Q. What Evidence is there that this Miracle was real, and that there was no Manner of Deceit in it?

A. It was publicly wrought before many Witnesses, and those Enemies to the Apostles, as being the Disciples of him they had so lately crucified. They gave Proof of this miraculous Power, in the Presence of great Multitudes of several Nations, and in all Places where they went preaching the Gospel.

Q. Might not the Apostles craftily combine together to impose upon the World by the Pretence of such a Miracle, after having acquired the Knowledge of Languages, by Study and Industry?

A. No; because they were not Strangers at Jerusalem; their Persons were known as the Followers of Jesus; and so was their mean Condition and illiterate Education; which gave them no Opportunity to attain this Skill in an ordinary Way. And where they were not known, their affirming that this Gift was supernaturally conferred upon them, was supported by the Power they had to work other Miracles of all Kinds, which they every Acts xix. where did frequently; and particularly in this 6. Kind, having a Power to impart the same Gift to others by the Imposition of Hands.

Q. But might not this Gift of Tongues be only the Effect of an enthusiastic Heat, and of a Brain distempered 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 possible, 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 fasting. And they argued with such Strength and Sedateness, that they convinced great Numbers of their Hearers of the Excellency of the Doctrine delivered by them; which shews their Reason was not discomposed; and the same Spirit and Power continued with them

P

afterwards, which proves it was not the Effect of a sudden Heat.

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

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

Q. Doth it seem probable, that, if the Conversion of Infidels were attempted by Men of honest and sincere Minds, God would extraordinarily countenance such a Design?

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, so it is never wanting to afford all necessary Evidences and Motives of Conviction.

Q. What other extraordinary Gifts of the Holy Ghost were conferred upon the Apostles?

A. They had the Gift of Inspiration, whereby they were fully and clearly instructed in all Manner of heavenly Truth, bringing to their Minds whatever Christ had taught them; and supplying whatever he had designedly omitted, till they were better able to bear it; and were thereby infallibly assisted in delivering the said Truth entire to others. And they had the Gift of Miracles, which enabled them to prove to others, with the most convincing Evidence, those Things which God had revealed to them.

Q. What do you mean by a Miracle?

A. The Work of a superior Power, unaccountable to us from natural Causes, evident and wonderful to Sense. An Effect may then be said to be supernatural, 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 necessarily imply, that Miracles are always an imme

diate Effect of the divine Power, because Angels, good or bad, may do such Things as exceed any natural Power known to us, and which we cannot distinguish from some Effects that are wrought by the immediate Power of God. And if a Miracle was not externally sensible, how shall the Spectators perceive it? They must find some Change in the Object, or else the pretended Miracle is lost to them. Q. When are Miracles a convincing Proof of the Truth and Divinity of any Doctrine?

Mat. xii.

A. When they are wrought in Confirmation of such Doctrines as are worthy of God, and which tend to promote Piety, as the Christian Doctrines most eminently do. For if they are wrought to introduce Idolatry, or to countenance Impiety and Immorality, we have the Warrant of Moses not to re-Deut. xiii. gard them. And our Saviour refers the Jews to the 1, 2, 3. Nature of his Doctrine, as a Proof that his Power 25, 26, &c. of working Miracles was not from Satan. And Miracles are then more especially a convincing Proof, when they are of such 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, raising the Dead, and casting out Devils.

Q. Is it not a great Sin to disbelieve the Gospel, after so thorough Confirmation of it?

A. The Gospel being sufficiently propounded, and there being such sufficient Grounds offered to persuade Men to believe it, as the Confirmation of it by Miracles, of which we are assured by credible Relation; it must be a Sin of the greatest Size to resist so great a Light, and to reject the greatest Blessings that ever were bestowed on Mankind. How shall Men escape, if they neglect so great Salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed by them that heard him? Besides, our Saviour hath plainly declared, That he that be-Mark xvi. lieveth not shall be damned; and that the not receiving 16 his Words,designed for such an inestimable Good, and 48.

John xii.

Luke xi.

13.

attested with such Authority and Commission from God the Father, is an Accusation which will be heavily charged on Men at the Day of Judgment.

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

A. All those Helps and Assistances which are necessary for the Performance of those Conditions upon which our Salvation depends; partly by illuminating our Understandings, in our sincere and diligent Enquiries after divine Truth; and partly by exciting our Wills to that which is good, and strengthening our vigorous Endeavours in the Prosecution of it. So that the Gift of God's Spirit, in this Sense, doth imply his continual Residence in good Men, his being a Principle of spiritual Life to them, and his powerful assisting of them to all the Purposes of Holiness and Obedience.

Q. How may we attain these ordinary Gifts of the Holy Spirit?

A. By the Use of all those Means which God James i. 5. hath established for this End and Purpose, which are therefore called the Means of Grace. As humble, hearty, and fervent Prayer, a frequent and devout Use of the Holy Sacrament, reading and hearing God's Holy Word; with the Use of all other likely Means to attain those Graces which we seek for at his Hands: And all this as obedient Members of the Catholick Church, to whom alone Christ hath promised these Influences of his Spirit.

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

A. To thank God for those miraculous Gifts he bestowed upon the Apostles, to fit them to convert the World, and for inspiring the sacred Penmen of holy Writ; whereby he hath given such abundant Testimony of the Truth of our Religion, and such firm Grounds for our Faith. To live according to the holy Precepts of that Gospel which hath received so convincing a Testimony. Earnestly to

beg of God the Gift of his Holy Spirit, which is so necessary to enable us to run the Ways of his Commandments, and which God is ready to grant to our hearty and fervent Prayers. To support ourselves under all the Difficulties of our Christian Warfare, which arise either from our own Weakness, or the Power of our spiritual Enemies; by considering that he that is in us is greater than he that is in the 1 John iv. World; and that he may do all Things through Christ that strengtheneth us. To attribute all the Good 13. that is in us, as well as the Perfections 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?

Phil. iv.

1 Pet. i.

A. The Third Person in the most adorable Trinity, distinct from the Father and the Son, and eternally proceeding from both; being called the Spirit of Rom. viii. Christ, and the Spirit of the Son, as well as of the 9. Father, and of one divine Essence or Substance with 11. them; essentially holy in respect of his own divine Gal. iv. 6. Nature; for as the Son was so begotten of the Father as to be one God with him, in like Manner the Holy Ghost so proceedeth from the Father and the Son, that he is one and the same God that they are. Q. What is the peculiar Office of the Holy Spirit? A. To sanctify and renew our corrupt Nature, and restore it to its primitive Perfection and Dignity. For since without Holiness it is impossible to please God, or attain that Happiness which consists in the Enjoyment of him, and that the Frailty and Weakness, as well as the Corruption of our Nature is so great, that we are not able of ourselves to accomplish this mighty Work, God hath been graciously pleased to grant us his Holy Spirit to be the Author of all internal Holiness, and the Principle of our spiritual Life; and consequently it is this blessed Spirit that gives Clearness to our Faith, Zeal