SER M. the miracle certain, unquestionable and XI. manifeft; and accordingly the Effect of

it, was proportionably great. For so we read, As ii. ver. 41. that the fame day, there were converted about three thousand Souls. This was the immediate Effect of the gift of Tongues at that very Time ; and the Ufefulness of it afterwards, was peculiar and more remarkable, than of all other Miracles whatsoever. For this enabled the Apostles to preach the Gospel to all Nations, with fuch fpeed and incredible success, that though men of other Religions endeavoured to make Converts as well they, and fome Sects of the Jews particularly were infinitely industrious and would compass Sea and Land to gain a Profelyte; yet the Preaching of the Apostles, like the day Spring from on high, like the morning-light, which in a moment difpels the darkness from under one end of Heaven to the other, propagated the Gofpel in a very few years to a vaftly larger extent, than ever any other religion was propagated in the compass of many Ages. This gift of Tongues

ceafed

XI. n

ceafed indeed after fome time, as other S ER M. Miracles did; because all these fort of gifts were beftowed not for their own fake or intrinsick worth, but only in order to the propagation of the Gospel, and to convince men of the Truth of that Religion, whose principal end and defign confifted in those gifts and graces of the Spirit which were to continue for ever. Which end being once obtained, and the Gospel established in the World, these miraculous gifts ceased; having been given, as St Paul expreffes it, not for them that believe, but for them that believe not. But thofe gifts of the Spirit, in which confifts the renewal of the mind of man, and which are the Springs of all virtues which make us like unto God; these are to continue through all Ages; and are so much. more excellent and more defirable than the former, as the End is better and more excellent than the Means. In our Saviour's and in the Apoftle's time, it was very natural to the Weaknefs of Men, to be most ambitious of fuch gifts, as made the greatest appearance, and could not but

SER M. gain the greatest esteem and applause in XI. the eyes of the World: But our Saviour himself cautioned his Disciples, not to rejoice fo much at their being indued with a power of working Miracles, as at their Names being written in Heaven: And St Paul afterwards took great pains to convince his hearers, that though it was indeed lawful to covet miraculous gifts, yet he could still show unto them a more excellent way; that it was a greater and far more defirable thing, to inftru&t men in their plain and neceffary duty, than to work the most ftupendous miracle; and that Love and Goodness, Righteousness and Holiness, Meekness and Charity, were things more excellent and valuable in themselves, than to be able to speak with all the Tongues, either of Men or Angels. The reafon is plain, because the one is beneficial only to Others, but the other to ourfelves likewife; He that works a Miracle or fpeaks with Tongues to convince another, may yet poffibly himself have no title to the rewards of the Gospel; but He that is indued with those gifts which

are

are the end and defign of the Gospel, S ER M. and for the fake only of which all the XI. reft were given, does thereby fecure his own Salvation, as well as promote the Salvation of others. Let us then by Charity and Goodness and the practise of all virtues fecure to ourselves that which is most excellent; and then though the gifts of Miracles, be not continued to us, yet we fhall obtain the End for which alone those gifts have ever been given to Others. For, he that speaks with Tongues for the converfion of others, may (without the Virtues of Meekness and Humility, Love and Charity,) himself poffibly become a Caft-away : But he whofe Mind is indued with those inward Virtues, which are the more excellent gifts and fruits of the Spirit, has attained that End, for the promoting of which, the other outwardly brighter and more refplendent Gifts, were all intended but as Means.

SERMON