For the clearing of this, we proposed to speak-of the efficacy, and, of the necessity of this mean or cause to bring about the end.

We are yet upon the former of these heads, the efficacy of this effusion of the Spirit to work a very happy state of things in the church of God. We have shewn, what it is easily supposable the Spirit may do towards this purpose, both by way of mediate and of immediate influence; both in producing numerous conversions, and then high improvements of converts: and in reference to both have mentioned many scriptures, and might many more, to let you see, what we are taught and encouraged to expect.

We would now use some endeavour, for the facilitating of our belief concerning this matter, and to render it more easily apprehensible and familiar to our own thoughts; that it might not be looked upon as an impossible thing, or as altogether unlikely and improbable to be brought to pass. To this purpose let us consider,-what hath been done in like kind heretofore-in what way such a thing may be supposed to be brought about; by what steps, and in what method, and by the conspiracy and consent of what subordinate causes such a thing may be effected: and-how suitable and congruous every way it is to the blessed God to do such a thing.

First. We may a little help ourselves in this matter, by taking an estimate from what hath been, unto what may be. Much hath been done in the like kind heretofore. You know, how it was with the Christian church in its beginnings, in its very primordia, when the light of the gospel was but dawning upon the world. How great and unexpected were the changes, that were brought about then all on a sudden! Partly in our Lord's time; and more especially, when the Spirit was more eminently poured forth afterwards in the apostles' days! Insomuch that you find the matter represented by such expressions as these, concerning Christ himself in his own time; "Behold, the whole world is gone after him," John. 12. 19. So the anxious and vexed minds of the rulers amongst the people did suggest to them; "We have lost all, the whole world will be his proselytes at this rate." But especially when the Spirit came to be poured forth after his resurrection and ascension; by that same means, "not by might nor by power, but by Spirit," what strange things were done? and who would have expected such things to have been done then, that had lived at that time; if it should have been foretold, that twelve men should convert so great a part of the world? and with what amused, diffident spirits did they receive their own commissions

and instructions, when that strange thing was said to them, "Go you, and teach all nations?" Suppose twelve persons should be picked out from among us, and such a charge given them, "Go and proselyte the world unto serious religion!" Yet we know what was done. It is said in one place, Acts 19. 26. This Paul hath turned away much people; this one man: and in another, Acts 17. 6. Those that have turned the world upside down, are come hither also. Thousands were converted at a sermon, the sound of the gospel flying to the utmost ends of the earth. And this was but in pursuance of what Christ foretold should be done by his Spirit. These men did not levy armies to carry religion abroad into the world. When their hearts seemed to fail and sink within them, as despairing from the greatness of the enterprize, and the meanness of such agents as themselves were; they were only directed to stay and wait awhile, till they should receive power from on high. Acts 1.4, 8. And when at last it came, with what wonders did these men fill the world! Christ told them therefore, John 17. 7, &c. It is expedient for you, that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you: and when he is come, he will convince the world. We read it, "the Comforter." The word signifies, (and it would be more fitly unto that purpose read,) the advocate, or the pleader; so agaλntos more properly imports. "When that mighty Pleader comes; my Agent, that I intend shall negotiate my affairs for me (when I am gone,) against an infidel world; then let him alone, he shall deal with the world, as infidel and wicked as it is. 'He shall convince of sin, and righteousness, and judgment.' Whereas I have been reproached as a blasphemer, and a deceiver of the people, and one that hath designed only to set up for myself, and to acquire a name and reputation among men: he shall urge on my behalf the sin of the world in not believing in me; and my righteousness, both personal and imputable, capable of being applied unto others; and he shall urge efficaciously the business of judgment upon the usurping prince of this world, and dethrone him, and cast him down." And so it did succeed in very great part.

And how lively and vigorous was the religion of the primitive christians at that time, those first owners and professors of the Christian faith! how did heavenliness, spirituality, and the life and power that was from above, sparkle in their profession and conversation! That one might see them walking like so many pieces of immortality, dropped down from heaven, and tending thitherward; all full of God, and full of Christ, and full of heaven, and full of glory and this world was no

thing to them; trampled upon as a despicable, contemptible thing.

Now we may say with ourselves, Quicquid fieri potuit, potest: that which could have been done, and we see was done, may still be done. "Is the Spirit of the Lord straitened? Is his arm shortened?"

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Secondly. It would very much facilitate the belief of such a thing, at least the apprehension of it as very possible, to consider, in what easy and apt ways, and by how fit and suitable a method, such a work as this may be carried on. And it will be, I reckon, to good purpose to insist a little here for when the workings of any extraordinary divine power have been long withheld and restrained, (as was said,) the thoughts and apprehensions of such a thing is very much vanished out of the minds of men; and they expect generally as little from absolute omnipotency as from mere impotency, because their eyesight is usually the measure of their expectation. Therefore the more easy steps we may suppose to be taken in such a work, so much the more apprehensible the thing will be, and so much the more vivid the apprehension, and the deeper the impression upon our hearts; which is the great thing we should aim at in the hearing of any gospel-truth or doctrine whatso

ever.

