with undeniable Efficacy but his Assumption into Heaven testified unto his Person with an astonishing Glory 2. IT was necessary with respect unto the Humane Nature it self that after all its Labours and Sufferings it might be crowned with Honour and Glory He was to suffer and enter into his Glory Luk. 24 26. Some dispute whether Christ in his Humane Nature merited any thing for himself or no but not to immix our selves in the Niceties of that Enquiry it is unquestionable that the highest Glory was due to him upon his accomplishment of the Work committed unto him in this World which he therefore lays claim to accordingly Joh. 17. 4 5. It was so 3. WITH respect unto the Glorious Administration of his Kingdom For as his Kingdom is not of this World so it is not only over this World or the whole Creation here below The Angels of Glory those Principalities and Powers above are subject unto him and belong unto his Dominion Eph. 1. 21. Phil. 2. 9 10. Among them attended with their ready Service and Obedience unto all his Commands doth he exercise the Powers of his glorious Kingdom And they would but degrade Him from his Glory without the least Advantage unto themselves who would have him forsake his high and glorious Throne in Heaven to come and reign among them on the Earth unless they suppose themselves more meet Attendants on his Regal Dignity than the Angels themselves who are mighty in Strength and Glory SECONDLY The Presence of the Humane Nature of Christ in Heaven was necessary with respect unto Us. The Remainder of his Work with God on our behalf was to be carried on by Intercession Heb. 7. 26 27. And whereas this Intercession consisteth in the Vertual Representation of his Oblation or of himself as a Lamb slain in Sacrifice it could not be done without his continual Appearing in the Presence of God Heb. 9. 24. The other Part of the Work of Christ respects the Church or Believers as its immediate Object So in particular doth his comforting and supporting of them This is that Work which in a peculiar manner is committed and entrusted unto the Holy Spirit after the Departure of the Humane Nature of Christ into Heaven But two things are to be observed concerning it 1. That whereas this whole Work consisteth in the Communication of Spiritual Light Grace and Joy to the Souls of Believers it was no less the immediate Work of the Holy Ghost whilst the Lord Christ was upon the Earth than it is now he is absent in Heaven Only during the time of his Conversation here below in the days of his Flesh his holy Disciples looked on him as the only Spring and Foundation of all their Consolation their only Support Guide and Protector as they had just Cause to do They had yet no insight into the Mystery of the Dispensation of the Spirit nor was he yet so given or poured out as to evidence himself and his Operation unto their Souls Wherefore they looked on themselves as utterly undone when their Lord and Master began to acquaint them with his leaving of them No sooner did he tell them of it but Sorrow filled their Hearts Joh. 16. 6. Wherefore he immediately lets them know that this great Work of relieving them from all their Sorrows and Fears of dispelling their Disconsolations and supporting them under their Trouble was committed to the Holy Ghost and would by him be performed in so eminent a manner as that his Departure from them would be unto their Advantage Ver. 7. Wherefore the Holy Spirit did not then first begin really and effectually to be the Comforter of Believers upon the Departure of Christ from his Disciples but he is then first promised so to be upon a double Account 1. Of the Fall Declaration and Manifestation of it So things are often said in the Scripture then to be when they do appear and are made manifest An eminent lustance hereof we have in this Case John 7. 38 39. The Disciples had hitherto looked for all immediately from Christ in the Flesh the Dispensation of the Spirit being hid from them But now this also was to be manifested unto them Hence the Apostle affirms that though we have known Christ after the flesh yet henceforth we know him no more 2 Cor. 1. 