an Issue unto this Discourse Among them in the first place is required a due preparation of Soul by Humility Meekness and Teachableness The Holy Spirit taketh no Delight to impart of his especial Gifts unto Proud Self-conceited Men to Men vainly puffed up in their own Fleshly Minds The same must be said concerning other vitious and depraved Habits of Mind by which moreover they are oft-times expelled and cast out after they have been in some measure received And in this Case I need not mention those by whom all these Gifts are despised It would be a wonder indeed if they should be made partakers of them or at least if they should abide with them 2 Prayer is a principal means for their Attainment This the Apostle directs unto when he enjoins us earnestly to desire the Best Gifts For this Desire is to be acted by Prayer and no otherwise 3 Diligence in the things about which these Gifts are conversant Study and Meditation on the Word of God by the due use of means for the attaining a right understanding of his Mind and Will therein is that which I intend For in this course conscientiously attended unto it is that for the most part the Holy Spirit comes in and joins his Aid and Assistance for furnishing of the Mind with those Spiritual Endowments 4 The Growth Encrease and Improvement of these Gifts depends on their faithful use according as our Duty doth require It is Trade alone that encreaseth Talents and Exercise in a way of Duty that improveth Gifts Without this they will first wither and then perish And by a neglect hereof are they lost every day in some Partially in some Totally and in some to a Contempt Hatred and Blasphemy of what themselves had received Lastly Mens Natural Endowments with Elocution Memory Judgment and the like improved by Reading Learning and diligent Study do enlarge set off and adorn these Gifts where they are received FINIS Books Sold by Will. Marshall at the Bible in Newgate-street Books Lately Printed of Dr. Owen ' s. 1. THE True Nature of a Gospel Church and its Government wherein these following particulars are distinctly handled I. The Subject Matter of the Church II. Formal Cause of a particular Church III. Of the Polity Rule or Discipline of the Church in General IV. The Officers of the Church V. The Duty of Pastors of Churches VI. The Office of Teachers in the Church VII Of the Rule of the Church or of Ruling Elders VIII The Nature of the Polity or Rule with the Duty of Elders IX Of Deacons X. Excommunication XI Of the Communion of Churches In large Quarto Price Bound 3 s. 2. A Treatise of the Dominion of Sin and Grace Price Bound 1 s. 3. A Brief and Impartial Account of the Nature of the Protestant Religion its State and Fate in the World its Strength and Weakness with the Ways and Indications of the Ruin or Continuance of its Publick National Profession Price 6 d. 4. 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The Labours of John Bunyan Author of the Pilgrims Progress late Minister of the Gospel and Pastor of the Congregation at Bedford Collected and Printed in Folio by Procurement of his Church and Friends and by his own Approbation before his Death that these his Christian Ministerial Labours might be preserved in the World This Folio contains Ten of his Excellent Manuscripts prepared for the Press before his Death And Ten of his Choice Books already Printed but long ago grown scarce and not now to be had Their Titles are as followeth viz. MANUSCRIPTS 1. An Exposition on the Ten first Chapters of Genesis 2. Justification by Imputed Righteousness 3. Paul's Departure and Crown 4. Israel's Hope Incouraged 5. Desires of the Righteous granted 6. The Saints Priviledge and Profit 7. Christ a compleat Saviour 8. Saints Knowledge of Christ's Love 9. The House of the Forest of Lebanon 10. A Description of Antichrist BOOKS formerly Printed 11. Saved by Grace 12. Christian Behaviour 13. 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THE APPLICATION OF THE Foregoing Discourse WITH respect unto the Dispensation of the Spirit towards Believers and his Holy Operations in them and upon them there are sundry particular Duties whereof he is the immediate Object prescribed unto them And they are those whereby on our part we comply with him in his Work of Grace whereby it is carried on and rendred useful unto us Now whereas this Holy Spirit is a Divine Person and he acts in all things towards us as a Free Agent according unto his own Will the things enjoyned us with respect unto him are those whereby we may carry our selves aright toward such a one namely as he is an Holy Divine Intelligent Person working freely in and towards us for our Good And they are of two sorts the first whereof are expressed in Prohibitions of those things which are unsuited unto Him and his dealings with us the latter in Commands for our Attendance unto such Duties as are peculiarly suited unto a Compliance with Him in his Operations in both which our Obedience is to be exercised with a peculiar Regard unto Him I shall begin with the first sort and go over
Warranty from the Word to yield Obedience unto all the Commands of Christ which when we have talked of Power and Authority whilst we please is all that is lest unto us in this World or that in so doing he will not accept them and approve of what they have done is an Assertion fit for Men to maintain who have a Trade to drive in Religion unto their own especial Advantage § 10. 2ly THE Lord Christ giveth and continneth this Office by giving Spiritual Gifts and Abilities unto Men to enable them to discharge the Duties and perform the Work of it This is that which I principally design to confirm in it's proper place which will immediately ensue All I shall say at present is that Spiritual Gifts of themselves make no Man actually a Minister yet no Man can be made a Minister according to the Mind of Christ who is not partaker of them Wherefore supposing the continuance of the Law and Institution mentioned if the Lord Christ doth at any time or in any place cease to give out Spiritual Gifts unto Men enabling them in some good measure unto the Discharge of the Ministry then and in that place the Ministry it self must cease and come to an end To erect a Ministry by Vertue of outward Order Rites and Ceremonies without Gifts for the Edification of the Church is but to hew a Block with Axes and smooth it with Planes and set it up for an Image to be adored To make a Man a Minister who can do nothing of the proper peculiar Work of the Ministry nothing towards the only end of it in the Church is to set up a dead Carcass fastning it to a Post and expecting it should do you Work and Service § 11. 3ly HE doth it by giving Power unto his Church in all Ages to call and separate unto the Work of the Ministry such as he hath sitted and gifted for it The things before mentioned are essentially constituent of the Ministry this belongs unto the outward Order of their Entrance into the Ministry who are by him called thereunto And concerning this we may observe the things following 1 That this Power in the Church is not Despotical or Lordly but consists in a Faculty Right and Ability to act in this matter obedientially unto the Commands of Christ. Hence all the Acting of the Church in this matter is nothing but an instituted means of conveying Authority and Office from Christ unto Persons called thereunto The Church doth not give them any Authority of it's own or resident in it's self but only in a way of Obedience unto Christ do transmit Power from him unto them who are called Hence do they become the Ministers of Christ and not of the Bishops or Churches or Men holding their Office and Authority from Christ himself by the Law and Rule of the Gospel so that whosoever despiseth them despiseth him also in them Some would have Ministers of the Gospel to receive all their Authority from the People that choose them and some from the Bishops who Ordain them and whence they have theirs I know not But this is to make them Ministers of Men and Servants of Men and to constitute other Masters between them and Christ. And whereas all Church-Power is originally and absolutely vested in Christ and in him solely so that none can be Partaker of the least Interest in it or share of it without a Communication of it from him unto them neither Popes nor Prelates nor People are able to produce any such Grant or Concession of Power unto them from him as that they should have an Authority residing in them and in their Power to despose unto others as thay see cause so as they should hold it from them as a part or efflux of the Power vested in them It is Obedience unto the Law of Christ and following the Guidance of his previous Communication of Gifts as a Means to communicate his Power unto them who are called to the Ministry that is the whole of what is committed unto any in this kind 2 The Church hath no Power to call any unto Office of the Ministry where the Lord Christ hath not gone before it in the Designation of him by an Endowment with Spiritual Gifts For if the whole Authority of the Ministry be from Christ and he never gives it but where he bestows these Gifts with it for it's Discharge as in Eph. 4. 7 8 c. then to call any to the Ministry whom he hath not so previously gifted is to set him aside and to act in our own Names and Authority And by reason of these things the Holy Ghost is said to make Men Overseers of the Flocks who are thus called thereunto because both the Communication of Power in the Constitution of the Law and of Spiritual Gifts by internal effectual Operation are from him alone Acts 20. 28. 3 The outward way and Order whereby a Church may call any Person unto the Office of the Ministry among them and over them is by their joynt solemn Submission unto him in the Lord as unto all the Powers and Duties of this Office testified by their Choice and Election of him It is concerning this outward Order that all the World is fill'd with Disputes about the Call of Men unto the Ministry which yet in Truth is of the least concernment therein For whatever Manner or Order be observed herein if the things before mentioned be not premised thereunto it is of no Validity or Authority On the other hand grant that the Authority of the Ministry dependeth on the Law Ordinance and Institution of Christ that he calls Men unto this Office by the collation of Spiritual Gifts unto them and that the Actings of the Church herein is but an instituted moral means of communicating Office-Power from Christ himself unto any and let but such other things be observed as the Light and Law of Nature requireth in cases of an alike kind and the outward Mode of the Churches acting herein need not much be contended about It may be proved to be a Beam of Truth from the Light of Nature that no Man should be imposed on a Church for their Minister against their Wills or without their express Consent considering that his whole Work is to be conversant about their Understandings Judgments Wills and Affections and that this should be done by their Choice and Election as the Scripture doth manifestly declare Numb 8. 9 10. Acts 1. 23 26. Acts 6. 35. Acts 14. 23. so that it was for some Ages observed Sacredly in the Primitive Churches cannot modestly be denied But how far any People or Church may commit over this Power of declaring their Consent and Acquiescency unto others to act for them and as it were in their stead so as that the Call to Office should yet be valid provided the former Rules be observed I will not much dispute with any though I approve only of what maketh the nearest Approaches to the
withal that the World which in that Place is opposed unto them that do believe cannot receive him Chap. 14. 17. Other effectual Operations he hath upon the World for their Conviction and the Conversion of many of them But as a Spirit of Consolation He is neither promised unto them nor can they receive him until other gracious Acts of his have passed on their Souls Besides we shall see that all his Actings and Effects as a Comforter are confined unto them that believe and do all suppose Saving Faith as antecedent unto them And this is the great Fundamental Priviledge of true Believers whereby through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ they are exalted above all other Persons in this World And this will the more evidently appear when we shall consider those especial Operations Acts and Effects whereby Consolation is administred unto them That the Life of Man is the subject of innumerable Troubles is made evident and uncontroulable by Catholick Experience That Man is born to Trouble as the Sparks fly upward has been the constant Acknowledgment of all that have been wise in all Ages And those who have designed to drown the Sense of them in Security and Sensuality of Life have been ever looked on as greatly exorbitant from the Principles of Nature and Dictates of Reason voluntarily degenerating into the Condition of Creatures bruitish and irrational Others who will not forego the Priviledge of their Being have alwayes made it a principal Enquiry How or whence they might take and receive Relief and Comfort for their Supportment against their unavoidable Troubles Sorrows and Disconsolation Yea it is natural and necessary unto all men so to doe All men cannot but seek after Rest and Peace not only out of Choice but instinct of Nature Trouble and Sorrow being diametrically contrary unto it in its Being and tending unto its Dissolution Wherefore they all naturally seek for Consolation Hence the best and most usefull Part of the Old Philosophy consisted in the Prescription of the Wayes and Means of comforting and supporting the Minds of Men against things noxious and grievous to Nature with the Sorrowes which ensue thereon And the Topicks they had found out unto this Purpose were not to be despised where men are destitute of spiritual Light and supernatural Revelation Neither did the Wisdom or Reason of Man ever arise unto any thing more usefull in this World than to discover any rational Considerations that might allay the Sorrowes or relieve the minds of them that are disconsolate For things that are really grievous unto the Generality of Mankind do outweigh all the real Satisfaction which this Life and World can afford And to place either Satisfaction or Relief in the pursuit of sensual Lusts is bruitish But yet what did all the Spring and Well-Heads of Rational and Philosophical Consolation rise unto what Refreshment did their Streams afford The utmost they attained unto was but to confirm and make obstinate the Minds of men in a Fancy an Opinion or Perswasion contrary unto what they felt and had Experience of For what they contended for was but this that the Consideration of the common Lot of Mankind the unavoidableness of grieving accidents the shortness of humane Life the true Exercise of Reason upon more noble Objects with others of the like nature should satisfie men that the things which they endured were not evil or grievous But what doth all this amount unto in comparison of this Priviledge of Believers of this Provision made for them in all their Disconsolations by him in whom they do believe This is a Relief that never entred into the Heart of man to think of or conceive Nor can it be understood by any but those by whom it is enjoyed For the World as our Saviour testifies neither knoweth this Spirit nor can receive him And therefore what is spoken of him and this Work of his is looked on as a Fancy or the Shadow of a Dream And although the Sun of Righteousness be risen in this matter and shine on all that dwell in the Land of Goshen yet those that abide still in Egypt make use only of their Lanthorns But those who are really Partakers of this Priviledge do know in some measure what they do enjoy although they are not able to comprehend it in its Excellency nor value it in a due manner For how can the Heart of Man or our poor weak Understandings fully conceive this glorious Mystery of sending the Holy Ghost to be our Comforter Only they receive it by Faith and have Experience of it in its Effects There is in my Judgment an unspeakable Priviledge of those who are Believers antecedent unto their believing as they are Elect namely that Christ dyed in their stead alone But this is like the Wells which Isaac's Servant digged that the Philistines strove about as those which belonged unto them which though fresh usefull Springs in themselves caused them to be called Esek and Sitna Mighty strivings there are to break down the Inclosure of this Priviledge and lay it common unto all the World that is indeed Waste and useless For it is contended that the Lord Christ dyed equally for all and every one of Mankind for Believers and Unbelievers for those that are saved and those that are damned And to this purpose many pretences are pleaded to shew how the most of them for whom Christ dyed have no real Benefit by his Death nor is any thing required in them to evidence that they have an Interest therein But this Priviledge we now treat of is like the Well Rehoboth Isaac kept it unto himself and the Philistines strove not about it None contend that the Spirit is a Comforter unto any but Believers Therefore is it by the World despised and reproached because they have no Interest in it nor have the least Pretence to strive about it Did Believers therefore duely consider how they are advanced hereby through the Love and Care of Jesus Christ into an inexpressible Dignity above the residue of Mankind they would more rejoyce in it than in all that this World can supply them withall But we must proceed It appears from what hath been discoursed that this is not the first saving Work of the Holy Spirit on the Souls of Men. Regeneration and habitual Sanctification do always precede it He comforteth none but those whom he hath before sanctified Nor are any other but such capable of his Consolations There is nothing in them that can discern his acting or value what he doth of this kind And this is the true Reason why the whole Work of the Holy Spirit as a Comforter wherein consists the Accomplishment of the most glorious Promise that ever Christ made to his Church and the greatest Evidence of his continued Care thereof is so neglected yea despised amongst the generality of professed Christians A great Evidence of the apostatized State of Christianity They can have no concern in any Work of his but
