Obrázky na stránke
PDF
ePub

n Triumph, leading the Enemies captive, and scattering Money among their own Subjects who attend them in great Crowds on fuch Occafions, rejoicing with them in their Glory, partaking with them in their Spoils. In like Manner, but in a Degree infinitely more exalted, did the Bleffed Jefus enter the Heavenly erufalem, after He had approv'd himself the Lord ftrong and mighty in Spiritual Conflicts; the Gates of the Holy Places not made with Hands lift up their Heads, and the everlafting Doors of the highest Heavens were lifted up to give Admission to the King of Glory : He had subdued every ghoftly Adverfary, and now He return'd to his Father loaded with Victories, crown'd with Honours, leading Sin and Satan captive by his triumphant Afcenfion into Heaven, and fcattering among his Subjects here on Earth all those Spiritual Bleffings which by his mighty Conquefts he had obtained for us.

IT is proper barely to obferve, that in the lxviiith Pfalm, from whence these Words are taken, it is faid He receiv'd Gifts for Men; here, that He gave Gifts

unta

unto Men: Which Words do not contradict one another, fince his receiving Gifts for Men plainly implies that He received with an Intent to give; and that what He purchafed by his Victories, and receiv'd as the Reward of his Labours, He graciously diftributes among us, and applies to our Service and Happiness. Thus ftand the Words with respect to the Context, and the general Meaning of them, and will furnish out proper Matter for our prefent Difcourfe under the two following Heads, by confidering,

I. What thofe Gifts more particularly are which it is faid our Bleffed Saviour gave unto Men; and,

II. WHAT Our Duty is with refpect both to the Reception and Application of them.

Now as this Victory and Triumph are entirely of a Spiritual Sort, so likewife the Gifts which were difpenfed on that Occafion, and are, as was before mentioned, in general, the bleffed Influences of God's Holy Spirit: And thofe Influences

Influences are more particularly divided into his extraordinary and ordinary Operations: The former of thefe were vouchfafed only to the firft Ages of the Chriftian Church; the latter are what the Christian World always enjoys. The Apoftles were separated out for an extraordinary Task, and could perform it no otherwife than by extraordinary Means. Our Bleffed Lord did indeed give them Authority to plant the Gofpel in all the World at his Departure, but commanded them to ftay at Jerufalem, 'till they were endued with Power from on High That Power was wonderfully imparted to them, as upon this Day, and they were immediately made equal to their mighty Task: They fpake with Tongues as the Spirit gave them Utterance; i. e. without the tedious Inftructions of Converfation or Grammar-Rules : They were in an Inftant poffeffed of the Habit of speaking feveral Languages; fo that with Eafe they could communicate to all the Inhabitants of the Earth the exalted Truths of the Gospel, and preach Salvation to all the Ends of the World: Fifteen

:

Fifteen Nations were at that Time gathered together at Jerufalem, and heard them Speaking in their own Tongues, wherein they were born, the wonderful Works of God: And as the Holy Spirit had given them a Mouth, fo He likewise gave them Wisdom: They were infpired with a full and clear Knowledge of the Sacred Doctrines they preach'd to the World, far above the flender Improvements of Natural Senfe, and without the flow Deductions of common Reafon. In a Moment of Time they understood all Myfteries, and received the Fulnefs of Divine Truth: What they learn'd was not conveyed to them by outward Representations or grofs Images, but applied to their Understanding by the naked and immediate Communications of the Holy Ghost himself; taught they were without any Poffibility of being misinform'd, and what they preached to others is the infallible Standard of Divine Truth to all Generations. The Word of God thus applied was quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged Sword; the Disciples immediately were enabled to inftruct the whole

whole World; their Audience were prick'd in their Hearts, and at their very firft Preaching, in one Day there were added to the Chriftian Church about three thoufand Souls. But the Influences of the Holy Ghoft did not reft here, He likewife indued them with the Power of working Miracles to evince the Divinity of their Doctrines; many Signs and Wonders were done by the Hands of the Apostles, and in Confequence thereof there were daily added to the Church fuch as fhould be faved: Thefe Gifts were all abfolutely neceffary to enforce and give Credit to the Truth of the Gofpel upon the firft Propagation of it, but ceafed in great measure with the Apoftles, and as foon as the Gospel was well established, were entirely withdrawn. But we may from hence draw these comfortable Conclufions, that the Gospel which is contained in their Writings is the infallible Word of God himself, delivered in the most pure and authentick Manner, dictated by the Bleffed Spirit of Light and Truth, and wrote by the Hands of thofe who had the moft inti

mate

« PredošláPokračovať »