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

(§ 8.) SECONDLY; By these Gifts were all their Administrations, especially their Preaching the Gospel rendered effectual unto their proper end. The Preaching of the Word which is the Sword of the Spirit, was the great Instrument whereby they wrought out and accomplished their designed work in the Conviction and Conversion of the Souls of Men. It may therefore be enquired what it was that gave efficacy and success unto the Word as preached or dispensed by them. Now this as it should seem must be either that the subject matter of it was so suited unto the Reasons and Understandings of Men, as that they could not but admit of it upon its proposal; or that the manner whereby they declared it was with such persuasive Artifices as were meet to prevail with the Minds of Men unto an Assent, or to impose upon them against the best of their defences. But the Apostle declares that it was utterly otherwise in both these regards. For the matter of the Doctrine of the Gospel unto the Minds of Carnal Men, such as all Men are until renewed by the Gospel it self, is Folly, and that which is every way meet to be despised, 1 Cor. 1. And for the manner of its Declaration, they did not therein neither would they use the enticing words of Humane Wisdom, any Arts of Oratory, or Dresses of Rhetoric or Eloquence, lest the Effects which were wrought by the Word should have seemed in any measure to have proceeded from them, 1 Cor. 2. 4, 5. Wherefore, not to mention that internal efficacious power of Grace which God secretly puts forth for the Conversion of his Elect, the consideration ⟨p. 214⟩whereof belongs not unto our present design, and I say that it was by virtue of those Gifts that the Administration of the Gospel was so efficacious and successful. For, (1) From them proceeded that Authority over the Minds of Men wherewith the Word was accompanied. When the Lord Christ was Anointed by the Spirit to Preach the Gospel, it is said, He taught as one having Authority, and not as the Scribes, Mat. 7. 29. Whatever was his outward Appearance in the Flesh, the Word as Administered by him was attended with such an Authority over the Minds and Consciences of Men, as they could not but be sensible of. And so was it with the Primitive Dispensers of the Gospel; by virtue of these Spiritual Gifts they preached the Word in the Demonstration of the Spirit and of Power,