462 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX.
the account of its profession, many, even true believers, are very- ready to faint and despond, and some to draw back, at least for a season, as others do utterly, to the perdition of their souls. In this state the eminent usefulness of this gift of boldness in the faith, of an assured confidence in profession, of an especial faith, to go through troubles and trials, is known unto all. Ofttimes the eminence of it in one single person hath been the means to preserve a whole church from coldness, backsliding, or sinful compliances with the world. And where God stirreth up any one unto some great or singular work in his church, he constantly endows them with this gift of faith. So was it with Luther, whose undaunted courage and resolu- tion in profession, or boldness in the faith, was one of the principal means of succeeding his great undertaking. And there is no more certain sign of churches being forsaken of Christ in a time of trial than if this gift be withheld from them, and pusillanimity, fearful- ness, with carnal wisdom, do spring up in the room of it. The work and effects of this faith are expressed, 1 Cor. xvi. 13, " Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." So also Eph. vi. 10; 2 Tim. ii. 1. And the especial way whereby it may be attained or improved, is by a diligent, carefid discharge, at all times, of all the duties of the places we hold in the church, 1 Pet. v. 1-4.
The gifts of healing are nextly mentioned: Xapicfiara ia/jb&ruv, — " To another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit." So they are again expressed, 1 Cor. xii. 28, in the plural number, because of their free communication unto many persons. These healings respected those that were sick, in their sudden and miraculous recovery from long or deadly distempers, by the imposition of hands in the name of the Lord Jesus. And as many of the " mighty works" of Christ himself, for the reasons that shall be mentioned, consisted in these " healings," so it was one of the first things which he gave in commis- sion to his apostles, and furnished them with power for, whilst they attended on him in his personal ministry, Matt. x. 1. So also did he to the seventy, making it the principal sign of the approach of the kingdom of God, Luke x. 9. And the same power and virtue he promised to believers, — namely, that they should "lay hands on the sick and recover them," after his ascension. Of the accomplishment of this promise and the exercise of this power, the story of the Acts of the Apostles giveth us many instances, chap. iii. 7, v. 15, ix. 33, 34. And two things are observed singular in the exercise of this gift : as, first, that many were cured by the shadow of Peter as he passed by, chap. v. 15; and again, many were so by handkerchiefs or aprons carried from the body of Paul, chap. xix. 12. And the reason of these extraordinary operations in extraordinary cases seems to have been, the encouragement of that great faith which was then stirred
CHAP. IV.] OF EXTRAORDINARY SPIRITUAL GIFTS. 463
up in them that beheld those miraculous operations; which was of singular advantage unto the propagation of the gospel, as the magical superstition of the Roman church, sundry ways endeavouring to imitate these inimitable actings of sovereign divine power, hath been a dishonour to Christian religion.
But whereas these " healings" were miraculous operations, it may be inquired why the gift of them is constantly distinguished from " miracles," and placed as a distinct effect of the Holy Ghost by it- self; for that so it is, is evident both in the commission of Christ granting this power unto his disciples, and in the annumeration of these gifts in this and other places. I answer, this seems to be done on a threefold account: 1. Because miracles absolutely were a sign unto them that believed not, as the apostle speaketh of "tongues;" they were " a sign, not unto them that believed, but unto them that be- lieved not," 1 Cor. xiv. 22, — that is, they served for their conviction : but this work of healing was a sign unto believers themselves, and that on a double account; for, — (1.) The pouring out of this gift of the Holy Ghost was a peculiar sign and token of the coming of the kingdom of God. So saith our Saviour to his disciples, " Heal the sick, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you," Luke x. 9; this gift of healing being a token and pledge thereof. This sign did our Saviour give of it himself when John sent his disciples unto him to inquire, for their own satisfaction, not his, whether he were the Messiah or no : Matt. xi. 4, 5, "Go," saith he, "and show John again those things which ye do hear and see : the blind re- ceive their sight, and the lame walk, and the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them;" which was the evidence of his own being the Messiah, and bringing in the kingdom of God. The Jews have an ancient tradition, that in the days of the Messiah all things shall be healed but the serpent. And there is a truth in what they say, although for their parts they understand it not ; for all are healed by Christ but the serpent and his seed, — the wicked, unbelieving world. And hereof, — namely, of the healing and recovery of all things by Christ, — was this gift a sign unto the church. Wherefore he began his ministry, after his first miracle, with " healing all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease among the people," Matt. iv. 23-25. (2.) It was a sign that Christ had borne and taken away sin, which was the cause, root, and spring of diseases and sicknesses ; without which no one could have been miraculously cured. Hence that place of Isaiah, chap. liii. 4, " Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows;" which is afterward interpreted by being " wounded for our transgressions," and being " bruised for our ini- quities," verse 5 ; as also by Peter, by his " bearing our sins in his