Mr. 
 
 ERMON 
 
 ON T H S. 
 
 Out-pouring of the HOLY GHOST. 
 
3lie cut-four ing of the HOLY GHOST. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preach'd in BOSTON, May 13, 1741. 
 
 On a day of prayer obferved by the firft Church there* 
 to afk of Gop the effufion of his Sp i R i T. 
 
 By Charles Chauncy, A. M* 
 
 Paftor of faid Church, 
 
 Hof. 10. iz. It is time tvfeek the LORD, till he come an& 
 
 rain righteoufnefs upon us. 
 Jfaiah. 44. 3. For I will pour water upon htm that is tkirjty y and 
 
 foods upon the dry ground', I <will pour my PIRJT upon thy feed, 
 
 and my blejfing upon thine Offspring* 
 
 -\ 
 
 ;;- = ====: = =?=====*===== = 
 
 * # # * 
 
 .%%*% 
 
 " 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 Printed by T. FLEET, for D, HENCHMAN and 
 in Cornhill. 
 

 
 
(s) 
 
 The HOLY GHOST foureJ out. 
 
 A&s X. 45. 
 
 0. the Gentiles alfo was pawed out the gift 
 ef the HOLT GHOST. 
 
 . 
 
 E are prefented, in the foregoing verfes, 
 with an abflraffi of an excellent Sermon ? 
 preacht by the apoftle Peter ; as alfo an 
 account of that Divine fower which 
 came on the hearers, even while he was 
 preaching it. v. 44. while Peter yet 
 fpake thefe wc?ds 9 the HOLY GHOST fell on all that 
 beard the Word. *Tis obfervable, the HQLY GHOST 
 fell univerfally upon the auditory. There was. not 3 
 perfon prefent, neither Jew nor Gentile* man nor wo~ 
 man, old nor young , but he was a partaker of the HOI Y: 
 GHOST. He fell on all that heard the Word. The 
 Following verfe exhibits an account of the aftonijhmentj 
 the believing Jews were filled with at this event. AnA 
 they of 'the circumcifion^ which believed^ were aftontfbed. 
 And the morejpecia} reafon of their aftonifliment is 
 given in the ne^t words \ which was not, as we may be 
 ready to imagine, fo much the dejcent of the HOLY 
 CJKOST, as the ftrfons on whom be fell. The former 
 
 4 - < . * ~ ~ .' '-x . ! . w . 
 
 they 
 
5 A Sermon on the out-pouring of 
 
 fhey had often been witneffes to before, it was an event 
 common in that day ; the latter was new and ftrange > 
 what they did not expect, and were much furprifed at, 
 They were aftonijhed, becaufe, fays my text, on the Gen- 
 tiles alfo was poured out the gift of the HOLY GHOST : 
 In which words the three following things are obferva- 
 ble, 
 
 I. The gift here fpokenof-, viz. the HOLY GHOST. 
 
 II. The perfons to whom he was given ; and thefq 
 were the Gentiles alfo, i c e. the Gentiles as well as Jews ^ 
 listh in common - 9 one as well as the other, without re~ 
 fpcft of perfons. 
 
 III. The manner of bellowing this gift; It was 
 toovrea cut. 
 
 Accordingly, thefe are the particulars we IhalJ briefly, 
 con&der, and then apply to the occafions of the day. 
 
 I. The firft thing obfervable in the text is, the 
 fpoken of; viz. the HOLY GHOST. 
 
 The HOLY GHOST, or HOLY SPJRJT, as the 
 \vord is el fe where translated ; It's the name of the 
 THIRD of the SACRED THREE. He is otherwife 
 {lil'd fometimes, by way of emphafls, THE SPIRIT; 
 fometimcs, the SPIRIT of GOD, the SPIRIT of 
 CHRIST, the SPIRIT of grace, the SPIRIT of truth, 
 the SPIRIT of holinefs ; fometimes, he is fpoken of as 
 the COMFORTER, the SANCTIFIER, and the like. 
 That glorious perfon is pointed out, under all thefe ap- 
 pellations, in whofe name, as well as in the name of the 
 FATHER and the SON, we are baptifed, and by this 
 inftituted rite take upon us the character of Cbriftians. 
 
 Only, let it be remembred, when the HOLY 
 GHOST is fpoken of as a gift from GOD, we are not 
 to underiland hereby the perfon, but the influences of 
 this blejfcd SPIRIT. Not that the HOLY GHOST is 
 nothing more than an emanation, operation or influence, 
 fi-prn the FATHER, He is often reprefented, in the 
 
/*r HOLTGflOSTi 7 
 
 ^ a an 0<?^ & perfon, as truly and properly fb, as 
 either the FATHER or the SON. But tho* he be a 
 real, living, a&ive, infinitely glorious perfon, yet when 
 he is fpoken of as a gift, we are to underftand hereby 
 his influences and operations. 
 
 And thefe are either extraordinary or ordinary. 
 
 In the beginning of Chriftianity, the HOLY GHOST 
 was given to men, in an extraordinary manner, i. e. in 
 miraculous gifts and powers. It does not appear, that 
 the HOLY GHOST, in this fenfe, was confin'd to the 
 apoftlesj or their fellow- labourers in the work of the 
 Lord. The apoflles, 'tis true, were the firft, after our 
 SAVIOUR** afcention up to heaven, to whom the HOLY 
 GHOST was thus given. It was upon them that he de- 
 fcended, on the day of Pentecoft, in cloven tongues like as 
 of fire, to their being enabled to fpeak in various Ian- 
 guages, yea, and to Jhew ftgns and wonders, and to 
 work miracles, to the aftonifhment and converfion of mul- 
 titudes. But it fhould feem, as if the gift of the HOLY 
 GHOST, in this extraordinary manner, was not the file 
 priviledge of the apojlles, or firft minifters of the Chri- 
 ftian religion. It rather appears to have been a gift 
 beftowed upon Chriftians in common. Some of the 
 perfons, chofen from among the people to be Deacon^ 
 were thus miraculoujly endowed. 'Tis particularly re- 
 corded of Stephen*, that he did great wonders and mira- 
 cles among the people. And in the Church at Corinth, 
 there was a great diverfity of thefe extraordinary gifts ; 
 and they feem to have been common among the people. 
 20 one was given, by the SPI R I T, the word of wifdom ; 
 to another, the word of knowledge by the fame SPIRIT ; 
 to another, faith ; to another, the gift of healing ; to ano- 
 ther, the working of miracles ; to another, prophecy , to 
 another, discerning of Spirits ; to another, diverfe kinds 
 of tongues ; to anotyer, the interpretation of tongues. 
 
 And, 
 . . 
 6. 
 
8 A Sisrmon 6n the btat-pouHng of 
 
 And, perhaps, there were Few, in the firft days oF the 
 gofpel, but were endowed with foriie extraordinary gift 
 Of the SPIRIT or another, 
 
 And it was at different feafons that the HOLY 
 GHOST fell upoti petfons, in. his miraculous powers. 
 Sometimes, he carrie upon them, even before they were 
 baptifed. So it was in my content. Upon Peter's 
 f reaching to the Gentiles^ the rfoLY GHOST fell upon 
 them all. And that he fell upon them in his extraordi- 
 nary gifts, is evident from what follows ; for 'tis ob- 
 ferved, they Were heard to fpeak with tongues, i. e. with 
 ftrange tongues, in languages they did not before under- 
 ftand, nor could fpeak. Bat more commonly the HOLY 
 GHOST was given by the laying on of the hands of the 
 apoflles after baptifm. An inftance of this we have, in 
 A6t. 19. 5, 6. wherej after a number of difciples had 
 been baptifed^ 'tis faid, Paul laid bis hands upon them* 
 and the HOLY GHOST came on them : And he^& came 
 on them, as that they fpake with tongue P J, and prophejied m 
 And it was the falling of the HOLY GHOST on per- 
 fons, in his miraculous powers, by the laying on of the 
 hands of the apojlles, that' put Simon Magus upon making 
 an offer to purchafe this wonderful gift with money*. 
 
 Some, perhaps^ may be ready to envy thefe frjl 
 Chriftians their priviledge, in being thus miracuhufly 
 f endowed 5 imagining, they were much better of it than 
 >we 9 who can pretend to no fuch extraordinary gifts,- 
 But what fays the infpired Paul? Why, fpeaking to 
 the Chriftians at Corinth^ concerning thefe very extraor- 
 dinary gifts of the HOLY GHOST, he directs them to 
 what was far more defirable. 1 Jhew unto you , fays he a 
 a more excellent way-f. And this way he Jkewed to 
 them, was that of Charity or -love. The true love of 
 our neighbour^ fpringing from tout. to GOD, and a prin- 
 ciple of faith in JESUS CHRI^T^S a gift far preferabk 
 
 to 
 
 * Ms ^, ify ig. f i Cor, 12, 31, 
 
m HOLT GHOST, $ 
 
 to any of the miraculous gifts, the firft Chriftians were 
 endowed with : And upon whomfoe^er GOD beftows 
 this gift, he doe$ more for them, than if he enabled 
 them to fyeak with the tongues of men or angels^ of gave 
 them faith fa that they could remove mountains. This, 
 *ris true, might make them more eminent in their own 
 as well as in the efteerh of others ; but ^former would 
 tender them letter in th'emfelves, arid far more acceptable 
 in the fight of GOD. 
 
 'Tis worth our particular remark, the extraordinary 
 gifts of the HOL? GHOST made no man the letter 
 Chriftian. They did not fantlify his foul, or put hint 
 in a (late df favour with GOD \ And if fanftified per- 
 fons were thofe, oh whorn they were often Conferred, 
 yet this was riot always the cafe. It was no certain 
 argument of a man's being a good man, a fincere fer- 
 vant of JESUS CHRIS? , that the HOLY Gkosf had 
 come upon him in his extraordinary gifts. The Spirit of 
 prophecy fell on Balaam? who made Jfrael to fin, and of 
 whom it is teftified by an apoflle, that he loved the 
 w'dges of unrighteciifnefs. And Judas, as well as the 
 other apoftles, had the power bf working Jigns and won- 
 tiers, and of cafting out Devils: Yea, bur SAVIOUR 
 himlelf has declared, that he will, in the great day of 
 judgment, fay unto many who have' prophefied in his 
 namt, and. in his name caft out Devils, and in his name 
 'done many wonderful works, I never knew you : Depart 
 from me, ye that work iniquity*. Thefe miraculous gifts 
 were rather bellowed for the good of others, than the 
 ferfons themfelves who had them. Tongues, fays the 
 apoftle*}", are for a fign, not to them that believe, but to 
 them that believe hot , They were intended as an open 
 Mtejialion to the truth of the Chriftian religion ; which 
 being now fettled in the world, there is no further ufe 
 of them, 
 
 fe i 
 
 ~.. .. 1 ^ n 
 
 * Mah, 7, 22, 23, j Cor. 19, 22. 
 
