_Answ._ Though we often read that the gospel was confirmed by miracles: nevertheless, I cannot see that this is the principle, much less the only sense of these scriptures, and some others that might have been produced to the same purpose. As to the first of them in which the apostle speaks _of his preaching, being in the demonstration of the Spirit, and of power_; it may be observed, that in the preceding chapter he had been speaking concerning Christ preached, and his glory set forth among them, as the power of God; that is to say, the power of God rendered the preaching thereof effectual to the conversion of them that believed; which he concludes to contain in it no less a conviction of the truth of the Christian religion, than if he had wrought signs or miracles, which the Jews demanded, and which he had no design to work among them: therefore, why should we suppose, that when he speaks _of his preaching being in the demonstration of the Spirit, and of power_, that he intends the confirming his doctrine by miracles, and not in the same sense as he had before signified Christ to be the power of God. And as for the other scripture, in which it is said, _The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power_; that is to be understood by comparing it with what immediately goes before, in which he says, that _I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will and know not the speech of them who are puffed up, but the power_. It we suppose, that by _them who are puffed up_, he means some of their teachers, who swelled either with pride or envy, and probably were sowing some seeds of error among them; it does not seem to be a just sense of the text, to explain the words when he says, _I will know not the speech of them who are puffed up, but the power_, q. d. I will not so much regard the doctrines they deliver, as I will enquire and be convinced, that they have confirmed them by miracles. For he would rather regard their doctrine than their pretence to miracles; or have said, I will not enquire whether ever they have wrought any miracles or no, but what efficacy their doctrine has had: and therefore the apostle, by _knowing the power_, does not mean that of working miracles, but he intimates that he would know, not only what doctrines these persons taught, but what success attended their preaching; and then he adds, that _the kingdom of God_, that is, the gospel-state is advanced and promoted, not barely by the church’s enjoying the means of grace, such as the preaching of the word; but _by the power of God_, which makes the word preached effectual to salvation, whereby sinners are converted, and many added to the church, such as shall be saved.