as appears, was bestowed without Distinction upon all who believed, and were baptized.

THE Power of fpeaking with Tongues, as is abovefaid, was given to all Believers; which appears to be in Scripture one conftant and infeparable Mark of having received the Holy Ghoft.

IN Acts the iid. v. 4. The Holy Ghoft fell on the Apostles, and they spake with Tongues. In Acts x. v. 44, 45. While Peter Spoke, the Holy Ghoft fell on all who heard the Word, and the Jews were astonished when they heard the Gen tiles Speak with Tongues. Chap. xix. v. 6. Paul Jays his Hands on certain Difciples, and the Ho ly Ghoft came on them, and they spake with Tongues, and prophefied. Acts the xith. v. 15, 16, 17. Peter, juftifying himself to the Jews, for preaching to the Gentiles, fays, And as I be gan to fpeak, the Holy Ghoft fell on them as on us at the Beginning. Then remembered I the Word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with Water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghoft: Forafmuch therefore as God gave them (namely those who believed) the like Gift as he did to us, who be lieved in the Lord Jefus Chrift, what was 1, that I should withstand God? So that here, from the Mouth of Peter himself we have it,

that

that the Gentiles who believed, had the fame. Gift as the Apostles. Chap. viii. v. 14, 17. When the Apostles at Jerufalem had heard, that the Samaritans had received the Word, they fent to them Peter and John, who laid Hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghoft, which they had not received before, though they were baptized by Philip. In chap. ii. v. 38. Peter fays to them of Ifrael, Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jefus Christ, for the Remiffion of Sins, and ye shall receive the Holy Ghoft; and v. 41. They gladly received the Word, and the fame Day were added to them about Three thousand Souls, who must havé all consequently received the Holy Ghoft. Chap. xv. v: 8, 9. Paul, fpeaking of the Gentiles, fays, God, which knoweth the Hearts, bare them Witnefs, giving them the Holy Ghoft, even as he did unto us, and put no Difference between them and us, purifying their Hearts by Faith.

THEREFORE it appears plain to me, that all who believed, especially by the Apoftles Ministration, received the Holy Ghoft, and could do Miracles; and confequently, the Perfons aforesaid, by whatever Names they are called, were not defigned to be an Order of Men distinct from other Chriftians, with differ

ent

ent Powers and Privileges. They undertook a Burden, not a Command. They were better and poorer than other People, not their Lords and Mafters; nor is there a Word in Scripture, whereby we can guess, that they were intended to be Succeffors to the Apostles; much lefs that the Succefforfhip was to continue to the End of the World; and it is evident in Fact, that there were no fuch appointed, because the Power of giving the Holy Ghost, and, in Confequence, of doing Miracles, foon ceafed in the Church.

WITH this View let us now examine the Acts and Epiftles, and fee what there is which contradicts it.

ACTS xiv. v. 23: Paul and Barnabas or dained Elders in every City; and chap. xx. v: 17. Paul calls the Elders of the Church of Ephefus together; and v. 28. tells them their Duty; Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all ́ the Flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overfeers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own Blood Here luckily the Word Epifcopos is tranflated Overfeer, and not Bishop, because it is explained in the Text to import no more, than to feed the Church of God, that is, to affift them, to preach to them, to exhort them, to

advise them, and to give them good Examples; but all this implies no Jurifdiction, nor had the Apoftles any to give.

I THESSALONIANS, chap. v. v. 12. And ́ we beseech you, Brethren, to know them which labour amongst you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you. Here Paul, with all Humility, intreats the Theffalonians, that they will know, that is, take Notice of, and hearken to, thofe who labour for their fakes, who watch over them, and admonish them to mend their Lives.

EPHESIANS, chap. iv. v. 7, 11. Unto every one is given Grace, according to the Measure of the Gift of Chrift; and he gave fome Apostles; and fome Prophets; and fome Evangelists; and fome Paftors and Teachers; and in the next Verse tells for what, namely, for the perfecting the Saints, (that is, all the Faithful) for the Work of the Ministry, and for the edifying the Body of Chrift.

ROMANS, chap. x. v. 14, 15. How then fball they call upon him, in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard? And how fhall they bear without a Preacher? And how shall they preach, unless they be fent? This relates plainly to the teaching of the Apostles, who were fent

to

to preach the Gospel to the unconverted World, that otherwife could have known nothing of it; and poffibly, in a larger Sense, may be extended to all Chriftians, who had the Power as well as the Means to preach it, and confequently might be faid to be sent to do it: But I fhould be glad to know, by what Skill in Chymistry it has been discovered, or how it came to be gueffed, that the Clergy of the many Nations in Europe, as by Law feverally established, were the Perfons meant; or if only one Sort of them, which that is; when 'tis plain, that they have. no other Means of knowing Chrift than the Laity have, and for the most part can tell them no more than they knew before.

HEBREWS, chap. xiii. v. 7. Remember them which have the Rule over you, who have spoken unto you the Word of God, whofe Faith follow, confidering the End of their Converfation: And v. 17. Obey, by others tranflated, Be perfuaded by, them that have the Rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your Souls, as those who must give Account. Here, it seems, the Editors of our English Bible do not think fit to ftand to their Translations; for in the Margin, against the Words Rule over you, in both Verses they have inferted the Word Guides,