TO A Sermon on the out-pouring of 
 
 I therefore go on to obferve, 
 
 By the gift of the HOLY GHOST, we are to 
 ft and, not only 'thefe extraordinary powers, but that 
 ordinary influence, common to all ages of the Church, 
 whereby the work of Divine grace is begun and carried 
 on in the fouls of men, to their being prepared in this 
 world for the bleffednefs of the world that is to come. 
 
 Some, I am fenfible, are for confining the gift of the 
 HOLY GHOST to the apoftolic age : But there is no 
 ireafon for this. 5 Tis plain from the current ftrain of 
 the whole new-teftament, that the gift of the HOLY 
 GHOST is as neceffary for perfons in all after ages, as 
 It was in the firji days of the Gofpel. 'Tis therefore 
 declared in language extending to all times as well as 
 Perfons*, except a man be born of the SPIRIT, he can- 
 not enter into the 'kingdom of GOD \ and again, -\ If 
 any man have not the SPIRIT of CHRIST, be is none 
 of his 5 and yet again, fl Hereby we know that we dwell 
 in Mm, and he in us, becaufe he hath given us of his 
 SPIRIT. 
 
 Nor by the gift of the SPIRIT, in this Senfe, are 
 we to underftand barely the objective influence of re- 
 pealed truths, or any improvements of nature that are 
 fTieerly moral \ but that immediate presence and influ- 
 ence of the HOLY GHOST, whereby a real power is 
 communicated to the purpofes of religion. This is the 
 true meaning of thofe numerous texts, wherein thofe 
 who are real Chriftians,' are faid to be born of the SPI- 
 R i T , to have the SP I R i f dwelling in their Hearts by 
 faith \ to be ftrengthened with all might in the inner 
 man by the SPIRIT ; to be led by the SPIRIT ; to 
 walk in /^SPIRIT, and the like. By thefe phrafes, 
 is pointed oat a fort of influence beyond what is meerJy 
 natural or moral: 'Tis evidently their main fcope to 
 reprefent the holy SPIRIT as all in all in the bufinefs 
 
 of 
 
 * John 3* j, f &om, 8. g 8 i John 4. 1$, 
 
the HOLT GHOST. if 
 
 of pure and undefiled religion ; the beginner, the car- 
 rier on, and the finifher of faith, yea, and of every 
 thing elfe that is fpiritually good, in the hearts of fin- 
 cere Chriftians : Nor will any thing fhort of this come 
 up to the juft and full import of thefe expreflions. 
 
 Nor is it any objection againft thefe operations of the 
 HOLY GHOST, that we know not how he operates 
 upon the humane mind. Men may, if they pleafe, 
 take occafion from hence to fpeak contemptuoufly of 
 this difpenfation of GOD'S Grace ; but 'tis, in true rea- 
 fon, no argument againft the reality of a thing, that 
 the manner of it can't be defcribed. Who can tell 
 how his own Spirit operates on his own body, or his 
 own body on his own Spirit ? And yet, there is nothing 
 we are more fure of, than that they mutually operate 
 on each other. And if it be no objection againft the 
 mutual operation of foul and body upon one another, 
 that we know not the modus of their operation, nei- 
 ther is our ignorance as to the manner of the SPIRIT'$ 
 operation on the hearts of Men, any objection againft 
 the thing it felf : Nor is it at all incredible, that the 
 GOD who made our fouls, and is perfectly acquainted 
 with all their fprings of action, fhould be able to ope- 
 rate upon them i and this, in a way fuited to their 
 nature, and fo as not to break in, in the leaft, upon 
 the juft exercife of their reafonable powers. It would 
 argue but a low conception of the infinitely wife GOD 
 to fuppofe the contrary. He that has all immediate 
 accefs to our Spirits can certainly work upon them, 
 and, in a reafonable way, influence them both to will 
 and to do of bis own good pleafure ; And that the Di- 
 vine ever-bleffed SPIRIT does really thus operate 
 upon them, and in thus doing acts the part efpecially 
 affigned hirrj in the affair of man's falvation, mgft be 
 acknowledged to be the obvious fenfe of a great num- 
 ber of texts, which can't, without the greateft violence^ 
 t$ interpreted to any other meaning. But it will 
 
 B a 
 
y A Sermon on the out-pouring of 
 
 be amife, if we are a little particular in explaining thq 
 gift of {he HOLY GHOST, as it means this internal 
 operation ol his, which is common to all ages of the 
 Church. And it confifts in the following things, 
 
 j. In convincing men of Sin. This is the firft ope- 
 ration 'of the SPIRIT upon the Sinner. Accordingly, 
 fihis is particularly mentioned as one of the ends tot 
 which the SPIRIT is faid to be given to men, even 
 that he might reprove, or convince, tbern of firi*. And 
 this he does by awakening their attention, bringing 
 them to confideration, and 'giving them fuch a fight of 
 fin as they never had before. When the SPIRIT con- 
 yin^es of fin, he opens the finners eyes, fo that he 
 fees it to be an qvil and bitter thing, that he has for- 
 faken the LORI) his GOD. He has now an appre- 
 henfion pf fin a$ what is hateful to the Divine majefty, 
 and dreadful in its effects and confequences - 9 He has 
 p'ow a view of himfelf as a.n object pfvwrath, and heir 
 pf helj, and in danger every morpent of being made 
 rnjferable Jn that future place of torment : And from 
 his apprehenfjon of fin, aqd of his own immanent ha- 
 zard as under the guilt of it, he is filled with uneaft- 
 ftefb ', bitterly reflects upon himfelf, arid feels all that 
 inward diilreft which is the r^fult of a cahfcioufnefs of 
 guilr, an actual clear view ot himfelf 'as in a (late, 
 wherein he d'efcrves to be fent away to be made im- 
 Jiappy in ^he place of blacknefs of darknefs. 
 
 orne, perhaps, may 'think, there is no need of this 
 perception 'of fin, and uneafinefs from' a fenfe of guilt ;' 
 l>ut"us ordinarily rteceffary, as that without which there 
 Can t> e n P fuch thing as a real and thorovy conv,erfion 
 to Gop * TO before, !tis a matc^r of nect(Tity in re- 
 Ipedc of adult. perf(?ns-, thofe among them particularly, 
 intvtad of being reftrained from fin from their 
 . , ' earlv 
 
 ~ "* Joijn 1 6. 8." : 
 
the HOLT GHOST. 13 
 
 early Childhood, have given the reins to their !ufts ? 
 and gone on adding iniquity to tranfgrefiion. J Ti$ 
 Seldom, if ever, that a faving change is effected in 
 fuch, but 'tis preceeded with bitter reflections on their 
 pad fecurity and folly, and uneafy fenfations from an 
 apprehcnfion of themfelves as obnoxious to the Divine 
 vengeance. 
 
 Tho* it ought to be particularly remembred here, 
 that the degrees of diftrefs, from a confcioufnefs of fin 
 and fear of wrath, are vaftly various in different per- 
 fons. In fome ? tis greater, in others fmaller ; in fome 
 'tis of longer, in others of fhorter continuance ; in all, 
 that are favingly brought home to GOD in, JESUS 
 CHRIST, the concern of foul is fufficient to put: them 
 effectually upon the ufe of appinted means in order- 
 to their obtaining mercy ; but in none, is this diftrefs 
 excited to fo great a degree as to put them befide 
 themfelves, unlefs from their own weaknefs, or igno- 
 rance, or fome faulty caufe or other, which ought noc 
 to be afcribed to the SPIRIT of GOD. 
 
 And it may be worth remembring likewife, that 
 this conviflion of fin is a thing quite different from con- 
 verfwn. 'Tis only the firft j:ep towards it, a prepa- 
 ration of mind making way for it: Nor unit fs it end 
 in this bleffed change, will it fignify any thing, if per- 
 fons are under ever fo deep diftrefs. This mould be 
 veil confidered by fuch as may be under convictions. 
 You may not from hence conclude your felves to be 
 in a good ftate. The fight you have of fin as an evil 
 thing, the apprehenfion you have of your felves as ob- 
 jects 'of wrath, and the uneafmefs you may be under 
 herefrom, are nothing niore than the tendencies towards 
 tfmverfib.%. And let me tell you, there may be the 
 former and not the latter. You may turn out fhameful 
 a.pc(lates from GOD after very ferious imprefllons, 
 \ery (Irong convictions, yea, and great zeal in an at- 
 tendance on rejigious duties. O take hted, you don** 
 
 make 
 
*4 A Sermon on the out-pouring of 
 
 make a righteoufnefs of your convictions, that you 
 don't place them in the room of CHRIST, in the room 
 of true Gofpel repentance ! Don't fuffer your felves to 
 reft in convictions ! Jf you place your religion here, 
 and attain no higher, they will do you no good ; yea, 
 notwithftanding your convictions, tho' they have (truck 
 you to the earth, you will certainly be excluded hea- 
 ven, and be fent away to hell. Realife it, the great 
 defign of conviction is to put you upon the ufe of the 
 inftituted means of falvation. Their ufe is to fhew you 
 your, need of CHRIST, to open to you the value of 
 grace, and quicken you, with a becoming importunity, 
 to feek GOD'S face and favour: And if they are not 
 improv'd for thefe purpofes, they will be of no fpiri- 
 tual fervice to you. O fix it in your minds as a furc 
 truth, that you may have even the ftrongeft convicti- 
 ons, and no faving good follow upon them ! And it i$ 
 often thus ; yea, in refpect of many with whom it is 
 thus, they are the worfe, and not the better for their 
 convictions. Sinners who have been furprized with 
 fearfulnefs, under an apprehenfion of fin and guilt, 
 have often turn'd out the worft of men, the moft har- 
 den'd and abandon'd to i-.ll that is good. The latter 
 end with them has been worfe than the beginning. You 
 are therefqre, at prefent, in a critical (late ; and mould 
 look v/ell to your felves, leaft, after having efcaped 
 the pollutions that are in the world through luft, you 
 fjiould turn away from the holy commandment deli- 
 vered to you. But I muft not enlarge, 
 
 2. Another operation, included in this gift of the 
 HOLY GHOST, is that whereby he produces in men 
 true go f pel faiib. This faith is much celebrated in the 
 writings of the new teftament. 5 Tis every where re- 
 preferued as the grand charafferiftic of a true Chrtftian. 
 ?Tis indeed that without which 'tis imppffible to pleafe 
 Gpp \ yea, *as by this, and this,.few, that we are 
 
HOLT GHOST. tf 
 
 juftifed through the LORD JESUS CHRIST, without th* 
 deeds of the law. This faith is varioufly exhibited to 
 us ; fometimes in metaphorical language, but more 
 commonly in plain, eafy words. And the thing in- 
 tended by it, is not meerly an affent of the mind to 
 gofpel truths : This indeed there will be ; the man who 
 has true faith embraces the Scripture revelation i yea^ 
 the whole Scheme of Chriftian Doflrine, fo far as he has 
 an understanding of it, and he will have an undefftan- 
 ding of it fo far as it is abfolutely necelfary ; But then, 
 his faith is not a meer fpeculative thing, but fuch an 
 inward, ftrong perfuafion as will operate in gertsral 
 agreably to the truths he profeffes to believe : In par- 
 ticular^ he is fo fully perfuaded of the glorious things 
 fpoken of concerning CHRIST, hisperfon and mediato- 
 rial undertaking for fmners, that he acknowledges no 
 other SAVIOUR, nor has dependance upon any but 
 him % yea, fo clearly fatisfied is he of the ability and 
 readinefs of the LORD JESUS CHRIST to be a SA- 
 VIOUR to him, of the fulnefs of grace and merit there 
 is in him, that he ventures his all on him, his foul 
 and his eternal concerns 5 trufting in him, and in him 
 alone for righteoufnefs and eternal life. He efteems 
 himfelf an unprofitable fervant^ after he has done his 
 beft ; and as having done no more than it was his 
 duty to do. He counts all things but lofs for the eX* 
 cellency of the knowledge of CHRIST JESUS his 
 LORD ; yea, he counts them but dung, that he may 
 win CHRIST, and be found in him^ not having on bis 
 own righteoufnefs which is of the law, but that which 
 is through the faith of CHRIST, the righteoufnefs which 
 is of GOD by faith. 
 
