against all attempts to injure them in their temporal interests. Every kindness is due to them, as men, when they need it; many of them, as good members of society, are entitled to civil respect and commendation: and by this conduct, we shall best silence the censures brought against our principles as intolerant; and prove that they enlarge the heart with the most diffusive philanthropy.

ESSAY XIV.

On the Gifts and Influences of the Holy Spirit.

OUR present subject has given occasion to a variety of dangerous or destructive mistakes. While some have advanced claims with respect to it, which seem at least to place them upon an equality with prophets, apostles, and inspired writers; others (perceiving the absurdity or arrogance of such pretensions; deeming themselves wise, able, or good, by their native powers and exertions; and not being sufficiently conversant with the subject, to discriminate between what is scriptural and what anti-scriptural), have argued, that we neither need, nor are warranted to expect, any divine or supernatural influences; that they were vouchsafed to the apostles and primitive Christians exclusively; and that all, now spoken of the operations or assistance of the Spirit, is mere enthusiasm and delusion. These opposite extremes have also admitted of intermediate errors and variations. Some contend, that there is no discoverable distinction between divine influences and the actings of our minds; and do not clearly admit of an exception, even as to the different effects produced by these distinct causes: others suppose, that they are immediately distinguishable by an inward, and a kind of instinctive, consciousness, like that which assured the prophets that they were divinely inspired; and thus, whilst they seem to honour the Spirit, and will attempt nothing, till, as they say, they are moved by him, they covertly advance a claim to infallibility and perfection in those favoured seasons, or impute all their mistakes and follies to this sacred Agent.-Nor is it uncommon for men to plead that they are influenced by the Holy Spirit, in order to establish other rules of faith and practice than the written word of God; to bring that, or some parts of it into a measure of discredit: or even to substitute something wrought in them, or by them, in the place of the righteousness and atoning blood of the Saviour, whom the Spirit is sent "to glorify among men.-In short, much enthusiasm and spiritual pride,

and many fatal or disgraceful delusions have, on the one hand, arisen from misapprehensions of this subject; and, on the other, multitudes have taken occasion from these incidental evils, to treat the whole with profane contempt and derision.

But a careful attention to the Scriptures, and to the ends for which the Holy Spirit was promised, may enable us properly to discriminate in this important concern; and to shew in what sense, and for what purposes, we ought to expect, and depend on, the influences of the Spirit: and which of his gifts and operations were peculiar to the primitive times, or to extraordinary occasions. I shall, therefore, at present, offer some thoughts on the miraculous gifts and powers, imparted by the Holy Spirit ;-on those ordinary endowments, which uninspired men may reasonably expect to receive from him;-on his common influences upon the minds of many unconverted persons ;-and on the special nature of that sanctifying work by which, "the vessels of mercy "are afore prepared unto glory."1

If we accurately mark the language of the Scriptures, we shall find, that the Holy Spirit is spoken of, as the author and giver of all those miraculous and supernatural powers, with which any of the human race were ever endued.—Not only did " holy men of God speak as they were moved by "the Holy Ghost;"2 not only did apostles, evangelists, and primitive believers receive the Holy Ghost, enabling them to cast out devils, heal the sick, raise the dead, speak in languages before unknown, or interpret the discourses of others: but even Christ himself was "anointed by the Holy "Ghost," to work his beneficent miracles.3 He cast out devils by the Spirit of God;"4 who was given to him "without measure:"5 and " through the Holy Ghost he gave commandments to his apostles." Indeed the promises made to him in the Old Testament especially relate to this; and his very title of the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed of the Lord, was derived from it.7 Now we cannot satisfactorily account for these expressions, or reconcile them with our Lord's conduct, in speaking and acting as in his own name, or by his own authority and power; unless we advert to the distinction between his divine and human nature, and his personal and mediatorial dignity; and remember, that, in respect to his divine nature, he is one with the Father and with the Holy Spirit, in the essence, perfections, and operations of the Godhead. We must therefore consider the

Rom. ix. 23. 22 Pet. i. 21. 5 John iii. 34. 6. Acts i. 2. lix, 21.

xi. 1.

3 Acts x. 38. 4 Matt. xii. 28. 7 Ps. xlv. 7. Is. xi. 2, 3. xlii. 1.

Holy Spirit as the great Agent, according to the economy of the everlasting covenant, in the inspiration of the Scriptures; in the performance of all those miracles, by which the messengers of God authenticated their doctrine; and in the revelation of those future events, which, being interwoven with every part of the sacred volume, and receiving their accomplishment from age to age, confirm the divine original of the whole to every attentive and impartial enquirer.

