still earnestly coveting those gifts which God has long since seen fit to withdraw. But let us take another authority, about an hundred and fifty years later than the above, to ascertain whether these same opinions still kept their ground in the Church of God. We find then Isidore of Seville speaking thus at the latter end of the sixth century:-" The reason why the Church does not now do the miracles it did under the apostles, is because miracles were necessary then to convince the world of the truth of Christianity; but now it becomes it, being so convinced, to shine forth in good works. Whoever seeks to perform miracles now as a believer, seeks after vain glory and human applause. For it is written, Tongues are a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not.' Observe, a tongue is not necessary for believers who have already received the faith, but for unbelievers, that they may be converted. For Paul miraculously cured the father of Publius of a fever, for the benefit of unbelievers but he restores believing Timothy, when ill, not by prayer, but by medicine, so that you may clearly perceive that miracles were wrought for unbelievers and not for believers.”* We might thus proceed throughout all the different generations of the people of God, and bring from the writings of the holiest and the most faithful of them, similar testimonies to the view which we have endeavoured to take of the cessation of gifts in the Church of God. But it is unnecessary. Sufficient has, we trust, been Isid. Hispal. Sententiarum, lib. i. c. 27. Ed. Col. Agripp. 1617, p. 424. To bring one more testimony from a writer of a very different age of the Church, but surpassed by few of any age in piety and true holiness :-66 Why did not Christ continue this communication of the Holy Ghost to his Church still, seeing our unbelief is strong, and we have still need of such help as well as they? Answer. We have the full use and benefit Band 1001 this point a carvince the unprejudiced and candid ingrer; with respect to others, prayer may, and we trust 12 # 1 guman is hopeless; for where we find one person who is already established in an coition, driven out of His imaginary stronghold by argument, we find many who are only confirmed, the more decidedly and rooted the more hopelessly. Intending to defer the conclusion of this important subject to the next season of addressing you, I would only add, as a caution rendered needful by the natural tendency of the human mind, Be watchful the Holy Ghost which was given them, that seal that was then set to the Christian doctrine and Scriptures stands there still. When Christ hath fully proved to the world the truth of his relationship, office, and doctrine, must he still continue the same nctions? Is it not enough, that he sealed it up once, but must he set a new seal for every man that requireth it in every age?"-The Spirit's Witness to the Truth of Christianity; Richard Baxter's Practheal Works, vol. xx. p. 21. Edit. 1833. over yourselves with a godly jealousy, in thinking and speaking of those who have been led astray, by what we cannot hesitate to call a spirit of delusion, “deceiving and being deceived."* Remember, that many among them are, doubtless, also among "God's dear children;"† despise them not, therefore, neither be bitter against them; but while you abjure their errors, and separate yourselves, as you are bound to do, both privately and publicly, from their teaching, not suffering yourselves, even from motives of curiosity, to wander within the sound of such dangerous delusions, continue to love and to pray for them, that the veil may be taken away from their hearts, and that, in the expressive language of Scripture, they may again "come to themselves." Remember, also, that while you plainly see the error into which they have fallen, by seeking 1 for, y £? not, and men be a Christian: ie is the my van wiich authenticates the child WA, that he has the impress of the mays of God, by being partaker of the Spirit of God. § Vor the enjoyment of this promise, faith ufficient is always to be obtained; if you feed the want of it, "seek, and you shall ," "ask, and you shall have." * Cor. 1. 22. v. 5. † 1 Cor. xii. 3. § Rom. viii. 9. The |