16. That is so as to look for Grace and Consolation immediately from him in the Flesh as it is evident the Apostles did before they were instructed in this unknown Office of the Holy Ghost 2. Of the full Exhibition and eminent Communication of Him unto this End This in every kind was reserved for the Exaltation of Christ when he received the Promise of the Spirit from the Father and poured it out upon his Disciples 2. THE Lord Christ doth not hereby cease to be the Comforter of his Church For what he doth by his Spirit he doth by himself He is with us unto the end of the World by his Spirit being with us and he dwelleth in us by the Spirit dwelling in us and whatever else is done by the Spirit is done by him And it is so upon a Three-fold Account For 1 The Lord Christ as Mediator is God and Man in One Person and the Divine Nature is to be consider'd in all his Mediatory Operations For he who worketh them is God and he worketh them all as God-Man whence they are Theandrical And this is proposed unto us in the greatest Acts of his Humiliation which the Divine Nature in it self is not formally capable of So God redeemed his Church with his own Blood Acts 20. 28. Inasmuch as he who was in the form of God and thought it no Robbery to be equal with God humbled himself and became obedient unto Death the Death of the Cross Phil. 2. 6 7 8. Now in this respect the Lord Christ and the Holy Spirit are one in Nature Essence Will and Power As he said of the Father I and my Father are one John 10. 30. So it is with the Spirit he and the Spirit are One. Hence all the Works of the Holy Spirit are his also as his Works were the Works of the Father and the Works of the Father were his All the Operations of the Holy Trinity as to things external unto their Divine Subsistence being individed So is the Work of the Holy Spirit in the Consolation of the Church his Work also 2 BECAUSE the Holy Spirit in this Condescention unto Office acts for Christ and in his Name So the Son acted for and in the Name of the Father where he every where ascribed what he did unto the Father in a peculiar manner The Word saith he which you hear is not mine but the Fathers which sent me John 14. 24. It is his originally and eminently because as spoken by the Lord Christ he was said by him to speak it So are those Acts of the Spirit whereby he comforteth Believers the Acts of Christ because the Spirit speaketh and acteth for
as he was thereby carried on through great Bodily Weakness Languishing and Pains besides manifold other Tryals and Discouragements to bring forth out of his Treasury like a Scribe well instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven many useful and excellent Fruits of his Studies much beyond the Expectation and Hopes of those who saw how often and how long he was near unto the Grave But while he was thus indefatigably and restlesly laying out for the Service of Christ in this and succeeding Generations those Rich Talents with which he was furnished his Lord said unto him Well done thou good and faithful Servant enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord. No Man ever yet but Jesus Christ was able to finish all that was in his Heart to do for God On the removal of such accomplished and useful Persons I have sometimes relieved my self with this Thought that Christ lives in Heaven still and the Blessed Spirit from whom the Head and Heart of this Chosen Vessel were so Richly Replemshed liveth still Nath. Mather October 27. 1692. ERRATA PAge 3. line 19. for concera read content p. 7. l. 23. dele comma after external and put it after subsistence p. 11. l. 7. f. above r. about l. 18. f. comprize r. confine p. 12. l. 19. r. this is his p. 14. l. 2. r. that he should p. 15. l. 11. r. acted them l. 3. a fine f. expect r. expects p. 23. l. ult f. and r. end p. 32. l. 19. f. Discovery r. Recovery p. 35. l. 13. f. wherein r. when p. 37. l. 21. f. Things r. Thoughts l. ult f. Being r. Living p. 38. l. 25. f. Direction r. directs us p. 39. l. 13. à fine f. declaring r. declares p. 40. l. 7 8 10 13. dele the Interragatory Points p. 42. l. 15. f. this r. his p. 43. l. 24. f. instances r. instaences p. 55. l. 4. à fine f. Heb. 11. 13. r. Luke 11. 13. p. 83. l. 14. f. he had r. they had p. 86. l. 7. f. in r. is p. 89. l. 6. dele comma after Spirit p. 90. l. 18. f. And there was r. and that there was l. ult f. this Holy Spirits r. his Holy Spirit p. 91. l. 17. r. Arrhabone r. posuit l. 18. r. Arrhabo l. 21. f. quam r. quum f. tuerit r. fuerit l. 22. f. redditur r. reddatur p. 92. l. 10. f. Arrabon r. Arrhabon l. 12. r. Obinius penult f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 98. l. 5. f. natures r. names l. 14. f. longer r. long p. 99. l. 15. after called dele 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and and after 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 add and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 105. l. 5. f. significations r. signification p. 120. l. 14. f. they r. there CHAP. I. The Holy Ghost the Comforter of the Church by way of Office How He is the Churches Advocate Joh. 14. 16. 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. Joh. 16. 