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1. To open their blind eyes.

2. 3. From the power of satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them that are sanctified through faith that is in Christ Jesus. 1

To turn them from darkness to light.

And where such power is wanting in a ministry, no wonder if the aforesaid advantage is wanting, no wonder if men are not turned from the darkness that is in sin, to the true light, Christ Jesus; no wonder if such are under satan's power, wanting remission of sins, always liable justly to complain of the miserable load of guilt and sin upon their consciences, remaining unsanctified, and so unfit for the inheritance purchased for us by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Satan is that strong man armed who keeps the house, till men are turned to Christ, the power of God, who is stronger than the strong man, and able to dispossess him, to destroy the devil and his works, which are sin, 3 and the love of it: and where men are not so turned to Christ, (or do not receive him) they want power to become the sons of God; they want faith in his name; and then what hath their profession brought them to?

But when, by the Lord's work upon the heart of any, they become truly penitents, and mourn sincerely for by-past transgressions, and bow their souls in humility before him, if the Lord is then pleased to pardon and pass by their former offences, surely then they will love him, and loving him, fear him; and fearing him, will serve him; and serving him, will partake of such sweet rewards from him, that they

(1) Acts xxvi, 18. (2) Luke xi, 21, 22. (3) 1 John iii, 8. (4) John i, 12. (5) Jer. xxxiii, 8.

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will readily desire in their souls others might partake thereof with them.

If the Lord shall please to raise such an one, though a ploughman, a shepherd, or fisherman, to tell of his goodness, and how worthy the Lord is to be served, though they may not do it in the words which man's wisdom teacheth,1 yet he that sends them will prosper his work, and they will be either a savour of life unto life, in them that believe, or a savour of death unto death in them that perish.2

The Lord hath a quiver full of arrows, and none of them shall return in vain.

Neither will those only be enabled to call to men to fear the Lord, but as he pleases he can and doth enable some at his command to open the mysteries of the kingdom of God, which unto many wise and learned are as parables to this day; the mystery of religion being as a book sealed, which the earthly wisdom cannot open, nor read therein.

And though their speaking or preaching may be plain, yet grave, scriptural and edifying to the true believer; not factious, nor for emulation and vainglory, nor for applause of men, nor to get a great name in the world; but from and in a living experience will they testify of the goodness of God.

Men, though unlearned, yet may be good witnesses, and honest men deserve to be credited in what they testify; whereas those that are but mean livers, though they are great talkers, are not likely to lead others further than they have gone themselves in the strait and narrow way, which leads to life; but they that have learned to deny themselves, to follow the

(1) 1 Cor. ii, 13. (2) 2 Cor. ii, 15, 16. (3) Rev. v, 1 to 5. (4) Matt. vii, 14.

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Lord, they can tell others how they were taught, that others may learn also, and come to have fellowship with them, whose fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1

CHAPTER XXX.

Of Joel's Prophecy, and of the pouring forth of the Spirit upon sons and daughters.

AND here seems a fit occasion to mention that which some wonder at, that there should be women-preachers in this gospel dispensation, but they may remember the prophecy of Joel,-" And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel-And it shall come to pass afterward, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions; and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days, will I pour out my Spirit" [or of my Spirit].2

I confess some have limited this to the time of the great Pentecost, when it was indeed experienced; yet that the pouring forth of the Spirit continued after that, will appear in the instance of Paul and his fellow-helpers in the gospel, and in Philip's four daughters, and many others ;3 and that it was not only the blessing of that age, is agreed to in the aforesaid treatise, saying, "This is most irreligiously restrained "to the extraordinary effusion of the Holy Ghost on

(1) Matt. xvi, 24. (2) Joel ii, 27, 28, 29. (3) Acts viii, 17.

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"Pentecost. This is clearly contrary to the promises "of the Old and New Testament, and the whole "current of the New; and to nothing more than our "Saviour's most divine prayer, wherein he expresses, "he was not interceding for his disciples only, but "for all that should believe on his name through their "word. So that all these sublime effects of the "Divine Spirit, of being one in God, that Christ "might be in them, &c., are there prayed for, and 'certainly granted them."1

We have also the eminent Matthew Hale, Lord Chief Justice, large and particular on our side, in his Contemplations on the Magnet :-"Certainly what the sun is to the sentient eye, that, and much more, is Almighty God to the mind of man." And he quotes in proof hereof, "In thy light shall we see light;" "This is the true light that enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world." And "The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord.”+ "All thy children shall be taught of the Lord.”5 This is my covenant that I will make with them, My Spirit that is upon thee, and the words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever."6

Thus this great man had a sense, that the succession and seed of the true Prophets should be attended with that divine gift for ever; and with other texts of Scripture justifying his testimony herein, he also quotes that of Joel; I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, servants and handmaids, and they shall (1) Scougal. (2) Psalm xxxvi, 9. (3) John i, 9. (4) Isaiah xi, 9 (5) - liv, 13. (6) lix, 21.

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prophesy. Which he is so far from restraining to that great effusion at Jerusalem, that he declares— It is continued, and shall unto the end of the world, though by reason of the corruption of the lives and manners of mankind, not with equal success."2

The continuation, then, of this gospel-prophecy being a lasting blessing to the true church, let none wonder, that in this day of restoration the Lord is pouring forth the gift of his Spirit, that both his sons and daughters, servants and handmaids may prophesy.

The great and fundamental question between us and many professors is, whether a manifestation of the Spirit be now given? And, in proof thereof, I may add a little more out of the Liturgy, and others, where they pray, "That his Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts;"3 and at imposition of hands, "That they may daily increase in his Holy Spirit."

And Dr. Lucas declares his experience herein, say-. ing, "I can easily believe that my temper may be transformed, my corruptions may be put off, and I be made partaker of a divine nature; since the Spirit of God will dwell with me, the Light of God will always shine upon me, and the power of God will always succour me.'

"4

E. Fowler, the late Bishop of Gloucester, in his Design of Christianity, treats of the sending the Holy Ghost to excite us to our duty, and assist, cheer and comfort us in the performance of it.

This doth the gospel assure us of, as also that those which do not resist and repel his good motions, shall be sure to have always the superintendency of

(1) Joel ii, 28. (2) Matthew Hale on the Magnet. (3) 19th Sunday after Trinity. (4) Dr. Lucas on Happiness.