“But those words relate only to a miraculous gift:
“Therefore these relate to the same.”
I conceive, it will not be very easy to make good the consequence in the first proposition. But I deny the minor also: the contradictory whereto, I trust, has appeared to be true.
I grant indeed, that these words were more eminently fulfilled, in the age of the apostles. But this is altogether consistent with their belonging in a lower sense, to all Christians in all ages: Seeing they have all need of an unction from the Holy One, a supernatural assistance from the Holy Ghost, that they may know in the due use of all proper means, all things needful for their souls health. Therefore it is no enthusiasm, to teach that the unction from the Holy One, belongs to all Christians in all ages.
15. There is one topic of your lordship’s yet untouched; that is authority: One you have very frequently made use of, and wherein, probably, the generality of readers suppose your lordship’s great strength lies. And indeed when your lordship first mentioned, (page 11.) “The general sense of the primitive church,” I presumed you would have produced so numerous authorities, that I should not easily be able to consult them all. But I soon found my mistake; your lordship naming only Chrysostom, Jerome, Origen, and Athanasius.
However, though these four can no more be termed the primitive church, than the church universal, yet I consent to abide by their suffrage. Nay, I will go a step farther still. If any two of these affirm, that those seven texts belong only to the apostolical age, and not to the Christians of succeeding times, I will give up the whole cause.
But let it be observed: If they should affirm, that these primarily belong to the [♦]Christians of the apostolical age, that does not prove the point, because they may in a secondary sense belong to others notwithstanding: Nor does any of them speak home to the question, unless he maintain in express terms, that these texts refer only to the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, and not at all to the state of ordinary Christians.
[♦] “Christans” replaced with “Christians”
16. Concerning those three texts, John xiv. verse 16. and the 26. and John xvi. verse 13. “I could easily add (says your lordship,[¹]) the authorities of Chrysostom and the other antient commentators.” St. Chrysostom’s authority I will consider now, and that of the others, when they are produced.
[¹] Page 15.