are, in proportion to the greatnefs of the S ER M. Evidence they refift, and according to the XI. degree of their Obftinacy and Wickedness in fo doing, inexcufable in like manner, and Defpifers of the Teftimony of the Spirit.

THE Teftimony which the Spirit of God has given to the Truth of the Gofpel, contains a great variety of undeniable Proofs, which St Paul calls the Power and Demonftration of the Spirit. The many large and particular Prophecies, which from the beginning of the World were dictated by the Spirit, concerning the Perfon of our Saviour, and the Nature, Succefs, and Effects of his Doctrine: The Conception of our Lord by the Miraculous Operation of the Spirit, and the manifold Wonders which attended his Birth: The Vifible Defcent of the Spirit upon him at his Baptism, accompanied with a Voice from Heaven, declaring him to be the beloved Son of God: The Miracles which he worked during the courfe of his Ministry, by the Spirit of God; as the Scripture frequently S 4 expreffes

SER M. expreffes it: His Refurrection from the XI. Dead, which likewise the Scripture af

cribes to the Power of the fame Spirit, Rom. viii. II. and I Pet. iii. 18. But above all, that most plentiful Effufion of the Spirit upon the Apoftles at Pentecoft; whereby they were indued with Power from on high, to preach the Gospel with Authority and Efficacy; being enabled particularly to speak with tongues, and to do even greater Works than our Saviour himself had worked upon Earth, according to his Promise which he made to them before his departure; These Teftimonies (I fay) of the Spirit of God, contain fuch demonftrative Proof of the Truth of the Gofpel, as leaves Them who reject it, capable of no excufe; fince they defpife the last and greatest means, that fhall be, or indeed could be made use of for their conviction and reformation. This laft Miracle in particular, the Gift of Tongues to the Apostles, was of all others the ftrangeft, and in its nature and circumftances the greatest and most affecting that could be conceived. The Apo

ftles

stles, on whom this Gift was bestowed, S E R M. were men whofe Parentage and Educa- XI. tion were well known to all that dwelt in Jerufalem; They were known to be illiterate and mean perfons; persons whose Employment had been laborious, and their manner of life from the beginning, fuch as afforded them neither Time nor Opportunities, of being skilled in the Learning and Customs of their own Country, much less of having studied the languages of other Nations. Had they been men of a polite and learned education, brought up in the study of their own Law, and in the schools of the Scribes and Pharifees; it might have been imagined that this their fkill in foreign languages might be the Effect of Study and Industry, of Art and Defign, in order to gain Applause from the people, and set themselves up as Heads of new Sects, and Teachers of popular Doctrines, But fo far from This was their cafe, that on the contrary they were defpised and contemned by their own countrymen for that very reason, because being well acquainted with their Educa

tion

SER M. tion and manner of Life,they did not think XI. it poffible that any Wifdem could be found in Them, or any Knowledge proceed from their lips. Exactly as they had formerly faid of their Mafter, when he went up into the Temple and taught, St Joh. vii. 14. How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? And St Mar. vi. 2. From whence has this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him? Is not this the carpenter the Son of Mary, the Brother of James and Jofes, and of Juda and Simon? and are not his fifters here with us? Herein therefore confifted the Greatnefs of the Miracle, that men of no Education spake different languages perfectly; and that they did it immediately and at once, without any Time, Instruction, or Study. Neither was there any room for any Fallacy or Deceit in this matter: For this thing was not done in a Corner, but publickly in the midst of Jerufalem, and in the prefence of innumerable witneffes; and that not once only, but with a continued and permanent Effect. The Witnesses alfo

that

that were present, were the best and most SE R M. competent Judges that could be; being

perfons of different Nations, gathered together at Jerufalem upon account of the Feast, to whom all the languages which the Apostles spoke, were severally natural; fo that they could not be deceived, or imposed upon in this whole proceeding. The Natives of Jerufalem, who understood not the tongues which were spoken, nor knew whether they were really any languages at all; might indeed mock, and say that these men were full of new wine, Acts ii. 13. but the foreigners, who heard each his own proper language, could not but be justly filled with wonder and amazement. The Inhabitants of Jerufalem, were witnesses that the Apostles were illiterate men, and understood no language but their Mother-tongue, nor were capable of using any Art or Fraud in this matter; and the Strangers were witnesses, that what they uttered were true and real languages, and therefore could not be the effect of wine or madness. The Teftimony therefore of Both together, made

the

XI. n