Fourthly, The end of that Laying on of hands, Acts 8. could not be for the extraordinary, Gifts of the Spirit, because those extraordinary Gifts, or Miracles, serve not for them that believe, but for them that believe not. Now can any think, Peter and John were sent by the Apostles from Jerusalem to those that had received the Word, and were baptized in Samaria, for the profit and benefit only of the Unbelievers there, that they, viz. such as did not believe in Samaria, might by beholding the Miracles, or extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit given to them that did believe, be convinced that Jesus was the Christ? Surely no Man can think, or imagine such a thing, especially considering the Text says plainly, They were sent to them that had received the Word, and were baptized; sent for ⟨p. 15⟩their particular Comfort, and further Consolation in Christ Jesus, that so they might stand complete in the whole Will of God, and might be made Partakers of the Spirit of Promise made to every believing Soul baptized, Acts 2.38. for as much as it was their right, and they stood in great need of it, as all poor Souls do who enter themselves under Christ's Banner: For as our Lord Jesus, after he was baptized, had the Spirit descending upon him, and was straightway exposed to temptation from the Devil; even so are all his Followers, when they take up the Profession of the Gospel, to expect to meet with sore Trials, Temptations, and Afflictions, and therefore have need of more of the Spirit to strengthen, encourage, support, and comfort them, and to give them further assurance of the Love of God, that they may not flag, nor be disheartened, but may be abundantly enabled to overcome all Enemies and Opposition, and remain faithful to the Lord Jesus unto the death. To this end doubtless the Apostles sent Peter and John from Jerusalem; who when they came, prayed and laid their hands upon those Men and Women baptized, even for the Holy Spirit of Promise, for their particular profit, comfort and benefit, and not for extraordinary Gifts or Miracles, which was ('tis plain from Heb. 2.4.) for the Confirmation of the Gospel to them that believe not, (according to 1 Cor. 14.22.) Wherefore Tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not; but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but them which believe.
Fourthly, The end of that Laying on of hands, Acts 8. could not be for the extraordinary, Gifts of the Spirit, because those extraordinary Gifts, or Miracles, serve not for them that believe, but for them that believe not. Now can any think, Peter and John were sent by the Apostles from Jerusalem to those that had received the Word, and were baptized in Samaria, for the profit and benefit only of the Unbelievers there, that they, viz. such as did not believe in Samaria, might by beholding the Miracles, or extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit given to them that did believe, be convinced that Jesus was the Christ? Surely no Man can think, or imagine such a thing, especially considering the Text says plainly, They were sent to them that had received the Word, and were baptized; sent for ⟨p. 15⟩their particular Comfort, and further Consolation in Christ Jesus, that so they might stand compleat in the whole Will of God, and might be made Partakers of the Spirit of Promise made to every believing Soul baptized, Acts 2.38. for as much as it was their right, and they stood in great need of it, as all poor Souls do who enter themselves under Christ's Banner: For as our Lord Jesus, after he was baptized, had the Spirit descending upon him, and was straightway exposed to temptation from the Devil; even so are all his Followers, when they take up the Profession of the Gospel, to expect to meet with sore Trials, Temptations, and Afflictions, and therefore have need of more of the Spirit to strengthen, encourage, support, and comfort them, and to give them further assurance of the Love of God, that they may not flag, nor be disheartned, but may be abundantly enabled to overcome all Enemies and Opposition, and remain faithful to the Lord Jesus unto the death. To this end doubtless the Apostles sent Peter and John from Jerusalem; who when they came, pray'd and lay'd their hands upon those Men and Women baptized, even for the Holy Spirit of Promise, for their particular profit, comfort and benefit, and not for extraordinary Gifts or Miracles, which was ('tis plain from Heb. 2.4.) for the Confirmation of the Gospel to them that believe not, (according to 1 Cor. 14.22.) Wherefore Tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not; but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but them which believe.
