and did perform their part in the subsequent part of the Chapter and History of the Acts. Act. 14.23 Act. 6.3 5 6 8 10. Tit. 1.5 Secondly There is a Ministery of Christ which is not so immediate but more mediate and they were such as whom the Apostles in the behalf and by the suffrage or the election of the Churches did ordain and to whom they did delegate the power and authority of Jesus Christ for the work of the Ministery in the Churches And in his Name and power such gifts were bestowed as might fit those persons for the work whereunto they were chosen and ordained Act. 6.6 2 Tim. 1.6 These though it be not to be denied but they are to be accounted the Ministers of Christ because they are indeed his by appointment and institution yet they are such more mediately and the Churches more immediately whose also they are and out of whom and for whose sake they were immediately chosen and appointed while the other Ministery were to travel abroad and to fulfill their Ministery towards the World for which work they were Commissioned Mar. 16.15 Go ye into all the World and preach the Gospel to every creature This distinction is grounded upon these Scriptures 1 Cor. 4.1 Let a man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the Mysteries of God 2 Cor. 8.23 If any enquire of these they are the Apostles of the Churches or as we have it translated they are the Messengers of the Churches and the Glory of Christ Philip. 2.25 I suppose it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother but your Apostle If a person do entitle himself a Minister of Christ he must profess himself to be so under one of these two considerations If he be one of the first sort his Call must be immediate from the Bridegroom the Lord Jesus and his gifts and qualifications must be sutable to his work a powerful enabling to go forth to the World If he be one of the later sort his Call must be from the Bridegroom's friends the Apostles or an Apostolical Ministery Act. 14.23 compared with vers 14 of the same Chapter When the Apostles Barnabas and Paul Vers 23 when they i. e. the Apostles had ordained them Elders in every Church Tit. 1.5 For this cause I left thee in Cret that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting and ordaine Elders in every City as I had appointed thee Or else the call of this later sort must be from the Bride her self in whose custody was left the power of all Administrations 1 Cor. 11.2 I praise you brethren that you keep the Ordinances as I delivered them to you And sutable to this Call whether it be by the Bridegroom's friends or by the Bride her self must be the gifts bestowed If Paul do lay hands on Timothy and separate him to the work of the Ministery the Lord confers upon him thereby some gift which he had not before and such a gift to which he is to give attendance Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands 2 Tim. 1.6 If the Church by her Presbytery for so some will have that place to be understood do lay hands on Timothy it is not an empty and bare Ceremony but such an action as wherein God appears conferring by way of gift somewhat which was not before and this likewise is to be attended to Neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee by Prophecie with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery Now the Ministery of these times being compared and considered will appear neither called nor qualified according to the Primitive Patterns Friends of the Bridegroom in the first sence they are not as being immediately sent out from him with an Apostolical Mission or Embassage furnished to wooe and win the Nations to represent the person of the Bridegroom and to be as in his stead beseeching men to be friends with God intreating them to be reconciled to him Their want of the heavenly Furniture of power from on high for this work of the Ministery doth evidence the truth hereof Secondly Nor are they called and sent out by the friends of the Bridegroom either by Apostles Evangelists or Prophets who had their Call and Mission from Christ Forasmuch as they acknowledge no such Ministery now extant but say it was temporary and extraordinary though it be not demonstrable from Scripture when the Entail was cut off or such a Ministery to cease according to designation or appointment Thirdly Nor is it so evident as it is imagined that they have a true Visible Call from the Bride her self a true Visible Constituted Church of Christ who hath been her self first espoused to him visibly and Ministerially by some person or persons hereunto deputed and designed as the Church of Corinth was 2 Cor. 11.2 according to the first established visible Order by Faith and Baptism But from a Company of well-minded people who reading the Scriptures and observing what is spoken touching the Ministery its usefulness and necessity judge it also necessary lawful and expedient to chuse out from among themselves or others some such person as they best approve of to go before them and administer to them and this is accounted a true Call to the Ministery Whereas it would be first enquired Where the Scripture doth in any place give power to a people how holy how godly soever to give a true visible Call to the Ministery themselves not first being visibly and Ministerially a constituted Church of Christ and so his Spouse his Wife according to the Primitive Pattern Whose power how far it extends after she is espoused I dispute not but seriously enquire after the actions of power which are performed by any people before they are visibly espoused and consequently impowered thereunto Hence I conceive it is that this being practised the one giving the other accepting the Call of the Ministery without questioning the Power of either it may without offence be said that a Powerless People give Call to a Giftless Ministery for as they have not power so they confer not any who for lack of Gifts study to acquire Arts wherein also having attained they therein exercise themselves the wisdom of God suffering it to be so that they should style themselves Masters of Arts. But in the beginning it was not so For when the gifts of God could not be bought nor sold and consequently not appropriated to the gain or profit of the Possessor then must Humane Arts be invented which darken the Sun and the Air and the gifts of God exploded and called extraordinary because they too much resemble the heavenly Manna of old a food which proved too dry for the growing interest of that time which the most High beholding withheld and suffered not that blessed and heavenly dew to fall But contrariwise suffered them