part of the Body of Christ of the Essence of it by the same quickning animating Spirit of Grace but one is an Eye another an Hand another a Foot in the Body by vertue of peculiar Gifts For unto every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the Gift of Christ Eph. 4. 7. § 2. THESE Gifts are not saving sanctifying Graces those were not so in themselves which made the most glorious and astonishing appearance in the World and which were most eminently useful in the Foundation of the Church and propagation of the Gospel Such as were those that were Extraordinary and Miraculous There is something of the Divine Nature in the least Grace that is not in the most glorious Gift which is only so It will therefore be part of our work to shew wherein the Essential Difference between these Gifts and sanctifying Graces doth consist as also what is their Nature and Use must be enquired into For although they are not Grace yet they are that without which the Church cannot subsist in the World nor can Believers be useful unto one another and the rest of Mankind unto the Glory of Christ as they ought to be They are the powers of the World to come those effectual Operations of the power of Christ whereby his Kingdom was Erected and is preserved § 3. AND hereby is the Church state under the New Testament differenced from that under the Old There is indeed a great Difference between their Ordinances and ours theirs being suited unto the dark apprehensions which they had of Spiritual things ours accommodated unto the clearer Light of the Gospel more plainly and expresly representing Heavenly things unto us Heb. 10. 1. But our Ordinances with their Spirit would be carnal also The principal Difference lyes in the Administration of the Spirit for the due performance of Gospel Worship by vertue of these Gifts bestowed on Men for that very End Hence the whole of Evangelical Worship is called the Ministration of the Spirit and thence said to be glorious 2 Cor. 3. 8. And where they are neglected I see not the Advantage of the outward Worship and Ordinances of the Gospel above those of the Law For although their Institutions are accommodated unto that Administration of Grace and Truth which came by Jesus Christ yet they must lose their whole Glory Force and Efficacy if they be not dispensed and the Duties of them performed by vertue of these spiritual Gifts And therefore no sort of Men by whom they are neglected do or can content themselves with the pure and immixed Gospel Institutions in these things but do rest principally in the outward part of Divine Service in things of their own finding out For as Gospel Gifts are useless without attending unto Gospel Institutions so Gospel Institutions are found to be fruitless and unsatisfactory without the attaining and exercising of Gospel Gifts § 4. BE it so therefore that these Gifts we intend are not in themselves saving Graces yet are they not to be despised For they are as we shall shew The powers of the World to come by means whereof the Kingdom of Christ is preserved carried on and propagated in the World And although they are not Grace yet are they the great means whereby all Grace is ingenerated and exercised And although the spiritual Life of the Church doth not consist in them yet the Order and Edification of the Church depends wholly on them And therefore are they so frequently mentioned in the Scripture as the great priviledge of the New Testament Directions being multiplyed in the Writings of the Apostles about their nature and proper use And we are commanded earnestly to desire and labour after them especially those which are most useful and subservient unto Edification 1 Cor. 12. 31. And as the neglect of Internal saving Grace wherein the power of Godliness doth consist hath been the Bane of Christian Profession as to Obedience issuing in that Form of it which is consistent with all manner of Lusts so the neglect of these Gifts hath been the Ruin of the same Profession as to Worship and Order which hath thereon issued in fond Superstition § 5. THE great and signal promise of the Communication of these Gifts is recorded Psal. 68. 18. Thou hast ascended on high thou hast led Captivity Captive thou hast received Gifts for Men. For these words are applyed by the Apostle unto that Communication of spiritual Gifts from Christ whereby the Church was founded and edified Ephes. 4. 8. And whereas it is foretold in the Psalm that Christ should receive Gifts that is to give them unto Men as that Expression is Expounded by the Apostle so he did this by receiving of the Spirit the proper cause and immodiate Author of them all as Peter declares Acts 2. 23. Therefore being by the Right Hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the Promise of the Holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear speaking of the miraculous Gifts conferred on the Aposties at the Day of Pentecost For these Gifts are from Christ not as God absolutely but as Mediator in which Capacity he received all from the Father in a way of free Donation Thus therefore he received the Spirit as the Author of all spiritual Gifts And whereas all the powers of the World to come consisted in them and the whole work of the Building and Propagation of the Church depended on them the Apostles after all the Instructions they had received from Christ whilst he conversed with them in the Days of his Flesh and also after his Resurrection were commanded not to go about the great work which they had received Commission for until they had received power by the coming of the Holy Ghost upon them in the Communication of those Gifts Acts 1. 4 8. And as they neither might nor could do any thing in their peculiar work as to the laying of the Foundation of the Christian Church until they had actually received those extraordinary Gifts which gave them power so to do so if those who undertake in any Place Degree or Office to carry on the Edification of the Church do not receive those more ordinary Gifts which are continued unto that end they have neither Right to undertake that work nor Power to perform it in a due manner § 6. The things which we are to enquire into concerning these Gifts are 1. Their Name 2. Their Nature in general and therein how they agree with and differ from Saving Graces 3. Their Distinction 4. The particular Nature of them and 5. Their Use in the Church of God § 7. 1. THE general Name of those Spiritual Endowments which we intend is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the Apostle renders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 4. 8. from Psal. 68. 18. Dona Gifts That is they are free and undeserved Effects of Divine Bounty In the Minds of Men on whom they are bestowed they are Spiritual Powers
fulness of him that filleth all in all Ephes. 1. 22 23. But this Church falls under a double Consideration First as it is Believing Secondly as it is Professing In the first respect absolutely it is invisible and as such is the peculiar subject of Saving Grace This is that Church which Christ loved and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it and present it unto himself a Glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be Holy and without Blemish Eph. 5. 26 27. This is the work of Saving Grace and by a participation thereof do Men become Members of this Church and not otherwise And hereby is the professing Church quickened and enabled unto Profession in an acceptable manner â—or the Elect receive Grace unto this end in this World that they may glorifie Christ and the Gospel in the Exercise of it Col. 1. 6. John 15. 8. But Gifts are bestowed on the professing Church to render it visible in such a way as whereby God is glorified Grace gives an invisible Life to the Church Gifts give it a visible Profession For hence doth the Church become Organical and disposed into that Order which is Beautiful and Comely Where any Church is Organized meerly by outward Rules perhaps of their own devising and makes Profession only in an attendance unto outward Order not following the leading of the Spirit in the Communication of his Gifts both as to Order and Discharge of the Duties of Profession it is but the Image of a Church wanting an animating Principle and Form That Profession which renders a Church visible according to the Mind of Christ is the orderly Exercise of the spiritual Gifts bestowed on it in a Conversation evidencing the invisible Principle of Saving Grace Now these Gifts are conferred on the Church in order unto the Edification of it self in Love Ephes. 4 16. as also the propagation of its Profession in the World as shall be declared afterwards Wherefore both of these sorts have in general the same end or are given by Christ unto the same purpose namely the Good and Benefit of the Church as they are respectively suited to promote them § 6. It may also be added that they agree herein that they have both the same respect unto the Bounty of Christ. Hence every Grace is a Gift that which is given and freely bestowed on them that have it Mat. 13. 11. Phil. 1. 29. And although on the other side every Gift be not a Grace yet proceeding from gracious Favour and Bounty they are so called Rom. 12. 6. Ephes. 4. 7. How in their due Exercise they are mutually helpful and assistant unto each other shall be declared afterwards § 7. SECONDLY We may consider wherein wherein the Difference lyes or doth consist which is between 〈◊〉 spiritual Gifts and sanctifying Graces And this may be seen in sundry Instances As 1. SAVING Graces are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Fruit or Fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5. 22. Ephes. 5. 9. Phil. 1. 11. Now Fruits proceed from an abiding Root and flock of whose Nature they do partake There must be a good Tree to bring forth good Fruit Mat. 12. 33. No external Watering or Applications unto the Earth will cause it to bring forth useful Fruits unless they are Roots from which they spring and are educed The Holy Spirit is as the Root unto these Fruits the Root which bears them and which they do not bear as Rom. 11. 18. Therefore in order of Nature is he given unto Men before the production of any of these Fruits Thereby are they ingrafted into the Olive are made such Branches in Christ the true Vine as derive Vital Juice Nourishment and Fructifying Vertue from him even by the Spirit So is he a Well of Water springing up unto Everlasting Life John 4. 14. He is a Spring in Believers and all saving Graces are but Waters arising from that Living overflowing Spring From him a Root or Spring as an internal Vertue Power or Principle do all these Fruits come To this end doth he dwell in them and abide with them according to the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ John 14. 17. Rom. 8. 11. 1 Cor. 3. 16. whereby the Lord Christ effecteth his purpose in ordaining his Disciples to bring forth Fruit that should remain John 15. 16. In the place of his Holy Residence he worketh these Effects freely according to his own will And there is nothing that hath the true Nature of saving Grace but what is so a Fruit of the Spirit We have not first these Graces and then by vertue of them receive the Spirit for whence should we have them of our selves but the Spirit bestowed on us worketh them in us and gives them a Spiritual Divine Nature in conformity unto his own § 8. With Gifts singly considered it is Otherwise They are indeed Works and Effects but not properly Fruits of the Spirit nor are any where so called They are effects of his operation upon Men not Fruits of his working in them And therefore many receive these Gifts who never receive the Spirit as to the principal ends for which he is promised They receive him not to sanctifie and make them Temples unto God though Metonymically with respect unto his outward Effects they may be said to be made partakers of him This renders them of a different Nature and kind from Saving Graces For whereas there is an Agreement and Coincidence between them in the respects before mentioned and whereas the Seat and Subject of them that is of Gifts absolutely and principally of Graces also is the Mind the difference of their Nature proceeds from the different manner of their Communication from the Holy Spirit § 9. Secondly Saving Grace proceeds from or is the effect and fruit of Electing Love This I have proved before in our Enquiry into the Nature of Holiness See it directly asserted Ephes. 1. 3 4. 2 Thes. 2. 13. Acts 2 41. Chap. 13. 48. Whom God graciously chuseth and designeth unto Eternal Life them he prepares for it by the Communication of the Means which are necessary unto that end Rom. 8. 28 29 30. Hereof Sanctification or the Communication of saving Grace is comprehensive for we are chosen unto Salvation through the Sanctification of the Spirit 2 Thes. 2. 13. For this is that whereby we are made meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Col. 1. 12. The End of God in Election is the Sonship and Salvation of the Elect unto the praise of the Glory of his Grace Ephes. 1. 5 6. And this cannot be unless his Image be renewed in them in Holiness or Saving Graces These therefore he works in them in pursuit of his Eternal purpose therein But Gifts on the other hand which are no more but so and where they are solitary or alone are only the Effects of a temporary Election Thus God chuseth some Men into some Office in the Church or unto some
