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of the temple, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up; and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength." And, afterwards, "they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them."

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The working of miracles of various kinds was given to others, in accordance with that promise of the Lord, who said to his apostles, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils :"+ and again assured them, after his resurrection, "These signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall

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Another was entrusted with the power of prophecy. As Agabus, who foretold "the great dearth throughout all the world, which came to pass in the days of Claudius Cæsar." And afterwards, at Cæsarea, "when he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles."7

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To another was given the discerning of spirits ; skill to discern what was in the heart; to know its real motives. Thus Peter was enabled to understand the character of Ananias, and to unveil the hypocrisy which lay concealed under his pretence of generosity. This was a great and signal occasion: but the power of discerning characters was especially important then, when one treacherous or ignorant man, one false teacher, might ruin a whole church. Lay hands suddenly on no man," was Paul's command to Timothy: be careful to discern, whether the Spirit of God or the spirit of the world actuates him.

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Others were enabled to interpret the tongues of different nations, or to declare the works of God in divers kinds of tongues. As is related of some disciples of John, who were taught the way of God more perfectly, at Ephesus, and "baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."1 "And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them, and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." Like the company at the house of Cornelius, who astonished Peter and his Jewish attendants, when 'they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God." 2

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These were the various gifts bestowed by that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. A purpose was to be served by them all; a great object attained. The kingdom of Christ was to be established in the world. "The

8 Acts v.
1-5.
1 Acts xix. 2-6.

9 1 Tim. v. 22.

2 Acts x. 46.

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grace of God which bringeth salvation was to appear unto all men.'

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A great purpose is still to be effected. Those are to become partakers of that grace, and brought into that kingdom, who would otherwise be lying in darkness under the power of Satan. And for this end various qualifications are still needful; and must still proceed from the same God which worketh all in all. There are still diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. He distributes his gifts: to one, wisdom; depth of thought and judgment. To another, knowledge; the acquirements of learning: to another those high degrees of faith, by which the missionary is led to "hazard his life for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Another is endued with that kind of prophecy, which interprets the Scriptures according to the mind of Him who dictated them: another has the discerning of spirits; the power of reading the characters of men, and perceiving their proper qualities and dispositions.

And these manifestations of the Spirit are given to every one to profit withal. God divides to every man, according to his own will, and man's ability. And in the end he will command the souls to be called to him, that he may know how much every man hath gained by trading with the talents delivered to him. 6 And "unto every one that hath, shall be given." Every man, in whose hands the Spirit hath been made to profit, whether in little or in much,

3 Tit. ii. 11.

4 Acts xv. 26.

5 Matt. xxv. 45.

6 Luke xix. 15.

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shall receive according as his work shall have been. Every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labour." And blessed is that good and faithful servant, who having "received five talents, shall come and bring other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more."

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LECTURE LXXX.

THE DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH ARE WORTHY OF THE SAME ESTEEM.

1 COR. xii. 12-26.

12. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Here the Christian Church is described by a figure. It is compared to the human body; which, being one, hath many members, and though consisting of various parts, is still one body. So also is Christ: so is the church of which Christ is the head, and which because he is its head is called by his name. It comprises many parts, separate in themselves and unlike one another: but the same soul animates 8 Matt. xxy. 20.

7 Ch. iii. 8.

them all, and they are united in the same service though performing different offices. The Jews and Gentiles, for instance, in themselves differ widely: the bondmen and the freemen in civil life, are divided by a marked boundary; but when they become members of the church of Christ, being baptized in his name, the Spirit, the same Spirit, influencing them all, unites them into one body; and they are made to drink into one Spirit, while they drink the blood of their common Lord, with whom "there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."1 The reflection that "he died for all," levels all differences, and brings them all to one mind and one desire, how they may best agree in living to him, who died for them.

14. For the body is not one member, but many.

15. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body: is it therefore not of the body?

eye,

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16. And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17. If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18. But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19. And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20. But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

What is here said of the body, with its many limbs

1 Gal. iii. 28.

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