8 9 10 11. opened THAT which remains to compleat our Discourses concerning the Dispensation of the Holy Spirit is the Office and Work that he hath undertaken for the Consolation of the Church And THREE things are to be considered with respect unto this Head of the Grace of the Gospel 1. That the Holy Spirit is the Comforter of the Church by way of Especial Office 2. What is in that Office or wherein the Discharge of it doth consist 3. What are the Effects of it towards Believers IT must be granted that there is some Impropriety in that Expression by the way of Office An Office is not simply nor it may be properly spoken of a Divine Person who is absolutely so and nothing else But the like Impropriety is to be found in most of the Expressions which we use concerning God for who can speak of him aright or as he ought Only we have a safe Rule whereby to express our Conceptions even what He speaks of Himself And he hath taught us to learn the Work of the Holy Ghost towards us in this Matter by ascribing unto Him those things which belong unto an Office among Men. FOUR things are required unto the Constitution of an Office 1 An especial Trust. 2 An especial Mission or Commission 3 An especial Name 4 An especial Work All these are required unto an Office properly so called and where they are complyed withall by a voluntary susception in the Person designed thereunto an Office is compleatly constituted And we must enquire how these things in a Divine Manner do concur in the Work of the Holy Spirit as he is the Comforter of the Church FIRST He is intrusted with this Work and of his own Will hath taken it on Himself For when our Saviour was leaving of the World and had a full Prospect of all the Evils Troubles Dejections and Disconsolations which would befall his Disciples and knew full well that if they were left unto themselves they would faint and perish under them He gives them Assurance that the Work of their Consolation and Supportment was left entrusted and committed unto the Holy Spirit and that He would both take Care about it and perfect it accordingly THE Lord Christ when he left this World was very far from laying aside his Love unto and Care of his Disciples He hath given us the highest Assurance that he continueth for ever the same Care the same Love and Grace towards us he had and exercised when he layd down his Life for us See Heb. 4. 14 15 16. Cap. 7. 27. But inas much as there was a double Work yet to be performed in our behalf one towards God and the other in our selves He hath taken a two-fold way for the Performance of it That towards God he was to discharge immediately Himself in his Humane Nature For other Mediator between God and Man there neither is nor can be any This He doth by his Intercession Hence there was a necessity that as to his Humane Nature the Heavens should receive him unto the Time of the Restitution of all things as Acts 3. 21. There was so both with respect unto Himself and us THREE things with respect unto Himself made the Exaltation of his Humane Nature in Heaven to be necessary For 1. IT was to be a Pledge and Token of God's Acceptation of him and Approbation of what he had done in the World Joh. 16. 7 8. For what could more declare or evidence the Concern and Delight of God in what he had done and suffered than after he had been so ignominiously treated in the World to receive him visibly gloriously and triumphantly into Heaven He was manifested in the Flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels and in the issue received up into Glory 1 Tim. 3. 16. Herein God set the great Seal of Heaven unto his Work of Mediation and the Preaching of the Gospel which ensued thereon And a Testimony hereunto was that which filled his Enemies with Rage and Madness Act. 7. 55 56 57. His Resurrection confirmed his Doctrine
in General which in the next place we enquire into will be much discovered in the Consideration of those things wherein these Gifts do agree with Saving Graces and wherein they differ from them § 2. THERE are three things wherein Spiritual Gifts and Saving Graces do agree 1. THEY are both sorts of them the Purchase of Christ for his Church the especial Fruit of his Mediation We speak not of such Gifts or Endowments of Men's Minds as consist meerly in the Improvement of their Natural Faculties Such are Wisdom Learning Skill in Arts and Sciences which those may abound and excell in who are utter Strangers to the Church of Christ and frequently they do so to their own Exaltation and Contempt of others Nor do I intend Abilities for Actions Moral Civil or Political as Fortitude Skill in Government or Rule and the like For although these are Gifts of the Power of the Spirit of God yet they do belong unto those Operations which he exerciseth in