464 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX.
own body on the tree," 1 Epist. ii. 24 ; is applied by Matthew unto the curing of diseases and sicknesses, Matt. viii. 16, 17. Now, this was for no other reason but because this healing of diseases was a sign and effect of his bearing our sins, the causes of them ; without a supposition Avhereof healing would have been a false witness unto men. It was, therefore, on these accounts, a sign unto believers also.
2. Because it had a peculiar goodness, relief, and benignity towards mankind in it, which other miraculous operations had not, at least not unto the same degree. Indeed, this was one great difference between the miraculous operations that were wrought under the old testament and those under the new, that the former generally consisted in dreadful and tremendous works, bringing astonishment and ofttimes ruin to mankind, but those others were generally use- ful and beneficial unto all. But this of healing had a peculiar evi- dence of love, kindness, compassion, benignity, and was suited greatly to affect the minds of men with regard and gratitude ; for long afflic- tive distempers or violent pains, such as were the diseases cured by this gift, do prepare the minds of men, and those concerned in them, greatly to value their deliverance. This, therefore, in an especial manner, declared and evidenced the goodness, love, and compassion of Him that was the author of this gospel, and gave this sign of healing spiritual diseases by healing of bodily distempers. And, doubtless, many who were made partakers of the benefit hereof were greatly affected with it ; — and that not only unto " walking, and leap- ing, and praising God," as the cripple did who was cured by Peter and John, Acts iii. 8 ; but also unto faith and boldness in profession, as it was with the blind man healed by our Saviour himself, John ix. 30-33, 38, etc. But yet no outward effects of themselves can work upon the hearts of men, so as that all who are made par- takers of them should be brought unto faith, thankfidness, and obedience. Hence did not only our Saviour himself observe, that of ten at once cleansed by him from their leprosy, but one returned to give glory to God, Luke xvii. 17; but he whom he cured of a disease that he had suffered under eight and thirty years, notwithstanding a solemn admonition given him by our blessed Saviour, turned in- former against him, and endeavoured to betray him unto the Jews, John v. 5-16. It is effectual grace alone which can change the heart ; without which it will continue obstinate and unbelieving, under not only the sight and consideration of the most miraculous outward operations, but also the participation in ourselves of the benefits and fruits of them. Men may have their bodies cured by miracles when their souls are not cured by grace.
3. It is thus placed distinctly by itself, and not cast under the common head of "miracles," because ordinarily there were some out-
CHAP. IV.] OF EXTRAORDINARY SPIRITUAL GIFTS. 465
ward means and tokens of it, that were to be made use of in the exercise of this gift. Such were, — (1 .) Imposition of hands. Our Saviour himself in healing of the sick did generally " lay his hands on them/' Matt. ix. 18; Luke iv. 40. And he gave the same order unto his disciples, that they should " lay their hands on those that were sick, and heal them;" which was practised by them ac- cordingly. (2.) Anointing with oil : " They anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them," Mark vi. 13. And the elders of the church, with whom this gift was continued, were to come to him that was sick, and praying over him, " anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord," and he should be saved, James v. 14, 15. Some do contend for the continuance of this ceremony, or the anointing of them that are sick by the elders of the church, but without ground or warrant: for although it be their duty to pray in a par- ticular manner for those that are sick of their flocks, and it be the duty of them who are sick, to call for them unto that purpose, yet the application of the outward ceremony being instituted, not as a means of an uncertain cure, as all are which work naturally unto that end, but as a pledge and token of a certain healing and reco- very, where there is not an infallible faith thereof, when the healing may not ensue, it is to turn an ordinance into a lie; for if a reco- very follow ten times on this anointing, if it once fall out otherwise, the institution is rendered a lie, a false testimony, and the other recoveries manifested to have had no dependence on the observation of it. For these reasons, I judge that this gift of healing, though belonging unto miraculous operations in general, is everywhere reckoned as a distinct gift by itself. And from that place of James I am apt to think that this gift was communicated in an especial manner unto the elders of churches, even that were ordinary and fixed, it being of so great use and such singular comfort unto them that were poor and persecuted; which was the condition of many churches and their members in those days.