ADVERTISEMENT. I HAVE many apologies to offer to my Reverend Brethren, for my apparent tardiness in complying with a request which they have condescended with so much cordiality, and with gratifying unanimity, to press upon me. But I must plead my own unaffected hesitation, in repeating thus publicly to a body of Clergy sentiments, which I may presume to be perfectly familiar to all its members; but which, if in any measure approaching to novelty in their expression, have appeared on that account to demand from myself a still more full and attentive reconsideration. With some care I have endeavoured to refer to several authorities, such as might be deemed most unexceptionable on the particular subjects brought forward in this viii ADVERTISEMENT. Discourse; and have arranged a few extracts and references in Notes at the end, which I trust will be found to warrant its general positions, as well as to add interest and weight to the production, which I have been unexpectedly called upon to lay before the Public. A SERMON, &c. &c. 1 COR. iv. 20. For the kingdom of God is not in word, THAT the Apostle, in this and similar expressions, partly alludes to the miraculous exercise of spiritual powers, and more especially as enforcing the solemn act of excommunication from the church, will admit of no reasonable doubt. "I will come unto you," he says, "shortly, if the Lord will :" adding, in reference to certain ambitious and schismatical teachers lately arisen amongst the Corinthians, "and I will know, not the speech of them that are puffed up, but the power: For the kingdom of God"-that dispensation of Heaven which was established by the coming of Jesus Christ upon earth" is not" to be maintained "in word," or by the mere effort of human pretension, "but in power;" that is, by Divine interposition, and by the appropriate exercise of full Aposto B But lical authority. And, doubtless, in those early ages of the Christian church, the manifestation of the Spirit, known to take place in outward miraculous signs, could not but serve many valuable purposes; whether as verifying the Apostolical ministry, or as authenticating revelation in general, or as ascertaining and identifying the more secret and ordinary operations of the Holy Ghost within the heart. that, on the other hand, having answered these purposes, such wonders should have naturally and imperceptibly died away in subsequent ages, can be no matter of surprise, when the nature of a dispensation essentially spiritual is considered, and the words of the Apostle himself duly weighed. The weapons of our warfare," he continues, in the Second of these Epistles, "are not carnal."-Carnal we must have presumed to call them, even though miraculous, as under the Jewish dispensation, if to miracles alone the appeal had here been made, either for maintaining the discipline of the church, or for effecting the conversion of individuals.—“The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty, through God "-not in their own native strength, but by a might derived from God-" for the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of |