 This is the true Chriftian faith : And 'tis to make 
 Us the fubjects of this/#f/, that the HOLY GHOST is 
 -poured out. *Tis not the meer refult of that teftimony 
 of the SPIRIT, the evidence of miracles^ by which the 
 Gtfptl has been confirmed, as a revelation from SOD 5 
 
 bus 
 
l6 A Sermon on the out potifing vf 
 
 but is the produce of that internal work of bis upon th 
 mind of the finner, whereby, the eyes of his underftan- 
 ding being opened, he has fuch a view of the fuitabie- 
 nefs of the gofpel method of falvation in general, and 
 of the lovelinefs of CHRIST in particular, his all-fuffi- 
 ciency to be his SAVIOUR, as that he is peffuaded 
 and enabled to embrace him as fuchj giving himfelf 
 *jp to him, to be inftruded, governed and faved by 
 him. The fcripture is every where full in it, that 
 this faith is of the operation of the SPIRIT. Hencd 
 *tis particularly mentioned among the fruits of the 
 SPIRIT*; and is exprefly fpoken of, as of the ope- 
 ration 0/"Goo-f, and as the gift of GOD [[. And when 
 Simon Peter profeffed his faith in CHRIST, in thofe 
 words, Thou art CHRIST the SON of the living GOD ^ 
 JESUS faid unto him, Flejh and blood hath not revealed 
 it to thee^ but my FATHER which is in heaven^. 
 
 3. Another operation, included in the gift of the 
 HOLY GHOST, is the change whereby men are made 
 -new creatures. We every where read, in the infpir'd 
 writings,- of a Change, which 'tis necefTary Sinners 
 fhould pafs under, as ever they would hope, according 
 to the tenour of the Gofpel covenant, to be admitted 
 into the coming kingdom of GOD. This change is 
 fpoken of under a variety of names. 'Tis fometimcs 
 called converfion^ fometimes regeneration^ fometimes 'tis 
 compar'd to a refurre^iion^ and fometimes to a neiv 
 creation. The fame thing is intended in all thefe 
 phrafes ; even that change which is made in men, 
 when they become true Ghriftians / ; Not that there is 
 any change effedted in them, phyfically fpeakingi 
 their natural powers and faculties are ftill the fame: 
 But. in the religious and moral fenfe, they are ftrangelf 
 ahered. There is a change wrought both in their 
 
 hearts 
 
 * Gal 5. 22, f Col. i, 12, 8 Eph, 2, 8, Mat, 16. 16, r;. 
 
the HOLT GfJOSt - *7 
 
 hearts and lives; in all their inward principles as well 
 as outward behaviour in the world. They are, as ic 
 were, new moulded and fafhioned. They have other 
 thoughts and fentioients, other fprings of aftion^ other 
 views and aims j they are fo altered as to be quite 
 other perfons, they have another temper of mind, ano- 
 ther tafte, and relifll, another heart and foul, and they 
 lead another kind of life,', are pious towards GOD, righ- 
 teous towards men, and fober in refpect of themfelves. 
 
 This is the change we muft pals under, in order to 
 our being made meet for the. inheritance of the faints 
 in light. And 'tis to effect this change, that the HOLT 
 .GHOST, is given: Nor can it be effected in -any way 
 but by his operations in us. It is not the produce of 
 tneer reafon, nor of external revelation. It is not bro'c 
 about by the bare influence of moral motives^ whether 
 they are fetch'd from the law or the Gofpel : N6j but 
 it is an effgtt , of the power of the SPIRIT, working 
 effectually in them that believe. And 'tis every where 
 in the bible fpoken of as fuch. This is the juft import 
 of the metaphors, under which this change is figur'd 
 out to us. That of a new creation points .our view di- 
 rectly to GOD as the author of "converfion. If this 
 were an eafy burinefs, a matter within the reach of 
 men's own power* what. they could accompliuH by an 
 act of their own free will, it Would never have been fet 
 forth under this fimiiitudq. To create is the known 
 prerogative of GOD : And the firft thing moft obvi- 
 oufly occurring to our. minds fro.m this refemblance . is^ 
 that the new creature is the workman/hip of Go i> . The 
 fame thought is fuggefted from the metaphor of a re- 
 furrettion, under which this change is fometimes' fpoken 
 of. Raifmg the dead befpeaks the agency of GOD. 
 'Tis therefore natural, and almoft unavoidable, when we 
 read of converfion under this figure,- to conclude it to be 
 a work beyond the power of man, and as requiring a v 
 Sivinf fewer to effect it. 
 
 C But 
 
iS A Sermon on the out- pouring of 
 
 But be fides metaphors^ there are plain texts to oufr 
 purpofe. Says the infpired Paul^ treating of this mat- 
 ter, * 'We are HIS werkmanjhip^ created in CHRIST 
 JESUS to good works. And we find the blefifed GOD 
 himfclf befpeaking his people, by way of promife, in 
 fuch terms as thofe, -f A new heart alfo will I give unto 
 you, and a new fpirit will 1 put within you : and I will 
 take away the flony heart out of your fiejh^ and I will 
 give you a heart of flejh. The like promife we have 
 ag;in [], -And I will put a new heart within you ; and 1 
 'will take the flony heart out of ycur fiejh^ and give you 
 an heart of Jlejh. 'Tis'as plain, from thefe and many 
 Other texts that might eafily be mentioned, as words 
 can make it, that the change ngnifred by converfion or 
 the new creature^ is the work of GOD ; his work by 
 his holy SPIRIT, which he gives to men to effect this 
 change in thrm. 
 
 But fome, perhaps, may be fo curious as to afk how 
 does the HOLY GHOST produce this change in men ? 
 
 And to fuch the anfwcr is, this is one of thofe 
 things, concerning which we know but very little : 
 Nor ought our ignorance, as to the manner of this pro- 
 duction, to be efteemed the leaft objection againft the 
 truth of the thing. We know not the manner in the 
 natural ; and why fhould it be thought ftrange if we 
 know not the manner in the fpiritual creation ? The 
 methods of operation, in the Kingdom of grace^ and in 
 the Kingdom of nature^ are both alike fecret and myfte- 
 rious : And we have no more reafon therefore to ob- 
 ject againft the former than the latter. 'Tis no argu- 
 ment againft the formation of children, that we know 
 ftot how the lones grow in the womb of her that is with 
 child - y neither is it of any validity againft the formation 
 of the new man, that we know not precifely the way 
 and manner in which the Divine SPIRIT exerts himfelf 
 
 in 
 
 * ph. 2, 10. f Ezek, 36, 26,- . U Chap, n, ver. t$* 
 
the HOLT GHOST. 19 
 
 in die produ&ion of this fpiritual workman/hip : They 
 are both fearful and wonderful. 
 
 Thus much indeed we know in general, that in new 
 making men, the Divine SPIRIT acts in, and upon. 
 them, in a way fuited to their nature as Men^ in a way 
 that agrees with their character as moral agents. He 
 fo manages the matter, as that they are changed inco 
 new men, in a method perfectly harmonizing with their 
 feveral powers, fo as that they oppofe not one another,. 
 but are preferved in due dependance and fubordinaiiojci 
 to each other. Light is commanded to. fhme inro ihe 
 under/landing, the enlighten'd under/landing ^ifcts and 
 governs the will, and the will the feveral ' affettions of 
 the foul and powers of the body : But to fay precifily 
 how the HOLY GHOST enlightens the mind, and then 
 captivates the will, and then prefer ves the affeftions an4 
 fafffons in due harmony, and conducts the life in the- 
 way of holinefs; thefe things, I fay, are di^cuftks ia 
 this difpenfation of grace : And as they are fuch, trig 
 lefs we puzzle our felves or others about them, the bet- 
 ter. The thing is certain, Men are fometimts new 
 made; and when they are fo, 'tis as evident from ihe 
 Scripture, that 'tis GOD by his SPIRIT, that new 
 makes them. Let us fee to it, that we be in the num- 
 ber of thofe who are new creatures^ and as to the way 
 and manner in which it pleafes GOD to bring this 
 about, we need not be at all concerned about it. To 
 goon, 
 
 4. Another thing, included in this gift of the HOLY 
 GHOST, is his exciting fincere Chriftians to, and affift^ 
 ing them in, the practice of their duty, to their increa- 
 fing in grace, and perfevering therein unto the end, 
 There is need of the HOLY GHOST not only to turn, 
 men from the power of (in and Satan unto GOD, but ? 
 when they are thus changed, to ftir them up to acti- 
 vity in the work of GOD and their Soul's ftlvation, ancj 
 
 C 3 to 
 
ao A Sermon on the out-pourtng of 
 
 to affift them in it. If left to themfelves, the beft 
 Chriftians, thofe that are Tulleft of faith and Holinefs", 
 and every other grace, would foon lofe their vigour : 
 nor without the continual aids of the Divine SPIRIT 
 wpqid they be able to honour CHRIST, and adorn 
 their profeffion by a converfation becoming the Gofpd. 
 '"JThe HOLY GHOST therefore is given to them, to 'ex- 
 cite good motions in them, to animate their refolutions, 
 to quicken their graces and afTift them in the exercife 
 of mem, to their running the way of GOD ? S command- 
 rnents with ftrength and vigour, with chearfulnefs and 
 delight. This is certainly the language of Scripture 
 upon 'this head". Ffence that prayer of holy 'David y * 
 Quicken me according to thy word ! and again, "f Quicken 
 ihou me in thy way!' And hence alib thofe pious ac- 
 knowledgments of his, || Thy word, i. e/'as enliven'd 
 by thy SPIRIT, bath Quickened me. And again, / 
 will 'never forget thy precepts , for with them thou haft 
 quickened me. '" And the HOLY GHOST is faid to dwell 
 tn the' hearts of good 'Chnftians ; and they are repre- 
 iented as led by the SPIRIT, and as walking in the 
 .SPIRIT. The plain meaning of ail which texts is, at 
 feafi thus much, ih.it the HOLY GHOST is given to 
 good men to be their excitement in duty 5 t;heir conti- 
 nual help in the practice of it. 
 
