This is flat and plain. Here is a fact positively averred: and a reason also assigned for it. Now do you take yourself to be a man of candor, I had almost said, of common honesty? My very words in the place referred to, are, “A visible church is a company of faithful people. This is the essence of it. And the _properties thereof_ are, That the pure word of God be preached therein, and the sacraments duly administered.”
7. Before I take my leave, I cannot but recommend to you that advice of a wise and good man,
“Be calm in arguing; for fierceness makes Error a fault, and truth discourtesy.”
I am grieved at your extreme warmth: You are in a thorough ill-humour from the very beginning of your book to the end. This cannot hurt _me_. But it may _yourself_. And it does not at all help your cause. If you denounce against me all the curses from _Genesis_ to the _Revelation_, they will not amount to one argument. I am willing (so far as I know myself) to be reproved either by you or any other. But whatever you do let it be done in love, in patience, in meekness of wisdom.
V. 1. With regard to the author of faith and salvation, abundance of objections have been made: It being a current opinion, that “Christians are not now to receive the Holy Ghost.”
Accordingly, whenever we speak of the Spirit of God, of his operations on the souls of men, of his _revealing_ unto us the things of God, or _inspiring_ us with good desires or tempers: whenever we mention the _feeling_ his mighty power, _working in us_, according to his good pleasure: The general answer we have to expect is, “This is rank _enthusiasm_. So it was with the apostles and first christians. But only _enthusiasts_ pretend to this now.”
Thus all the scriptures, abundance of which might be produced, are set aside at one stroke. And whoever cites them, as _belonging to all Christians_, is set down for an _enthusiast_.
The first tract I have seen, wrote expresly on this head, is remarkably intitled,
“The operations of the Holy Spirit _imperceptible_, and how men may _know_, when they are under the guidance and influence of the Spirit.”
You begin, “As we have some among us who pretend, to a more than ordinary guidance by the Spirit――(indeed I do not: I pretend to no other guidance, than is ordinarily given to all Christians) it may not be improper to discourse, on the operation of God’s Holy Spirit.”――――
“To this end be thou pleased, O gracious fountain of truth, to assist me with thy heavenly direction in speaking of thee.”
Alas, Sir, what need have you to speak any more? You have already granted all I desire, viz. That “we may _all now_ enjoy, and _know_ that we do enjoy, the heavenly direction of God’s Spirit.”
However, you go on, and observe that the _extraordinary gifts_ of the Holy Ghost, were granted to the first Christians only, but his _ordinary graces_ to all Christians in all ages: Both which you then attempt to enumerate: Only suspending your discourse a little, when “some conceited _enthusiasts_” come in your way.
2. You next enquire, “After what manner these graces are raised in our souls?” And answer, “How to distinguish these heavenly motions, from the natural operations of our minds, we have no light to discover. The scriptures――declaring that the operations of the Holy Spirit, are not subject to any sensible _feelings_ or perceptions. For what communication can there be between _feelings_, which are properties peculiar to matter, and the suggestions of the Spirit?――――All reasonable Christians believe, that he works his graces in us in an imperceptible manner; and that there is no sensible difference between his and the natural operations of our minds.”
I conceive this to be the strength of your cause. To support that conclusion, that the operations of the Spirit are imperceptible, you here alledge, 1. “That all reasonable Christians believe this.” So you say. But I want proof. 2. “That there can be no communications (I fear, you mistook the word) between the suggestions of the Spirit, and _feelings_ which are _properties peculiar_ to matter.” How! Are the _feelings_ now in question, _properties peculiar to matter_? The _feeling_ of peace, joy, love? Or any _feelings_ at all? I can no more understand the philosophy than the divinity of this. 3. “That the scriptures declare, the operations of the Spirit are not subject to any _sensible feelings_.” You are here disproving, as you suppose, a proposition of mine. But are you sure you understand it? By _feeling_, I mean, being inwardly conscious of. By _the operations of the Spirit_, I do not mean _the manner_ in which he operates, but _the graces_ which he operates in a Christian. Now be pleased to produce those Scriptures which declare, “That a Christian cannot _feel_ or _perceive these operations_.”