3. Whether these gifts of the Holy Ghost were designed to remain in the church throughout all ages; and whether or no they will be restored at the nearer approach of the _restitution of all things_, are questions which it is not needful to decide. But it is needful to observe this, that even in the infancy of the church, God divided them with a sparing hand. _Were all_ even then _prophets_? Were _all workers of miracles? Had all the gifts of healing? Did all speak with tongues?_ No, in no wise. Perhaps not one in a thousand. Probably none but the teachers in the church, and only some of them. It was therefore for a more excellent purpose than this, that _they were all filled with the Holy Ghost_. 4. It was, to give them (what none can deny to be essential to all Christians in all ages) _the mind which was in Christ_, those holy _fruits of the Spirit_, which whosoever hath not, _is none of his_: to fill them with _love_, _joy_, _peace_, _long-suffering_, _gentleness_, _goodness_: to endue them with _faith_, (perhaps it might be rendered, _fidelity_) with _meekness and temperance_: to enable them to _crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts_, its passions and desires; and, in consequence of that _inward change_, to fulfil all _outward_ righteousness, _to walk as Christ also walked, in the work of faith, the patience of hope, the labour of love_. 5. Without busying ourselves then in curious, needless enquiries, touching those _extraordinary_ gifts of the Spirit, let us take a nearer view of these his _ordinary_ fruits; which we are assured will remain throughout all ages: of that great work of God among the children of men, which we are used to express by one word, _Christianity_: not as it implies a set of opinions, a system of doctrines, but as it refers to mens hearts and lives. And this _Christianity_ it may be useful to consider under three distinct views. I. As beginning to exist in individuals. II. As spreading from one to another. III. As covering the earth. I design to close these considerations with a plain practical application. I. And first, let us consider Christianity in its rise, as beginning to exist in individuals. Suppose then one of those who heard the apostle _Peter_ preaching _repentance and remission of sins_, was _pricked to the heart_, was convinced of sin, repented, and then _believed in Jesus_. By this _faith of the operation of God_, which was the very _substance_ or subsistence _of things hoped for_, the demonstrative _evidence of invisible things_, he instantly _received the Spirit of adoption, whereby he |now| cried Abba, Father_! Now first it was that he could _call Jesus Lord, by the Holy Ghost, the Spirit itself bearing witness with his spirit that he was a child of God_. Now it was that he could truly say, _I live not, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me_.