CXCVII.

That which feems to have given occafion to this SER M. Yerror, was, that they could not understand how any man should at the fame time speak divers languages: but there is no ground at all to fuppofe fo; because it is not faid, that any of the apoftles did at the fame time speak several languages, (which is impoffible) but that the apostles fpake feveral languages, fo that the several nations then present heard fome or other of the apostles speaking in their own language. So that to trouble ourselves no farther about this idle conceit, the miracle was not, that every one of the apostles did fpeak feveral languages at the fame time; but that they all spake on a sudden languages which they had never learned before; fo that the people of feveral nations, that were then prefent, did then hear fome or other of the apostles speaking to them in their own language.

Having thus explained the feveral expreffions and paffages in the text,

I come now to speak to the main argument contained in them, viz. this miraculous gift which was conferred on the apoftles, of speaking all on the fudden the languages of all nations, with whom they had occafion to converfe, though they had never learned them before.

And in the handling of this argument, these following particulars will be fit to be confidered, and inquired into by us.

First, the strangeness of this gift or miracle.

Secondly, the clear evidence of this miracle, that it was real, and that there was no manner of imposture or deceit in it, nor could there be any fufpicion of it.

SERM.

Thirdly, the wonderful effect of it immediately,

CXCVII and upon the fpot, upon the very day, and in the place where it was first wrought.

Fourthly, the great neceffity and usefulness of it.

Fifthly, the reason why it was the first of all the miraculous gifts, and fo vifibly conferred upon the apostles, before any of the rest,

Sixthly and lastly, I fhall inquire, whether there be any neceffity now, and confequently any probability of the renewing of this miracle, in order to the converfion of the infidel world, and those many and great nations in the remoter parts of the world, which do still continue ftrangers and enemies to the christian religion.

First, the ftrangeness of this gift or miracle. It was of that nature, that the like was never known in the world, neither before nor fince the first ages of christianity, upon any occafion whatsoever; nor can we well imagine any other fort of miracle that could probably affect men more, and ftrike them with greater wonder and admiration, and have been a more fenfible demonftration of a divine power and prefence accompanying the apostles, than to fee and hear them all on the fudden perfectly to speak fo many languages, which they had never learned before.

Especially if all the circumftances of the thing be duly weighed and confidered; that they who pretended to be endowed with this gift, were not strangers newly arrived and come to Jerufalem, who before they came thither might poffibly by great study and pains have attained to the knowledge and skill of feveral languages, (each of them fuppofe two languages apiece) and have craftily combined together to impofe upon the world, by the pretence and oftentation

of

of such a miracle: but these persons were known to SERM. all that dwelt in Jerufalem, and had for a long time CXCVII. been taken notice of, as the difciples and followers of JESUS, who was lately crucified among them; their education was known, and the meannefs of their condition, that they were fimple and illiterate perfons, who never had the advantage or opportunity of attaining to this skill in an ordinary way; and therefore it must be concluded to have been an extraordinary and fupernatural gift.

Besides, that this miracle was very publickly wrought, and the noise of it in a few hours drew together the ftrangers of several nations, who being become profelytes of the Jewish religion, dwelt at Jerufalem; thefe all coming together, upon the noise and fame of this miracle, found it to be true, and as appears from the history, were fo well fatisfied of the reality of it, that a very great number, upon the occafion of it, and upon that very day, became profelytes to the christian religion, and joined themselves to the apoftles and their followers, (who were then but few in number) and were presently admitted into the chriftian church by baptifm, the ufual ceremony of admitting profelytes among the Jews. This was a prefent and great effect, and is a great evidence and confirmation of the truth and reality of the thing: but this I shall have occasion to speak more fully to, when I come to the fifth particular which I proposed.

I add farther, that our SAVIOUR feems to have reckoned this as one of the greatest of miracles, and therefore to have referved it, for an instance and demonstration of the glorious power which he was invefted withal, after his ascension into heaven; as may very probably be collected from that declaration, and

SER M. promise which he made to his apoftles, a little before CXCVII. his departure from them, John xiv. 12. "Verily, verily, I fay unto you, he that believeth on me, "the works that I do fhall he do alfo, and greater "works than thefe fhall he do, because I go unto "my FATHER," that is, in order to the fending of the HOLY GHOST," to endow them with proper "from on high," to qualify them for the publishing of the gospel, which they were forbidden to enter upon till this promife was made good to them. But what were these "greater works," which he here promiseth to enable them to do, after he was " gone "to his FATHER?" for he exprefly promifeth, that they should not only do "the works which he had "done, but greater works than thofe :" and what could thefe be? Our SAVIOUR had wrought many and great miracles almost in all kinds imaginable; he had cast out devils, and healed all forts of infirmities and diseases; he had changed nature, by turning water into wine, and had ftopp'd the course of it, by ftilling the winds and the fea by his word; and he had raised the dead; and now what work could that be which was greater" than any of these? Even that which I am speaking of, the miraculous power of speaking all languages, without learning them; a thing never heard of in the world before. And this was the first fenfible effect of the coming of the HOLY GHOST upon them, the first miraculous power with which he endowed his apoftles, after he was afcended into heaven, and gone to his FATHER; an evident teftimony of the glory and power which he was invefted withal, after he was taken up into heaven, and fat down at the right hand of God, to fignify both the honour and power which was conferr'd

conferr❜d upon him, in that he enabled his apoftles, SERM, when he was absent from them, to do that, which CXCVII. whilst he was present with thein, he had never enabled them to do, nor ever did himself; all which tends to advance this miracle, and to fhew the greatness and ftrangeness of it above any other. And unless we fix it upon this miracle, it will be hard, if not impoffible, to give a good account of the accomplishing of that folemn promise of our SAVIOUR to his difciples, after he should be gone to his FATHER, that is, after his ascension into heaven;" verily, verily, I fay "unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that "I do fhall he do alfo, and greater works than these "fhall he do, because I go unto my FATHER." Now what miraculous work can be instanced in, that was done by the apoftles, and was "greater" than any our SAVIOUR did, when he was upon earth, but this only of speaking all languages on the fudden, without ever having learned them? which confideration alone does confirm me past all doubt, that our SAVIOUR in this promise meant the miraculous gift of tongues, which was the first gift that was conferred upon them, after he was ascended into heaven, and gone to his FATHER. I proceed,

Secondly, to confider the clear evidence of this miracle, that it was real, and that there could be no fufpicion of any manner of impofture and deceit in it.

It was publickly wrought before many witnesses, and those the most competent of all other, because they were highly prejudiced against the apostles, and great enemies to them, as being the difciples of him whom they had fo lately crucified as an impoftor. They gave clear proof of this miraculous power in the prefence of great multitudes of feveral nations,

who