from External Causes and Considerations And 1 As to the different Subjects of them Spiritual Gifts are placed and seated in the Mind or Understanding only whether they are ordinary or extraordinary they have no other Hold nor Residence in the Soul And they are in the Mind as it is Notional and Theoretical rather than as it is practical They are Intellectual Abilities and no more I speak of them which have any Residence in us For some Gifts as Miracles and Tongues consisted only in a transient Operation of an extraordinary Power Of all others Illumination is the Foundation and Spiritual Light their Matter So the Apostle declares in his Order of Expression Heb. 6. 4. The Will and the Affections and the Conscience are unconcerned in them Wherefore they change not the Heart with Power although they may reform the Life by the Efficacy of Light And although God doth not ordinarily bestow them on flagitious Persons nor continue them with such as after the reception of them become flagitious yet they may be in those who were unrenewed and have nothing in them to preserve Men absolutely from the worst of Sins But Saving Grace possesseth the whole Soul Men are thereby sanctified throughout in the whole Spirit Soul and Body 1 Thes. 5. 17. as hath been at large declared Not the Mind only is savingly enlightened but there is a Principle of Spiritual Life infused into the whole Soul enabling it in all its Powers and Faculties to act Obedientially unto God whose Nature hath been fully explained elsewhere Hence 2. They differ in their Operations For Grace changeth and transformeth the whole Soul into its own Nature Isa. 11. 6 7 8. Rom. 6. 17. Chap. 12. 2. 2 Cor. 3. 18. It is a New a Divine Nature unto the Soul and is in it an Habit disposing inclining and enabling of it unto Obedience It acts it self in Faith Love and Holiness in all things But Gifts of themselves have not this Power nor these Operations They may and do in those who are possessed of them in and under their Exercise make great impression on their own Affections but they change not the Heart they renew not the Mind they transform not the Soul into the Image of God Hence where Grace is predominant every Notion of Light and Truth which is Communicated unto the Mind is immediately turned into practice by having the whole Soul cast into the Mould of it where only Gifts bear sway the use of it in Duties unto Edification is best whereunto it is designed 3. As to Effects or Consequents the great difference is that on the part of Christ Christ doth thereby dwell and reside in our Hearts when concerning many of those who have been made partakers of these other Spiritual Endowments he will say Depart from me I never knew you which he will not say of any one whose Soul he hath inhabited § 16. These are some of the principal Agreements and Differences between Saving Graces and Spiritual Gifts both sorts of them being wrought in Believers by that one and self-same Spirit which divideth to every one as he will And sor a close of this discourse I shall only add that where these Graces and Gifts in any Eminency or good Degree are bestowed on the same Persons they are exceedingly helpful unto each other A Soul sanctified by Saving Grace is the only proper Soil for Gifts to flourish in Grace Influenceth Gifts unto a due Exercise prevents their abuse stirs them up unto proper occasions keeps them from being a matter of Pride or Contention and subordinates them in all things unto the Glory of God When the actings of Grace and Gifts are inseparable as when in Prayer the Spirit is a Spirit of Grace and Supplication the Grace and Gift of it working together when utterance in other Duties is always accompanied with Faith and Love then is God glorified and our own Salvation promoted Then have Edifying Gifts a Beauty and Lustre upon them and generally are most successful when they are cloathed and adorned with Humility Meekness a Reverence of God and Compassion for the Souls of Men. Yea when there is no evidence no manifestation of their being accompanied with these and the like Graces they are but as a Parable or wise Saying in the Mouth of a Fool. Gifts on the other side excite and stir up Grace unto its proper Exercise and Operations How often is Faith Love and Delight in God excited and drawn forth unto especial Exercise in Believers by the use of their own Gifts And thus much may suffice as to the Nature of these Gifts in general we next consider them under their most general Distributions CHAP. III. Of Gifts and Offices Extraordinary And first of Offices § 1. THE Spiritual Gifts whereof we treat respect either Powers and Duties in the Church or Duties only Gifts that respect Powers and Duties are of two sorts or there have been or are at any time two sorts of such Powers and Duties The first whereof was Extraordinary the latter Ordinary and consequently the Gifts subservient unto them must be of two sorts also which must further be cleared § 2. Wherever Power is given by Christ unto his Churches and Duiies are required in the execution of that Power unto the Ends of his Spiritual Kingdom to be performed by vertue thereof there is an Office in the Church For an Ecclesiastical Office is an especial Power given by Christ unto any Person or Persons for the performance of especial Duties belonging unto the Edification of the Church in an especial manner And these Offices have been of two sorts 1. Extraordinary 2. Ordinary Some seem to deny that there was ever any such thing as Extraordinary Power or Extraordinary Offices in the Church For they do provide Successors unto all who are pleaded to have been of that kind and those such as look how far short they come of them in other things do exceed them in Power and Rule I shall not contend about words and shall therefore only enquire what it was that constituted them to be Officers of Christ in his Church whom thence we call Extraordinary and then if others can duely lay claim unto them they may be allowed to pass for their Successors § 3. THERE are four things which constitute an extraordinary Officer in the Church of God and consequently are required in and do constitute an extraordinary Office 1. An extraordinary Call unto an Office such as none other have or can have by virtue of any Law Order or Constitution whatever 2. An Extraordinary Power communicated unto Persons so called enabling them to act what they are so called unto wherein the Essence of any Office doth consist 3. Extraordinary Gifts for the Exercise and Discharge of that Power 4. Extraordinary Imployment as to its extent and measure requiring extraordinary Labour Travail Zeal and Self-denial All these do and must concur in that Office and unto those Offices which we call Extraordinary § 4.
an Evangelist by especial Revelation or Prophesie the Apostle laid his Hands on him whereby he received the Holy Ghost in his extraordinary Gifts The Gift of God which was in him by the putting on of his Hands 2 Tim. 1. 6. And as it was usual with him to joyn others with himself in those Epistles which he wrote by immediate Divine Inspiration so in this Act of laying his Hands on an Evangelist as a Sign of the Communication of extraordinary Gifts he joyned the Ordinary Presbytery of the Church with him that were present in the place where he was so called It is evident therefore that both their Call and their Gifts were extraordinary and therefore so also was their Office For although Men who have only an Ordinary Call to Office may have Extraordinary Gifts and many had so in Primitive Times And although some might have Extraordinary Gifts who were never called unto Office at all as some of those who spake with Tongues and wrought Miracles yet where there is a Concurrence of an Extraordinary Call and Extraordinary Gifts there the Office is Extraordinary § 13. THE Power that these Officers in the Church were entrusted with was Extraordinary For this is a certain Consequent of an Extraordinary Call and Extraordinary Gifts And this Power respected all Churches in the World equally yea and all Persons as the Apostles also did But whereas their Ministry was subordinate unto that of the Apostles they were by them guided as to the particular places wherein they were to exercise their Power and discharge their Office for a Season This is evident from Paul's Disposal of Titus as to his Work and Time Tit. 1. 5. Chap. 3. 12. But yet their Power did at no time depend on their Relation unto any particular place or Churcb nor were they ever Ordained to any one Place or See more than another But the Extent of their Employment was every way as large as that of the Apostles both as to the World and as to the Churches only in their present particular Disposal of themselves they were as it is probable for the most part under the Guidance of the Apostles although sometimes they had particular Revelations and Directions from the Holy Ghost or by the Ministry of Angels for their especial Employment as Philip had Acts 8. 26. § 14. AND as for their Work it may be reduced unto Three Heads 1 To Preach the Gospel in all Places unto all Persons as they had occasion So Philip went down to Samaria and preached Christ Acts 8. 5. And when the Apostle Paul chargeth Timothy to do the Work of an Evangelist 2 Tim. 4. 5. he prescribes unto him Preaching the Word in Season and out of Season ver 2. And whereas this was incumbent in like manner on the Ordinary Teachers of every Church the Teaching of those Evangelists differed from theirs in two things 1 In the Extent of their Work which as we shewed before was equal unto that of the Apostles whereas Ordinary Bishops Pastors or Teachers were to feed teach and take care of the especial Flocks only which they were set over Acts 20. 17 18. 1 Pet. 5. 2. 2 They were obliged to labour in their Work in a more than ordinary manner as it should seem from 2 Tim. 4. 5. 2ly The Second Part of their Work was to confirm the Doctrine of the Gospel by Miraculous Operations as occasion did require So Philip the Evangelist wrought many Miracles of sundry sorts at Samaria in the Confirmation of the Doctrine which he taught Acts 8. 6 7 13. And in like manner there is no question but that the rest of the Evangelists had the Power or Gift of Miraculous Operations to be exercised as occasion did require and as they were guided by the Holy Ghost 3 They were employed in the settling and compleating of those Churches whose Foundations were laid by the Apostles For whereas they had the great Work upon them of Preaching the Gospel unto all Nations they could not continue long or reside in any one Place or Church And yet when Persons were newly converted to the Faith and disposed only into an Imperfect Order without any especial peculiar Officers Guides or Rulers of their own it was not safe leaving of them unto themselves lest they should be too much at a Loss as to Gospel-Order and Worship Wherefore in such places where any Churches were planted but not compleated nor would the Design of the Apostles suffer them to continue any longer there they left these Evangelists among them for a Season who had Power by vertue of their Office to dispose of things in the Churches until they came unto Compleatness and Perfection When this End was attained and the Churches were settled under Ordinary Elders of their own the Evangelists removed into other places according as they were directed or disposed These things are evident from the Instructions given by Paul unto Timothy and Titus which have all of them respect unto this Order § 15. Some there are who plead for the Continuance of this Office Some in express Terms and under the same Name Others for Successors unto them at least in that part of their Work which consisteth in Power over many Churches Some say that Bishops succeed to the Apostles and Presbyters unto those Evangelists But this is scarce defensible in any tolerable manner by them whose Interest it is to defend it For Timothy whom they would have to be a Bishop is expresly called an Evangelist That which is pleaded with most probability for their Continuance is the Necessity of the Work wherein they were employed in the Rule and Settlement of the Churches But the Truth is if their whole Work as before described be consulted as none can perform some parts of it so it may be very few would over-earnestly press after a Participation of their Office For to preach the Word continually and that with a peculiar Labour and Travail and to move up and down according as the Necessity of the Edification of the Churches doth require doing nothing in them but according to the Rule and Appointment of Christ are things that not many will earnestly covet to be engaged in But there is an Apprehension that there was something more than Ordinary Power belonging unto this Office that those who enjoyed it were not obliged always to labour in any particular Church but had the Rule of many Churches committed unto them Now whereas this Power is apt to draw other desireable things unto it or carry them along with it this is that which some pretend a Succession unto Though they are neither Called like them nor Gifted like them nor Labour like them nor have the same Object of their Employment much less the same Power of Extraordinary Operations with them yet as to the Rule over sundry Churches they must needs be their Successors I shall therefore briefly do these two things 1 Shew that there are no such Officers as these Evangelists
continued by the Will of Christ in the ordinary State and Course of the Chrrch. 2 That there is no need of their Continuance from any Work applied unto them § 16. AND 1. The things that are Essential unto the Office of an Evangelist are unattainable at present unto the Church For where no Command no Rule no Authority no Directions are given for the calling of any Officer there that Office must cease as doth that of the Apostles who could not be called but by Jesus Christ. What is required unto the Call of an Evangelist was before declared And unless it can be manifested either by Institution or Example how any one may be otherwise called unto that Office no such Office can be continued For a Call by Prophesie or Immediate Revelation none now will pretend unto And other Call the Evangelists of Old had none § 17. NOR is there in the Scripture the least mention of the Call or Appointment of any one to be an Ecclesiastical Officer in an Ordinary stated Church but with Relation unto that Church whereof he was or was to be an Officer But an Evangelist as such was not especially related unto any one Church more than another though as the Apostles themselves they might for a time attend unto the Work in one Place or Church rather or more than another Wherefore without a Call from the Holy Ghost either immediate by Prophesie and Revelation or by the Direction of Persons infallibly inspired as the Apostles were none can be called to be Evangelists nor yet to succeed them under any other Name in that Office Wherefore the Primitive Church after the Apostles time never once took upon them to constitute or Ordain an Evangelist as knowing it a thing beyond their Rule and out of their Power Men may invade an Office when they please but unless they be called unto it they must account for their Usurpation And as for those who have erected an Office in the Church or an Episcopacy principally if not solely out of what is ascribed unto these Evangelists namely to Timothy and Titus they may be further attended unto in their Claim when they lay the least Pretence unto the whole of what is ascribed unto them But this doing the Work of an Evangelist is that which few Men care for or delight in only their Power und Authority in a new kind of Mannagery many would willingly possess themselves of § 18. 2. THE Evangelists we read of had extraordinary Gifts of the Holy Spirit without which they could not warrantably undertake their Office This we have manifested before Now these extraordinary Gifts differing not only in Degrees but in Kind from all those of the Ordinary Ministry of the Church are not at present by any pretended unto And if any should make such a Pretence it would be an easie matter to convince them of their Folly But without these Gifts men must content themselves with such Offices in the Church as are stated with respect unto every particular Congregation Acts 14. 23. Chap. 20. 28. Tit. 1. 5. 1 Pet. 5. 1 2. Phil. 1. 1. § 19. SOME indeed seem not satisfied whether to derive their Claim from Timothy and Titus as Evangelists or from the Bishops that were Ordained by them or described unto them But whereas those Bishops were no other but Elders of particular Churches as is evident beyond a modest Denyal from Acts 20. 28. Phil. 1. 1. 1 Tim. 3. 1 2 8. Tit. 1. 4 5. So certainly they cannot be of both sorts the one being apparently superiour unto the other If they are such Bishops as Titus and Timothy Ordained it is well enough known both what is their Office their Work and their Duty If such as they pretend Timothy and Titus to be they must manifest it in the like Call Gifts and Employment as they had § 20. FOR 3 There are not any now who do pretend unto their Principal Employment by Vertue of Office nor can so do For it is certain that the Principal Work of the Evangelists was to go up and down from one Place and Nation unto another to preach the Gospel unto Jews and Gentiles as yet unconverted and their Commission unto this purpose was as large and extensive as that of the Apostles But who shall now empower any one hereunto What Church what Persons have received Authority to Ordain any one to be such an Evangelist Or what Rules or Directions are given as to their Qualifications Power or Duty or how they should be so ordained It is true those who are ordained Ministers of the Gospel and others also that are the Disciples of Christ may and ought to preach the Gospel to unconverted Persons and Nations as they have opportunity and are particularly guided by the Providence of God But that any Church or Person have Power or Authority to ordain a Person unto this Office and Work cannot be proved § 21. LASTLY The Continuance of the Employment as unto the Settling of new planted Churches is no way necessary For every Church being planted and settled is entrusted with Power for it's own Preservation and continuance in due Order according to the Mind of Christ and is enabled to do all those things in it self which at first were done under the Guidance of the Evangelists nor can any one Instance be given wherein they are defective And where any Church was called and gathered in the Name of Christ which had some things yet wanting unto it's Perfection and Compleat Order which the Evangelists were to finish and settle they did it not but in and by the Power of the Church it self only presiding and directing in the things to be done And if any Churches through their own Default have lost that Order and Power which they were once established in as they shall never want Power in themselves to recover their pristine Estate and Condition who will attend unto their Duty according unto Rule to that purpose So this would rather prove a Necessity of raising up new Evangelists of a new extraordinary Ministry on the Defection of Churches than the continuance of them in the Church rightly stated and settled § 22. Besides these Evangelists there were Prophets also who had a Temporary Extraordinary Ministry in the Church Their grant from Christ or Institution in the Church is mentioned 1 Cor. 12. 28. Ephes. 4. 11. and the Exercise of their Ministry is declared Acts 13. 1. But the Names of Prophets and Prophesie are used variously in the New Testament For sometimes an Extraordinary Office and Extraordinary Gifts are signified by them and sometimes Extraordinary Gifts only sometimes an Ordinary Office with Ordinary Gifts and sometimes Ordinary Gifts only And unto one of these Heads may the use of the word be every where reduced In the places mentioned Extraordinary Officers endued with Extraordinary Gifts are intended For they are said to be set in the Church and are placed in the second Rank of Officers next to the
