on, as in that place of the Acts is at large described. And God seems to have laid the foundation of preaching the gospel in this gift, for two reasons: 1. To signify that the grace and mercy of the covenant was now no longer to be confined ·unto one nation, language, or people, but to be extended unto all nations, tongues, and languages of people under heaven. 2. To testify by what means he would subdue the souls and consciences of men unto the obedience of Christ and the gospel, and by what means he would maintain his kingdom in the world. Now this was not by force and might, by external power or armies, but by the preaching of the word, whereof the tongue is the only instrument. And the outward sign of this gift in tongues of fire evidenced the light and efficacy wherewith the Holy Ghost designed to accompany the dispensation of the gospel. Wherefore, although this gift began with the apostles, yet was it afterward very much diffused unto the generality of them that did believe. See Acts x. 46. xix. 6. 1 Cor. xiv. And some few things we may observe concerning this gift: as, (1.) The especial matter that was expressed by this gift, seems to have been the praises of God for his wonderful works of grace by Christ. Although, I doubt not, but that the apostles were enabled by virtue of this gift to declare the gospel unto any people unto whom they came in their own language, yet ordinarily they did not preach nor instruct the people by virtue of this gift, but only spake forth the praises of God to the admiration and astonishment of them who were yet strangers to the faith. So when they first received the gift, they were heard 'speaking the wonderful works of God;' Acts ii. 11. And the Gentiles who first believed 'spake with tongues, and magnified God;' Acts x. 46. (2.) These tongues were so given for 'a sign unto them that believed not;' 1 Cor. xiv. 22. that sometimes those that spake with tongues, understood not the sense and meaning of the words delivered by themselves, nor were they understood by the church itself wherein they were uttered; 1 Cor. xiv. 6-10, &c. But this I suppose was only sometimes; and that, it may be mostly, when this gift was unnecessarily used. For, I doubt not, but the apostles understood full well the things delivered by themselves in divers tongues. And all who had this gift, though they might not apprehend the meaning of what themselves

spake and uttered, yet were so absolutely in the exercise of it under the conduct of the Holy Spirit, that they neither did nor could speak any thing by virtue thereof, but what was according unto the mind of God, and tended unto his praise; 1 Cor. xiv. 2. 14. 17. (3.) Although this gift were excellent in itself, and singularly effectual in the propagation of the gospel unto unbelievers, yet in the assemblies of the church it was of little or no use, but only with respect unto the things themselves that were uttered. For, as to the principal end of it, to be a sign unto unbelievers, it was finished and accomplished towards them, so as they had no farther need nor use of it. But now, wherefore, as many unbelievers came occasionally into the assemblies of the church, especially at some freer seasons, for whose conviction the Holy Ghost would for a season continue this gift among believers; that the church might not be disadvantaged thereby, he added the other gift here mentioned, namely, The interpretation of tongues.' He endowed either those persons themselves who spake with tongues, or some others in the same assembly, with an ability to interpret and declare to the church the things that were spoken and uttered in that miraculous manner; which is the last gift here mentioned. But the nature, use, and abuse, of these gifts is so largely and distinctly spoken unto by the apostle, 1 Cor. xiv. that as I need not insist on them, so I cannot fully do it without an entire exposition of that whole chapter, which the nature of my design will not permit.

CHAP. V.

The original, duration, use, and end, of extraordinary spiritual gifts.

THIS Summary account doth the apostle give of these extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost which then flourished in the church, and were the life of its extraordinary ministry. It may be mention may occur of some such gifts under other names, but they are such as may be reduced unto some one of those here expressed. Wherefore this may be admittedas a perfect catalogue of them, and comprehensive of that power from above, which the Lord Christ promised unto his apostles and disciples upon his ascension into heaven; Acts i. 8. For he ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things;' Eph. iv. 10. that is, the church with officers and gifts, unto the 'perfection of the saints, by the work of the ministry, and the edification of his body;' ver. 12. For being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he shed forth, or abundantly poured out these things whereof we speak ;' Acts ii. 33. And as they were the great evidence of his acceptation with God, and exaltation, seeing in them the Spirit convinced the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment;' so they were the great means whereby he carried on his work amongst men, as shall afterward be declared.

