IV. Another thing, wherein I think some ministers have been
injured, is in being very much blamed for making so much of outcries,
faintings, and other bodily effects; speaking of them as tokens of the
presence of God, and arguments of the success of preaching; seeming to
strive to their utmost to bring a congregation to that pass, and seeming
to rejoice in it, yea, even blessing God for it when they see these effects.
Concerning this I would observe, in the first place, That there are many
things, with respect to cryings out, falling down, &c. charged on
ministers, that they are not guilty of. Some would have it, that they
speak of these things as certain evidences of a work of the Spirit of
God on the hearts of their hearers, or that they esteem these bodily effects
themselves to be the work of God, as though the Spirit of God took hold
of and agitated the bodies of men; and some are charged with making these
things essential, and supposing that persons cannot be converted without
them; whereas I never yet could see the person that held either of these
things. But for speaking of such effects as probable tokens of God's
presence, and arguments of the success of preaching, it seems to me they
are not to be blamed; because I think they are so indeed. And therefore
when I see them excited by preaching the important truths of God's word,
urged and enforced by proper arguments and motives, or as consequent on
other means that are good, I do not scruple to speak of them, and for
this reason, viz. That from time to time, upon proper inquiry and examination,
and observation, of the consequences and fruits, I have found that these
are all evidences of the persons in whom these effects appear, being under
the influences of God's Spirit, in such cases. Crying out, in such a manner,
and with such circumstances, as I have seen them from time to time, is
as much an evidence to me, of the general cause it proceeds from, as language.
I have learned the meaning of it the same way that persons learn the meaning
of language, viz. By use and experience. I confess that when I see a great
crying out in congregation, in the manner that I have seen it, when those
things are held forth to them which are worthy of their being greatly
affected by them, I rejoice in it, much more than merely in an appearance
of solemn attention, and a show of affection by weeping; and that because
when there have been those outcries, I have found from time to time a
much greater and more excellent effect. To rejoice that the work of God
is carried on calmly, without much ado, is in effect to rejoice that it
is carried on with less power, or that there is not so much of the influence
of God's Spirit.--For though the degree of the influence of the Spirit
of God on particular persons, is by no means to be judged of by the degree
of external appearances, because of the different constitutions, tempers,
and circumstances of men; yet, if there be a very powerful influence of
the Spirit of God on a mixed multitude, it will cause some way or other
a great visible commotion. And as to ministers aiming at such effects,
and striving by all means to bring a congregation to that pass, that there
should be such an uproar among them; I suppose none aim at it any otherwise,
than as they strive to raise the affections of their hearers to such a
height as very often appears in these effects. And if those affections
are commonly good, and it be found by experience that such a degree of
them commonly has a good effect, I think they are to be justified in so
doing. |