 And 'tis vowing to the fame prefence and influence 
 of the HO'LY GHOS'T, th.it tKey'are enabled to grow 
 in grace, and in a conformity to the image and exanv 
 j-le of their 5avioqr ; to be mpre weaned from this 
 ^'orld, ant] prepared for a better! 
 
 Tri on'e word;' 'tis owing to the fame influence dill, 
 that 'they are' kept trom failing; and preferved throngii 
 faff h unto flilvatron. And indeed, fuch are their in- 
 dilpoFrcions ' withifi 5 and 'fuch their 'ten^ptaticns 
 tokhout \ flicH is the fubti'lty of Satan, luch the fo ares 
 
 >i !.-:... i, : ; \ >-: v -.-., .,.., - .1 /. ^r 
 
 * Fi>.bci 119; 25. f V&!-, ^5. (I ver. 50. ver. 93, 
 
 - . , ~ ' 
 
tbc HOUf GHOST. 11 
 
 pF the world, and fiich their own weaknefs, that it 
 could not be expected, but they fliould draw back tq 
 perdition, were they not under the fpecial and continual 
 guidance of the HOLY GHOST : And to this it is 
 always attributed in Scripture, that they are preferved 
 unto CH R IST'S heavenly kingdom. Hence the apojlle 
 fpeaks of them, * as thofe who are kept by the power of 
 OD, through faith, unto fahation. Hence alfo that 
 Doxology in the Epijlle of Jude, -f Now unto him that is 
 able to keep you from falling, and to prefent you faultleft 
 before the 'pre fence of his glory with exceeding Joy, to the 
 only wife GOD our SAVIOUR, be glory and majefly^ dq- 
 minion and power, both now and ever. Amen. 
 
 5. Another thing contained in thtgift of the HoLy 
 GHOST is fupport and confolation under fufferings and 
 afflictions. Frequent mention is made of this in the 
 writings of the new Teftament. When the apoftle 
 Paul fought to GOD for grace, in* a time of great 
 tryal, that was the anfwer of GOD to him, || My grace 
 is fufficient for ihee , for my Jlrength is made per f eft in 
 weaknefs. And hear how this Tame apojlle triumphs 
 over difficulties, and all manner of fufferings, in the 
 power ot this grace of the SPIRIT of GOD. There- 
 fore I take pleafure in infirmities, in reproach^, in ne- 
 Cfffities, in perfections, for CHR isT*sfake. And other$ 
 alfo have been ftrengthened, with all might, to all 
 long fuffering, according to the glorious power of the 
 SPIRIT of JESUS CHRIST, which has been given to 
 them. 'It was eminently thus, in the firft days of the 
 Gofpel, with the ConfeiTors and Martyrs for the name 
 and caufe of CHRIST. The ftrength of GOD was vifi- % 
 bly perfected in many of thefe, who, being weak, were 
 yet made ftrbng : to fuffer for his fake. To what 
 elfe can it be afcribed, that they were enabled to en- 
 counter 
 
 j Pet. i, 5. f ve?, 24, 25, || 2 Cor, 12. 9. ver. IQ, 
 
 J iw % , , - i }-< s ] -, , - ; -r. , ;-5 l :*' f *S& 
 
az A Sermon on the out-pouring of 
 
 counter fo many deaths, with fo much caimnefs and 
 patience, with fo much chearfulnefs and holy rejoicing ? 
 How elfe can it be accounted for, that they fhould be 
 ready to give themfelves up to be tortured, not accept- 
 ing deliverance; that they fliould be willing to undergo 
 the tryal of cruel mockings and fcourgings, yea^ moreover ^ 
 of bonds and imprifonment , that they fhould fubmit to 
 be ftoned, to be fawn afunder, to be Jlain with the/word; 
 that they fhould be content to wander about in Jheep* 
 Jkins and goat- Jkins ^ being deftitute, afflicJed^ tormented: 
 I fay, to what can it be attributed, that they fhould be 
 willing to fubmit to thefe fufferings, and be able to go 
 through them with courage, and patience, and even 
 joy, but to this, that they were divinely affifted ? The 
 power of the SPIRIT of JESUS CHRIST was with 
 them, fupporting, encouraging and ftrengthning them : 
 And to this it was owing, that they were both willing 
 and able to fuffer any thing for the honour of him, 
 who had loved them, and died for them. And the 
 fame power of the fame SPIRIT is ready to be with 
 us, under all the tryals and fufferings, we are called to 
 p ifs through, in the courfe of providence. The fame 
 plefTed SPIRIT, which was given to them is promifed 
 to us alfo , and 'tis now often ft en, that he is a fupport 
 'id comfort, in a glorious degree, to fincere Chriftians, 
 in proportion to what they are called to endure ; yeaj 
 and fuch is the fenfe they fometimes have of the con- 
 foLuions of GOD, that they are able to exult, in the 
 midft of the heavicft tryals, in the language of the holy 
 ^pofile Paul, * Blejfed be GOD, even /<? FATHER of 
 cxr LORD JESUS CHRIST, //^ FATHER of mercies^ 
 and the GOD .of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our 
 tribulation. For as the fufferings of Cu R IST abound in 
 us y fo our confolation aboundeth by CHRIST. 
 
 g. Anothef 
 
the HOLT GHQSt. 23 
 
 6. Another thing contained in this^// of the HOLY 
 GHOST, is that inward joy ', which Chriftians are fome- 
 times the fubjects of. This Joy is therefore particular- 
 ly mentioned as one of the fruits of the SPIRIT*. 
 And Chriftians are fometimes fpoken of as having Joy 
 in Goof , as rejoicing in hope of the glory of GOD |j, 
 yea, as rejoicing with joy unfpeakaUe and full of glory . 
 And they are repreiented, as praying to GOD to Jill 
 them with all joy and peace in believing** , and as giving 
 thanks to GOD, who caufeth them to triumph in CH R IST^.: 
 And the peace of GOD , which pa/eth all under ft anding^ 
 is promifed'to them, to keep their hearts and minds thro* 
 CHRIST JESUS (|[|. The obvious import of all which 
 texts is, that there is fuch a thing as inward peace and 
 pleafure, which fometimes rifes to fuch a height in the 
 hearts of fincere Chriftians, as to caufe them to exult 
 and triumph in GOD : Nor is this Joy the effect of 
 fneer nature j neither does it refult from they^exerciie 
 of the mind* either upon it felf, or the truths revealed 
 in the Gofpel, but is the produce of the HOLY GHOST, 
 which is given to them. That of COMFORTER is 
 therefore the Style, in which this blefled SPIRIT is 
 fometimes fpoken of in Scriptufe . And becaufe it- 
 is by the HOLY GHOST, that GOD comforteth his peo* 
 pie, he is therefore called the GOD of confoldtion *[).. 
 
 But to prevent our falling into miftakes about this 
 Joy, 'twill be neceffary to obferve here, that when evei* 
 it is the genuine fruit of the SP i R i T, and not a coUn- 
 'terfeit, the foundation of it is laid in a faith that purifies 
 the hearty and purges the confcience from dead works to 
 ferve the living GOD. Hence that of the apoftle, 
 * For our REJOICING is this, the teflimony of our con- 
 'fcience, that in fimplicity and godly fincerity, not with 
 jlejhly wifdom, but by the grace of Go D , we have our con- 
 
 verfation 
 
 * Gat . 22. f Kom. 2. ii. || v. Z2: i Pet. -i. 8. ** Rom. 
 15- 13- I 2 Cor. 2. 14. j||| Phil, 4. 7, Job, 14. 16. ,*j| Rom. 
 ^5- ^5- * 2 Cor. i. 12, 
 
^4 A Sermon on the out-ponring of 
 
 yerfation in the world. And very obfervable to .the 
 lame purpofe is that exhortation of this fame apoftie,* 
 But let every man prove bis own work, and then ft all he 
 have rejoicing in himfelf. The way to true Joy is a 
 religious and impartial examination into the frame of 
 our hearts, and the courfe of our adtions, and if our 
 Joy fprings from a clear difcernment of thefe as con- 
 torm'd to the tenour of the Gofpei covenant, we may 
 hope it is the produce of a divine influence : Whereas* 
 if it is a fudden flam only, and arifes we know not 
 how, nor upon what it is bottom'd, 'tis much to be 
 fufpe&ed , to be fure\ no great ftrefs fhquJd be laid on 
 it. For 'tis to be remembred, there is the Joy of the 
 hypocrite as well as of the good Chriftian ; there is a 
 Joy that is the effect of ntiiure as; well as grace. Such 
 was the joy of the ftony ground hearers ; iuch was the 
 gladnefs, with which Herod heard John Baptift preach/, 
 and fuch was the tafte of the word of GOD, and of the 
 powers of the world to come^ which the Jewijb apoftates 
 were partakers off. In all thefe per Ions, there was 
 the pafiion of Joy, and it arofe, probably, in fome of 
 them, to a confiderable height , but yet, was nothing 
 more than z. fenfitive pqffion^ the refill t of the workings 
 of nicer animal nature. And this, it may be feared^ 
 is the only Joy of many others : It certainly is, of ail 
 r>hofe, who have Joy without faith. Men may pretend 
 what they pleafe, but if they are not pofTeft of faith t 
 that faith I mean, which is a living principle of grace 
 in the Heart, and will evidence it felf to be fo by its 
 genuine influence on the life, their Joy is only a fire 
 of their own kindling ; and tho' they walk in the light 
 of their fire, and in the jparks which they have kindled^ 
 yet may they, notwithstanding, receive this at the hand 
 of GOD, they ma) lie down in for row. 
 
 And 
 
 6, 4, f Hebv 6; 
 
tie HOLT GHOST. 25- 
 
 And as this Joy, if it be produced by the SPIRIT 
 of GOD, will fpring from he art -purifying faith ^ fo will 
 k make thofe who have it humble. They'll be for 
 exalting GOD, and abafing themfelves. An illuftrious 
 example of this we have in the great apoftle of the 
 Gentiles. No meer man, it may be, ever more aboun- 
 ded in Joy than he ; and yet, who more filled with 
 humility ? By the grace of GOD, fays he,* 7 am what I 
 am. And again,")" 1 lwe\ yet not 7, but CHRIST 
 livctb in me. And comparing himfelf with his fellow- 
 labourers in the work of the LORD, that is his lan- 
 guage [|, I am the leajl of the apoftles, and not meet to be 
 called an apoftle ; yea, he fpeaks of himfelf , as lefs 
 than the leaft of all Saints. And this humble frame of 
 foul is ever a concomitant of true fpiritual joy and con- 
 folation 'in the LORD. It difpofes perfons to entertain 
 a low thought of themfelves. So far are they from 
 boafling of their own goodnefs, that they wonder at 
 the grace of GOD, in taking notice of fuch unworthy 
 creatures as they are. They are not of the Spirit of 
 the Pharifees in the gofpel, who trufted in themfelves 
 that they were righteous^ and defpifed others : On the 
 contrary, that is a juft reprefentation of their true tem- 
 per, in lowlihefe of mind, efteeming others better than 
 themfelves. 
 
