66 66 in that Pfalm. In the first verse he speaks of Chrift's exaltation" until his enemies "become his footftool;" in the fecond, that on his exaltation to the right hand of God, God should send the "rod of his (Christ's) power (pádov duváμews) out of Zion;" that "rod of power" by which he fhould "rule in the “midst of his enemies," as we see Christ did by the gifts of the Holy Ghoft the very day they were fent down on the apostles and first difciples, affembled by Chrift's direction at Jerufalem waiting for them. For by them Chrift's apoftles fubdued many of those who had crucified him, being now convinced by them that he was exalted to the right hand of God, and was become Lord and Christs. By this, of enemies they became a willing and a numerous people in the day of his power. For they gladly received his word," and fold their poffeffions, giving to their fellow fubjects as every man had need". And St. Luke farther acquaints us w, that our Saviour told them, that "they fhould receive power, "after that the Holy Ghoft was come upon " them; and that they fhould be witneffes "unto him, &c." fo that the power (dúvaμis) here feems to be fomewhat diftinct from the gifts themselves. What fhould that be, but the power of conferring them? fuitably whereunto St. Luke acquaints us, that Simon Magus, on feeing, that, " through laying on of the apoftles hands, the Holy Ghoft "was given, offered them money, faying, "Give me also this power or authority ( 66 66 eriav Taurn) that on whomfoever I lay "my hands, he may receive the Holy Ghoft*." Agreeably hereunto St. Paul alfo speaks of what he did, in the "power of the Spirit of "God, from Jerufalem to Illyricum, among “ the Gentiles (ἐν δυνάμει πνεύματος Θε8 ).” So that the power the apoftles were to wait for, before they were to begin to witness, seems to me to have been the power of conferring thefe gifts. And as I apprehend the power of conferring the Holy Ghoft was the power the apoftles were to wait for, before they began to teftify; fo I apprehend it was the peculiar and distinguishing power, that belonged to them, as witneffes, as well as teachers, and prophets of the first rank. The reasons that make this appear to have been the moft peculiar and distinguishing power belonging to their office, may be seen in the First Effay, and in the progrefs of this. And that in fact it was fo, we farther fee in the cafe of Philip's preaching to the Samaritans. For though on his preach * Acts viii. 19. y Rom. xy. 19. F 4 ing, ing, and their believing, he baptized them; yet he could not confer the Holy Ghoft, "For as yet," as St. Luke obferves, "he "was fallen upon none of them", " But when the apoftles at Jerufalem, on hearing of Philip's fuccefs, had fent down Peter and John, and they had "prayed for them, and "laid their hands on them, the Samaritans re"ceived the Holy Ghost. And when Si"mon Magus faw, that through the laying "on of the hands of the apoftles, the Holy "Ghoft was given, he offered them money, 66 faying, Give me alfo this power, that on "whomfoever I lay my hands, he may receive "Holy Ghoft"." So that Simon Magus thought the apoftles only had the power of confering the Holy Ghoft; or else he would not, probably, have offered the money to them, but to Philip; by whom he believed, and with whom he had been acquainted for fome time. And that Philip could not confer the Holy Ghoft, but the apostles only, is the obfervation of Chryfoftom in loc. And Epiphanius fays, ὁ Φίλιππος, διάκονος ὢν, εκ εἶχεν ἐξεσίαν τῆς χειροθεσίας τῶ δὲ αὐτῆς διδόναι πνεῦμα ἅγιον. St. Paul "confers the gifts of the Holy Ghoft on Timothy," as St. Paul himself afferts; Acts viii, 16. b Ver. 18, 19. 2 Tim, i. 6. a Ver. 15, 17. and and it is plain, he imparted them to the Theffalonians. For being just about to speak of his first entrance and reception among them, he fays, "For our gofpel came not “unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghoft." And fo likewise tells the Corinthians, that his preaching when he first came to them, was not with entic"ing words of man's wifdom, but in demon"ftration of the Spirit, and of power; that their faith should not stand in the wifdom "of man, but in the power of God." And he fufficiently intimates, that he had imparted the Spirit to the Galatians, at his first coming among them, and their "receiving him as an 66 angel of God, even as Chrift Jefus, " When he asks them m, "Are ye fo foolish, "having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made "perfect by the flesh? he therefore that mi"niftreth to you the Spirit,-doth he it by "the works of the law, or the hearing of "faith" St. Luke informs us, that when Paul came to Ephefus, finding twelve of John's difciples, he imparted the Holy Ghoft to them. And the manner in which St. Luke introduces the relation fhews, that Paul imparted it to all believers of course, where he came. And fo he speaks of this matter him Theff. i. 6. ii. 1. I Cor. ii. 4, 5. m Ibid. iii. 3-5: I. i Ibid. i. 5. Acts xix. 8. See the Firft Effay. felf felf to the Romans; for he fays, that he writes to them more boldly-because 66 66 of the grace given him of God, that the offering up "of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being "fanctified by the Holy Ghost. I have there"fore (fays he) whereof I may glory, through Jefus Chrift, in thofe things which pertain "unto God: for I will not dare to speak of 66 any of those things, which Chrift hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obe"dient in word and deed, through mighty figns and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; fo that from Jerufalem, "round about unto Illyricum, I have fully "preached the gofpel of Chrift" 66 66 66 And as where-ever Paul had been, he seems to have conferred the gifts of the Holy Ghost; fo he appears defirous to fee fome churches which he had not yet feen, that he might confer them; particularly that at ❝ Rome, "that he might impart unto them some spi"ritual gift, to the end they might be esta"blifhed. That is, (fays he) that I may be "comforted together with you, by the mu"tual faith both of you and me,' Thefe powers, and especially the last, seem to me to be" thofe figns of an apostle," to which St. Paul appeals, in his fecond epiftle to the Corinthians. A church that " abound • Rom. xv. 16—20. ༡ 2 Cor. xii. 12. Ibid. i. 11, 12. " ed |