Two discourses concerning the Holy Spirit, and His work the one, Of the Spirit…

For these things he worketh immediately by his Kingly Power. And whilst there are any in the World savingly called and sanctified, he leaves not himself without Witness as to his Kingly Power over all Flesh, whereon he gives Eternal Life unto unto as many as the Father hath given him, John 17. 2. But this Evidence is wholly invisible unto the World, neither is it capable of receiving it when tendered, because it cannot receive the Spirit, nor seeth him, nor knoweth him, John 14. 17. Nor are the things thereof exposed to the Judgment of Sense or Reason, 1 Cor. 2. 9, 10. (2) Another Evidence hereof is given in the Judgments that he executes in the World, and the outward Protection which he affords unto his Church. On both these there are evident Impressions of the continued actual Exercise of his Divine Power and Authority: For in the Judgments that he executes on Persons and Nations, that either reject the Gospel or persecute it, especially in some signal and uncontrollable Instance, as also in the Guidance, Deliverance and Protection of his Church, he manifests that though he was dead yet he is alive, and hath the Keys of Hell and Death. But yet because he is on the one Hand pleased to exercise great Patience towards many of his open stubborn Adversaries, yea, the greatest of them, suffering them to walk and prosper in their own ways, and to leave his Church unto various Trials and Distresses, his Power is much hid from the World at present in these Dispensations. (3) The third Evidence of the Continuance of the ⟨p. 129⟩Administration of his Mediatory Kingdom, consists in his Dispensation of these Spiritual Gifts, which are properly the Powers of the New World. For such is the Nature of them and their Use, such the Sovereignty that appears in their Distribution, such their Distinction and Difference from all natural Endowments, that even the World cannot but take notice of them, though it violently hate and persecute them; and the Church is abundantly satisfied with the Sense of the Power of Christ in them. Moreover, the principal End of these Gifts is, to enable the Officers of the Church unto the due Administration of all the Laws and Ordinances of Christ unto it's Edification. But all these Laws and Ordinances, these Offices and Officers, he gives unto the Church as the Lord over his own House, as the Sole Sovereign Lawgiver and Ruler thereof.