 Moreover, this Joy^ if it be of the HOLY GHOST, 
 will obfcrve, at leaft fo far as it is under his guidance, 
 a juft decorum in the way and manner of expr effing it 
 felf. It won't be oftentatious, difcovering a forward- 
 nefs to fliow it felf in fuch methods as are out of the 
 v/ay, and carry the face of a defire to be feen of men. 
 It will chufe rather in private to vent it felf in acknow- 
 ledgments of praife to GOD, than in the ftreels, and 
 public places of concourfe : This is too like the Pharifees, 
 v/ho lov'd to pray in the corners of the ftreets, that they 
 
 D might 
 
 V 
 
 * i Cor. 15. 10. f Gal. 2. 20. J i Cor. 15. 9, Eph. 3. 8, 
 
1(5 A Sermon on the out-pouring of 
 
 might ie feen of men : Nor does it feem fo congruous a 
 thing to behold this joy operating in LAUGHTER. 
 *Tis, in its nature, a lober, rational fatisfactiori and de- 
 light i and ,is converfant about the moft ferious and 
 awful matters. A difpofition to laughter feems there- 
 fore to favour too much of levity, to be an appendage 
 of this joy. 5 Tis indeed too frnfual a mode of ex- 
 prcffing fo Divine a paffion, and approaches too n-ear 
 to the way, in which the men of the world exprefs 
 that joy, which has the things of time and fenfe for its 
 proper object : Nor does it difcover that awe and re- 
 verence, that holy fear and caution, with which this 
 Joy ought always to be mixt, as it has to do with the 
 infinite majefty of heaven, and the everlafting concerns 
 of our fouls, 
 
 In fine, it deferves our further confideration here, 
 that the pajjlonate part of this Joy, the fenfible working 
 Of it, is widely different in different perlons, according 
 to the different turn of their natural tempers. Some are 
 of a ductile make, their paffions foft, and apt to carry 
 them into tranfports. And if perfons of this moveable 
 difpofition are more fenfibly affected, than .others of a 
 firm and fteady frame of mind, 'tis no other than might 
 be expected : But, perhaps, a fettled, permanent com- 
 pofure and delight of foul, arifing from the teftimony 
 of a good confcience, is the moft defirable fenfe, iri 
 which we can be pcfleft of the joys of religion ; at 
 leaft, in ordinary cafes : To be fure, whoever have 
 this peace of GOD, this joy of the LORD, they are 
 bleffcd perfons, tho' they know not the meaning of 
 thofe raptures fome others may experience \ and the 
 ftate of mind they are brought to, they may allure 
 themfelves, is an effect of the HOLY GHOST, which 
 has been at work in them. 
 
 7. The laft thing, the time will allow me to men- 
 tion, as contained in (bis gift, is the wtnefi of the SPI- 
 RIT. 
 
the HOLT GHOST. 17 
 
 RIT, That is to fay, that influence of the HOLY 
 GHOST whereby he fatisfies good Chriftians of their 
 adoption into GOD'S family, and intereft in the promifes 
 of the Gofpel covenant. The holy apoftle Paul is very 
 exprefs in taking notice of this inftance of the SPIRIT'S 
 operation. Hence he applies to thofe, who are led by 
 the SPIRIT, and are the Sons of GOD, in that language, 
 * But ye have received the SP i R i T of adoption, whereby 
 ye cry, Abba, father. Parallel whtreto are thofe words 
 of his, in his Epiftle to the Galatians -f% And because ye 
 are Sons, GOD hath fent forth /^SPIRIT of his SON, 
 into your hearts, crying, Abba, father. But the moft 
 obfervable text to this purpofr, is that in Rom. 8. i(J 
 17. tfhe SPIRIT it felf beareth witnefi with cur Spi- 
 rits, that we are the children &f GOD : And if children* 
 then Heirs, heirs of GOD, and joint heirs with CnRisTf 
 
 Some, perhaps, from this text, may expert an im- 
 mediate whifper from the SPIRIT, or fome fecret eJC- 
 traordinary impulfe, alluring them, they are the chil- 
 dren of GOD. And J deny not but the HOLY GHOST 
 can, if he pleafes, in this way, make it evident to a. 
 man, that he is an heir to the inheritance of the Saints 
 in light : But this does not appear to be the way of the; 
 SPIRIT'; witnej]ing\ and it may be dangerous for 
 perfons to ground their hopes of heaven upon meer 
 impulfes and irnpreffions : Efpecially, will this be dan- 
 gerous, if they fet up thefe things in the room of the 
 written word, or depend upon them in oppofition to it. 
 Multitudes have by degrees come to this, and dreadful 
 have been the deluftons they have been betrayed into, 
 They have even miftook, not only the workings of 
 their own imaginations, but the fuggeftions of S4tan. t 
 for undoubted dictates of the HOLY GHOST. 
 
 This witnefs of the SPIRIT is always agreable tQ 
 the Scripture, a,nd lies, principally in twq things. 
 
 8. i^ f Qtei(K 
 
i8 A Serwon en tke out-pouring of 
 
 in producing in us the difpofuion of GOD*S children, 
 which is done in the work of regeneration, whcrtby we 
 are form'd to a Divine likenefs, and made, as it were, 
 living images of our FATHER in heaven. And then, 
 fecondly> in helping us to fee in our felves this filial 
 frame and temper of Soul, and fa to fee it as from 
 hence to be clearly perfuaded of our intereft in the 
 rights of the Sons of GOD. The frft of thefe is the 
 proper Gofpel evidence to the privi ledge of adoption \ 
 the fecond, that by which jt is made evident to us that 
 this pri vi ledge is ours ; and by both is compleated the 
 witnefs of the SPIRIT, that influence of his, whereby 
 we are allured that we are GOD'S children. 
 
 Let me add here, and I may do it with the greateft 
 boldnefs, that where there is not a work of grace in 
 the heart, it can never be witnefied to a man, that he 
 is a child of GOD ; for he is not: And by whatever 
 impulies, impreflipns, or revelations, he is made to be- 
 lieve that he is, he is certainly under the influence of 
 a heated imagination, or a fpiric of delufion. The, 
 Divine SPIRIT, as Mr. HENRY obferves, " wit- 
 refTes to none, the pri v Hedges of children, that have 
 not the nature and difpofition of children"; No, but 
 he " ttftifies our adoption, as Mr. BURKITT'J words 
 are, by evidencing to us pur fancYification! And all 
 this, as he addst, is done, not by fudden impulfes, and 
 immediate infpirations, which is the ivitmffing of the 
 SPI RIT, Entbufeajls pretend to, but the SPIRIT wit- 
 wjfes in 'a way of argumentation. Thus, vyhoever re- 
 pents, believes and obeys the Gofpel, fays the Scrip- 
 ture, (hall be faved *, but the SPIR IT helps us to fee 
 that we do fo, and accordingly enables us to infer and 
 conclude that we fliall be faved.'* - But I am fenft- 
 t>le I have 'been too long in explaining" to you, what 
 y/e aje to underitand by the gift of tbe Ho^ y GHOST*. 
 
 in Ioc 
 
 : - . : \ " ; : ' . 
 
the HOLY GHOST. 19 
 
 I therefore haften, to the next pbfervable in the text, 
 viz. 
 
 II. The Perfom to whom the HOLY GHOST is faid to 
 have been given > and thefe wtre the Gentiles alft. 
 I e. both Jews and Gentiles, the one as well as the 
 Other, without refpecl of pc-rions. 
 
 The Jews were formerly the people of GOD ? in di- 
 ftinction from all others. The LORD was their GOD 
 fo as he was not the GOD of other nations. He had 
 felected them out of the reft of the world, to be in- 
 ftrucled, conduced and blcfied by him beyond any 
 other people : They are therefore called a cbofen gene- 
 ration-^ a peculiar people-, and to them, as the apoftle 
 fpeaks, pertained the adoption, and the glory, and the 
 giving the law, and the covenant, and the promifes of 
 GOD. And they had a high conceit of themselves, 
 on account of this didinction, GOD had made between 
 them, and the ether nations of the earth ; encouraging 
 a hope, as if it would alvrays continue : Nor could 
 they be reconciled to the thought of an enlargement 
 of GOD'S covenant, fo as to bring others upon a level 
 with them in regard of the favour of GOD, and thel 
 happinefs of heaven. The apoftles themfelves; and 
 this, even after the death and refurredion of CHRIST, 
 were too much under the influence of this Jewijb Spi- 
 rit. And it was, in an extraordinary manner, by a 
 yifion from heaven, that Peter was /hewed not to call- 
 any man common or unclean. And it was upon h's 
 preaching, in confluence of this Divine revelation, iq 
 that drain, I perceive of a truth, that God is no refpeffer. 
 of perfons-, but in every nation, he that fear eth God and 
 tvorketh righteoufnefs is accepted of him -, I fay, it was 
 upon Peter's preaching in fuch language as this, tluc 
 C|OD ov/ned the truth of what he delivered, by a mi- 
 raculous effuf^on of the HOLY GHOST, even while he 
 was preaching, upon all his hearers promifcuoufly, borfy 
 
jo A Sermon OH the out-pouring of 
 
 Jews and Gentiles. And it was this pouring out of the 
 SPIRIT upon the Gentiles in common with the Jews, 
 that was the occafion of the aftonifhment we read of, in 
 the former part of the verfe, in which is the text. The 
 Jews could not tell what to make of it, to fee that 
 GOD took as much notice of the Gentiles as of them : 
 It was a mighty furprize to them , yea, there was 
 fcarce a greater ftone of (tumbling to them, than the 
 calling of the Gentiles. This was a myftery hid in GOD 
 from ages and generations, and not made manifeft to the 
 Saints until now*. We of the Gentiles, who were 
 aliens from the common-wealth of Jfrael, and ft rangers 
 from the covenant of promife, and far off from GOD, 
 were now made nigh by the blood of CHRIST j for he is 
 our peace, and hath made both Jews and Gentiles one, 
 having broken down the middle wall of partition between 
 tis, and having preached peace to us who were afar off, 
 as well as to them that were nigh. And my text is a 
 (landing glorious evidence of an Equality between Jews 
 and Gentiles, in regard of the gift of the Ho L Y GH os T . 
 For he was given to both thefe forts of perfons, with- 
 out diftinction ; Nor is there, as to this matter, any 
 refpe6b of perfons with GOD. He puts no difference 
 Between Jew and Greek ; but is rich to all that call 
 upon him : And whoever the perfons be that do fo, 
 whether they be Jews or Gentiles, whether they be bend 
 or free, male or female, they mall, without regarding 
 the one any more than the other, have granted to them 
 the gift of the HOLY GHOST. It is promifed equally 
 to Jill the varying kinds of finners, and they have all 
 equal encouragement to apply to the father of mercies 
 for it. They are all one in CHRIST JESUS ; He came 
 equjJIy to be a SAVIOUR to them all, and he is equally 
 ready to impart of his SPIRIT to them all, to fulfil 
 ?n them the good pleafure of his goodnefs, and the 
 
