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and unknown ; you cannot distinguish the working, by which hehelpeth your infirmities , from the ordinary operations of your ownminds.” Mr. Ashdown contends that the distinction of ordinaryand extraordinary operations of the Holy Spirit is not founded inScripture; and that, if it should be admitted to be founded inScripture, yet that both operations ceased with the apostolic age.I made no reply to Mr. Ashdown’s pamphlet, for my judgmentwas not decided on the point. An attentive reader might haveinferred my indecision from adverting to the different import ofthe words we know , and we think. I am not ashamed to own,that I give a greater degree of assent to the doctrine of the ex-traordinary operation of the Spirit in the age of the Apostles,than I do to that of his immediate influence, either by illumi-nation or sanctification, in succeeding ages. Notwithstanding thisconfession, I am not prepared to say, that the latter is an unscrip-tural doctrine; future investigation may clear up this point, andGod , I trust, will pardon me an indecision of judgment proceedingfrom an inability of comprehension. If it shall ever be shownthat the doctrine of the ordinary operation of the Holy Ghost isnot a Scripture doctrine, Methodism, Quakerism , and every de-gree of enthusiasm will be radically extinguished in the Christianchurch ; men, no longer believing that God does that by moremeans which may be done by fewer, will wholly rely for religiousinstruction, consequent conversion, and subsequent salvation, on hisWord . — Cum audiamus, Deum omnem ut convertendi homines itasanctificandi rationem sic adstrinxisse verho mo, ut per id solum ,tanquam per instrumentum et medium opus , utrumque perageretur ;hdc lege et institutione divina minis de immediata spiritus operatione