Apostles first Apostles secondarily Prophets 1 Cor. 12. 28. between them and Evangelists Ephes. 4. 11. And two things are ascribed unto them 1. That they received immediate Revelations and Directions from the Holy Ghost in things that belonged unto the present Duty of the Church Unto them it was that the Holy Ghost revealed his Mind and gave Commands concerning the separation of Barnabas and Saul unto their Work Acts 13. 2. 2. They foretold things to come by the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost wherein the Duty or Edification of the Church was concerned So Agabus the Prophet foretold the Famine in the days of Claudius Caesar whereon Provision was made for the poor Saints at Hierusalem that they might not suffer by it Acts 11. 28 29. And the same Person afterwards prophesied of the Bonds and Sufferings of Paul at Hierusalem Acts 21. 10 11. And the samething it being of the highest Concernment unto the Church was as it should seem revealed unto the Prophets that were in most Churches for so himself gives an account hereof And now behold I go bound in the Spirit unto Hierusalem not knowing the things that shall befall me there save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every City that Bonds and Afflictions abide me Acts 20. 21 22. That is in all the Cities he passed through where there were Churches planted and Prophets in them These things the Churches then stood in need of for their Confirmation Direction and Comfort and were therefore I suppose most of them supplyed with such Officers for a Season that is whilst they were needful And unto this Office though expresly affirmed to be set in the Church and placed between the Apostles and the Evangelists none that I know of do pretend a Succession All grant that they were extraordinary because their Gift and Work was so but so were those of Evangelists also But there is no mention of the Power and Rule of these Prophets or else undoubtedly we should have had on one pretence or other Successors provided for them § 23. 2dly Sometimes an Extraordinary Gift without Office is intended in this Expression So it is said that Philip the Evangelist had four Daughters Virgins which did Prophesie Acts 21. 9. It is not said that they were Prophetesses as there were some under the Old Testament only that they did Prophesie that is they had Revelations from the Holy Ghost occasionally for the use of the Church For to Prophesie is nothing but to declare hidden and secret things by virtue of immediate Revelation be they of what Nature they will and so is the word commonly used Mat. 26. 68. Luke 22. 64. So an Extraordinary Gift without Office is expressed Acts 19. 6. And when Paul had laid his Hands upon them the Holy Ghost came and they spake with Tongues and Prophesied Their Prophesying which was their Declaration of Spiritual things by immediate Revelation was of the same Nature with their speaking with Tongues both Extraordinary Gifts and Operations of the Holy Ghost And of this sort were those Miracles Healings and Tongues which God for a time set in the Church which did not constitute distinct Officers in the Church but they were only sundry Persons in each Church which were endued with these Extraordinary Gifts for its Edification And therefore are they placed after Teachers comprizing both which were the principal sort of the ordinary continuing Officers of the Church 1 Cor. 12. 28. And of this sort do I reckon those Prophets to be who are treated of 1 Cor. 14. 29 30 31 32 33. For that they were neither stated Officers in the Churches nor yet the Brethren of the Church promiscuously but such as had received an especial Extraordinary Gift is evident from the Context see verse 30. 37. § 24. AGAIN an Ordinary Office with Ordinary Gifts is intended by this Expression Rom. 12. 6. Having then Gifts differing according to the Grace that is given to us whether Prophesie let us Prophesie according to the proportion of Faith Prophesie here can intend nothing but Teaching or Preaching in the Exposition and Application of the Word for an External Rule is given unto it in that it must be done according to the proportion of Faith or the sound Doctrine of Faith revealed in the Scripture And this ever was and will ever continue to be the Work and Duty of the ordinary Teachers of the Church whereunto they are enabled by the Gifts of Christ which they receive by the Holy Ghost Eph. 4. 7. as we shall see more afterwards And hence also those who are not called unto Office who have yet received a Gift enabling them to declare the Mind of God in the Scripture unto the Edification of others may be said to Prophesie § 25. AND these things I thought meet to interpose with a brief Description of those Officers which the Lord Jesus Christ granted unto his Church for a Season at its first Planting and Establishment with what belonged unto their Office and the necessity of their Work For the Collation of them on the Church and their whole Furniture with Spiritual Gifts was the immediate Work of the Holy Ghost which we are in the Declaration of and withall it was my Design to manifest how vain is the pretence of some unto a kind of Succession unto these Officers who have neither an Extrordinary Call nor Extraordinary Gifts nor Extraordinary Imployment but only are pleased to assume an Extraordinary Power unto themselves over the Churches and Disciples of Christ and that such as neither Evangelists nor Prophets nor Apostles did ever claim or make use of But this matter of Power is Fuel in it self unto the Proud Ambitious Minds of Diotrephists and as now circumstanced with other Advantages is useful to the corrupt Lusts of Men and therefore it is no wonder if it be pretended unto and greedily reached after by such as really have neither Call to the Ministry nor Gifts for it nor do employ themselves in it And therefore as in these Extraordinary Officers and their Gifts did consist the Original Glory and Honour of the Churches in an especial manner and by them was their Edification carried on and perfected so by an empty pretence unto their Power without their Order and Spirit the Churches have been stained and deformed and brought to destruction But we must return unto the Consideration of Extraordinary Spiritual Gifts which is the especial Work before us CHAP. IV. Extraordinary Spiritual Gifts 1 Cor. 12. v. 8 9 10 11. § 1. EXTRAORDINARY Spiritual Gifts were of two sorts First Such as absolutely exceed the whole Power and Faculties of our Minds and Souls These therefore did not consist in an abiding Principle or Faculty alway resident in them that received them so as that they could Exercise them by vertue of any inherent Power and Ability They were so granted unto some Persons in the Execution of their Office as that so often as was needful they could produce their Effects by
together and were confounded Acts 2. 6. So the multitude gathered together at Lystra upon the Curing of the Cripple by Paul and Barnabas thinking them to have been Gods Acts 14. 11. When therefore any were so amazed with seeing the Miracles that were wrought hearing that they were so in the confirmation of the Doctrine of the Gospel they could not but enquire with Diligence into it and cast out those Prejudices which before they had entertained against it 2. They gave Authority unto the Ministers of the Church For whereas on outward accounts they were despised by the Great Wise and Learned Men of the World it was made evident by these Divine Operations that their Ministry was of God and what they taught approved by him And where these two things were effected namely that a sufficient yea an eminently cogent Ground and Reason was given why Men should impartially enquire into the Doctrine of the Gospel and an evidence given that the Teachers of it were approved of God unless Men were signally Captivated under the power of Sathan 2 Cor. 4. 4. or given up of God judicially unto Blindness and Hardness of Heart it could not be but that the prejudices which they had of themselves or might receive from others against the Gospel must of necessity be prevailed against and conquered And as many of the Jews were so hardned and blinded at that time Rom. 11. 7 8 9 10. 1 Thes. 2. 14 15 16. so it is marvellous to consider with what Artifices Sathan bestirred himself among the Gentiles by false and lying Signs and Wonders with many other ways to take off from the Testimony given unto the Gospel by these Miraculous Operations AND this was that which Miracles were designed unto towards unbelievers namely to take away prejudices from the Doctrine of the Gospel and the Persons by whom it was taught so disposing the Minds of Men unto an attendance unto it and the Reception of it For they were never means instituted of God for the ingenerating of Faith in any but only to provoke and prevail with Men to attend unprejudicately unto that whereby it was to be wrought For Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Rom. 10. 17. And therefore whatever Miracles were wrought if the Word preached was not received if that did not accompany them in its powerful Operation they were but despised Thus whereas some upon hearing of the Apostles speak with Tongues mocked and said These Men are full of new Wine Acts 2. 13. yet upon preaching of the Word which ensued they were Converted unto God And the Apostle Paul tells us that if there were nothing but miraculous speaking with Tongues in the Church and Unbeliever coming in would say they were all mad 1 Cor. 14. 23. who by the Word of Prophesie would be convinced judged and converted unto God ver 24 25. 3. They were of singular use to confirm and establish in the Faith those who were weak and newly Converted For whereas they were assaulted on every hand by Sathaen the World and it may be their nearest Relations and that with Contempt Scorn and Cruel Mocking it was a singular Confirmation and Establishment to behold the miraculous Operations which were wrought in the approbation of the Doctrine which they did profess Hereby was a sence of it more and more let into and impressed on their Minds until by an habitual Experience of its Goodness Power and Efficacy they were established in the Truth § 22. PROPHESY is added in the sixth place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To another Prophesie that is is given by the same Spirit Of this Gift of Prophesie we have sufficiently treated before Only I take it here in its largest Sense both as it signifies a faculty of Prediction or foretelling things future upon Divine Revelation or an Ability to declare the Mind of God from the Word by the especial and immediate Revelation of the Holy Ghost The first of these was more rare the latter more ordinary and common And it may be there were few Churches wherein besides their Elders and Teachers by vertue of their Office there were not some of these Prophets so of those who had this Gift of Prophesie enabling in an eminent manner to declare the Mind of God from the Scriptures unto the Edification of the Church It is expressed that there were some of them in the Church at Antioch Acts 13. 1 2. and many of them in the Church at Corinth 1 Cor. 14. For this Gift was of singular use in the Church and therefore as to the end of the Edification thereof is preferred by our Apostle above all other Gifts of the Spirit whatever 1 Cor. 12. 31. Chap. 14. 1 39. For it had a double use 1. The Conviction and Conversion of such as came in occasionally into their Church Assemblies Those unto whom the propagation of the Gospel was principally committed went up and down the World laying hold on all occasions to preach it unto Jews and Gentiles as yet unconverted And where Churches were gathered and settled the principal work of their Teachers was to Edifie them that did believe But whereas some would come in among them into their Church Assemblies perhaps out of Curiosity perhaps out of worse designs the Apostle declares that of all the Ordinances of the Church this of Prophecy was suited unto the Conviction and Conversion of all Unbelievers and is oft-times Blessed thereunto whereby this and that Man is Born in Sion 2dly This Exposition and Application of the Word by many and that by vertue of an extraordinary assistance of the Spirit of God was of singular use in the Church it self For if all Scripture given by Inspiration from God so expounded and applyed be profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness the more the Church enjoyeth thereof the more will its Faith Love Obedience and Consolation be encreased Lastly the manner of the Exercise of this Gift in the Church unto Edification is prescribed and limited by our Apostle 1 Cor. 14. 29 30 31 32 33. And first he would not have the Church burdened with the most profitable Gift or its exercise and therefore determines that at one time not above two or three be suffered to speak that is one after another that the Church be neither wearied nor burthened ver 29. Secondly Because it was possible that some of them who had this Gift might mix somewhat of their own Spirits in their Word and Ministry and therein mistake and err from the Truth he requires that the other who had the like Gift and so were understanding in the Mind of God should judge of what was spoken by them so as the Church might not be led into any Errour by them let the other judge Thirdly That order he observed in their Exercise and especially that way be given unto any immediate Revelation and no Confusion be brought into the Church by many speaking at the same
