Sec. 15. And then as to matter of _Vision,_ the whole Tenor of the Apostle's Doctrine runs counter to it. S. _Paul_ tells us, that all those noble Actions which were perform'd by the Ancient Worthies (_Heb_. xi.) were done thro' _Faith_; which as himself defines, is (_v_.i.) is, _The Substance of Things hoped for, the Evidence of Things not seen_. It is an Assent which we give to Things as true, which we can neither apprehend by our Senses, nor demonstrate by our Reasoning; so that the only Objects of our Faith are such Things as we receive upon the Credit of another; which, how far it is from _Vision_, is evident to common Sense. And the same Apostle tells us, that _now we see through A Glass darkly_; and that _we know in part, and prophesie in part_[43]. Sec. 16. Hence it is plain, that all those Texts which speak of the plentiful Effusion of the Spirit in the times of the Gospel, are quite misunderstood by all those, who interpret them after such a manner, as if God had given such a Measure of it to all Mankind, that upon a due Improvement of it, they might attain to the Knowledge of him, and of all Things necessary to Salvation. Whereas it appears, that even in the earliest Times of the Gospel, there was no such thing; but then all the Churches were planted by the Ministry of the Apostles, who ordain'd others to succeed them in their Office. If therefore in those Times it was not granted, it is a ridiculous Absurdity to expect it in this Age; and no small Degree, either of Impudence or Madness to pretend to it.