SER M.the Spirit of Holiness, by the Refurrection VII. from the Dead.

3

Laftly, THE Gift of the Holy Ghost; which according to his Promise, he fent down upon the Apostles after his Afcenfion. The Promife was, Joh. xv. 26; I will fend unto you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father be fhall testify of Me: And the Accomplishment is, Heb. ii. 4; God bore them Witnefs, both with Signs and Wonders, and with divers Miracles and Gifts of the Holy Ghoft, according to his own Will. So that, with great Power gave the Apostles Witness of the Refurrection of the Lord; Acts iv. 33. Him, faith St Peter, bath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour ; and We are bis Witnesses of these things; and fo is also the Holy Ghoft, whom God hath given that obey him, Acts v. 31.

to them

!

THIS therefore is the Third and Last Great Witnefs to the Truth of our Lord's Doctrine; It is the Spirit that beareth Witness, because the Spirit is Truth. Tis this great Variety, this manifold Evidence, of the Works of the Spirit; which gives

the

the most undeniable Atteftation to the SER M. Truth of Christianity. This is what St VII. Paul calls, the Demonftration of the Spirit, and of Power, 1 Cor. ii. 4. For our Gospel, faith he, came not unto you in Word only, but also in Power, and in the Holy Ghoft, i Theff. i. 5. Through mighty Signs and Wonders, by the Power of the Spirit of God, Rom. xv. 19.

THE Inferences I fhall draw from what has been faid, are:

ift, IF God has given us fuch abundant Evidence of the Truth of Chriftianity, as has been above shown; then from hence it appears, how inexcufable thofe are, who neglect to embrace it, when proposed to them in its true and original Simplicity. In the manner fome. have mixt it up with human inventions; with their own unintelligible doctrines, and corrupt Practices ; it is no wonder indeed, that it has become a stumblingblock and an Offence. But as it was taught by Christ and his Apoftles, in the native Purity of the Word of God; no heart of Man, that is willing to act the part of a rational Creature, can pof

A

SER M. fibly withstand its Evidence and ExcelVII. lency. Only they who pretend to im brace it, and yet; difobey it; are, of the two, ftill more inexcufable. If we receive the Witnefs of God, which he has given us concerning his Son; we must make Evidence of the Truth and Sincerity of our Faith, by the Teftimony of a fuitable Practice. We must verify and make good our Baptifm with Water, by the Purity and Holiness of a virtuous and Christian Life. We must be content to be ill-ufed (if at any time the Will of God be fo,) and to fuffer many indignities, for adhering to and preferring before humane inventions, the Simplicity of That Doctrine which our Lord and his Apostles attefted with their Blood. We must take care to bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit, in all meekness, righteoufnefs, fobriety and virtuous behaviour; Otherwise the Works of the Spirit, the feveral Manifeftations of the Divine Power, will be of No Benefit to

US.

2dly, IF the Witneffes to the Truth of Christianity recited in the Text, were a fuffi

our

VII.

a fufficient and complete Evidence and At-SER M. teftation of That Doctrine which Saviour bimfelf taught; then from hence we may learn what to think of those Evidences, which corrupt men in afterAges have alledged in Proof of their own additional Doctrines. The two principal Pretences of This kind, are That of the internal guidance of the Spirit, and That of the external Evidence of Miracles. The former has been occafionally claimed, by Enthuafiafts of all Sorts: The latter, is the great and ftanding Impofture of the Church of Rome. Concerning the former, it is fufficient to observe, that Other Foundation can no man lay, than that which is laid, even Jefus Chrift: And that therefore the following of the Guidance and Direction of the Spirit of God, is not following vain and enthufiaftick imaginations, but adhering to That Doctrine which God at first revealed by the infpiration of his Spi-rit, and is now recorded in the Holy Scriptures written for our Ufe. Concerning the latter, namely the Miracles pretended to be worked in thefe latter Ages in the Church of Rome; That which the Scripture

VOL. VI.

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VII.

SER M. Scripture fays of them, is This: Matt. xxiv. 24; There fhall arife falfe Chrifts, and falfe Prophets, and hall show great Signs and Wonders ; Behold, I have told you before. 2 Theff. ii. 9. Whofe Coming is af ter the working of Satan, with all Power and Signs and Lying Wonders; and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, because they received not the Love of the Truth, (i. e. the purity and fimplicity of the Gofpel;) and for This caufe God fhall fend them ftrong Delufion, that they should believe a Lye. And, to mention but one place more, with which I fhall conclude: Rev. xiii. 13. He doth great Wonders, and deceiveth them that dwell on the Earth, by the means of thofe Miracles which he had Power to do. From which, and all Other Impostures and Deceits, &c.

SER