pernaturally conferred upon them, was fupported by the Power they had to work other Miracles of all Kinds, which they every where did frequently; and particularly in this Kind, having Acts 19.6. a Power to impart the fame Gift to others by the Impofition of Hands.

Q. But might not this Gift of Tongues be only the Effect of an Enthufiaftick Heat, and of a Brain diftempered with Wine?

A. Language being not natural to Man, but an arbitrary thing, no violent Heat whatsoever could form a new Language to a Man which he never knew before. But were it poffible, the Time and the Manner how the Apostles ufed this Gift, prove that it was no Effect of Wine, for it was the third Hour of the Day, the Time of Morning Prayers, to which the Jews generally came fafting. And they argued with fuch Strength and Sedatenefs, that they convinced great Numbers of their Hearers of the Excellency of the Doctrine delivered by them; which fhews their Reason was not difcompofed; and the fame Spirit and Power continued with them afterwards, which proves it was not the Effect of a fudden Heat.

Q. To what End were the Apoftles thus endowed
with all Languages ?

A. To enable them to fpread and diffuse the
Knowledge of Chriftianicy over the World, the
Gospel thereby making a greater Progrefs in a
few Years than it could have done in human.
Probability without it in many Ages.

Q. Doth it feem probable that, if the Converfion
of Infidels were attempted by Men of boneft and
fincere Minds, God would extraordinarily counte-
nance fuch a Defign?

A. It

A. It is agreeable to Reason to think he would, and no ways contrary to Scripture; for as the Wisdom of God is never found to be prodigal in multiplying the Effects of his Almighty Power, fo it is never wanting to afford all neceffary Evidences and Motives of Conviction.

Q. What other extraordinary Gifts of the Holy Ghoft were conferred upon the Apoftles?

A. They had the Gift of Inspiration, whereby they were fully and clearly inftructed in all Manner of heavenly Truth, bringing to their Minds whatever Chrift had taught them; and fupplying whatever he had defignedly omitted, till they were better able to bear it; and were thereby infallibly affifted in delivering the faid Truth entire to others. And they had the Gift of Mracles, which enabled them to prove to others, with the most convincing Evidence, thofe Things which God had revealed to them.

Q. What do you mean by a Miracle?

A. The Work of a fuperior Power, unaccountable to us from natural Caufes, evident and wonderful to Senfe. An Effect may then be faid to be fupernatural, when either in itself, or in its Manner and Circumstances, it exceeds any Natural Power that we know of to produce it; which does not neceffarily imply that Miracles are always an immediate Effect of the Divine Power, becaufe Angels, good or bad, may do fuch things as exceed any natural Power known to us, and which we cannot diftinguifh from fome Effects that are wrought by the immediate Power of God. And if a Miracle was not externally fenfible, how fhall the Spectators perceive it? They must find fome Change in the Object, or elfe the pretended Miracle is loft to them.

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Q. When

Q. When ere Miracles a convincing Proof of the Truth and Divinity of any Doctrine?

A. When they are wrought in Confirmation of fuch Doctrines as are worthy of God, and which tend to promote Piety, as the Chriftian Doctrines most eminently do. For if they are wrought to introduce Idolatry, or to counte

nance Impiety and Immorality, we have the Deut. 13 Warrant of Mofes not to regard them. And our 123 Saviour refers the Jews to the Nature of his Mat. 12. Doctrine, as a Proof that his Power of working

&c.

.Miracles was not from Satan. And Miracles are
then more especially a convincing Proof, when
they are of fuch a Nature and Kind that they are
peculiar to the Power of God, and cannot be
performed by any unclean Spirit, as the foretel-
ling future Contingencies, knowing Men's Hearts,
raifing the Dead, and cafting out Devils.

Q. Is it not a great Sin to difbelieve the Gospel
after fo thorough a Confirmation of it?

A. The Gospel being fufficiently propounded, and there being fuch fufficient Grounds offered to perfuade Men to believe it, as the Confirmation of it by Miracles, of which we are af fured by credible Relation; it must be a Sin of the greateft Size to refift fo great a Light, and to reject the greatest Bleffings that ever were bestowed on Mankind. How fhall Men escape if they neglect fo great Salvation, which at the first began to be fpoken by the Lord, and was confirmed by them that heard him? Befides, our Saviour hath plainly declared, That he Mark 16.that believeth not shall be damned, and that the not receiving his Words, defigned for fuch an inJohn 12. eftimable Good, and attefted with fuch Autho rity and Commiffion from God the Father, is

16.

48.

an

an Accufation which will be heavily charged on
Men at the Day of Judgment.

Q. What are the ordinary Gifts of the Holy
Ghoft, which regard all Chriftians in all Ages to
the End of the World?

A. All thofe Helps and Affiftances which are neceffary for the Performance of thofe Conditions upon which our Salvation depends; partly by illuminating our Understandings in our fincere and diligent Enquiries after divine Truth; and partly by exciting our Wills to that which is good, and ftrengthening our vigorous Endeavours in the Profecution of it. So that the Gift of God's Spirit in this Senfe doth imply his continual Refidence in good Men, his being a Principle of spiritual Life to them, and his powerfulaffifting of them to all the Purposes of Holiness and Obedience.

Q: How may we attain thefe ordinary Gifts of the Holy Spirit?

A. By the Ufe of all thofe Means which God hath established for this End and Purpose, which are therefore called the Means of Grace ; James1.5. as humble, hearty, and fervent Prayer, a fre- Luke 11. quent and devout Ufe of the Holy Sacrament, 13. reading and hearing God's Holy Word; with the Ufe of all other likely Means to attain those Graces which we feek for at his Hands: And all this as obedient Members of the Catholick Church, to whom alone Chrift hath promifed thefe Influences of his Spirit.

Q. What may we learn from the Obfervation of this Feftival?

A. To thank God for thofe miraculous Gifts he bestowed upon the Apoftles to fit them to Convert the World, and for infpiring the facred

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Penmen

Penman of holy Writ; whereby he hath given
fuch abundant Teftmony of the Truth of our
Religion, and fuch firm Grounds for our Faith.
To live according to the holy Precepts of that
Gospel which hath received fo convincing a
Teftimony. Earneftly to beg of God the Gift
of his holy Spirit, which is fo necessary to ena-
ble us to run the Ways of his Commandments,
and which God is ready to grant to our hearty
and fervent Prayers. To fupport ourselves un-
der all the Difficulties of our Chriftian Warfare,
which arife either from our own Weakness, or
the Power of our fpiritual Enemies; by confi-
Joh. 4.4. dering that he that is in us is greater than be that
Phil.4.13.is in the World; and that we may do all Things
through Chrift that strengtheneth us.
To attribute
all the Good that is in us, as well as the Per-
fections and Abilities we enjoy, to the Holy
Spirit, whose free Gift they are, and to employ
them to the Benefit and Advantage of our
Neighbours, they being therefore given that we
might profit with them.

Q. What do you mean by the Holy Ghost or
Holy Spirit?

4. The third Perfen in the most adorable Trinity, diftinct from the Father and the Son, and eternally proceeding from both; being called Rom. 89. the Spirit of Christ, and the Spirit of the Son, as 1Pet.4.11. well as of the Father, and of one divine Effence Gal. 4. 6. or Substance with them; effentially holy in re

spect of his own divine Nature; for as the Son
was fo begotten of the Father as to be one God
with him, in like Manner the Holy Ghoft fo
proceedeth from the Father and the Son, that
he is one and the fame God that they are,

Q. What is the peculiar Office of the Holy
Spirit?

A. To