upholding or Ruling of the World or the Old Creation as such whereof I have treated before But I intend those alone which are conversant about the Gospel the things and Duties of it the Administration of its Ordinances the Propagation of its Doctrine and Profession of it's ways And herein also I put a difference between them and all those Gifts of the Spirit about Sacred things which any of the People of God enjoyed under the Old Testament For we speak only of those which are Powers of the World to come Those others were salted to the Oeconomy of the Old Covenant and confined with the Light which God was pleased then to communicate unto his Church Unto the Gospel State they were not suited nor would be useful in it Hence the Prophets who had the most eminent Gifts did yet all of them come short of John the Baptist because they had not by Vertue of their Gifts that Acquaintance with the Person of Christ and Insight into his Work of Mediation that he had and yet also he came short of him that is least in the Kingdom of Heaven because his Gifts were not purely Evangelical Wherefore these Gifts whereof we treat are such as belong unto the Kingdom of God erected in an especial manner by Jesus Christ after his Ascension into Heaven For he was exalted that he might fill all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the whole Church with these Effects of his Power and Grace The Power therefore of communicating these Gifts was granted unto the Lord Christ as Mediator by the Father for the Foundation and Edification of his Church as it is expressed Acts 2. 33. And by them was his Kingdom both set up and propagated and is preserved in the World These were the Weapons of Warfare which he furnished his Disciples withall when he gave them Commission to go forth and subdue the World unto the Obedience of the Gospel Acts 1. 4 8. And mighty were they through God unto that purpose 2 Cor. 10. 3 4 5 6. In the Use and Exercise of them did the Gospel run and was glorisied to the Ruine of the Kingdom of Sathan and Darkness in the World And that he was ever able to erect it again under another Form than that of Gentilism as he hath done in the Antichristian Apostasie of the Church Visible it was from a Neglect and Contempt of these Gifts with their due Use and Improvement When Men began to neglect the attaining of these Spiritual Gifts and the Exercise of them in praying in preaching in Interpretation of the Scripture in all the Administrations and whole Worship of the Church betaking themselves wholly to their own Abilities and Inventions accommodated unto their Ease and Secular Interests it was an easie thing for Sathan to erect again his Kingdom though not in the old manner because of the Light of the Scripture which had made Impression on the Minds of Men which he could not obliterate Wherefore he never attempted openly any more to set up Heathrnism or Paganism with the Gods of the Old World and their Worship but he insensibly raised another Kingdom which pretended some likeness unto and compliance with the Letter of the Word though it came at last to be in all things expresly contrary thereunto This was his Kingdom of Apostasie and Darkness under the Papal Antichristianism and woful Degeneracy of other Christians in the World For when Men who pretend themselves entrusted with the Preservation of the Kingdom of Christ did wilfully cast away those Weapons of their Warfare whereby the World was subdued unto him and ought to have been kept in Subjection by them what else could ensue § 3. BY these Gifts I say doth the Lord Christ demonstrate his Power and exercise his Rule External Force and Carnal Weapons were far from his Thoughts as unbecoming his absolute Sovereignty over the Souls of Men his infinite Power and Holiness Neither did any ever betake themselves unto them in the Affairs of Christ's Kingdom but either when they had utterly lost and abandoned these Spiritual Weapons or did not believe that they are sufficient to maintain the Interest of the Gospel though Originally they were so to introduce and fix it in the World That is that although the Gifts of the Holy Ghost were sufficient and effectual to bring in the Truth and Doctrine of the Gospel against all Opposition yet are they not so to maintain it which they may do well once more to consider Herein therefore they agree with Saving Graces For that they are peculiarly from Jesus Christ the Mediator is confessed by all unless it be by such as by whom all real internal Grace is denyed But the Sanctifying Operations of the Holy Spirit with their respect unto the Lord Christ as Mediator have been sufficiently before confirmed § 4. 