Miracles ensue in the fifth place: ''Evepyfi/iura duvd/j,tuv, — "Effec- tual working of mighty powers," or " powerful works." For the signi- fication of this word, here rendered "miracles," the reader may con- sult our Exposition on Heb. ii. 4. I shall not thence transcribe what is already declared, nor is any thing necessary to be added there- unto. Concerning this gift of miracles we have also spoken before in general, so that we shall not much farther here insist upon it; neither is it necessary that we should here treat of the nature, end, and use of miracles in general, which in part also hath been done before. Wherefore I shall only observe some few things as to the gift itself, and the use of it in the church ; which alone are our pre- sent concernment. And, —
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1, As we before observed, this gift did not consist in any inherent poiuer or faculty of the mind, so as that those who had received it should have an ability of their own to work or effect such miracles when and as they saw good. As this is disclaimed by the apostles, Acts iii. 12, so a supposition of it would overthrow the very nature of miracles: for a miracle is an immediate effect of divine power, ex- ceeding all created abilities; and what is not so, though it may be strange or wonderful, is no miracle. Only Jesus Christ had in his own person a power of working miracles when, and where, and how he pleased, because " God was with him/' or "the fulness of the God- head dwelt in him bodily."
2. Unto the working of every miracle in particular, there was apecu- liar act of faith required in them that wrought it. This is that faith which is called " the faith of miracles:" " Though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains," 1 Cor. xiii. 2. Now, this faith was not a strong fixing of the imagination that such a thing should be done, as some have blasphemously dreamed ; nor was it a faith resting merely on the promises of the word, making particular application of them unto times, seasons, and occasions, wherein it no way differs from the ordinary grace of faith ; — but this was the true nature of it, that as it was in general resolved into the promises of the word, and power of Christ declared therein, that such and such things should be wrought in general, so it had always a peculiar, immediate re- velation for its warranty and security in the working of any miracle. And without such an immediate revelation or divine impulse and impression, all attempts of miraculous operations are vain, and means only for Satan to insinuate his delusions by.
No man, therefore, could work any miracle, nor attempt in faith so to do, without an immediate revelation that divine power should be therein exerted, and put forth in its operation. Yet do I not sup- pose that it was necessary that this inspiration and revelation should in order of time precede the acting of this faith, though it did the operation of the miracle itself ; yea, the inspiration itself consisted in the elevation of faith to apprehend divine power in such a case for such an end, which the Holy Ghost granted not to any but when he designed so to work. Thus Paul at once acted faith, apprehended divine power, and at the same time struck Elymas the sorcerer blind by a miraculous operation, Acts xiii. 9-11. Being "filled with the Holy Ghost," verse 9, — that is, having received an impression and warranty from him, — he put forth that act of faith at whose presence the Holy Spirit would effect that miraculous operation which he believed. Wherefore this was the nature of this gift: Some persons were by the Holy Ghost endowed with that especial faith which was prepared to receive impressions and intimations of his putting forth his power in this or that miraculous operation. Those who had this
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faith could not work miracles when, and where, and how they pleased ; only they could infallibly signify what the Holy Ghost would do, and so were the outward instruments of the execution of his power.
3. Although the apostles had all gifts of the Spirit in an eminent degree and manner, above all others, as Paul saith, " I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all," yet it appears that there were some other persons distinct from them who had this gift of working miracles in a peculiar manner; for it is not only here reckoned as a peculiar, distinct gift of the Holy Ghost, but also the persons who had received it are reckoned as distinct from the apostles and other officers of the church, 1 Cor. xii. 28, 29. Not that I think this gift did constitute them officers in the church, en- abling them to exercise power in gospel administrations therein ; only they were brethren of the church, made eminent by a participation of this gift, for the end whereunto it was ordained. By these per- sons' ministry did the Holy Spirit, on such occasions as seemed meet to his infinite wisdom, effect miraculous operations, besides what was done in the same kind by the apostles and evangelists all the world over.