time And this Direction manifests that the Gift was extraordinary and is now ceased though there be a continuance of ordinary Gifts of the same kind and to the same end in the Church as we shall see afterwards ver 30. Fourthly By the observation of this order the Apostle shews that all the Prophets might exercise their Gift unto the Instruction and Consolation of the Church in a proper Season such as their frequent Assemblies would afford them ver 31. And whereas it may be objected that these things coming in an extraordinary immediate manner from the Holy Ghost it was not in the power of them who recieved them to confine them unto the order prescribed which would seem to limit the Holy Spirit in his operations whereas they were all to speak as the Spirit gave them Ability and Utterance let what would ensue the Apostle assures them by a general Principle that no such thing would follow on a due use and exercise of this Gift For God saith he is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace as in all Churches of the Saints ver 33. As if he should have said If such a course should be taken that any one should speak and prophesie as he pretended himself to be moved by the Spirit and to have none to judge of what he said all Confusion Tumult and Disorder would ensue thereon But God is the Author of no such thing gives no such Gifts appoints no such exercise of them as would tend thereunto But how shall this be prevented seeing these things are extraordinary and not in our own power yea saith he the Spirit of the Prophets is subject to the Prophets ver 32. By the Spirit of the Prophets that their Spiritual Gift and Ability for its exercise is intended none do question And whereas the Apostle had taught two things concerning the Exercise of this Gift 1 That it ought to be Orderly to avoid Confusion 2 That what proceedeth from it ought to be judged by others he manifests that both these may be observed because the Spirit of the Prophets is subject to the Prophets that is both their Spiritual Gift is so in their own Power as that they might dispose themselves unto its Exercise with Choice and Judgment so as to preserve Order and Peace not being acted as with an Enthusiastical Afflation and carried out of eheir own Power this Gift in it's Exercise was subject unto their own Judgment Choice and Understanding so what they expressed by vertue of their Spiritual Gift was subject to be judged of by the other Prophets that were in the Church Thus was the Peace and Order of the Church to be preserved and the Edefication of it to be promoted § 25. Discerning of Spirits is the next Gift of the Spirit here enumerated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To another the Discernings of Spirits the Ability and Faculty of Judging of Spirits The Dijudication of Spirits This Gift I have upon another occasion formerly given an Account of and therefore shall here but briefly touch upon it All Gospel-Administrations were in those Days avowedly executed by Vertue of Spiritual Gifts No Man then durst set his Hand unto this Work but such as either really had or highly pretended unto a Participation of the Holy Ghost For the Administration of the Gospel is the Dispensation of the Spirit This therefore was pleaded by all in the preaching of the Word whether in private Assemblies or publickly to the World But it came also then to pass as it did in all Ages of the Church that where God gave unto any the extraordinary Gifts of his Spirit for the Reformation or Edification of the Church there Sathan suborned some to make a Pretence thereunto unto it's Trouble and Destruction So was it under the Old Testament and so was it foretold that it should be under the New So the Apostle Peter having declared the Nature and Excellency Use and Certainty of that Prophesie which was of old 2 Pet. 1. 19 20 21. adds thereunto But there were false Prophets also among the People Chap. 2. 1. That is when God granted that signal Priviledge unto the Church of the Immediate Revelation of his Will unto them by the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost which constituted Men true Prophets of the Lord Sathan stirred up others to pretend unto the same Spirit of Prophesie for his own malicious Ends whereby there were false Prophets also among the People But it may be it will be otherwise now under the Gospel Church State No saith he There shall be false Teachers among you that is Persons pretending to the same Spiritual Gift that the Apostles and Evangelists had yet bringing in thereby damnable Heresies Now all their damnable Opininions they Fathered upon immediate Revelations of the Spirit This gave occasion to the Holy Apostle John to give that Caution with his Reason of it which is expressed 1 John 4. 1 2 3. which Words we have opened before And this false Pretence unto extraordinary Spiritual Gifts the Church was tried and pestred withall so long as there was any occasion to give it Countenance namely whilst such Gifts were really continued unto any therein What way then had God Ordained for the Preservation and Safety of the Church that it should not be imposed upon by any of these Delusions I answer There was a Standing Rule in the Church whereby whatsoever was or could be offered Doctrinally unto it might certainly and infallibly be tryed judged and determined on And this was the Rule of the written Word according to that everlasting Ordinance To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no light in them Isa. 8. 20. This in all Ages was sufficient for the Preservation of the Church from all Errors and Heresies or damnable Doctrines which it never fell into nor shall do so but in the sinful Neglect and Contempt hereof Moreover the Apostle further directs the Application of this Rule unto present occasions by advising us to fix on some Fundamental Principles which are likely to be opposed and if they are not owned and avowed to avoid such Teachers whatever Spiritual Gift they pretend unto 1 John 4. 2 3. 2 John 9 10 11. But yet because many in those Days were weak in the Faith and might be surprized with such Pretences God had graciously provided and bestowed the Gift here mentioned on some it may be in every Church namely of Discerning of Spirits They could by Vertue of the Extraordinary Gift and Aid therein of the Holy Ghost make a true Judgment of the Spirits that Men pretended to act and to be acted by whether they were of God or no. And this was of singular Use and Benefit unto the Church in those Days For as Spiritual Gifts abounded so did a Pretence unto them which was always accompanied with pernicious Designs Herein therefore did God grand Relief for them who were either less skilful or less
worthy the Name of a Christian. The common way insisted on unto this End is that those who have most Force and Power should set up Standards and Measures of Agreement compelling others by all ways of Severity and Violence to a Compliance therewith judging them the highest Offenders who shall refuse so to do because the determining and settling of this matter is committed unto them This is the way of Antichrist and those who follow him therein Others with more Moderation and Wisdom but with as little Success do or have endeavoured the Reconciliation of the Parties at variance some more or all of them by certain middle ways of mutual Condescension which they have found out Some things they blame and some things they commend in all some things they would have them do and some things omit all for the sake of Peace and Love And this Design carries with it so fair and pleadable a Pretence that those who are once engaged in it are apt to think that they alone are the true Lovers of Christianity in general the only sober and indifferent Persons fit to Umpire all the Differences in the World in a few Propositions which they have framed And so wedded are some wise and Holy Men unto these Apprehensions of reconciling Christians by their conceived Methods that no Experience of endless Disappointments and of encreasing new Differences and Digladiations of forming new Parties of reviving old Animosiries all which roll in upon them continually will discourage them in their Design What then will some say would you have these Divisions and Differences that are among us continued and perpetuated when you acknowledge them so evil and pernicious I say God forbid Yea we pray for and always will endeavour their removal and taking away But yet this I say on the other hand whether Men will hear or they will forbear there is but one way of effecting this so blessed and desireable a Work which untill it be engaged in let Men talk what they please of Reconciliation the worst of Men will be reviling and persecuting those who are better than themselves unto the End of the World And this way is That all Churches should endeavour to reduce themselves unto the Primitive Pattern Let us all but consider what was the Life and Spirit of those Churches wherein their Honour Glory and Order did consist making it our joynt Design to walk in the Principle of that Grace of the Spirit wherein they walked in the Exercise and Use of those Gifts of the Spirit which were the Spring of and gave Vertue unto all their Administrations renouncing whatever is Forreign unto and inconsistent with these things and that Grace and Unity will quickly enter into Professors which Christ hath purchased for them But these things are here only occasionally mentioned and are not farther to be pursued § 5. THESE Spiritual Gifts the Apostle calls The Powers of the World to come Heb. 6. 4 5. that is those effectual powerful Principles and Operations which peculiarly belong unto the Kingdom of Christ and Administration of the Gospel whereby they were to be set up planted advanced and propagated in the World The Lord Christ came and wrought out the mighty Work of our Salvation in his own Person and thereon laid the Foundation of his Church on himself by the Confession of him as the Son of God Concerning himself and his Work he preached and caused to be preached a Doctrine that was opposed by all the World because of it's Truth Mystery and Holiness yet was it the Design of God to break through all those Oppositions to cause this Doctrine to be received and submitted unto and Jesus Christ to be believed in unto the Ruine and Destruction of the Kingdom of Sathan in the World Now this was a Work that could not be wrought without the putting forth and exercise of mighty Power concerning which nothing remains to be enquired into but of what sort it ought to be Now the Conquest that the Lord Christ aimed at was Spiritual over the Souls and Consciences of Men the Enemies he had to conflict withall were Spiritual even Principalities and Powers and Spiritual Wickednesses in High Places the God of this World the Prince of it which ruled in the Children of Disobedience The Kingdom which he had to erect was Spiritual and not of this World all the Laws and Rules of it with their Administrations and Ends were Spiritual and Heavenly The Gospel that was to be propagated was a Doctrine not concerning this World nor the things of it nor of any thing Natural or Political but as they were meerly subordinate unto other Ends but Heavenly and mysterious directing Men only in a Tendency according to the Mind of God unto the eternal Enjoyment of him Hereon it will easily appear what kind of Power is necessary unto this Work and for the attaining of these Ends. He that at the speaking of one Word could have engaged more than Twelve Legions of Angels in his Work and unto his Assistance could have easily by outward Force and Arms have subdued the whole World into an external Observance of him and his Commands and thereon have ruled Men at his pleasure As this he could have done and may do when he pleaseth so if he had done it it had tended nothing unto the Ends which he designed He might indeed have had a glorious Empire in the World comprehensive of all Dominions that ever were or can be on the Earth but yet it would have been of the same kind and Nature with that which Nero had the greatest Monster of Villany in Nature Neither had it been any great matter for the Son of God to have out-done the Romans or the Turks or such like Conspiracies of wicked Oppressors And all those who yet think meet to use external Force over the Persons Lives and Bodies of Men in order unto the reducing of them unto the Obedience of Christ and the Gospel do put the greatest Dishonour upon him imaginable and change the whole Nature of his Design and Kingdom He will neither own nor accept of any Subject but whose Obedience is a Free Act of his own Will and who is so made willing by himself in the Day of his Power His Design and his only Design in this World unto the Glory of God is to erect a Kingdom Throne and Rule in the Souls and Consciences of Men to have an Obedience from them in Faith Love and Spiritual Delight proceeding from their own Choice Understandings Wills and Affections an Obedience that should be internal Spiritual Mystical Heavenly with respect solely unto things unseen and eternal wherein himself and his Laws should be infinitely preferred before all earthly things and Considerations Now this is a matter that all Earthly Powers and Empires could never desire design or put an hand unto and that which renders the Kingdom of Christ as of another Nature so more excellent and better than all Earthly Kingdoms as
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-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
A Ministry without Gifts is no Ministry of Christ's giving nor is of any other Use in the Church but to deceive the Souls of Men. To set up such a Ministry is both to despise Christ and utterly to frustrate the ends of the Ministry those for which Christ gave it and which are here expressed For 1 Ministerial Gifts and Graces are the great Evidence that the Lord Christ takes care of his Church and provides for it as called into the Order and into the Duties of a Church To set up a Ministry which may be continued by outward Forms and Orders of Men only without any Communication of Gifts from Christ is to despise his Authority and Care Neither is it his Mind that any Church should continue in Order any longer or otherwise than as he bestows these Gifts for the Ministry 2 That these Gifts are the only Means and Instruments whereby the Work of the Ministry may be performed and the End of the Ministry attained shall be farther declared immediately The Ends of the Ministry here mentioned called it's Work are the perfecting of the Saints and the Edifying of the Body of Christ untill we all come unto a perfect Man Hereof nothing at all can be done without these Spiritual Gifts And therefore a Ministry devoid of them is a Mock-ministry and no Ordinance of Christ. § 8. 5. THE Eminency of this Gift appears in the Variety and Diversity of the Offices and Officers which Christ gave in giving of the Ministry He knew there would and had appointed there should be a two-fold Estate of the Church ver 10. 1 Of it's first Election and Foundation 2 Of it's Building and Edification and different both Offices and Gifts were necessary unto these different States For 1 Two things were extraordinary in the first Erection of his Church 1 An extraordinary Aggression was to be made upon the Kingdom of Sathan in the World as upheld by all the Potentates of the Earth the concurrent Suffrage of Mankind with the Interest of Sin and Prejudices in them 2 The casting of Men into a new Order under a new Rule and Law for the Worship of God that is the planting and erecting of Churches all the World over With respect unto these Ends extraordinary Officers with extraordinary Authority Power and Abilities were requisite Unto this end therefore he gave some Apostles some Prophets and some Evangelists of the Nature of whose Offices and their Gifts we have spoken before I shall here only add that it was necessary that these Officers should have their immediate Call and Authority from Christ antecedent unto all Order and Power in the Church For the very Being of the Church depended on their Power of Office But this without such an immediate Power from Christ no Man can pretend unto And what was done originally by their Persons is now done by their Word and Doctrine For the Church is built on the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the Chief Corner-stone Eph. 2. 20. 2ly There was a state of the Church in it's Edification which was to be carried on according to the Rules and Laws given by Christ in the ordinary Administration of all the Ordinances and Institutions of the Gospel To this end Christ gives ordinary Officers Pastors and Teachers who by his Direction were ordained in every Church Acts 14. 