V. Again, some ministers have been blamed for keeping persons
together that have been under great affections, which have appeared in
such extraordinary outward manifestations.
Many think this promotes confusion; that persons in such circumstances
do but discompose each others' minds, and disturb the minds of others;
and that therefore it is best they should be dispersed; and that when
any in a congregation are strongly seized, that they cannot forbear outward
manifestations of it, they should be removed, that others' minds may not
be diverted. I cannot but think that those who thus object go upon
quite wrong notions of things. For though persons ought to take heed that
they do not make an ado without necessity; for this will be the way in
time to have such appearances lose all their effect; yet the unavoidable
manifestations of strong religious affections tend to a happy in-influence
on the minds of bystanders, and are found by experience to have an excellent
and durable effect. And so to contrive and order things, that others may
have opportunity and advantage to observe them, has been found to be blessed,
as a great means to promote the work of God; and to prevent their being
in the way of observation, is to prevent the effect of that which God
makes use of as a principal means of carrying on his work at such and
extraordinary time, viz. Example; which is often spoken of in Scripture,
as one of the chief means by which God would carry on his work in the
prosperity of religion in the latter days.--I have mentioned some texts
already to this purpose, in what I published before, of the marks of a
work of the true Spirit; but would here mention some others. In Zech.
ix. 15, 16. Those that in the latter days should be filled in and extraordinary
manner with the Holy Spirit, so as to appear in outward manifestations,
and making a noise, are spoken of as those that God, in these circumstances,
will set up to the view of others, as a prize or ensign, by their example
and the excellency of their attainments, to animate and draw others, as
men gather about an ensign, and run for a prize, a crown and precious
jewels, set up in their view. The words are; "And they shall drink
and make a noise as through wine, and they shall be filled like bowls,
and as the corners of the altar. And the Lord their God shall save them
in that day as the flock of his people; for they shall be as the stones
of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land." (I shall have
occasion to say something more of this scripture afterwards.) Those that
make the objection I am upon, instead of suffering this ensign to be in
public view, are for having it removed, and hid in some corner. To the
like purpose is that, Isa. lxii. 3. "Thou shalt be a crown of glory
in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God."
Here it is observable, that it is not said, thou shalt be a crown upon
the head, but in the hand, of the Lord; i.e. held forth, in thy beauty
and thy excellency, as a prize, to be bestowed upon others that shall
behold thee, and be animated by the brightness and lustre which God shall
endow thee with. The great influence of the example of God's people, in
their bright and excellent attainments, to propagate religion in those
days, is further signified in Isa. lx. 3. "And the Gentiles shall
come to thy light, and Kings to the brightness of thy rising." With
ver. 22. "A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a
strong nation." And Zech. x. 8, 9. "And they shall increase,
as they have increased: and I will sow them among the people." And
Hos. ii. 23. "And I will sow her unto me in the earth." So Jer.
xxxi. 27. |