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

(§ 5.) THESE Spiritual Gifts the Apostle calls, The Powers of the World to come, Heb. 6. 4, 5. that is, those effectual powerful Principles and Operations, which peculiarly belong unto the Kingdom of Christ and Administration of the Gospel, whereby they were to be set up, planted, advanced and propagated in the World. The Lord Christ came and wrought out the mighty Work of our Salvation in his own Person, and thereon laid the Foundation of his Church on himself, by the Confession of him as the Son of God. Concerning himself and his Work, he preached, and caused to be preached, a Doctrine that was opposed by all the World, because of it's Truth, Mystery and Holiness; yet was it the Design of God to break through all those Oppositions, to cause this Doctrine to be received and submitted unto, and Jesus Christ to be believed in, unto the Ruin and Destruction of the Kingdom of Satan in the World. Now this was a Work that could not be wrought without the putting forth and exercise of mighty Power, concerning which nothing remains to be enquired into, but of what sort it ought to be. Now the Conquest that the Lord Christ aimed at was Spiritual, over the Souls and Consciences of Men; the Enemies he had to conflict withal were Spiritual, even Principalities and Powers, and Spiritual Wickednesses in High Places; the God of this World, the Prince of it, which ruled in the Children of Disobedience: The Kingdom which he had to erect, was Spiritual, and not of this World; all the Laws and Rules of it, with their Administrations and Ends, were Spiritual and Heavenly. The Gospel that was to be propagated was a Doctrine not concerning this World, nor the things ⟨p. 206⟩of it, nor of any thing Natural or Political, but as they were merely subordinate unto other Ends, but Heavenly and mysterious, directing Men only in a Tendency according to the Mind of God unto the eternal Enjoyment of him. Hereon it will easily appear what kind of Power is necessary unto this Work, and for the attaining of these Ends. He that at the speaking of one Word could have engaged more than Twelve Legions of Angels in his Work, and unto his Assistance, could have easily by outward Force and Arms have subdued the whole World into an external Observance of him and his Commands, and thereon have ruled Men at his pleasure.

(§ 5.) THESE Spiritual Gifts the Apostle calls, The Powers of the World to come,