23 24. And these are all the Teaching Officers that he hath given unto his Church Or if any shall think that in the Enumeration of them in this place as also 1 Cor. 12. our Apostle forgot Popes and Diocesan Bishops with some others who certainly cannot but laugh to themselves that they should be admitted in the World as Church-Officers he must speak for himself § 9. BUT whereas the other sort of Officers was given by Christ by his immediate Call and Communication of Power unto them it doth not appear how he gives these ordinary Officers or Ministers unto it I answer He did it originally and continueth to do it by the ways and means ensuing 1 He doth it by the Law and Rule of the Gospel wherein he hath appointed this Office of the Ministry in his Church and so always to be continued Were there not such a standing Ordinance and Institution of his it were not in the Power of all the Churches in the World to appoint any such among them whatever appearance there may be of a Necessity thereof And if any should have attempted any such thing no Blessing from God would have accompanied their Endeavour so that they would but set up an Idol of their own Hereon we lay the continuance of the Ministry in the Church If there be not an Ordinance and Institution of Christ unto this purpose or if such being granted yet the Force of it be now expired we must and will readily confess that the whole Office is a meer Usurpation But if he have given Pastors and Teachers unto his Church to continue until all his Saints in all Ages come unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the Stature of the fulness of Christ Ephes. 4. 11 12 13. and hath promised to be with them as such unto the consummation of all things Matth. 28. 18 19 20. If the Apostles by his Authority Ordained Elders in evry Church and City Acts 14. 23. Tit. 1. 5. and who therein were made Overseers of the Flocks by the Holy Ghost Acts 20. 28. having the charge of feeding and overseeing the Flock that is among them always until the chief Shepherd shall appear 1 Pet. 5. 1 2 3 4 5. If Believers or the Disciples of Christ are obliged by him always to yield Obedience unto them Heb. 13. 7 17. with other such plain Declarations of the Will of the Lord Christ in the Constitution and Continuance of this Office this Foundation standeth firm and unshaken as the Ordinances of Heaven that shall not be changed And whereas there is not in the Scripture the least Intimation of any such Time State or Condition of the Church as wherein the Disciples of Christ may or ought to live from under the orderly Conduct and Guidance of the Ministers it is vain to imagine that any Defect in other Men any Apostasie of the greatest part of any or all Visible Churches should cast them into an Incapacity of erecting a regular Ministry among them and over them For whereas the Warranty and Authority of the Ministry depends on this Institution of Christ which is accompanied with a Command for it's Observance Matth. 28. 18. all his Disciples being obliged to yield Obedience thereunto their doing so in the Order and Manner also by him approved is sufficient to constitute a lawful Ministry among them To suppose that because the Church of Rome and those adhering unto it have by their Apostasie utterly lost an Evangelical Ministry among them that therefore others unto whom the Word of God is come and hath been effectual unto their Conversion have not sufficient
Primitive Pattern that the Circumstances of things are capable of 4. The Lord Christ continueth his bestowing of this Gift by the Solemn Ordinance of setting apart those who are called in the manner declared by Fasting and Prayer and Imposition of Hands Acts 14. 23. Chap. 13. 2. 1 Tim. 4. 14. By these means I say doth the Lord Christ continue to declare that he accounts Men faithful and puts them into the Ministry as the Apostle speaks 1 Tim. 1. 12. § 12. THERE are yet remaining sundry things in the Passage of the Apostle which we now insist on that declare the Eminency of this Gift of Christ which may yet be farther briefly considered As 6 The End why it is bestowed and this is expressed 1 Positiveiy as to the Good and Advantage of the Church thereby ver 12. 2 Negatively as to it's Prohibition and Hinderance of Evil ver 14. In the end of it as positively expressed three things may be considered 1 That it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is for the gathering of the Saints into compleat Church-Order The Subject-matter of this part of their Duty is the Saints that is by Calling and Profession such as are all the Disciples of Christ. And that which is effected towards them is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their Coagmentation joynting or compacting into Order So the Word signifies Gal. 6. 1. And this Effect is here declared ver 16. It is true the Saints mentioned may come together into some initial Church-Order by their Consent and Agreement to walk together in all the ways of Christ and in Obedience unto all his Institutions and so become a Church essentially before they have any ordinary Pastor or Teacher either by the conduct of extraordinary Officers as at first or through Obedience unto their Word whence Elders were ordained among those who were in Church-state that is thus far before Acts 14. 23. but they cannot come to that Perfection and Compleatness which is designed unto them That which renders a Church compleatly Organical the proper Seat and Subject of all Gospel-Worship and Ordinances is this Gift of Christ in the Ministry BUT it may be asked Whether a Church before it come unto this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Compleatness before it hath any Minister in Office or have by any means lost the Ministry among them may not delegate and appoint some one or more from among themselves for to Administer all the Ordinances of the Gospel among them and unto them and by that means make up their own Perfection § 13. SECONDLY The Church being so compleated these Officers are given unto it for the Work of the Ministry This Expression is comprehensive and the Particulars included in it are not in this place to be enquired into It may suffice unto our present purpose to consider that it is a Work not a Preferment and a Work they shall find it who design to give up a comfortable Account of what is committed unto them It is usually observed that all the Words whereby the Work of the Ministry is expressed in the Scripture do denote a peculiar industrious kind of Labour Though some have sonne out ways of Honour and Ease to be signified by them And Both these are directed unto one general Issue It is all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Unto the Edification of the Body of Christ. Not to insist on the Metaphors that are in this Expression the Excellency of the Ministry is declared in that the Object of it's Duty and Work is no other but the Body of Christ himself and it 's End the Edification of this Body or it's Encrease in Faith and Obedience in all the Graces and Gifts of the Spirit until it comes unto Conformity unto him and the Enjoyment of him And a Ministry which hath not this Object and End is not of the giving or Grant of Christ. § 14. THE End of the Ministry is expressed negatively or with respect unto the Evils which it is ordained for our Deliverance from ver 14. 1 The Evil which we are hereby delivered from is the danger of being perniciously and destructively deceived by false Doctrines Errors and Heresies which then began and have ever since in all Ages continued to infest the Churches of God These the Apostle describes 1 From the Design of their Authors which is to deceive 2 Their Diligence in that Design They lay in wait to accomplish it 3 The Means they use to compass their End which are Slights and cunning Craftiness managed sometimes with impetuous Violence and thence called a Wind of Doctrine And 2 The Means hereof is our Deliverance out of a Child-like state accompanied with 1 Weakness 2 Instability And 3 Wilfulness And sad is the condition of those Churches which either have such Ministers as will themselves toss them up and down by false and pernicious Doctrines or are not able by sound Instructions to deliver them from such a condition of Weakness and Instabi'ity as wherein they are not able to preserve themselves from being in these things imposed on by the cunning Slights of Men that lie in wait to deceive And as this Ministry is always to continue in the Church ver 13. so it is the great means of Influencing the whole Body and every Member of it into a due Discharge of their Duty unto their Edification in Love ver 15 16. § 15. DESIGNING to treat of the Spiritual Gifts bestowed on the Ministry of the Church I have thus far diverted into the Consideration of the Ministry it self as it is a Gift of Christ and shall shut it up with a few Corollaries As 1 Where there is any Office erected in the Church that is not in particular of the Gift and Institution of Christ there is a Nullity in the whole Office and in all Administrations by vertue of it 2 Where the Office is appointed but Gifts are not communicated unto the Person called unto it there is a Nullity as to his Person and a Disorder in the Church 3 It is the Duty of the Church to look on the Ministry as an eminent Grant of Christ with Valuation Thankfulness and Improvement 4 Those who are called unto this Office in due Order labour to approve themselves as a Gift of Christ which it is a shameless Impudence for some to own who go under that Name 5 This they may do in labouring to be furnished 1 With gracious Qualifications 2 Useful Endowments 3 Diligence and laborious Travail in this Work 4 By an exemplary Conversation in 1. Love 2. Meekness 3. Self-denyal 4. Readiness for the Cross c. CHAP. VII Of Spiritual Gifts enabling the Ministry to the Exercise and Discharge of their Trust and Office § 1. UNTO the Ministry so given unto the Church as hath been declared the Holy Ghost gives Spiritual Gifts enabling them unto the Exercise and Discharge of the Power Trust and Office committed unto them Now although I am not thoroughly satisfied what Men will grant or
allow in these Days such uncouth and bold Principles are continually advanced among us yet I suppose it will not in Words at least be denied by many but that Ministers have or ought to have Gifts for the due Discharge of their Office To some indeed the very Name and Word is a Derision because it is a Name and Notion peculiar to the Scripture Nothing is more contemptible unto them than the very mention of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost at present I deal not with such directly though what we shall prove will be sufficient for their Rebuke though not for their Conviction Wherefore our Enquiry is Whether the Spirit of God doth effectually collate on the Ministers of the Gospel Spiritual Gifts enabling them to perform and effect Evangelical Administrations according to the Power committed unto them and duly required of them unto the Glory of Christ and Edification of the Church It is moreover enquired whether the Endowmen of Men with these Spiritual Gifts in a Degree and Measure suited unto publick Edification be not that which doth materially constitute them Ministers of the Gospel as being Antecedently necessary unto their Call unto their Office These things I say are to be Enquired into because in opposition unto the first it is affirmed that these supposed Gifts are nothing but meer Natural Abilities attained by Diligence and improved by Exercise without any especial respect unto the working of the Holy Ghost at least otherwise than what is necessary unto the attaining of Skill and Ability in any Humane Art or Science which is the ordinary Blessing of God on Man's Honest Endeavours And to the other it is opposed that a Lawful ordinary outward Call is sufficient to constitute any Man a Lawful Minister whether he have received any such Gifts as those enquired after or no. Wherefore the substance of what we have to declare and confirm is that there is an especial Dispensation and Work of the Holy Ghost in providing able Ministers of the New Testament for the Edification of the Church wherein the Continuance of the Ministry and Being of the Church as to its outward Order doth depend and that herein he doth exert his Power and exercise his Authority in the Communication of Spiritual Gifts unto Men without a participation whereof no Man hath de jure any Lot or Portion in this Ministration Herein consists no small part of that Work of the Spirit which belongs unto his promised Dispensation in all Ages which to deny is to renounce all Faith in the Promise of Christ all regard unto his continued Love and Care towards the Church in the World or at least the principal pleadable Testimony given thereunto and under pretence of exalting and preserving the Church totally to overthrow it Now the Evidence which we shall give unto this Truth is contained in the ensuing Assertions with their Confirmation § 2. THE Lord Jesus Christ hath faithfully promised to be present with his Church unto the end of the World It is his Temple and his Tabernacle wherein he will dwell and walk continually And this presence of Christ is that which makes the Church to be what it is a Congregation Essentially distinct from all other Societies and Assemblies of Men. Let Men be formed into what Order you please according unto any outward Rules and Measures that are either given in the Scripture or found out by themselves let them derive Power and Authority by what Claim soever they shall think fit yet if Christ be not present with them they are no Church nor can all the Powers under Heaven make them so to be And where any Church loseth the especial presence of Christ it ceaseth so to be It is I suppose confessed with and among whom Christ is thus present or it may be easily proved See his Promises to this purpose Mat. 18. 20. Revel 21. 3. And those Churches do exceedingly mistake their Interest who are sollicitous about other things but make little Enquiry after the Evidences of the presence of Christ among them Some walk as if they supposed they had him sure enough as it were immured in their Walls whilst they keep up the Name of a Church and an outward Order that pleaseth and advantageth themselves But outward Order be it what it will is so far from being the only Evidence of the presence of Christ in a Church that where it is alone or when it is principally required it is none at all And therefore whereas Preaching of the Word and the right Administration of the Sacraments are assigned as the Notes of a true Church if the outward Acts and Order of them only be regarded there is nothing of Evidence unto this purpose in them § 3. 2dly THIS promised presence of Christ is by his Spirit This I have safficiently proved formerly so that here I shall be brief in its rehearsal though it be the next Foundation of what we have farther to offer in this Case We speak not of the Essential presence of Christ with respect unto the Immensity of his Divine Nature whereby he is equally present in or equally indistant from all places manifesting his Glory when where and how he pleaseth Nor doth it respect his Humane Nature for when he promised this his presence he told his Disciples that therein he must leave and depart from them John 16. 5 6 7 8. whereon they were filled with Sorrow and 〈◊〉 until they knew how he would make good the Promise of his Presence with them and who or that it was that should unto their Advantage supply his Bodily Absence And this he did in his viâ—â—â—â— Ascension when he was taken up and a Cloud 〈…〉 Him out of their sight Acts 1. 9. when also 〈…〉 given in charge unto them not to expect His return untill his coming unto Judgment ver 11. And accordingly Peter tells us That the Heavens 〈◊〉 receive him unto the time of the Restitution of all 〈◊〉 Acts 3. 21. when he will appear again in the Glory of his Father Mat. 16. 27. even 〈…〉 Glory which the Father gave him upon his 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 1. 17. joined unto that Glory which he had with him before the World was John 17. 5. In and upon this his Departure from them he taught his Disciples how they should understand his Promise of being present and abiding with them unto the End of the World And this was by sending of his Holy Spirit in his Name Place and Stead to do all to them and for them which he had yet to do with them and for them See John 14. 16 17 18 26 27 28. Chap. 15. 26. Chap. 16. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14. And other Vicar in the Church Christ hath none nor doth stand in need of any nor can any Mortal Man supply that Charge and Office Nor was any such ever thought of in the World untill Men grew weary of the Conduct and Rule of the Holy Spirit by various ways taking his Work out