 3. .9. 
 
the HOLT G HOST. 3t 
 
 work of Faith with power. But I muft go on to thfi 
 laft thing taken notice of in the text, Vs. 
 
 r. 
 III. The manned of beftowing this^z// of the HOLY 
 GHOST. It wzs poured out . i. e. GOD was pleafed to 
 beftow it largely and plentifully. He fo beftowed it, 
 as that they * were filled with the SPIRIT; as that 
 they were all made to partake of this gift* Like a 
 plentiful fhower flf rain, the HOLY GHOST came down 
 upon the whole aJftmUy, he fell upon every perfon pre- 
 fent j they had each one a fenfible perception of his 
 influences, and were enabled herefrom to fpeak with 
 tongues i and magnify GOD. The miraculous gifts 
 of the HOLY GHOST, were thofe efpecially, in which 
 he was now poured out ; but 'tis probable, he fell like-* 
 wife, in a plentiful manner, in his more ordinary influ- 
 ences 5 and that numbers were enlightned and humbled, 
 and put, at leaft, under a hopeful pfofpedt of being 
 converted and faVed. To be fure, the HOLY GHOST 
 was thus poured out, in the firft days of the Gofpel. i. e. 
 in his graces as well as gifts - 9 to the ends of faith and 
 fanc~tification y as well as to enable men to Jhew Jigns 
 and wonders. Hence, when the apoftle is fpeak ing of 
 regeneration^ as accompanied with juflification, and a 
 hope of eternal life, he attributes it to the HOLY GHOST 
 Jhed) or poured out, on us^ abundantly) through JESUS 
 CHRIST, our SAVIOUR*. 
 
 And this manner of giving the HOLY GHOST, the 
 pouring him out, the beftowing him on great numbers 
 of perfons, as well as in large and abundant meafurcs, 
 is one of the things particularly prophefied of, as what 
 fhould be the glory of Gofpel- times. The texts to this 
 purpofe are very obfervable. Says GOD himfelf, Ifa. 
 44. 3. I will pour out my SPIRIT upon thy feed y and 
 my bleffing on thy offspring. And again, Zach. 12. 10. 
 
 * Tit 3, 6, 
 
3 1 A Sermon on tie out- pouring of 
 
 I will pour out upon the houfe of David, and upon the 
 inhabitants of Jerufalsm, the SPIRIT of grace and of 
 Application ; and they floall look upon me whom they have 
 pierced, and they jhall mourn for him, as one mourneth 
 for his only Son, and Jhall bs in bitternefs for him, as one 
 that is in bitternefs for a firft born. And yet again, 
 Joel 2. 28. // Jhall come to pafs afterward, that 1 will 
 pcur out my SPIRIT upon all flejh. Thefe texts, to 
 be fure, the two lad of them, principally look forward 
 to Gofpel times \ and they had a marvellous accom- 
 plimment in the firft days of Chriftianity, not 'only in 
 the miraculous gifts, with which multitudes were then 
 filled, but in the graces of the SPIRIT, they were 
 enabled to live in the exemplary exercife of, to the 
 aftonifhment of all beholders. 
 
 But, perhaps, thefe prophefies may look forward Mill, 
 and point our view to thole times that are yet to come, 
 when the little Jlone cut out without hands, Jhall become 
 a great mountain, and fdl the whole earth , when the 
 kingdom, and the dominion, and the great nefs of the king- 
 dom, under the whole heaven, Jhall be given to the people 
 of the faints of the mcft high ; when the- blindnefs that 
 has happened to Ifrael Jhall be removed, and the fulnefs of 
 the Gentiles come in ; and the new heavens, and the new 
 eanh be created, wherein dwelleth right eoufnefs. 
 
 For my felf, I am not ashamed to own, I am one 
 of thofe who look, according to the promije of GOD , 
 for a far more glorious ftate of things, both among 
 Jews and Gentiles, than has ever yet been feen ; a ftate 
 of things, wherein he that has the key of the bottomlefs 
 pit Jhall lay hold on the Dragon, that old ferpent, which 
 is the devil and fat an, and bind him a thou fan d years, and 
 caft him into the bottomlefs pit> and Jhut him up, and fet 
 a fsal upon him, that he Jhould deceive the nations no 
 more, till the thoufand years Jhould be fulfilled : The 
 effect .whereof will be that univerfal prevalence of 
 , kvt$ pwft, and all thofe chriftian Graces, which 
 
 transform 
 
tie HOLT GHOST. 33 
 
 transform Men into a likenefs to GOD, and make them 
 happy in the participation of the fruits of his favour. 
 
 And to this happy ftate of things do thefe prophe- 
 fes, which fpeak of the pouring out of the SPIRIT, 
 finally look : Nor will they have their full completion, 
 till the earth Jhdll be full of the knowledge of the LORD, 
 as the waters* wver the feds. When the fet time for 
 this will comrtiencei is a fecret the FATHER hath kept 
 in his own breaft : And 'tis known only to him, what 
 inftrurnents and means he will make ufe of in bringing 
 to pafs this great event \ but whatever the means or 
 the inftrurrients are, the work will be chiefly his : It 
 will not be accomplifh'd by their might, but by the 
 power of the SP i R i T of the LOR D of hofts \ his SP i- 
 RIT poured oiit upon the world, in fuch abundant 
 meafures, and upon fuch vaft multitudes, as has been 
 hitherto unknown. This pouring out of the SpikiT 
 therefore is what we fhould pray for, as that only which 
 will be effectual to the fetting up GOD'S KING upon 
 his holy hill of Zion, fo as to have t&e heathen for his in- 
 beritance, and the uttermoft parts of the earih for his 
 poffiffion. But I muft now proceed to the 
 
 APPLICATION. And* 
 
 i. Let us take occafion, from what has been offer'd, 
 to examine each one of us, whether the gift of the 
 HOLY GHOST has been poured out upon us. This is 
 a matter it very nearly concerns us all to enquire into. 
 For if any man have not the SPIRIT of CH R IST, he is 
 none of his. He is no difciple of CHRIST 3 he has 
 no intereft in the favour of GOD, nor in the merits of 
 the SAVIOUR ; he is yet in his ling, a child of wrath, 
 and an heir to Hell. Can you then be too follicitous 
 to know, whether you have tbis gift, which is a matter 
 t)f fuch everlafting importance ? You may come to a 
 comfortable fatisfaclion as to this from what has .been 
 
 E You 
 
34 A Sermon on the out-pouring of 
 
 You will eafily collect thence, wherein this gift does 
 Hot confift ; that it does not lie in vifions, and revelati- 
 ons, and 'Trances. None of th^ie things are mentioned 
 any where in the bible, as 'fuch evidences of the SPI- 
 JUT in us, as will argue our belonging to CHRIST 
 JESUS: Nay, even in the days of the Apoftles, they 
 were no proof of a real good character. Perfons, in 
 thofe times, might fee vtftons, andjbew ftgns ; yea, and 
 c aft out Devils, and do many wonderful works, and after 
 all be doom'd to a departure from CHRIST, to dwell 
 with devouring fire. The gift of the HOLY GHOST, 
 in a fenfe that will denominate you the children /Goo, 
 and Heirs to heaven lies not in things of this nature 5 
 but in ihofe internal operations that are common to all 
 good Cbrijlians, and have been lo in all ages, and in all 
 -places, from the days of CHRIST. 
 
 Would you know, my brethren, whether the HOLY 
 GHOST his been poured out upon you, fo as that you 
 may conclude your felves to be interefted in CHRIST, 
 and in fuch a ftate as that you may expect the falva- 
 tion of your Souls, you may, by the help of grace, 
 come to a good hope of this, by aiking your felves 
 fuch queftions as thefe. 
 
 What have been my perceptions of Sin ? Have I ever 
 had any forrowful reflections in my breaft, at the 
 thought that I am a finner ? Has a fenfe of fin been 
 grievous to me ? Have 1 had upon my mind a confci- 
 oufnefs of guilt? Have I had a view ot my feJf as ex- 
 pofed to the wrath of almighty GOD, and been in con- 
 cern hereat, and inquifitive how I might efcape? If 
 you can't fay thus of your felves, you have reafon to 
 be afraid of your condition. You, to be fure, have 
 reafon to be fo, who han't been under reftraints from 
 (in, but have walked in the way of your owti hearts, and 
 in the fight of your own eyes, adding iniquity Jo tranfgref- 
 fton. Is it reafonable to think fuch finners, as you are, 
 ihould be brought to a right mind, without Tevere and 
 
 bitter 
 
the HO IT GHOST. 5? 
 
 bitter reflexions on your felves ? 'Tis not poflible, you; 
 fhould have a juft conception of your felves, and of the 
 real truth of your character, and not be in deep anxiety 
 of Soul : Nor may you imagine, you have been fa* 
 vingly chang'd from a ftate ot fin to a (late ot grace, 
 if you have had no remorfe ot confcience, no uncafi^ 
 nefs in your breads on account of your fins, no fear of 
 the Divine majtrfty, nor of the vengeance of the eter- 
 nal world. Such, whofe cafe this is, have upon them; 
 the fad marks of being to this day in the gall of bitter- 
 nefs, and in tbe bonds of iniquity. And oh ! of how 
 many, may it be feared, is this the juft character ! Ar$ 
 there not multitudes at eafe in Zion> who have upon 
 their minds no concern about their fins, no fear of th$ 
 Divine wrath -, but are going on calmly and quietly 
 in the broad way to death and hell ? If there are any 
 here prefent, whofe confciences tell them, they are the 
 men, let me befeech you, as you love your fouls, and 
 would not be the deftroyers of them, to bethink your 
 felves. Whether you will believe it or not, you are, 
 as finners againft the GOD that made ypu, the proper 
 objects of hell, and nothing keeps you out of that place 
 of weeping and walling and gnafhing of teeth, but the 
 patience of a provoked Gop, which may even this 
 day come to an end with you. And is this a condition 
 to be eafy in ? O be convinced pf your danger ! You 
 are certainly in circumftances of amazing hazard : O 
 realize it to be fo ! and bow your knee to the GOD and 
 FATHER of our LORD JESVS CHRIST, befeeching 
 him, with a becoming importunity of loul, to have 
 mercy upon you. Your help is only in GOD, through 
 JESUS CHRIST. O cry mightily to him! tie may 
 Jbear from heaven, and convert and fave you. 
 
