21. The sixth scripture which your Lordship has undertaken to shew, “relates only to the apostolical times,” is 1 Corinthians ii. 4, 5. And “this interpretation also, (it is said) is confirmed by the authority of Chrysostom, Origen, and other ancient writers.” (page 33) With those other “antient writers” I have no concern yet. St. Chrysostom so far confirms this interpretation, as to explain that whole phrase the demonstration of the spirit and of power, of “the power of the Spirit shewn by miracles.” But he says not one word, of any “proof of the Christian religion, arising from the types and prophecies of the old Testament.”
Origen has these words (Volume I. page 321.)
“Our word has a certain peculiar demonstration, more divine than the Grecian, logical demonstration. This the apostle terms, The demonstration of the Spirit and of power: of the Spirit because of the prophecies, sufficient to convince any one, especially of the things that relate to Christ; of power, because of the miraculous powers, some footsteps of which still remain.”
Hence we may doubtless infer, [♦]that Origen judged this text to relate, in its primary sense to the apostles: but can we thence infer, that he did not judge it to belong, in a lower sense, to all true ministers of Christ?
[♦] “thas” replaced with “that”
Let us hear him speaking for himself in the same treatise (page 377.)
“And my speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. *Those who hear the word preached with power, are themselves filled with power,” (N. B. Not the power of working miracles) which they demonstrate both in their disposition, and in their life, and in their striving for the truth unto death. But some although they profess to believe, have not this power of God in them, but are empty thereof.”
(Did Origen then believe, that the power mentioned in this text, belonged only to the apostolical age?)
“See the force of the word, conquering believers by a persuasiveness attended with the power of God! I speak this to shew the meaning of him that said, And my speech and my preaching were not with the enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. This divine saying means, that what is spoken is not sufficient of itself (although it be true and most worthy to be believed) to pierce a man’s soul, if there be not also a certain power from God given to the speaker, and grace bloom upon what is spoken, and this grace cannot be but from God.”
After observing, that this is the very passage which your Lordship mentions at the close of the other (but does not cite) I desire every unprejudiced person to judge, whether Origen does not clearly determine, that the power, spoken of in this text, is in some measure given to all true ministers in all ages?