2. There is an Agreement between Saving Graces and Spiritual Gifts with respect unto their immediate efficient Cause They are both sorts of them wrought by the Power of the Holy Ghost As to what concerneth the former or saving Grace I have already treated of that Argument at large nor will any deny that the Holy Ghost is the Author of these Graces but those that deny that there are any such That these Gifts are so wrought by him is expressly declared where-ever there is mention of them in general or particular Wherefore when they acknowledge that there were such Gifts all confess him to be their Author by whom he is denied so to be it is only because they deny the continuance of any such Gifts in the Church of God But this is that which we shall disprove § 5. 3. Herein also they agree that both sorts of them are designed unto the Good Benefit Ornament and Glory of the Church The Church is the proper Seat and Subject of them to it are they granted and in it do they reside For Christ is given to be Head over all things unto the Church which is his Body the
Liberty is better than Bondage the Mind more excellent than the outward Carkass Spiritual and Eternal things than things Carnal and Temporary as the Wisdom and Holiness of God are more excellent than the Folly and Lusts of Men. § 6. SEEING therefore this was the Design of Christ this was the Nature and Work of the Gospel which was to be propagated wherein Carnal Power and outward Force could be of no use yea whose Exercise was inconsistent with dishonourable unto and destructive of the whole Design and wherein the Work to be accomplished on the Minds and Souls of Men is incomparably greater than the conquering of Worlds with Force and Arms it is enquired what Power the Lord Christ did employ herein what Means and Instruments he used for the Accomplishment of his Design and the erecting of that Kingdom or Church-State which being promised of Old was called the World to come or the New World the New Heaven and Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness And I say it was these Gifts of the Holy Ghost whereof we have treated which were those Powers of this World to come By them it was or in their Exercise that the Lord Christ erected his Empire over the Souls and Consciences of Men destroying both the Work and Kingdom of the Devil It is true it is the Word of the Gospel it self that is the Rod of his Strength which is sent out of Sion to erect and dispense his Rule But that hidden Power which made the Word effectual in the dispensation of it consisted in these Gifts of the Holy Ghost Men may despise them or think light of them whilst they please they are those Powers which the Lord Christ in his Wisdom thought meet alone to engage in the propagation of the Gospel and setting up of his Kingdom in the World § 7. THE Recovery and Return of the People from the Captivity of Babylon was a Type of the Spiritual Redemption of the Church by Jesus Christ And how God effected that as a Type hereof he declares Zech. 4. 6. Not by Army nor by Power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts so much more was this work to be effected So after his Resurrection the Lord Christ tells his Apostles that they were to be his Witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the Earth that is all the World over Acts 1. 8. But how shall they be able so to bear Testimony unto them as that their witness shall be received and become effectual Saith he Ye shall receive power for this end I have given you Authority to Preach the Word before and now I will give you such an Ability for it as none shall be able to withstand or resist and this is after the Holy Ghost is come upon you that is in the Communication of these Gifts whereby you may be enabled unto your work In them consisted that Mouth and Wisdom which he promised he would give them which all their Adversaries were not able to gainsay or resist Luke 21. 15. Wherefore that which I shall close this Discourse withall shall be a brief endeavour to declare how these Gifts were the Spiritual Powers of the Gospel unto all the ends we have before mentioned as designed by Jesus Christ whence it will appear how little there was of the Wisdom Skill Power or Authority of Men in the whole work of propagating the Gospel and planting the Church of Christ as we shall afterwards manifest how by the Dispensation of the other more ordinary Gifts of the Spirit both the Gospel and the Church are continued and preserved in the World FIRST the Persons whom the Lord Christ chose called and designed unto this Work were by these Gifts enabled thereunto As no Mortal Men had of themselves any sufficiency for such a work so the Persons particularly called unto it by Jesus Christ lay under all the Disadvantages that any Persons could possibly be liable unto in such an undertaking For 1 They were all of them unlearned and ignorant which the Jews took notice of Acts 4. 