| 18 with propriety, be said, that it is the will and testament of our lord; and has for its object the universal salvation of mankind, but especially them that believe; and therefore, not only the generations which are past, but also the present and the future are particularly interested. Now we know that a will and testament takes effect after the testator's death, and continues in force unto the completion of the object for which it was made. But another very important characteristic belonging to such an instrument is, that it never changes; but its offices and provisions remain unalterably the same.
Now if we refer to the commission of the apostles, we will discover what some of the provisions in the will of Christ were; and in the first place we will find that they were chosen officers to preach the gospel; to establish churches, being endued with the spirit of prophecy; and power to work miracles; and, in a word, were in every respect duly authorized to execute this will. And in the second place we see that no one, even of the whole human family were excluded, for they were to go into all the world, to both Jew and Gentile, and preach the same gospel to every creature. And after this remarkable declaration, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned," (at the end of which modern divines always stop when they quote the commission) we find the following appended promises to those that believe: "And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." Mark xvi chapter:-Here, it will be observed, the various gifts were promised, not to the apostles only, but to all mankind indiscriminately, as a consequence following the belief of the gospel and obedience to its requirements. Now it is very evident that these promises are inseparably connected with, and are a part of the foregoing commission and proclamation. They are also inseparably ingrafted [engrafted] , in bold relief, into the gospel plan as cause and effect; and are equally indivisible. There can no other reading be given this passage without a flagrant violation of language, and, in a word, a perversion of the gospel. The result is conclusive, that wherever the one is preached and believed, the other must follow.
This doctrine is fully sustained by the apostle Peter in the second chapter of the "Acts," in quoting the prophet Joel, and by his application of the prophecy, and his advice as to what they should do who were pricked in their hearts. "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon them, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues." And when some accused them of being filled with new wine, Peter stood up among them, and denying the charge of drunkenness, continued; "But this is that which is spoken by the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, (saith God) I will pour out of my my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out, in those days of my spirit; and they shall prophesy," &c.
Now what do we gather from what has just been quoted? Why, that those who are to preach the gospel, must first be inspired by the Holy Ghost; and that the effect of the spirit as manifested on that occasion, was not confined to the apostles, but to be indiscriminately conferred upon the sons and daughters in the last days, if they obeyed the gospel, as is shown in the 38th and 39th verses. When many were pricked in their hearts and asked the apostles what ihey [they] should do? "Then Peter said unto them, repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost; for the promise is unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."
That these and other gifts were prevalent in the early church, is shown in too many instances in the New Testament, to admit of a doubt: and that they should exist at the present day wherever the whole gospel is preached, has already been shown; unless we have already advanced beyond the last days; or, according to the celebrated Doctor Watts, have been removed beyond the bounds of time and space." but Peter says the promise is to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Yet, notwithstanding these plain declarations, nothing is more common than to hear divines gravely declare, that they are the chosen of the Lord to proclaim the glad tidings of the gospel; which they tell us is the same that it ever was; admonishing us to believe and be baptized, that we may be saved; for he that believeth not shall be damned:-But instead of encouraging
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