Now it must be acknowledged, that a very great and extraordinary exertion of divine power, the power of the blessed Spirit, is necessary in this case. Such an extraordinary effort of absolute omnipotency there was at first to create the world: but when once it was created, there was a settlement of a certain law or course of nature, and a stating of all second causes in their proper stations and subordinations, in which the affairs of the world have ever since been carried on in an equal and very little varied course; which hath given atheists occasion to cavil, "All things are as they were from the beginning, even unto this day." This may assist us to apprehend, how things being once by so wonderful a hand put well onwards towards a good state, the course may be continued, and the great interest of religion improved more and more. Suppose it be somewhat proportionably in this new creation, the making new heavens and a new earth, as it was in the making of the world at first. There must once be an extraordinary effort of omnipotency or an almighty power: but that being once supposed, it is easily apprehensible, how many things may concur and fall in, what a conspiracy of inferior and subservient causes there may be, to promote and help on the reviving of religion. in the world. That extraordinary effusion of the Spirit therefore once supposed, we will go on to particulars that will be

easily supposable to succeed, and to be subservient and ministering causes in this work.

There will, first, be a great observation, no doubt, of whatsoever shall be at first done in this kind, for the recovery of religion in the world. It is a matter that will naturally draw observation. The course, wherein the interest and kingdom of God is ordinarily promoted in the world, is rather governed by that maxim; The kingdom of God cometh not with observation, Luke 17. 20. The affairs of it are carried on in a more still and calm and silent way. But when God does (as we must suppose him to do,) step out of his course in this case; no doubt that first effect, or the Spirit of God, when it comes to shake the spirits of men somewhat generally, and makes them bestir themselves; this cannot but be a very noted thing. If any considerable number in one such city as this should all on a sudden be struck, and a remarkable change be made upon them; if several notoriously debauched and dissolute persons should become very serious, sober, praying men ; some noted to be very great worldlings, that one could never hear any thing from but what savoured of earth or an earthly design, now become eminently godly, spiritual, heavenly in all their conversation: this would be very much observed and taken notice of, as somewhat a strange and new thing. And,

Upon such observation, secondly, the minds of men will be filled with wonder, and much amusement. "What a strange thing is this, that such a great number of people will not be as they have been, and do as they have done! Such as could drink and swear and rant with the rest of their dissolute neighbours, are now taken up all of a sudden, and do no such thing! We can hear them speaking of God and heaven and eternity, unto whom all thoughts of any such thing seemed perfect strangers!" Men will be very apt to be amused, when such a thing as this shall be.

That amusement and wonder, thirdly, will beget discourse about it from person to person. It will grow, as we may easily apprehend, into matter of talk, what changes appear in such and such.

Such discourse, fourthly, it is very supposable, may put many persons upon search and inquiry; first into the truth of the matter of fact, and then into the tendency of such a thing, whither it drives, what kind of change it is. Is it true, yea or no, that such things really are? and when once it comes to be found really true, that there are great numbers of persons upon whom there is a very eminent and remarkable turn and change, either to make debauched persons become religious, or such as were before religious to become more visibly serious and lively

and active in the business of religion; when it is found, I say, to be so, the matter itself, which such persons come to be changed to, naturally comes under inquiry: Whither do these persons tend? what do these impressions, that are now upon their minds, put them upon? and it is found, that they are urged by such impressions to mind God and the Redeemer of souls more, the concernments of eternity and another world; and to help all others to do so too, as much as in them lies. These things do very aptly succeed to one another. And so far the case was like this, in Acts 2. upon that first eminent effusion of the Spirit. The matter came to be noised abroad, (ver. 6.) and the multitude came together. And ver. 7. They were all amazed, and marvelled: very great amusement was upon the minds of men. Though it is true there was somewhat miraculous in the case, that is, the power of speaking variety of languages ail of a sudden; and we suspend any judgment for the present, about what we are to expect hereafter in the church of God of the same thing or of any thing of like kind. But to have so much, as is of ordinary and common concernment to souls, wrought and done, as hath been mentioned, somewhat generally; this cannot but infer much observation, much wonder and amusement of mind with others, much discourse and talk upon the subject, and thereupon inquiry both into the truth and tendency of the matter of fact.

Upon such inquiry, fifthly, we may suppose there will ensue approbation; that is, at least a judicious approbation, that shall go as far as the judgment and conscience, though it may not suddenly descend upon the heart and affections: we may promise ourselves that, such being the nature of religious concernments, and their high reasonableness so very apparent. What is it that these men drive at ? whither do these new impressions on their minds carry them? Why, only to mind the great Lord and Original and Author of all things! to give over living, as the most of men have heretofore done, in a total oblivion and neglect of their own original! How strange is it for men lately come into being, to live in this world and never think; How came we into being? how care there to be such a thing as man on earth? such a world as this? so various orders of creatures in it? All that religion tends to, when it comes to revive in the spirits of men, is but to engage them to look back to their own original, to consider whence they sprang; and what duty they owe there, what reverence and fear and love; and what expectations they may have from that great and eternal and all-comprehending Being, from whom the yand all things did proceed and whereas they find themselves in a lapse and apostacy with the rest of mankind, and have the dis