13. and which the Gentiles despised them for 2 They were Poor and of no Reputation in the World which made them contemned by all sorts of Persons And 3 They seem in many instances to have been pasillanimous and fearful which they all manifested when they so shamefully fled and left their Master in his Distresses the chief of them also Swearing that he knew him not Now it is easily understood what great disadvantages these were unto the undertaking of so great a work as they were called unto yea how impossible it was for them under these qualifications to do any thing in the pursuit of it Wherefore by the Communication of these Gifts unto them all these Impediments arising from themselves were removed and they were furnished with Endowments of quite another nature whereby they were eminently sitted with that Spiritual Wisdom Knowledge and Understanding which surpassed all the Wisdom that was of the VVorld or in it by what ways or means soever it were attained They both had and declared a VVisdom which none of the Princes of this VVorld were acquainted withal 1 Cor. 2. Those who during the abode of Christ in the Flesh with them could not understand a plain Parable and were ever and anon at no small loss about the sense and meaning of their matter having very low and carnal apprehensions about his Person VVork and Office were now filled with a Knowledge of all Heavenly Mysteries and with VVisdom to declare manage and maintain them against all opposers Kings Princes Rulers of Synagogues were now all one to them they had a Mouth and VVisdom given them which none of their Adversaries could resist VVhere ever they came in all Nations to all sorts of People of all Languages they were now enabled in their own Tongue and Speech to declare and preach the Gospel unto them being always filled with a Treasure of Wisdom and Spiritual Mysteries whence they could draw forth as every occasion did require 2 Whereas they were poor the difficulties wherewith such a condition is attended were also by this means utterly taken away For although they had neither Silver nor Gold by their Work or Employment but their outward Wants and Distresses were rather encreased thereby yet their Minds and Souls were by this Communication of the Spirit so raised above the World and filled with such a Contempt of all the desireable things in it and of all the Pride of Men upon their account as that their want of Possessions and outward Enjoyments made them only the more ready and expedite for their work whence also such of them as had Possessions sold them gave their price to the Poor that they might be no hindrance unto them in their Design And hence also it was that those who even after the Resurrection of Christ were enquiring after a Temporal Kingdom wherein no doubt a good part of its Glory Power and
given unto that passage of the Apostle where this Gift and the Communication of it is declared Ephes. 4. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16. But unto every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the Gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith when he ascended up on high he led Captivity Captive and gave Gifts unto Men Now that he ascended what is it but that be also descended first into the lower parts of the Earth He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things and he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the Edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come in the Unity of the Faith and of the Knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. That we henceforth be no more tossed to and fro and carried about with every Wind of Doctrine by the sleight of Men and cunning Craftiness whereby they lye in wait to deceive but speaking the Truth in Love may grow up into him in all things which is the Head even Christ. From whom the whole Body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplyeth according unto the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the Body unto the Edifying of it self in Love § 2. THERE is no other place of Scripture wherein at one view the Grant Institution Use Benefit End and Continuance of the Ministry is so clearly and fully represented And the End of this whole Discourse is to declare that the Gift and Grant of the Ministry and Ministers of the Office and the Persons to discharge it is an Eminent most useful Fruit and Effect of the Mediatory Power of Christ with his Love and Care towards his Church And those of whom the Apostle speaks unto every one of us are the Officers or Ministers whom he doth afterwards enumerate although the words may in some sense be extended unto all Believers But principally the Ministry and Ministers of the Church are intended And it is said unto them is Grace given It is evident that by Grace here not Sanctifying Saving Grace is intended but a participation of a gracious Favour with respect to an especial End So the word is frequently used in this case by our Apostle Rom. 15. 