of his Hand leaving him nothing to do in that which they called the Church But I suppose I need not handle this Principle as a thing in Dispute or Controversie If I greatly mistake not this presence of Christ in his Church by his Spirit is an Article of Faith unto the Catholick Church and such a Fundamental Truth as whoever denies it overthrows the whole Gospel And I have so confirmed it in our former Discourses concerning the Dispensation and Operations of the Holy Ghost as that I fear not nor expect any direct opposition thereunto But yet I acknowledge that some begin to talk as if they owned no other presence of Christ but by the Word and Sacraments Whatever else remains to be done lyes wholly in our selves It is acknowledged that the Lord Christ is present in and by his Word and Ordinances but if he be no otherwise present or be present only by their External Administration there will no more Church-State among Men ensue thereon than there is among the Jews who enjoy the Letter of the Old Testament and the Institutions of Moses But when Men rise up in express contradiction unto the Promises of Christ and the Faith of the Catholick Church in all Ages we shall not contend with them But § 4. 3 dly THIS presence of the Spirit is secured unto the Church by an Everlasting unchangeable Covenant Isa. 59. 21. As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord my Spirit that is upon them and my Words which I have put in thy Mouth shall not depart out of thy Mouth nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed nor out of the Mouth of thy Seeds Seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever This is God's Covenant with the Gospel Church to be erected then when the Redeemer should come out of Zion and unto them that turn from Transgression in Jacob ver 20. This is a part of the Covenant that God hath made in Christ the Redeemer And as the continuance of the Word unto the Church in all Ages is by this Promise secured without which it would cease and come to nothing seeing it is Built on the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Ephes. 2. 20. so is the presence of the Spirit in like manner secured unto it and that on the same Terms with the Word so as that if he be not present with it all Covenant Relation between God and it doth cease where this promise doth not take place there is no Church no Ordinance no acceptable Worship because no Covenant-Relation In brief then where there is no participation of the Promise of Christ to send the Spirit to abide with us always no Interest in that Covenant wherein God ingageth that his Spirit shall not depart from us for ever and so no presence of Christ to make the Word and Ordinances of Worship living useful effectual in their Administration unto their proper Ends there is no Church-State whatever outward Order there may be § 5. AND hereon 4thly is the Gospel called the Ministration of the Spirit and the Ministers of it the Ministers of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 6. Who hath also made us able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit not the Ministration of Death but that of the Spirit which is Glorious ver 7 8. There never was nor ever shall be any but these two Ministrations in the Church that of the Letter and of Death and that of the Spirit and of Life If there be a Ministration in any Church it must belong to one of these and all Ministers must be so either of the Letter or of the Spirit If there be a Ministry pretended unto that is neither of the Letter nor of the Spirit it is Antichristian The Ministry which was Carnal of the Letter and Death was a true Ministry and in its place Glorious because it was appointed of God and was efficacious as unto its proper end That of the Gospel is of the Spirit and much more Glorious But if there be a Ministration that hath the outward form of either but indeed is neither of them it is no Ministration at all And where it is so there is really no Ministration but that of the Bible that is God by his Providence continuing the Bible among them maketh use of iâ—â—s he seeth good for the Conviction and Conversion of Sinners wherein there is a secret 〈◊〉 of the Spirit also We may thereâ—â—â—â—â—â—quire in what sence the Ministration of the 〈…〉 called the Ministry of the Spirit Now this cannot be because the Laws Institutions and Ordinances of its Worship were revealed by the Spirit for so were all the Ordinances and Institutions of the Old Testament as hath been proved before and yet the Ministration of them was the Ministration of the Letter and of Death in a worldly Sanctuary by Carnal Ordinances Wherefore it must be so called in one of these Respects Either 1 Because it is the peculiar Aid and Assistance of the Spirit whereby any are enabled to administer the Gospel and its Institutions of Worship according to the Mind of God unto the Edification of the Church In this sence Men are said to be made able Ministers of the New Testament that is Ministers able to Administer the Gospel in due order Thus in that Expression Ministers of the Spirit the Spirit denotes the Efficient Cause of the Ministry and he that quickeneth it ver 6 7. Or 2 It may be said to be the Ministration of the Spirit because in and by the Ministry of the Gospel the Spirit is in all Ages Administred and Communicated unto the Disciples of Christ unto all the ends for which he is promised So Gal. 3. 2. the Spirit is received by the Preaching of Faith Take it either way and the whole of what we plead for is confirmed That he alone enableth Men unto the Discharge of the Work of the Ministry by the Spiritual Gifts which he communicateth unto them is the first sence and expresly that which we contend for and if in and by the Ministration of the Gospel in all Ages the Spirit is Communicated and Administred unto Men then doth he abide with the Church for ever and for what Ends we must further enquire § 6. 5thly THE great End for which the Spirit is thus promised administred and communicated under the Gospel is the continuance and preservation of the Church in the World God hath promised unto the Lord Christ that his Kingdom in this World should endure unto all Generations with the course of the Sun and Moon Psal. 72. 5. and that of the Encrease of his Government there should be no End Isa. 9. 7. And the Lord Christ himself hath declared his preservation of his Church so as that the Gates of Hell should not prevail against it Mat. 16. It may therefore be enquired whereon the Infallible Accomplishment of these Promises and others innumerable unto the same End doth depend or what
is that means whereby they shall be certainly Executed Now this must be either some work of God or Man If it be of Men and it consist of their Wills and Obedience then that which is said amounts hereunto namely that where men have once received the Gospel and professed subjection thereunto they will infallibly abide therein in a Succession from one Generation unto another But besides that it must be granted that what so depends on the Wills of Men can have no more certainty than the undetermined Wills of Men can give security of which indeed is none at all so there are confessed instances without number of such Persons and Places as have lost the Gospel and the Profession thereof And what hath fallen out in one place may do so in another and consequently in all places where the Reasons and Causes of things are the same On this supposition therefore there is no security that the Promises mentioned shall be infallibly accomplished Wherefore the Event must depend on some Work of God and Christ. Now this is no other but the Dispensation and Communication of the Spirit Hereon alone doth the continuance of the Church and of the Kingdom of Christ in the World depend And whereas the Church falls under a double consideration namely of its internal and external Form of its internal Spiritual Union with Christ and its outward Profession of Obedience unto him the Calling Gathering Preservation and Edification of it in both respects belong unto the Holy Spirit The first he doth as hath been proved at large by his Communicating Effectual Saving Grace unto the Elect the latter by the Communication of Gifts unto the Guides Rulers Officers and Ministers of it with all its Members according unto its Place and Capacity Suppose then his Communication of Internal Saving Grace to cease and the Church must absolutely cease as to its Internal Form For we are united unto the Lord Christ as our Mystical Head by the Spirit the one and self-same Spirit dwelling in Him and them that do believe Union unto Christ without Saving Grace or Saving Grace without the Holy Spirit are Strangers unto the Gospel and Christian Religion So is it to have a Church that is Holy and Catholick which is not united unto Christ as a Mystical Head Wherefore the very Being of the Church as unto its Internal Form depends on the Spirit in his Dispensation of Grace which if you suppose an Intercision of the Church must cease It hath the same dependance on him as to its outward Form and Profession upon his Communication of Gifts For no Man can call Jesus Lord or profess Subjection and Obedience unto him in a due manner but by the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12. 3. Suppose this Work of his to cease and there can be no Professing Church Let Men mould and cast themselves into what Order and Form they please and let them pretend that their Right and Title unto their Church Power and Station is derived unto them from their Progenitors or Predecessors if they are not furnished with the Gifts of the Spirit to enable their Guides unto Gospel Administrations they are no orderly Gospel Church Wherefore § 7. 6thly THE Communication of such Gifts unto the ordinary Ministry of the Church in all Ages is plainly asserted in sundry places of the Scripture some whereof may be briefly considered The whole Nature of this Work is declared in the Parable of the Talents Matth. 25. from ver 13. to 31. The state of the Church from the Ascension of Christ unto his coming again unto Judgment that is in its whole course on the Earth is represented in this Parable In this season he hath Servants whom he intrusteth in the Affairs of his Kingdom in the care of his Church and the propagation of the Gospel That they may in their several Generations Places and Circumstances be enabled hereunto he giving them in various Distributions Talents to Trade withall the least whereof was sufficient to encourage them who received them unto their Use and Exercise The Trade they had to drive was that of the Administration of the Gospel its Doctrine Worship and Ordinances to others Talents are Abilities to Trade which may also comprize Opportunities and other Advantages but Abilities are chiefly intended These were the Gifts where of we speak Nor did it ever enter into the Minds of any to apprehend otherwise of them And they are Abilities which Christ as the King and Head of his Church giveth unto Men in an especial manner as they are employed under him in the service of his House and Work of the Gospel The Servants mentioned are such as are called appointed and employed in the service of the House of Christ that is all Ministers of the Gospel from first to last And their Talents are the Gifts which he endows them withall by his own immediate Power and Authority for their Work And hence these three things follow 1 That where-ever there is a Ministry that the Lord Christ setteth up appointeth or owneth he furnisheth all those whom he employs therein with Gifts and Abilities suitable to their Work which he doth by the Holy Spirit He will never fail to own his Institutions with gracious supplies to render them Effectual 2 That where any have not received Talents to Trade withall it is the highest presumption in them and casts the greatest Dishonour on the Lord Christ as though he requires Work where he gave no Strength or Trade where he gave no Stock for any one to undertake the Work of the Ministry Where the Lord Christ gives no Gifts he hath no Work to do He will require of none any especial Duty where he doth not give an especial Ability And for any to think themselves meet for this Work and Service in the strength of their own Natural Parts and Endowments however acquired is to despise both his Authority and his Work 3 For those who have received of these Talents either not to Trade at all or to pretend the managing of their Trade on another Stock that is either not sedulously and duely to Exercise their Ministerial Gifts or to discharge their Ministry by other helps and means is to set up their own Wisdom in opposition unto his and his Authority In brief that which the whole Parable teacheth is that where-ever there is a Ministry in the Church that Christ owneth or regardeth as used and employed by him there Persons are furnished with Spiritual Gifts from Christ by the Spirit enabling them unto the discharge of that Ministry and where there are no such Spiritual Gifts dispensed by him there is no Ministry that he either accepteth or approveth § 8. ROM 12. 1 4 5 6 7 8. As we have many Members in one Body and all Members have not the same Office so we being many are one Body in Christ and every one Members one of another Having therefore Gifts differing according to the Grace that is given unto us whether
is as pleadable against them who pretend to exercise the Rule and Power of his present Kingdom after the manner of the Potestative Administrations of the World When our Saviour forbad all Rule unto his Disciples after the manner of the Gentiles who then possessed all Sovereign Power in the World and told them that it should not be so with them that some should be great and exercise Dominion over others but that they should serve one another in Love the greatest Condescention unto Service being required of them who are otherwise most eminent he did not intend to take from them or divest them of that Spiritual Power and Authority in the Government of the Church which he intended to commit unto them His Design therefore was to declare what that Authority was not and how it should not be exercised A Lordly or Despotical Power it was not to be nor was it to be exercised by Penal Laws Courts and Coercive Jurisdiction which was the way of the Administration of all Power among the Gentiles And if that kind of Power and Rule in the Church which is for the most part exercised in the World be not forbidden by our Saviour no Man living can tell what is so For as to Meekness Moderation Patience Equity Righteousness they were more easie to be found in the Legal Administrations of Power among the Gentiles than in these used in many Churches But such a Rule is signified unto them the Authority whereof from whence it proceedeth was Spiritual its Object the Minds and Souls of Men only and the way of whose Administration was to consist in an humble holy Spiritual Application of the Word of God or Rules of the Gospel unto them 2 The End of this Rule is meerly and solely the Edification of the Church All the Power that the Apostles themselves had either in or over the Church was but unto their Edification 2 Cor. 10. 8. And the Edification of the Church consists in the Encrease of Faith and Obedience in all the Members thereof in the subduing and mortifying of Sin in Fruitfulness in good Works in the Confirmation and Consolation of them that stand in the raising up them that are fallen and the recovery of them that wander in the Growth and Flourishing of mutual Love and Peace and whatever Rule is exercised in the Church unto any other end is Foreign to the Gospel and tends only to the Destruction of the Church it self 3 In the way and manner of the Administration of this Rule and Government two things may be considered 1 What is internal in the Qualifications of the Minds of them by whom it is to be exercised Such are Wisdom Diligence Love Meekness Patience and the like Evangelical Endowments 2 What is external or what is the outward Rule of it and this is the Word and Law of Christ alone as we have elsewhere declared § 9. FROM these things it may appear what is the Nature in general of that Skill in the Rule of the Church which we assert to be a peculiar Gift of the Holy Ghost If it were only an Ability or Skill in the Canon or Civil Law or Rules of Men if only an Acquaintance with the Nature and Course of some Courts proceeding litigiously by Citations Processes Legal Pleadings issuing in Pecuniary Mulcts outward Coercions or Imprisonments I should willingly acknowledge that there is no peculiar Gift of the Spirit of God required thereunto But the Nature of it being as we have declared it is impossible it should be exercised aright without the especial Assistance of the Holy Ghost Is any Man of himself sufficient for these things Will any Man undertake of himself to know the mind of Christ in all the occasions of the Church and to adminster the Power of Christ in them and about them Wherefore the Apostle in many places teacheth that Wisdom Skill and Understanding to administer the Authority of Christ in the Church unto its Edification with Faithfulness and Diligence are an especial Gift of the Holy Ghost Rom. 12. 