences
of
the blessed
Spirit,
both
with
regard
to
gifts
and
graces, which were
promised
by
the
Father
and
shed
forth
by
our
exalted
Saviour,
together
with the
most emi-
nent
and
important
uses
and
designs
of
them.
Permit
me
now
to
conclude
with these
four
Remarks:
Remark
I.
Since
the
gifts
of
the Spirit are shed
forth,
in
a
way
of
promise
and
prediction, they more