15. Gal. 2. 9. Ephes. 3. 8. This Gracious Favour we are made partakers of this Trust is freely in a way of Grace committed unto us And that according to the measure of the Gift of Christ unto every one according as the Lord Christ doth measure the Gift of it freely out unto them Thus in general was the Ministry granted unto the Church the particular account whereof is given in the ensuing Verses And § 3. FIRST it is declared to be a Gift of Christ. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And he himself gave ver 11. It is the great Fundamental of all Church-Order Power and Worship that the Gift and Grant of Christ is the Original of the Ministry If it had not been so given of Christ it had not been lawful for any of the Sons of Men to institute such an Office or appoint such Officers If any had attempted so to do as there would have been a Nullity in what they did so their Attempt would have been expresly against the Headship of Christ or his Supreme Authority over the Church Wherefore that he would thus give Ministers of the Church was promised of old Jer. 3. 15. as well as signally foretold in the Psalm from whence these Words are taken And as his doing of it is an Act of his Mediatory Power as it is declared in this place and Matth. 28. 18. so it was a Fruit of his Care Love and Bounty 1 Cor. 2. 21 22. And it will hence follow not only that Offices in the Church which are not of Christ's giving by Institution and Officers that are not of Gift Grant by Provision and Furnishment have indeed no place therein but also that they are set up in Opposition unto his Authority and in Contempt of his Care and Bounty For the doing so ariseth out of an Apprehension that both Men have a Power in the Church which is not derived from Christ and that to impose Servants upon him in his House without his Consent as also that they have more Care of the Church than he had who made not such Provision for them And if an Examination might be admitted by this Rule as it will one Day come on whether Men will or no some great Names now in the Church would scarce be able to preserve their Station Popes Cardinals Metropolitans Diocesan Prelates Arch-Deacons Commissaries Officials and I know not what other monstrous Products of an incestuous Conjunction between Secular Pride and Ecclesiastical Degeneracy would think themselves severely treated to be tried by this Rule But so it must be at last and that unavoidably Yea and that no Man shall be so hardy as once to dare attempt the setting up of Officers in the Church without the Authority of Christ the Eminency of this Gift and Grant of his is declared in sundry particular Instances wherein neither the Wisdom nor Skill nor Power of any or all of the Sons of Men can have the least Interest or in any thing alike unto them § 4. AND this appears 1 From the Grandeur of it's Introduction or the great and solemn Preparation that was made for the giving out of this Gift It was given by Christ when he ascended up on high and led Captivity captive Ver. 8. The Words are taken from Psal. 68. 17 18. The Chariots of God are twenty thousand even Thousands of Angels the Lord is among them as in Sinai in the Holy Place Thou hast ascended on high thou hast led Captivity captive thou hast received Gifts for Men yea for the Rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them In the first place the glorious Appearance of God on Mount Sinai in giving of the Law his descending and ascending unto that purpose is intended But they are applied here unto Christ because all the glorious Works of God in and towards the Church of Old were either Representatory or gradually introductory of Christ and the Gospel Thus the glorious Ascending of God from Mount Sinai after the giving of the Law was a Representation of his ascending far above all Heavens to fill all things as Ver. 10. And as God then led Captivity captive in the Destruction of Pharaoh and the Egyptians who had long held his People in Captivity and under Cruel Bondage So dealt the Lord Christ now in the Destruction and Captivity of Sathan and all his Powers Col. 2. 15. Only whereas it is said in the Psalm that he received Gifts for men here it is said that he gave Gifts to