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doctrine, and to fupport an infant, ftruggling caufe against that oppofition which was then fo powerfully exerted against it. Among these gifts we find that of divers tongues; a gift abfolutely neceffary, to fupply the defects of an incompetent education, and to qualify illiterate men for the immediate discharge of an office, which, according to the commiffion delivered to them, was "to go and make difciples in all nations."

But the Apostles were not only to preach and propagate the religion of a crucified JESUS, but were, moreover, to leave behind them a standing revelation for the future direction and government of the church. To enable them to collect the materials for this work, from the detached converfation of their bleffed Master, and the incidental circumstances of his life, with a correctnefs effential to its perfection, extraordinary affiftance was deemed neceffary. One part, therefore, of the Holy Ghoft's office, as advocate for the church, was to qualify the Apostles for this undertaking; by leading them into all truth; and bringing all things to their remembrance which JESUS had faid unto them." John xiv. 25, 26. By this fupernatural affiftance, ignorance and error were effectually guarded against; and every truth expe

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dient to be known was delivered to the world, with that authority and conviction, proper to accompany a revelation, defigned to be the standard of Christian faith to all future ages.

To thofe, therefore, who in these days despise the ordinary means of attaining divine knowledge, from a dependence upon that extraordinary affistance from the Holy Spirit, which was vouchfafed to the Apoftles and first Christians, we have to obferve; that the ftate of the Chriftian world does not at this time render fuch affiftance neceffary. The standard of Christian faith being fixed, we have no new revelation to expect. It remains only, that we now make ourfelves acquainted with that which has been vouchfafed unto us; and this is to be done by the usual methods of study and application, accompanied with that ordinary affistance of the Holy Spirit, which we are taught to believe will accompany all fincere endeavours exerted in fuch a caufe.

The church stands no longer upon that ground on which it originally stood, when the weak things of the world and the foolish things were chosen to confound the wife. Kings and Queens are now become her nurfing fathers and nurfing mothers; and the wisdom of the wife is now engaged in her cause.

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The figns and wonders, which accompanied the preaching of the Gofpel in its early days, have therefore ceafed; because the end for which they were granted having been anfwered, the continuance of them is no longer neceffary. For a fimilar reafon, all the extraordinary affiftance of the Holy Spirit to qualify the first teachers of Christianity for their office, by the effect of immediate infpiration fupplying natural incapacity, has long fince ceased; becaufe men have it now in their power, in a great degree, to qualify themfelves for the discharge of the minifterial office by a proper employment of those faculties which God has given them for the purpose.

As much important work was to be completed within a fhort period, the whole world being to be converted by the Apostles and their immediate deputies to the knowledge of the true GOD, fuch means were neceffary as would tend to give a ready reception to their preaching, by producing a powerful and inftantaneous effect upon their hearers. Miracles were exprefsly calculated for this purpose. And had the state of the church ftill continued to be what it was when the Holy Ghoft first undertook the charge of it, the fame extraordinary means would ftill have been neceffary for its fupport. But in propor

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tion as the ordinary means of promoting Christian knowledge increased upon the world, extraordinary means were withdrawn; and the external evidence for the credibility of the Gofpel, from the figns and wonders which attended its early promulgation, gradually gave way to that internal evidence, which the study of the facred writings, when put into the hands of Christians, was calculated to furnish; an evidence which, though lefs quick in its operation than what' acts upon the understanding through the medium of the fenfes, has yet this advantage in its favour, that it is more permanent in its effect.

Whilft, therefore, the fober Chriftian looks for that affiftance of the Holy Spirit which is ftill neceffary for his condition, to enable him to "fight the good fight of faith," and which he certainly will obtain, provided he do not ask amifs; he does not expect to receive affiftance which the circumftances of his cafe do not require.

Should extraordinary events take place in the Christian world, he rests affured, from the experience of former times, that the fame Holy Spirit who "divideth to every man feverally as he will," and to whofe trust the spiritual concerns of Chriftians have been committed, will not be wanting to the occafion,

A distinction is, therefore, to be made between the ordinary and extraordinary affistance of the Holy Spirit; each being adapted by Divine wisdom to the particular condition of the party concerned. In the present day, the extraordinary affiftance which attended the infant church is not expected, because it is not wanted. That it is not granted, can be no fubject for controverfy; whilft those who pretend to it, are unable to produce a proof of it. They neither work miracles, nor do they poffefs the gift of tongues; though from a want of knowledge of the languages in which the Scriptures were originally written, they are frequently leading their hearers into error; which certainly they would not be permitted to do, if, like the Apostles, they were, as they pretend to be, under the immediate direction of the Holy Spirit.

All pretence, therefore, to this extraordinary affistance of the Holy Spirit, which tends to fuperfede the ufe of those general methods of attaining Divine knowledge, which are fuited to the present state of things in the world, and calculated to establish the faith and practice of the Chriftian profeffor on the firm ground of found argument and rational conviction, is the offspring of enthufiafm; which has been productive of more difgrace to the Christian cause,

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