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

They could not therefore but discern and acknowledge that there was a Divine Power present with them, which acted above themselves, their State, their natural or acquired Abilities. This was the Work of this Advocate in them who had undertaken the Defence of their Cause. So when Paul pleaded the same Cause before Agrippa and Felix, one of them confessed his Conviction, and the other trembled in his Judgment-Seat.

NEITHER hath he been wanting unto the Defence of the same Cause in the same manner in succeeding Generations. All the Story of the Church is filled with Instances of Persons, mean in their outward Condition, timorous by Nature, and unaccustomed unto Dangers, unlearned and low in their Natural Abilities, who in the Face of Rulers and Potentates, in the sight of Prisons, Tortures, Fires provided for their Destruction, have pleaded the Cause of the Gospel with Courage and Success, unto the Astonishment and Confusion of their Adversaries. Neither shall any Disciple of Christ in the same case want the like Assistance in some due Measure and Proportion, who expect it from him in a way of believing, and depends upon it. Examples we have hereof every Day in Persons acted above their own natural Temper ⟨p. 16⟩and Abilities unto their own Admiration. For being conscious unto themselves of their own Fears, Despondencies and Disabilities, it is a Surprisal unto them to find how all their Fears have disappeared, and their Minds have been enlarged when they have been called unto Trial for their Testimony unto the Gospel. We are in such cases to make use of any Reason, Skill, Wisdom or Ability of Speech which we have, or other honest and advantageous Circumstances which present themselves unto us, as the Apostle Paul did on all occasions. But our dependence is to be solely on the Presence and Supplies of our blessed Advocate, who will not suffer us to be utterly defective in what is necessary unto the Defence and Justification of our Cause.

NEITHER hath he been wanting unto the Defence of the same Cause in the same manner in succeeding Generations. All the Story of the Church is filled with Instances of Persons, mean in their outward Condition, timerous by Nature, and unaccustomed unto Dangers, unlearned and low in their Natural Abilities, who in the Face of Rulers and Potentates, in the sight of Prisons, Tortures, Fires provided for their Destruction, have pleaded the Cause of the Gospel with Courage and Success, unto the Astonishment and Confusion of their Adversaries. Neither shall any Disciple of Christ in the same case want the like Assistance in some due Measure and Proportion, who expect it from him in a way of believing, and depends upon it. Examples we have hereof every Day in Persons acted above their own natural Temper