 But if upon inquiry you Ihould find, you have been 
 under uneafy fenfations from a confcioufnefs of fin ancj 
 guilt, reft not fatisfied with this \ but go on and in^ 
 quire, how thefe ferceptions have operated^ what has 
 
 E 3 beea 
 
36* A Sermon on the out-pouring of 
 
 been the effect of them. In themfelves, convifttons arc 
 no fufiicient evidence of a good (late. You may have 
 roared out by reafon of the difquietnefs within you, 
 and yet be at a diftance from GOD and grace. Don't 
 be content that you have been under awakenings, but 
 examine into their iffue. Have you herefrom feeo 
 your need of CHRIST ? Have you repaired to him as 
 the SAVIOUR of undone finners ? Have you been ena- 
 bled to place your truft in him, and in him alone for 
 righteoufnefs and eternal life? Are you become new 
 men? Have you experienced that change, which will 
 denomi. are you the children of GOD, and born from 
 above ? Be crirical in your inquiry into this matter. Is 
 the change you have paffed under, a change only in, 
 your affections ? Is it nothing more than a little out- 
 ward reformation ? Does it lie only in an attendance 
 cnfermons and leftures ? Or is it indeed a change from 
 the power of fin and fatan, a change into the likenefs 
 of GOD ? Have you, in truth, been made partakers of 
 the Divine nature ? Have you been transformed, by 
 the renewing of your mind, into the image of CHRIST 
 JESUS? "Unlefs the Image : of the Devil has been de- 
 laced in you, and yoO have been realiy chang'd into a 
 refemblance" to the bleffed GOD, and his SON JESUS 
 CHR IST, notwithftanding all' your other experiences, 
 be they what they will, and as many and as great as; 
 they will, you are yet in your fins; yoij are yet in fuch 
 a (late, as that if you mould go out of the world with- 
 out a further chance, you would certainly mifs of hea- 
 ven, and be fent a*way to hell. 
 
 ' And Jet me tell you, if you have indeed been re.- 
 r.ewedin the fpirit of 'your minds, it will {hew it ftrlf in 
 your lives." The change that has been wrought in you 
 will have an influence upon your whole outward ccn- 
 cTucl: and behaviour/ You will leave off former finij, 
 and' put in practice neglected duties.' ; &s the grace of 
 (3o D 'teacjies, 7011^ will deny ungqdlinf fs," aacj worldly 
 
 O;j ; ; "- \ " - (i ' - ! b "'^ ; ; "iua - 
 
the HOLT GHOST. 37 
 
 lufts, and live foberly, and righteoufly, and godlily in 
 the world. You will attend the duties of piety, be- 
 come men of prayer, the devout worfhippers of GOD, 
 in the clofet, in the family, and in the place where he 
 records his name. You will keep under reftraint your 
 pafiions of wrath, and anger, and hatred ; you will 
 abftain from all filthy talking and jefting : And as for 
 the grofs ads of uncleannefs and intemperance, they 
 will not be fo much as named among you. In fine, 
 you will do to others as you would they mould do to 
 you. You will put away lying, and fpeak every man 
 truth with his neighbour. You will be fair and equi- 
 table in your treatment of mankind ; honed in your 
 dealings ; faithful to your promiies : All clamour and 
 evil-fpeaking, you will lay afide ; with all flandering, 
 backbiting, tading and tale- bearing: And you will 
 (as the eled of GOD) put on bowels of mercies, kind* 
 nefs, humblenefs of mind, meeknefs, long fuffering ; 
 forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, as 
 GOD for CHRIST'S fake forgiveth you. And above 
 all thefe things, you will put on chavity, which is the 
 bond of pertedtnefs. In one word, there will be an 
 amendment of your carriage in all the relations you 
 fuftain. You will be better hufbands and wives ; bet- 
 ter parents and children ; better mafters and feryants : 
 You will be better neighbours, better friends, better 
 fubjecls ; yea, you will be better in every Jlation^ and 
 in every condition of life : Nor otherwife may you think 
 you have been renewed after the image of him that 
 created you. Let no man deceive you ; he that doth 
 righteoufnefs, is righteous, even as he 13 righteous: 
 He that commitreth fin is of the Devil. In this the 
 children pf GOD are manjfeft, and the children of the 
 D,eviJ : Whpfoe. vet doth not righteoufnefs i$ not of 
 GOB, neither he $hat loyeth, npt his brother. 
 
 Some, perhaps, may thinlt $efe things of no great 
 'i byt deceive ; npt ypu.? 'feives^ irnpofe not 
 
3 8 A Sermon on the out-pouring of 
 
 on your own Souls; the work of the SI^IRIT, where* 
 ever it is favingly wrought, will have an influence 
 upon the whole man, not only the heart, but the life : 
 And 'ris a vain thing, in any man, to pretend he has 
 the SPIRIT, in his faving influences, if, in his out- 
 ward life, he is habitually unconformed to the Gofpel. 
 Where ever there is true faith, that faith, whereby we 
 jire juftified freely of GOD's grace, without the deeds of 
 the law, thro 9 the redemption that is in JESUS CHRIST, 
 there will be a holy life : And if 6ur faith does not 
 exprefs it felf this way, 'tis that dead faith, the apoftle 
 James fpeaks of, which is of no account with GOD : 
 And notwithftanding fuch a faith, a man may perifh ; 
 yea, if he has no better a faith, he certainly will perifh : 
 The mouth of the LORD hath fpoken it. 
 
 Thefe are the things, my brethren, by which you 
 are to make tryal of your felves, whether the HOLY 
 GHOST has been poured out upon you. And a number 
 of you, I truft, have reafon, upon the tryal, to fay, it 
 has been fo with you : Yea, the SPIRIT himfelf, I 
 would hope, has witnejjed with your Spirits, that you 
 are the children of GOD ; and if children, then heirs ; 
 beirs of GOD, and joint-heirs with CHRIST, to the in- 
 Iperitance incorruptible, undefled, and that fadeth not 
 away, rejerved in heaven for you. And if, from this 
 teftirnony of the SPIRIT, with that of your own con- 
 icience, you are rilled with peace, and enabled to re- 
 joice in hope of the glory to be hereafter revealed, you 
 are happy among men ! You have within you the juft 
 grounds of a holy joy, and 'tis no wonder if you are 
 glad : You, if any perfons on earth, have reafon to 
 rejoice. Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous! and 
 again I fay, rejoice : Yet, Jet your joy be mixt with 
 a becoming caution. Rejoice with trembling! Be not 
 high-minded, but fear. Take heed, you be not elated 
 with pride. Q jet humility, in all the lowly expreflions, 
 pf it ? b? ever the attendant of your joy, ! 
 
 And 
 
HOLT GHOST. 39 
 
 And let not thofc be too much difcouraged, who have 
 not this joy of affurance. You may not from hence 
 conclude that the SPIRIT has not been given to you. 
 AfTurance, however definable \ yet* is not effenttal. A 
 man may be a fincere Chriftian without it : Yet, let 
 me call upon you, not to reft fatisfied while in uncer- 
 tainty about the ftate of your fouls , but to give all 
 diligence, as the apoftle exhorts, to make your calling and 
 election Jure. Think no pains too much, if, by any 
 means, you may come to know that the SPIRIT dwel- 
 leth in you. *Twill be a fpring of comfort to you, all 
 along in life, through all the varying conditions of it ; 
 and 'twill make even the thought of death pleafant to 
 us. But 'tis time that 1 draw towards a clofe 5 and 
 this I ihall do by only adding in the 
 
 2. Second place, That we have reafon from what 
 has been faid, to be feeking to GOD for the out-pouring 
 of his SPIRIT. 
 
 This is the defign of this day's folemnity ; nor will 
 any one object againft a thing fo reafonable as Jup 'plica- 
 tion to GOD for the gift of the HOLY GHOST. 
 
 This is a neceffary gift , that indeed without which 
 nothing elfe will be effectual to our having that tem- 
 per of mind formed in us, without which we fhall 
 never be qualified for an admifllon into the coming 
 and eternal kingdom of GOD, We may not be fuffi- 
 ciently apprehenfive of it, but 'tis a certain truth, 'tis 
 only by the SPIRIT of GOD, fin can be rooted out of 
 our hearts, and the difpofitions of holinefs implanted 
 there. No means, nor inftruments, will of themfelves 
 be able to effect this. It can be accomplifh'd by no 
 power, but that of the divine SPIRIT. And is it then 
 a needlefs thing to make our prayer to Gop for his 
 SPIRIT ? There is nothing we can go to him for, thar 
 is a matter of greater neceffity, 
 
 And 
 
A Sermon on the out-pou'n'ng of 
 
 And prayer upon this occafion is the more proper, 
 as it's the way we are direded to in the bible, iri 
 order to ouf obtaining the SPIRIT. Our SAVIOUR 
 has commanded tis to afk this gift of our heavenly 
 FATHER*: And GOD himfe'lf has faid, he will be in- 
 quired of by his people to beftow it upon themf. 
 
 And O wh.it encoura'ge merit have we to pray for 
 the holy SPIRIT! Our SAVIOUR promifed, before 
 he left the world, that his SPIRIT fhould abide with 
 his Chdrch for ever ; and has exprefsly declared, that 
 if we ajk [|, we Jhall receive ; if we feek, we Jk all find ; 
 if we knock) it Jhall be opened to us : Yea, he has con- 
 defcended to argue with us, to convince us of the rea- 
 dinefs of our hea 1 venly FATHER, to give us his holy 
 SPIRIT, if we fuitably feek to him herefor. If y^ 
 being evil, know bow to give good gifts unto your chil- 
 dren y how much more Jhall your heavenly FATHER 
 give the holy SPIRIT/*? them that ajk him ? We whd 
 are parents know the working of our bowels towards 
 our children : We feel tf ithin our felves, tho* we arc 
 evil and finful, a ftrong properifion to' hearkeri to theif 
 cry ; and if we are fometimes unable, We are never un- 
 -billing to beftow upon them thofe good things, they 
 afk of us, which we know are needful for them : And 
 fhall we fufpedt that gbodrtefs of our heavenly FA- 
 THER, in compare with which, the tender mercies of 
 men are cruelty ? Shall earthly, felfifli, finful parents 
 give good gilts to their children, and fhall not our 
 FATHER in heaven much more give his holy SPI- 
 RIT to them that alk him ? 'Tis unreafonable, 'tis 
 bife and ungrateful to harbour in our minds the lead 
 doubt or hefuation as to this matter. For he is GOD 
 and not man ; and therefore infinitely more kind and 
 "inerciful than the moft tender-hearted parents on earth* 
 
 Having 
 ii. 9. f Ezek, 36, 39. | Luk, n, 9, $ Luk. u, 13* 
 
HOLT GHOST. 41 
 
 Having therefore fuch ftrong encouragement, let us 
 proftrate before the throne of GOD, and pray to him 
 for the out-pouring of his S P i R i f\ 
 