Such discoveries of the truth and will of God had been made from the beginning: but they became more particular and copious, when Israel was brought out of Egypt, and "the law was given by Moses." The prophets and other servants of God, who from time to time were raised up to call the attention of Israel to his law and promises, or to effect extraordinary deliverances for the nation, were endued with miraculous powers by the same Spirit. At the coming of Christ, Mary, Elizabeth, Zacharias, Simeon, and Anna, spake of him by the Spirit; and his apostles and seventy disciples partook of these extraordinary gifts and miraculous powers, even before our Lord's crucifixion. Yet the pouring out of the Spirit, at and after the day of pentecost, was so vastly superior, in energy, extent, and duration, that John, who had witnessed and experienced both, says, in recording the discourses of Christ, "This he spake of the Spirit-for "the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because that Jesus was "not yet glorified." Whatever had preceded that great event was an earnest of the dispensation of the Spirit; yet it did not belong to it, nor was worthy to be compared with it. But when Jesus was risen and ascended on high, these gifts were showered down on men in rich abundance, to confirm the testimony of the apostles to his resurrection, and to qualify them and their fellow labourers to spread the gospel through the nations: and being communicated by the laying on of the apostles' hands, the, number of witnesses and instruments was continually multiplied, and provision was made for the rapid diffusion of their salutary doctrine. The evident design and use of these extraordinary operations of the Spirit was, to rouse the attention of a careless world to the spiritual doctrines of the gospel; to counterbalance men's prejudices in favour of their old traditions, and against religious innovations; and to put honour on those, who were commissioned to propagate Christianity in the midst of contempt and persecution. The gift of tongues, especially, seems to have been indispensably necessary, to enable the first preachers of the gospel to address men of different nations in

John vii. 39.

2 Matt. xxviii. 18-20. Mark xvi, 15-18, Luke xxiv. 46-49.

a suitable manner; and the difficulty of learning the languages of heathen nations forms, at this day, one grand impediment to the promulgation of our holy religion, which in some respects appears almost insurmountable. These powers seem to have continued with the church, in some measure, during the first three centuries, or perhaps rather longer; but to have decreased in proportion as Christianity obtained establishment in the world, and ceased to be propagated among pagan nations.-At length, when "the only wise "God our Saviour" saw, that occasional prejudices had sufficiently subsided, and extraordinary obstacles were in a great degree removed; and that the truth had only to contend with those lusts of man's fallen nature, and those efforts of the powers of darkness, which are common to every age and place; he was pleased to withdraw these extraordinary gifts and operations, and to carry on his work, by means of the written word, the fulfilment of prophecies, and other abiding evidences of the truth, and the ordinary influences of the Holy Spirit. But he hath no where expressly declared, that he will not on any future occasion endue his servants with miraculous powers, or confer on them the Spirit of prophecy. We may, however, be assured, that such powers will never be imparted, to enable men to support any thing, materially different from that complete revelation which we now possess: and for thirteen hundred years at least, all pretences to miracles or prophecy have, in one way or other, tended to subvert the doctrine contained in the New Testament; and have justly been deemed impostures, or satanical delusions and marks of Antichrist.-In this respect, therefore, the promise of the Spirit exclusively related to the primitive times; or at least, all pretensions at present to new revelations, predictions, miracles, or infallibility, are enthusiastic, arrogant, and unwarranted.

The Scriptures are fully authenticated as a complete rule of faith and practice; Christianity has all the advantages, which it can possess in a world that "lieth in the wicked one: there is no rival system, pretending to be a divine revelation, that can at all stand in competition with it; ministers may obtain needful qualifications, by the ordinary blessing of God on their diligent study; the establishment, which our religion has had for so many ages and through so many nations, gives it a sort of claim by prescription to the attention of mankind; and the Lord sees these things to be sufficient for the accomplishment of his purposes, in the present state of human affairs.

We may further observe, that miraculous and prophetical powers, imparted by the Holy Spirit, had no inseparable

connexion with personal sanctity, and were sometimes bestowed on very wicked men. Balaam," who loved the wages of unrighteousness," and perished among the enemies of God, might nevertheless have said with David, "The Spi"rit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tonI gue." Judas, as well as the other apostles, was doubtless endued with the power of casting out devils and working miracles; and Christ hath assured us, that " many will 66 say unto him in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not pro"phesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works: and then will he profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity." These gifts were also liable to be abused by the ambition and corrupt passions of man; and, however useful to others, were injurious, or even fatal, to the possessor, if he were not disposed, and enabled, by the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, to use them in humility, zeal, and love. 3

"2

But there are also other gifts, derived from the same Spirit, which are not directly of a sanctifying nature. It is observable, that John the Baptist, who was "filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb," wrought no miracles: yet our Lord declared, that "he was a prophet and more than a prophet;" and it is evident, that he was more illuminated in the nature of Christ's redemption and kingdom, than any of the apostles were, previously to the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of pentecost. His divine illumination therefore, by which he was led to an extraordinary degree of discernment, concerning the prophecies of the Old Testament, and his ministerial endowments, though not miraculous, were the gifts of the Holy Ghost.

Farther, the apostles and disciples, on the day of pentecost, were not only endued with miraculous powers; but were greatly advanced in their knowledge of the gospel, delivered from their prejudices and mistakes, raised above the fear of men, and enabled to speak with promptitude, facility, and propriety, far beyond what was natural to them, or what they could have acquired by habit or study. That wonderful change, which in these respects took place in them, ought to be ascribed entirely to the agency of the promised Spirit; 4 and we may hence conclude, that religious knowledge, prudence, fortitude, utterance, and other endowments for the sacred ministry, or for any useful service in the church, are gifts of the Holy Spirit. Diligence indeed in the use of proper means is our duty: yet the diligence itself, and doubtless

1 Num. xxiii. 5, 16. xxiv. 2, 16–24. 2 Sam. xxiii. 2. 2 Matt. vii. 22, 23. 1 Cor. xiii. 1-3. 31 Cor. xii. xiv. 4 John xiv. 26. xvi. 12, 13.