There was no certain limited time for the cessation of these gifts. Those peculiar unto the apostles, were commensurate unto their lives. None after their decease had either apostolical office, power, or gifts. The like may be said of evangelists. Nor have we any undoubted testimony, that any of those gifts which were truly miraculous, and every way above the faculties of men, were communicated unto any after the expiration of the generation of them who conversed with Christ in the flesh,' or those who received the Holy Ghost by their ministry. It is not unlikely, but that God might on some occasions for a longer season, put forth his power in some miraculous operations, and so he yet may do, and perhaps doth sometimes. But the superstition and folly of some ensuing ages inventing and divulging innumerable

miracles false and foolish, proved a most disadvantageous prejudice unto the gospel, and a means to open a way unto Satan to impose endless delusions upon Christians. For as true and real miracles, with becoming circumstances, were the great means that won and reconciled a regard and honour unto Christian religion in the world; so the pretence of such as either were absolutely false, or such as whose occasions, ends, matter, or manner, were unbecoming the greatness and holiness of him who is the true author of all miraculous operations, is the greatest dishonour unto religion that any one can invent. But although all these gifts and operations ceased in some respect, some of them absolutely, and some of them as to the immediate manner of communication and degree of excellency; yet so far as the edification of the church was concerned in them, something that is analogous unto them, was and is continued. He who gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, gave also some pastors and teachers.' And as he furnished the former with extraordinary gifts; so as far as any thing of the like kind is needful for the continual edification of the church, he bestows it on the latter also, as shall be declared.

And these gifts of the Spirit added unto his grace in real holiness, were the glory, honour, and beauty, of the church of old. Men have but deceived themselves and others, when they have feigned a glory and beauty of the church in other things. And whatever any think or say, where these gifts of the Holy Ghost, which are the ornaments of the church, her clothing of wrought gold,' and her 'raiment of needlework,' being neglected and lost, and they think to adorn her with the meritricious paint of pompous ceremonies, with outward grandeur, wealth, and power, she is utterly fallen from her chastity, purity, and integrity. But it is evident that this is the state of many churches in the world, which are therefore worldly and carnal, not spiritual or evangelical. Power, and Force, wealth, the gifts in this case of another spirit, un

pretences and names, are their life and glory, inath and shame. I deny not but that it is lawers of the gospel to enjoy earthly possessions, > attain by any commendable way among other er are they required, unless in extraordinary with the right and use of their temporal goods,

because they are so, ministers of Christ; though those who are so indeed, will not deny but that they ought to use them in a peculiar manner unto the glory of Christ, and honour of the gospel, beyond other men. Neither shall I ever question, that, wherein the Scripture is so express, namely, that those who labour in the word and doctrine,' should have a convenient, yea, an honourable subsistence provided for them according to the best ability of the church, for their work's sake. It is in like manner also granted, that the Lord Christ hath committed all that power which, with respect unto the edification of the church, he will exercise in this world unto the church itself; as it cannot, without a virtual renunciation of the gospel and faith in Christ Jesus as the Head and King of the church, be supposed that this power is any other but spiritual, over the souls and consciences of men. And, therefore, cannot this power be exercised, or be any ways made effectual, but by virtue of the spiritual gifts we treat of. But for men to turn this spiritual power, to be exercised only by virtue of spiritual gifts, into an external coercive power over the persons, bodies, liberties, and lives, of men, to be exercised by law-courts, in ways, forms, manners, utterly foreign to the gospel, and all evangelical administrations, without the least pretence unto, or appearance of the exercise of the gifts of the Holy Ghost therein; yea, and by persons by whom they are hated and derided, acting with pride, scorn, and contempt of the disciples of Christ, and over them, being utterly ignorant of the true nature and use of all gospel administrations, this is to disorder the church, and instead of a house of spiritual worship, in some instances, to turn it into a den of thieves. Where, hereunto, there are moreover annexed earthly revenues, containing all food and fuel of corrupt lusts, with all things satisfactory unto the minds of worldly, sensual men, as a meet reward of these carnal administrations, as it is at this day in the church of Rome, there all use of the gifts of the Holy Ghost is excluded, and the church is brought into extreme desolation. And, although these things are as contrary to the gospel as darkness to light, yet the world for many reasons, not now to be insisted on, being willing to be deceived in this matter, it is generally apprehended that there is nothing so pernicious unto the church, so justly to be watched against and rooted out, as a