dergone in that Nature, fhall continue as long as that Union it felf, namely, for ever and ever.

In the mean while the Power which he exerciseth, with regard to that Part of his Church which is upon the Earth, confifteth in ruling it, by the ftanding Revelation of his Will; in making Interceffion for it; and protecting it from the Malice of all its Enemies. He gives the several Members of it, his holy Spirit to enable them to perform their Duty, and to refift the Temptations which would hinder them from it; This he doth in an ordinary Measure, and in an ordinary Way; to wit, by our ufing Prayer, his Word, and the Sacraments: These are the Means of obtaining Grace at Prefent; and by these we are ftrengthen'd in the Hopes of future Glory.

As for those extraordinary Gifts of the Holy Ghost, which were bestowed upon the Apostles, 'tis very plain that we have them not, and therefore as plain that they are not neceffary. After Christianity was planted in the World, the End was gained for which those extraordinary Gifts were bestowed, and when the End was gained, the Means conducing to it, ceas'd of courfe. Indeed, 'twas highly necessary,

that

that the firft Propagators of CHRIST'S Religion, fhould have an uncommon Degree of his Spirit: They were to encounter the Prejudice, and Spight of Jews and Gentiles; and a vaft many more Difficulties; and therefore 'twas abfolutely requi fite that they should be indued with proportionable Strength and Ability. And fo we find that they were: For the Holy Ghost defcended upon the Apoftles, in a moft wonderful and unheard of manner; by whofe Help they foon carried the joyful Sound of the Gospel into all Lands, and brought Salvation unto the Ends of the World. And this brings me to the

Second Thing propounded, namely, To confider the Defcent of the Holy Ghoft after CHRIST'S Exaltation. This Expreffion, HOLY GHOST, doth frequently fignify in the Scriptures, nothing else but the Gifts and Graces that he confers upon any one; which are called Holy Ghost, by a Figure, by which the Caufe of a Thing is put for the Thing it self. By the defcending therefore, or fheding forth of the Holy Ghoft upon any Perfons, we are to understand that there is communicated unto them a Share of his Favour or Bleffing. Of which an extraordinary Degree was poured upon the Apoflles

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Apostles in a very ftrange and furprizing Manner. And this might be called, the Promife of the Holy Choft, both upon account of the Prediction in Joel, mentioned by St. Peter at the 16th, and 17th, and fome following Verfes of this Chapter; It shall come to pass in the last Days, (faith God) I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flef, &c. And also because our Saviour several Times promised it his Apostles whilft he convers'd with them upon Earth. Thus in John xv. 25. When the Comforter is come, whom I will fend unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth. And fo likewife at the 7th Verte of the xvith Chapter; It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will fend him unto you. Thele Promiles were made before his Death: And they were again repeated after his Refurrection.

Thus St. Luke informs us, in the last Chapter of his Gofpel, that he fpake after this Manner: Behold, 1 fend the Promife of my Father upon you, but tarry ye in the City of Jerufalem, until ye be indued with Power from on high. And to the fame Purpose we are told, in the first Chapter of his Acts of the Apoftles; that

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be commanded them that they should not depart from Jerufalem, but wait for the Promife of the Father, which (faith he) ye bave heard of me: For John truly baptiz'd with Water, but ye shall be baptiz'd with the Holy Ghoft not many Days bence. Upon either or both of these Accounts might the Baptifm, with the Holy Ghoft, or the fhedding forth of the Holy Ghost upon the Apoftles, be called

the Promife of it.

Now of the fulfilling of this Promise to the Apostles, we have a large Account in this Chapter out of which my Text is taken. As they were all with one Accord in one Place, fuddenly there came a Sound from Heaven, as of a rushing mighty Wind, and it filled all the Houfe where they were fitting. The fuddennefs of this Sound, its impetuous, violent rufhing, and its filling all the Houfe, very properly reprefented the wonderful Power and Force of that Holy Spirit, which bore down the Oppofition Chriftiantity met with in its Infancy, and quickly gave it a very great Footing in all Parts of the World.

To proceed; We are told that Cloven Tongues appear'd to them, like as of Fire, and it fat upon each of them; And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and

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began

began to steak with other Tongues, as the Spirit gave them Utterance: Thus they were qualified to talk whatfoever Language they had Occasion to make Use of in propagating the Chriftian Faith. This Variety of Languages which they were quallified to talk, might be denoted by the Form in which the Tongues appeared; for they appeared Cloven or divided.

Their appearing like as of Fire, might be a Token of that Warmth and Vigour, wherewith the Apostles fhould preach the Doctrine of JESUS CHRIST; and also of the powerful Conviction following their Difcourfes; which had a Force over confiderate thinking Men, like as Fire over combustible Matter, which it brings into the fame Condition with it felf.

Again, Thefe Tongues coming upon each of them, fhew'd that they were all endued with the like Gift; and their fiting upon them might fignify, that this Gift was to rest upon them, or that they fhould conftantly enjoy the Ufe of those Languages, which were neceffary in order to the making Difciples in all the Nations over which they should travel.

And as the Descent of the Holy Ghost enabled the Apoftles to impart the Divine Myfteries to others, fo it brought the Know