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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 At 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?

4. 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 used 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 Gofpel 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 honeft and fincere Minds, God would extraordinarily countenance fuch a Defign?

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 Apostles?

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 Miracles, 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, because 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 muft find fome Change in the Object, or elfe the pretended Miracle is lost to them. Q. When

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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 moft eminently do. For if they are wrought to introduce Idolatry, or to countenance Impiety and Immorality, we have the Deut. 13.Warrant of Mofes not to regard them. And our 23 Saviour refers the Jews to the Nature of his 25, 26, Doctrine, as a Proof that his Power of working .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 foretelling future Contingencies, knowing Men's Hearts, raifing the Dead, and cafting out Devils.

&c.

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

A. The Gofpel 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 Authority and Commiffion from God the Father, is

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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 Residence in good Men, his being a Principle of spiritual Life to them, and his powerful· affifting of them to all the Purposes of Holiness and Obedience.

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

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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, 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 Christ hath promised thefe Influences of his Spirit.

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

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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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 Gofpel which hath received fo convincing a Teftimony. Earneftly to beg of God the Gift of his holy Spirit, which is fo neceffary to enable us to run the Ways of his Commandments, and which God is ready to grant to our hearty and fervent Prayers. To fupport ourselves under all the Difficulties of our Christian Warfare, which arife either from our own Weakness, or the Power of our spiritual Enemies; by confiJoh. 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 Perfections and Abilities we enjoy, to the Holy Spirit, whofe 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. 8.9. the Spirit of Christ, and the Spirit of the Son, as 1Pet.1.11. well as of the Father, and of one divine Effence Gal. 4. 6. or Substance with them; effentially holy in re

fpect 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