6 8. 1 Cor. 12. 28. It is the Holy Ghost which makes the Elders of the Church it's Bishops or Overseers by calling them to their Office Acts 20. 28. And what he calls any Man unto that he furnisheth him with Abilities for the Discharge of And so have we given a brief Account of these Ordinary Gifts which the Holy Ghost communicates unto the constant Ministry of the Church and will do so unto the Consummation of all things having moreover in our Passage manifested the Dependance of the Ministry on this Work of his so that we need no Addition of Pains to demonstrate that where he goeth not before in the Communication of them no outward Order Call or Constitution is sufficient to make any one a Minister of the Gospel § 10 THERE are Gifts which respect Duties only Such are those which the Holy Ghost continues to communicate unto all the Members of the Church in a great Variety of Degrees according to the Places and Conditions which they are in unto their own and the Churches Edification There is no need that we should insist upon them in particular seeing they are of the same nature with them which are continued unto the Ministers of the Church who are required to excell in them so as to be able to go before the whole Church in their Exercise The Spirit of the Gospel was promised by Christ unto all his Disciples unto all Believers unto the whole Church and not unto the Guides of it only To them he is so in an especial manner with respect unto their Office Power and Duty but not absolutely or only As he is the Spirit of Grace he quickens animates and unites the whole Body of the Church and all the Members of it in and unto Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 12. 12 13. And as he is the Administrator of all Supernatural Gifts he furnisheth the whole Body and all it's Members with Spiritual Abilities unto it's Edification Ephes. 4. 15 16. Col. 2. 19. And without them in some measure or degree ordinarily we are not able to discharge our Duty unto the Glory of God For § 11. 1. THESE Gifts are a great means and help to excite and exercise Grace it self without which it will be lifeless and apt to decay Men grow in Grace by the due exercise of their own Gifts in Duties Wherefore every individual Person on his own account doth stand in need of them with respect unto the exercise and improvement of Grace Zech. 12. 10. 2 Most Men have it may be such Duties incumbent on them with respect unto others as they cannot discharge aright without the especial Aid of the Spirit of God in this kind So is it with all them who have Families to take care of and provide for For ordinarily they are bound to instruct their Children and Servants in the Knowledge of the Lord and to go before them in that Worship which God requires of
them as Abraham did the Father of the Faithful And hereunto some Spiritual Abilities are requisite For none can teach others more than they know themselves nor perform Spiritual Worship without some Spiritual Gifts unless they will betake themselves unto such shifts as we have before on good Grounds rejected 3. Every Member of a Church in Order according to the Mind of Christ possesseth some Place Use and Office in the Body which it cannot fill up unto the Benefit and Ornament of the whole without some Spiritual Gift These places are various some of greater use than others and of more necessity unto the Edification of the Church but all are useful in their kind This our Apostle disputes at large 1 Cor. 12. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 c. All Believers in due order do become one Body by the participation of the same Spirit and Union unto the same Head Those who do not so partake of the one Spirit who are not united unto the Head do not properly belong to the Body whatever place they seem to hold therein Of those that do so some are as it were an Eye some as an Hand and some as a Foot All these useful in their several places and needful unto one another None of them is so highly exalted as to have the least occasion of being lifted up as though he had no need of the rest for the Spirit distributeth unto every one severally as he will not all unto any one save only unto the Head our Lord Jesus from whom we all receive Grace according to the measure of his Gift Nor is any so depressed or useless as to say It is not of the Body nor that the Body hath no need of it But every one in his Place and Station concurrs to the Unity Strength Beauty and Growth of the Body which things our Apostle disputes at large in the place mentioned 4 Hereby are supplies communicated unto the whole from the Head Ephes. 4. 15 16. Col. 2. 19. It is of the Body that is of the Church under the Conduct of its Officers that the Apostle discourseth in those places And the Duty of the whole it is to speak the Truth in Love every one in his several Place and Station And herein God hath so ordered the Union of the whole Church in it self unto and in dependance on its Head as that through and by not only the supply of every Joint which may express either the Officers or more Eminent Members of it but the effectual working of every part in the Exercise of the Graces and Gifts of the Spirit doth impart to the whole the Body may Edifie it self and be Encreased Wherefore 5 The Scripture is express that the Holy Ghost doth communicate of those Gifts unto private Believers and directs them in that Duty wherein they are to be exercised 1 Pet. 4. 10. Every one that is every Believer walking in the Order and Fellowship of the Gospel is to attend unto the Discharge of his Duty according as he hath received Spiritual Ability So was it in the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 1. 5 6 7. and in that of the Romans Chap. 15. 14. as they all of them knew that it was their Duty to covet the best Gifts which they did with success 1 Cor. 12. 31. And hereon depend the Commands for the Exercise of those Duties which in the Ability of these Gifts received they were to perform So were they all to admonish one another to exhort one another to Build up one another in their most Holy Faith And it is the loss of those Spiritual Gifts which hath introduced amongst many an utter neglect of these Duties so as they are scarce heard of among the generality of them that are called Christians But blessed be God we have large and full Experience of the continuance of this Dispensation of the Spirit in the Eminent Abilities of a multitude of private Christians however they may be despised by them who know them not By some I confess they have been abused some have presumed on them beyond the Line and Measure which they have received some have been puffed up with them some have used them disorderly in Churches and to their hurt some have boasted of what they have not received all which miscarriages also befell the Primitive Churches And I had rather have the Order Rule Spirit and Practice of those Churches that were planted by the Apostles with all their Troubles and Disadvantages than the Carnal Peace of others in their open Degeneracy from all those things § 12. IT remains only that we enquire how Men may come unto or attain a participation of these Gifts whether Ministerial or more Private And unto this End we may observe 1 That they are not Communicated unto any by a sudden Afflatus or extraordinary Infusion as were the Gifts of Miracles and Tongues which were bestowed on the Apostles and many of the first Converts That Dispensation of the Spirit is long since ceased and where it is now pretended unto by any it may justly be suspected as an Enthusiastick Delusion For as the End of those Gifts which in their own Nature exceed the whole power of all our Faculties is ceased so is their Communication and the manner of it also Yet this I must say that the Infusion of Spiritual Light into the Mind which is the Foundation of all Gifts as hath been proved being wrought sometimes suddenly or in a short season the Concomitancy of Gifts in some good measure is oftentimes sudden with an appearance of something Extraordinary as might be manifested in instances of several sorts 2 These Gifts are not absolutely attainable by our own Diligence and Endeavours in the use of means without respect unto the Soveraign Will and Pleasure of the Holy Ghost Suppose there are such means of the Attainment and Improvement of them and that several Persons do with the same measures of Natural Abilities and Diligence use those means for that end yet it will not follow that all must be equally Partakers of them They are not the immediate product of our own Endeavours no not as under an ordinary Blessing upon them For they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arbitrary Largesses or Gifts which the Holy Spirit worketh in all Persons severally as he will Hence we see the different Events that are among them who are exercised in the same Studies and Endeavours some are endued with Eminent Gifts some scarce attain unto any that are useful and some despise them Name and Thing There is therefore an immediate Operation of the Spirit of God in the Collation of these Spiritual Abilities which is unaccountable by the measures of Natural Parts and Industry Yet I say 4 That ordinarily they are both attained and increased by the due use of Means suited thereunto as Grace is also which none but Pelagians affirm to be absolutely in the power of our own Wills And the naming of these Means shall put
in its proper Order If men be not first sanctified by him they can never be comforted by him And they will themselves prefer in their Troubles any natural or rational Reliefs before the best and highest of his Consolations For however they may be proposed unto them however they may be instructed in the Nature Wayes and Means of them yet they belong not unto them and why should they value that which is not theirs The World cannot receive him He worketh on the World for Conviction Joh. 16. 8. and on the Elect for Conversion Joh. 3. 8. But none can receive him as a Comforter but Believers Therefore is this whole Work of the Holy Spirit little taken notice of by the most and despised by many Yet is it never the less glorious in it self being fully declared in the Scripture nor the less usefull to the Church being testified unto by the Experience of them that truely believe THAT which remaineth for the full Declaration of this Office and Work of the Holy Ghost is the Consideration of those Acts of his which belong properly thereunto and of those Priviledges whereof Believers are made Partakers thereby And whereas many blessed Mysteries of Evangelical Truth are contained herein they would require much Time and Diligence in their Explanation But as to the most of them according unto the Measure of Light and Experience which I have attained I have prevented my self the handling of them in this place For I have spoken already unto most of them in two other Discourses the one concerning the Perseverance of True Believers and the other of our Communion with God and of the Holy Spirit in particular As therefore I shall be sparing in the Repetition of what is already in them proposed unto publick View so it is not much that I shall add thereunto Yet what is necessary unto our present Design must not be wholly omitted especially seeing I find that further Light and Evidence may be added unto our former Endeavours in this kind CHAP. IV. Inhabitation of the Spirit the first thing promised THE first thing which the Comforter is promised for unto Believers is that he should dwell in them which is their great Fundamental Priviledge and whereon all other do depend This therefore must in the first place be enquired into THE Inhabitation of the Spirit in Believers is among those things which we ought as to the Nature or Being of it firmly to believe but as to the Manner of it cannot fully conceive Nor can this be the least Impeachment of it's Truth unto any who assent unto the Gospel wherein we have sundry things proposed as Objects of our Faith which our Reason cannot comprehend We shall therefore assert no more in this matter but what the Scripture directly and expresly goeth before us in And where we have the express Letter of the Scripture for our Warrant we are eternally safe whilst we affix no Sence thereunto that is absolutely repugnant unto Reason or contrary unto more plain Testimonies in other places Wherefore to make plain what we intend herein the ensuing Observations must be premised FIRST This Personal Inhabitation of the Holy Spirit in Believers is distinct and different from his Essential Omnipresence whereby he is in all things Omnipresence is Essential Inhabitation is Personal Omnipresence is a necessary Property of his Nature and so not of him as a distinct Person in the Trinity but as God essentially one and the same in Being and Substance with the Father and the Son To be every where to fill all things to be present with them or indistant from them always equally existing in the Power of an Infinite Being is an inseparable Property of the Divine Nature as such But this Inhabitation is Personal or what belongs unto him distinctly as the Holy Ghost Besides it is voluntary and that which might not have been whence it is the Subject of a Free Promise of God and wholly depends on a Free Act of the Will of the Holy Spirit himself SECONDLY It is not a Presence by Vertue of a Metonymical Denomination or an Expression of the Cause for the Effect that is intended The meaning of this Promise The Spirit shall dwell in you is not He shall work graciously in you for this he can without any especial Presence Being essentially every where he can work where and how he pleaseth without any especial Presence But it is the Spirit himself that is promised and his Presence in an especial manner and an especial manner of that Presence he shall be in you and dwell in you as we shall see The only Enquiry in this matter is whether the Holy Spirit himself be promised unto Believers or only his Grace which we shall immediately enquire into THIRDLY The dwelling of the Person of the Holy Spirit in the Persons of Believers of what Nature soever it be doth not effect a Personal Union between them That which we call a Personal Union is the Union of Divers Natures in the same Person and there can be but one Person by Vertue of this Union Such is the Hypostatical Union in the Person of the Son of God It was our Nature he assumed and not the Person of any And it was impossible he should so assume any more but in one Individual Instance For if he could have assumed another Individual Being of our Nature then it must differ personally from that which he did assume For there is nothing that differs one Man from another but a distinct Personal Subsistence of each And it implies the highest Contradiction that the Son of God could be Hypostatically united unto more than one For if they are more than one they must be more Persons than one And many Persons cannot be Hypostatically united for that is to be one Person and no more There may be a manifold Union Mystical and Moral or divers of many Persons but a Personal Union there cannot be of any thing but of distinct Natures And as the Son of God could not assume many Persons so supposing that Humane Nature which he did unite to himself to have been a Person that is to have had a distinct Subsistence of it's own Antecedent unto it's Union and there could have been no Personal Union between it and the Son of God For the Son of God was a distinct Person and if the Humane Nature had been so too there would have been two Persons still and so no Personal Union Nor can it be said that although the Humane Nature of Christ was a Person in it self yet it ceased so to be upon its Union with the Divine and so two Persons were conjoyned and compounded into one For if ever Humane Nature have in any Instance a personal Subsistence of it's own it cannot be separated from it without the Destruction and Annihilation of the Individual For to suppose otherwise is to make it to continue what it was and not what it was for it is what it is distinct