DISCOtJRSE XII. 305 slops of such a divine favour. III. Shew how it may be distin- guished fromdelusions of Satan, and from the mere ferments and vivacity of animal nature, or a disordered fancy. IV. Represent someother characters of it, and shew wherein it differs from the ordinary witness of the Spirit. And then V. Conclude witha few directions relating to it. I. Let me offer some proofs that there is such an extraordi- nary witness of the Spirit. Now that this is not the language of wild enthusiasm,or a mere fantastic notion of the brain, will appear from thèse few considerations. , I. Thegreat God, the Father of spirits, can reveal a truth to the mind of his creature, with such life, and power, and evidence, that the mindcannot dissent from it, or refuse to believe it ; the overpowering light may be so divine and convincing, that the creature may be fully and justly persuaded it is a divine truth. Thosewho believe the prophets and apostles divinely inspired, can haveno reasonable doubt about this proposition. H. It has pleasedthe great and blessed God to give such im- mediate assurance of his own love to someof his favourites of old, by visions and voices, and the message of angels, and by inward impressions on their minds by his own Spirit. Thus Abraham was assured that Godwas his God, and would be his exceeding great reward; Gen. xv. 1. Thus concerning Moses, it was made known that he was the friend of God ; Ex. xxxiii. 11. Thus Daniel, was often informed that he was aman greatlybelov- ed ; Dan. ix. 23. and x. I1, 19. Mary Magdalene, and some others whoconversed withChrist, when he washere on earth, had aparticular assurance that their sins were forgiven them. Paul was assured that he was a chosen vessel And indeed, all the apóstles had sufficient evidence of their acceptance with God, and their interest in the love of Christ, by the extraordinary commu- nications ofthe Holy Ghost. It is the opinion ofa late ingenious writer, that not only the apostles themselves, but even all the primitive christians, that were truly converted by their ministry, receivedthese extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost insome de- gree ; which did not only witness to the christian religion, but to the comfort of those whohad it, with the assurance of God's pardon and acceptance. See Miscellanea Sacra, Essay, i. p. 117, 126, 134. III. There is no evidence from reason or scripture, that all such immediate divine favours are ceased ; and though there is not the same occasion for the frequency of them as there was in the beginning of Christianity, yet the Spirit of God is a free and unconfined agent ; and since it isplain from scripture, that hedoth still dwell inhis people, and carry on his divine work among the churches of Christ in all ages, to the end of the world, why Vox.. -it. U
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