 Let us pray, that he may be .poured -out upon the 
 Church of CrtR IST in general , that there may be W 
 revival of true primitive Chriftianity. Religion, it 
 may be, was never at a lower ebb, in the profefling 
 world, than at this day. 'Tis indeed, in general, not- 
 withftanding what GOD may be doing, in here ani 
 there a particular place^ in a fad, decayed, languifhing, 
 and almoft dead condition. To be fure, it is fo in 
 regard of the real power of Godlinefs, in the room of 
 which has been introduced, and taken place, meer 
 form and external appearance, a thoufand fuperftitions 
 and fopperies ; and what .is worfe than all, a fpirit of 
 tyranny, whereby thefe things have been bound upon 
 the consciences of men, to the eating out the very bow- 
 els of true vital Chriftianity : Yea, by far the greater 
 part of the nations, who call themfelves the people of 
 GOD, as profefling fubjedion to him through JESUS 
 CHRIST, have, in a dreadful degree, corrupted his 
 worfhip, and perverted his truths ; teaching for Doc- 
 trines, the commandments of men, and bowing the 
 knee to faints and angels together with CHRIST, and 
 making ufe of them as well as bint> for mediators and 
 mtercejfors : Nor may it be expected, they ihould ever 
 be in a better date, till GOD ihall work powerfully and 
 generally upon the hearts of men, by his holy SPI- 
 RIT. We have fucfr a paflage as that, * Until the 
 SPIRIT be poured upon us from on high^ and the wil- 
 dernefs be a fruitful field^ and the fruitful field be counted 
 for a for eft. You obferve, the pouring out of the SPI- 
 R i T, and the wildernefs becoming fruitful^ are connected 
 with each other. The Church of GOD will' never be 
 recovered out of that defolate, barren condition it is in* 
 
 F but 
 
 32, 
 
4& A Sermon on the out- pouring of 
 
 but by the plentiful effufion of the SPIRIT , and when! 
 e^er it fhall pleafe GOD thus to pour out his SPIRIT, 
 it fhall revive and flourifh, and be as the field which 
 the LORD hath blefied. This is what we Ihould pray 
 for -, and it fhould infpire our prayers with faith and 
 fervour, to confider the many promifes, which feem, 
 in their ultimate intention, to look forward to the toft 
 days-, fome of which, I have already mentioned t6 
 you; 
 
 Let us pray likewife for the pouring out of the SPH 
 R i T upon our nation : Nor did they ever Hand more 
 in need of prayer for this bleffmg, than at prefent. 
 There are, it is to be hoped, a good number ftill left, 
 of whom it may be faid, they are good men, and full of 
 faith and of the HOLY GHOST : But for the nation in 
 general, it never was, perhaps, in a more corrupt and 
 degenerate ftate, than at this day. The truths of GOD 
 were never more difowned ; the revelations of GOD 
 wsre never more difbslieved ; and the ways of GOD 
 were never more deferted, for the ways of fin which 
 lead to death and hell. The language, in which the 
 holy GOD addreft to his people Ifrael of old, may 
 pertinently be applied to them, * Hear, heavens ! 
 end give ear, O earth ! for the LORD hath fpoken : I 
 have nourijhed, and brought up children, and they have 
 rebelled againft me. Ah! finful nation, a people laden 
 with iniquity, a feed of evil doers ; they have forfaken the 
 LORD, they have provoked the holy one of Ifrael to an- 
 ger, they are gone backward. We cannot more pro- 
 perly exprefs our regards to them than by our prayers 
 to GOD, to pour out his SPIRIT on them, to their 
 effectual humiliation and repentance: And the more 
 fervent we are in our fupplications for this mercy, the 
 more fhall we difcover a true chriftian affection for 
 them. 
 
 Let 
 
 " Ife, , _2, 4. 
 
the HOLT GHOST. 
 
 Let us pray alfo, for the out- pouring of the SPIRIT 
 upon our land. There is room for prayer in this re- 
 fpect. A concern, I am fenfible, has been generally 
 awaken'd in the minds of people, in one place and ano- 
 ther : And it has, I truft, been of fpiritual advantage 
 to many ; who, it may be hopejj, have been either 
 fcwingly converted to GOD, or enlivened and quicker? d in 
 the work of religion, and their foul's everlafting falva- 
 tion. There are, I doubt not, a number in this land, 
 upon whom GOD has gracioufly Jhed the influences of 
 his bl.effed SPIRIT ; and we ought to be thankful for 
 what of the SPIRIT, we have reafon to hope there is 
 among us : But there is yet need of prayer ; and the 
 more fo, as fo many things have arifen among us, 
 which are a difhonour to GOD, and may have a ten- 
 dency greatly to gbftrudt the progrefs of real and fub- 
 ftantial religion. Alas ! what unchriftian heats and 
 animofities are there in many places, to the dividing 
 and breaking in pieces of churches and towns ? What 
 a fpirit of rafh, cenforious, uncharitable judging pre- 
 vails too generally all over the land ? What bitternefs 
 and wrath and clamour, what evil fpeaking, reviling 
 and flandering, are become common ; and among thole 
 too, who would be counted good chriftians? How 
 alienated are many minifters from each other, and how 
 inftrumental of hurting rather than promoting one ano- 
 ther's ufefulnefs ? What prejudices are there in the 
 minds of too many people againft the ftanding miniftry* 
 tho' perhaps as faithful a one as any part of the world 
 is favour'd with ? And how general is the difpofitiori 
 they difcover to flock after every weak and illiterate 
 EXHORT ER, to the contempt of their paftors, who 
 have fpent, it may be, the mod of their days, in faith- 
 ful fer vices for their fouls ? How heated are the ima- 
 ginations of a great many, and into what excefles do 
 they betray them f 
 
 .Thefo 
 
44 ^ Serwon on the out-pouring $f 
 
 Thefe and fuch like things, it is too evident to be 
 difowned, are grown too common, not in a fmgle 
 place only, but in moft places throughout the country. 
 How they may appear to fome others I know not^ 
 but to me, I confefs, they afford no. comfortable pro- 
 fpecl:. I can j t but think it is now a fpfyial feafon ,for 
 prayer. Let us unite in our cries to the GOD, who 
 
 dwelleth on high. Let us pray for. a general effu- 
 
 Jton of the SP i R i T upon the land \ and ,that he may 
 come down, not only as a Spirit of humiliation and 
 fanftification, but as a Spirit of wifdom, that* fo they 
 who are zealous may be prudently and knowingly fo ; 
 and they who are 'pious exemplarily fo, adorning the 
 doctrine of GOD their SAVIOUR in all things, and 
 cutting off occafion from them who might be glad of 
 occafion to fpeak evil of them. 
 
 In fine, Let us the people of GOD, who ufually 
 worfhip in this place, fray for the out-pouring of the 
 SPIRIT upon our felves more particularly. BlefTed 
 be GOD, we are not wholly without the influences of 
 his SPIRIT. Some, we truft, have had experience 
 of his operations on their fouls. The LORD increafe 
 the'r number! The LORD grant, that the SPIRIT 
 may fall from on high on the whole congregation ! 
 Let us pray that it may be fo ; that the HOLY 
 GHOST may be poured out^ both upon Pajiors and 
 people, upon high and low, rich and poor, male and 
 female, bond and free, old and young, to the revival 
 of the things which remain and are ready to die. 
 
 This is the bltfling we are come to afk of GOD. 
 O let us be importunate in our cries to Vim for it ! 
 Let us pray with an importunity that fhall pier9e 
 even heaven. 
 
 And let us not think it enough that we join together 
 in the public prayers of this day \ but let us go on, 
 with our prayers. Let us each one pray to GOD by; 
 our fclveS) and with our families z And Jet us pray, and 
 ce.ife not. AwJ 
 
the fJOLT GHOST. 4$ 
 
 And while we pray for the SPIRIT, let us beware of 
 every thing that may have a tendency to prevent his iiv 
 fluences being Ihed upon us. Let us be upon our guard 
 againft all fin, and thofe fins in fpecial, by which 
 GOD may be provok'^to withhold from us his blefTed 
 SPIRJT. Let us take heed, that we don't harbour 
 prejudices in our minds againft the SPIRIT, his office 
 and work upon the hearts of finners : And while we 
 are ready to, give to the divine SPIRIT the honour of 
 t'.ofe operations that are truly his, let us maintain a, 
 care that we don't reflecl: difgrace upon him by ma- 
 king him the author of thpfe things, which are unwor- 
 thy of him: The SPIRIT may be difhonoured both 
 thefe ways ; and perhaps he has been as much re- 
 proach'd by the latter as he has been flighted by the 
 former. 
 
 We mould alfo be diligent in our attendance on all 
 means , efpeciajly tbe word preached. Sabbaths muft be 
 
 obferved. GOD muft be waited on at his houfe \ 
 
 his worjhip regarded ; his word, in the miniftry of it, 
 attended to r GOD is often prefent by his SP i R i T , when 
 the word is difpenfed. We read in my text of many up - 
 on whom the HOLY GHOST fell, while they were 
 hearing the word. And 'tis obferved of the Galatians*. 
 that they received the SPIRIT by the heareng of faith. 
 i. e. the preaching of the word of faith > the GofpeKof 
 CHRIST. But then, you muft not think, that hearing 
 of Sermons is all that is neceffary. You muft fo hear 
 as to find time for meditation^ felf- examination, and. a 
 ferious felf- application. And you muft come to hear 
 without any previous biajs upon your minds, without 
 prepofTeffions and prejudices againft either the word^ 
 or the difpenfer of it. You muft come with mind$ 
 open to conviction, willing to receive the truth, as it 
 
 > is 
 
 * Chap. j. t 
 
46 d Sermon on the put-pouring, &c. 
 
 is in JESUS ; otherwife the beft preaching in the world 
 will be of no fervice to you. 
 
 In a word, you muft make it the great bufmefs of 
 your lives to obtain the influences of the holy SPIRIT. 
 This, you muft efteem, the main thing ; and here you 
 rnuft lay out your chief ftrength. This muft be your 
 continual care. You muft make it your main bufi- 
 nefs ; fubordinating your other affairs to this which is 
 of the greateft importance. 
 
 And if it (hall pieafe GOD to pour out bis SPIRIT 
 upon us, then (hall we remember from whence we are 
 fallen, and repent and do our firft works 5 then will 
 the work of religion profper among us, Tinners be awa- 
 ken'd, humbled and converted, and faints be quicken'd 
 and enlivened. Then (hall we flourifli like the palm- 
 tree, and grow like the cedar in Lebanon, and being 
 Elanted in the courts of our GOD, (hall bring forth 
 uit, even till old age, to (hew that the LORD is up- 
 right : Which GOD of his infinite mercy grant for the 
 fake of CHRIST JESUS, to whom be glory for evef 
 and ever. AMEN. 
 
 FINIS. 
 

\ 
 
 
 --V 
 
 1 '