DISCOURSE XII.

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JAMES iii. 17.

The Wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of Mercy and good Fruits, without Partiality, and without Hypocrify.

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HE Gifts of the Holy Spirit are diftinguishable into two Kinds, being either extraordinary, and peculiar to fome Times and Perfons; and given, not for the Sanctification of the Men on whom they are bestowed, but for the Edification of the Church, which is the Body of Christ: Or they are common to all Times of the Gospel, and necessary to perfect the Man of God in every good Work; and therefore tendered to

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all, who undertake the Conditions of Chriftianity, according to the Promise of God made through Chrift Jesus. Of the first Sort were thofe wonderful Gifts bestowed on the Apostles, and firft Planters of Chriftianity, by which they were enabled to convey the Knowledge of the Salvation of God to Men of all Languages, and to convince the World by Signs, and Wonders, and mighty Works, of the Truth of their Miffion; and that the Word by them spoken was the Word of Life, proceeding from Him, whofe Power was made use of in Confirmation of it.

That the Gifts of this fort conveyed no fanctifying Grace to the Receiver, is evident from what St. Paul has taught us, 1 Cor. xiii. Though I speak with the Tongue of Men and of Angels, and have not Charity, I am become as founding Brass, or a tinkling Cymbal. Though I have the Gift of Prophecy, and understand all Myfteries, and all Knowledge, and though I have all Faith, so that I could remove Mouńtains, and have no Charity, I am nothing. The Suppofition here made, that the Exercise of these Gifts may confift with a want of Charity, i. e. with the want of the moral Qualifications of a Chriftian, warrants the Conclufion, That thefe Gifts do not convey

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the fanctifying Grace of the Gospel; and that they are given, not for the fake of the Receivers, but for the fake of others, who through their Ministry are to be converted to the Knowledge of the Truth. For this Reason they were given, and for fome Time continued in the Primitive Church, to make way for the Acknowledgment of Christ, and for the Conviction of Unbelievers ; and may be again renewed, whenever God shall think fit vifibly to interpofe in the farther Propagation of his Gospel in the heathen World.

It is manifeft then, that the Scripture ascribes to the Spirit of God a twofold Operation in the Work of the Gospel. The first is that already mentioned, and is the supplying and furnishing Motives of Credibility, and proper Means to establish the Doctrine and Faith. The fecond is that now to be confidered in explaining the Words of the Text, to wit, the affording Affiftance and Strength to all, who undertake the Conditions of the Gospel, to perform them, and to render a Service worthy of the Gofpel, and acceptable to our God and Saviour.

The Wisdom mentioned in the Text is defcribed to be the Wisdom that is from above, that is, which is given or communicated VOL. III.

from

from above. And in the first Chapter the Apostle instructs us how to obtain it: If any of you lack Wisdom, let him afk of God, that giveth to all Men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it fhall be given him: But let him afk in Faith. And foon after he fhews us upon what Grounds his Advice stands: Every good and every perfect Gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of Lights, with whom is no Variableness, neither Shadow of turning.

The Inftruction given, that we should ask this Wisdom in Faith; the Reàfon affigned to fupport this Faith, that with God is no Variableness, neither Shadow of turning; do fufficiently fhew, that the Wisdom which we are encouraged to afk for, is no other than the Grace promised under the Gospel: For the Declaration of God's Purpose to give this Wifdom, which is no where declared but in the Gospel, must be supposed, before the Immutability of his Purpofe can be álledged, as a Ground of Hope and Affurance to obtain the good Gift by the Prayer of Faith.

By the Word Wisdom then in the Text we muft understand the Grace of God promised in the Gospel, and confidered in Scripture as the ruling and governing Principle in

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