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They appear likewise to have possessed a preeminent variety of spiritual gifts. St. Paul, for instance, had the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, proph‐ ecy, discerning of spirits, miracles, healing, tongues, and interpretation of tongues.

In this manner, were the Apostles endowed with supernatural gifts, in the greatest perfection and variety, as the first order of spiritual men.

At the same time, there is reason to believe, that the power of conferring spiritual gifts upon others was peculiar to the Apostles. This is obviously implied in the account given of the mission of two of the Apostles to Samaria. "Now when the apostles, which were at Jerusalem, heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John; who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the HOLY GHOST. For as yet he had fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the LORD JESUS. Then laid they their hands upon them and they received the HOLY GHOST.*

Now it cannot be questioned, that this had reference, either to the gifts, or the graces of the Spirit. But it could not refer to the graces of the Spirit, because we are expressly informed, that they had believed and were baptized. Philip undoubtedly required of each one of them, as a prerequisite to baptism, a profession of the same faith, which he required of the Ethiopian eunuch, "If thou believest

Acts viii. 14-17. tv. 12.

with all thine heart, thou mayest."* If then there was one sincere believer among the whole number, it could not have been said, that the HOLY GHOST had fallen upon none of them to communicate spiritual graces. For these graces are inseparable from evangelical faith. For "faith worketh by love." It could not be said of one genuine believer, that he was destitute of the graces of the Spirit. Hence it is evident, that the Apostles laid their hands on them to communicate the miraculous gifts of the HOLY GHOST.

This is confirmed by the application of Simon Magus. "And when Simon saw, that through lay. ing on of the apostles' hands the HOLY GHOST was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the HOLY GHOST." The effect produced by the imposition of the Apostles' hands, must, therefore, have been something visible and admirable. It was something that excited the wonder and ambition of the crafty magician; something, which, he readily perceived, would give him an influence and elevation, superior to the popularity derived from those arts of sorcery, by which he had so fascinated the people, that they thought him to be "the great power of God." Nothing surely could have corresponded to this account, but those miraculous gifts conferred upon the first converts, and which were so truly wonderful and astonishing!

But if a shadow of doubt could remain upon this
IV. 9-11.

*Acts vini. 37. V. 18, 19,

subject, it must be removed by a due consideration of the Apostle's reply. "But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased. with money. Thou hast neither part nor lət in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of GOD."* By this it appears, that the HOLY GHOST was not to be conferred by the Apostles upon one, who did not possess a good heart. He had neither part nor lot in the matter." The declaration clearly implies that he had no concern, in any manner whatever, with the communication of the HOLY GHOST. As his heart was not right in the sight of GOD, he was excluded not merely from the power to confer, but from any title to enjoy, the gift of thei HOLY GHOST. If he were not to be excluded from. the latter as well as the former, he might certainly have had some part or lot in the matter. He might have received the gift, if he could not obtain the power.t

If any one should be disposed still to insist, that the exclusion ought to be restricted to the power to confer the HOLY GHOST, he will involve himself in an absurdity. For, if the Apostles were merely restricted from granting the power to a man of this character, then they were authorized to bestow the gift upon one, whose heart was not right in the sight of GOD. They might have conferred the gift of the HOLY GHOST upon Simon, who was "in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity," as consistently as upon the most humble and pious believer in Samaria.

*V. 20, 21.

If this reasoning be correct, it follows that the Apostles were not authorized to confer the HOLY GHOST upon one, whose heart was not right in the sight of GOD. But how any one, whose heart was right in the sight of GOD, could be destitute of all the graces of the Spirit, exceeds my comprehension. Is the corrupt and sinful heart of any man made upright and holy, independently of the gracious influences of the HOLY GHOST? If not, then the HOLY GHOST was to be bestowed upon the subjects, not in his gracious influences, but in his miraculous powers.

*

As little can it be questioned, that the power of bestowing this gift was peculiar to the Apostles. If this power had been common to them and others, there would have been no occasion for the suspension of this gift till the Apostles arrived, and laid their hands upon the new converts, Philip was one of the most distinguished evangelists, and performed illustrious miracles for the confirmation of the truth.* But he was not authorized to confer the gifts of the HOLY GHOST. It was necessary for the Apostles to go from Jerusalem to Samaria, and lay their hands upon the converts, before they could receive these supernatural endowments. This power must, therefore, have been peculiar to the Apostles, and a part of their special preeminence.

In confirmation of this conclusion, we may adduce the declaration of the Apostle to the Romans. "I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established." This church was not destitute of spiritual men, but there was occasion for additional gifts for Vid. xii.

*V. 6. 7.

Rom. i. 11.

the establishment of their faith. The Apostle was, therefore, extremely desirous to visit them, that he might supply this deficiency. But there could have been no occasion for his solicitude, nor any neces sity of his presence, on this account, if other spiritual men besides the Apostles had possessed this power. It must, therefore, have been peculiar to the Apostles.

In correspondence with this representation is the account concerning the twelve disciples of John, with whom St. Paul met at Ephesus. When "they were baptized in the name of the LORD JESUS; and when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the HOLY GHOST came on them; and they spake with tongues and prophesied."

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*Acts xix. 1—7. "When the phrase, poured out, is used in scripture, to signify the communication of spiritual gifts, it denotes that these gifts were imparted, not by the imposition of the hands of men, but immediately from heaven, accompanied with some visible sign or token; of which we have instances, Acts ii. 2, 3, 4, compared with verse 17 and 33—and x. 44, 45. Seeing the Apostle speaks of himself (Tit. iii. 6, in the original) as one of those, on whom the HOLY GHOST was poured out, we are warranted to believe, that he received the gift of the HOLY GHOST by an immediate illapse from heaven, and not by the imposition of the hands of Ananias; and that Ananias' words to Saul, Acts ix. 17. "The LORD JESUS hath sent me that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the HOLY GHOST," though preceded by putting his hands on

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