the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power Now these are not transient but abiding things so the Ministery which is for the perfecting of the Saints in the sence above expressed was in like nature not onely given for that end but fixed and established by appointment for the same purpose The other branch of this Ministery was To edifie the body of Christ and to build upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chiefe corner-stone Now to apply what hath been spoken to the Ministery which Christ gave for this work as it consists of two branches Viz. Perfecting Edifying These workes are appropriate to two parts of the Ministery The first are called Apostles Prophets Evangelists and precede the Church Matth. 28.19 Mat 16.15 Ephes 2.20 21 22. or are before it having the whole world for their Circuit dealing with them as with the World with the Nations as with the Nations Discipling them preparing and fitting them felling hewing and squaring those stones and that timber that it might be made meet for the building as also laying the foundation even themselves next and in order to the Lord Jesus acknowledging him to be the chiefe corner-stone of the building and the building it self to be Gods 1 Cor. 3.9 10 but themselves labourers therein and wise Master-builders thereon The second are such as being part of the number of those which have been so gathered out of the World and placed into the building by the former Master-builders and by them also appointed to edifie the body i. e. to carry on the building keeping to the foundation furnishing them with Rule and Square and Compass and Line and Plummet and whatever was necessary to compleat this work or make the Man of God perfect All which are comprehended in the holy Scriptures and more collectively in the Epistles of Paul to Timothy and Titus And this Ministery are called Pastors and Teachers who are to feed the Church as the former were to breed it these to carry on the building as the other to lay the foundation these to be resident where they were chosen as those to pass on and prepare and fit more materials for the perfecting of the great building the whole House of God Now forasmuch as the number of the Saints are to be perfected and then to be edified and this to be done by a Ministery consisting of Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers and forasmuch as this is made the work of the Ministery so named and numbered as before to be accomplisht not by any one without the other of them not by the Ministery of the Apostles alone or Prophets onely or Evangelists onely much lesse by the Ministery of Pastors and Teachers onely but by these together as making up the Ministery which Christ ascending on high gave and by Ordinance or appointment set and constituted in the Church And seeing the number of the Saints is not perfected but rather as that Scripture saith The whole world lieth in wickedness or in that wicked one and that there are still Nations and Kindreds and Tongues and People to whom the Gospel may be preached and amongst whom Disciples may be made and Churches formed and built upon the true foundation Hence I conclude with my self and refer it to the judgment of him that reads it in answer to the Question That the Ministery which the Lord Jesus appointed to succeed him was for nature and end a breeding and feeding Ministery The one to prepare the Saints and to gather them into a Church as will be endeavoured to be proved in its proper place the other to build on upon the first foundation being first gathered and set thereon And that these are both alike for their end and duration or continuance appeares First Because they together make up but one Ministery Secondly Because they all being the fruits of one Purchase the same necessity remains for the one as for the other so long as any Saints are to be gathered as well as any to be edified these are to continue and that is till we all come to the unity of the Faith c. the Elect of God standing in as much need of the one instrumentally to enlighten and convert them as of the other to edifie and strengthen them being converted For as God when he gave one gave the other also so the Saints may see a necessity for the continuation of the one as well as of the other the former namely Apostles Prophets Evangelists having been some space of time without the later as appears by Acts 14.23 but the later I conceive have never been in truth without the former at least I know not where or when and should be willing to be informed forasmuch as the Foundation must precede the building up of the Superstructure and the Pastoral feeding the Lambs of the Lord Jesus must needs presuppose a Ministerial Breeding to have preceded in those pure and orderly Institutions The third and fourth Questions I shall answer together Quest Whether there be any Pattern of any Visible congregated Church under the Gospel without or before a Ministery or Baptism Or Whether the present Ministery or present Churches may be acknowledged the Ministery and Churches of Christ according to the first Pattern To the first part of the Question this will be answered Answ That it doth not appear in Scripture that any of the first Churches were gathered into their Visible Order without a Ministery preceding or before Baptism If it be otherwise it 's hoped it will be shewed where and when If it be not to be shewed How deeply are they concerned who set up such Churches whereof there is no Pattern in the Word of God! I know it is ordinarily said and accordingly practised that a company of Believers may by mutual consent or agreement become a Church and appoint one to baptize the rest and accordingly chuse their own Officers and proceed to other Administrations and this in the Name of Christ And such a Company of Believers are accounted by themselves and some others a true Visible Church Others say the same thing in other words Now I would argue the case a little touching Believers consenting to become a Church so far as may help to clear the Question in hand When a person desires to joyn himself to some one of the present Churches though the person be never so desirous in himself to be added yet he can but propound his desire of joyning and being admitted This Church considers and judges of this person's Faith and fitness for Fellowship and that in the Name of the Lord and must declare the Lord's consent in the Church's to the receiving such a Person into such a Fellowship before he can be admitted The person's willingness in himself to be joyned makes him not a Member of such a Fellowship he cannot give his own consent and the Church's too but as he is willing to manifest his
readiness to be admitted so the Church judging of his profession of Faith and fitness manifests her consent by receiving him in the Name of the Lord Jesus either by Baptism or without according as they have faith in that Particular I mean that Fellowship or Society which so admits him Now if this be the Method or Ordinary way of proceeding in a Church after it is gathered Is not the gathering of that Church in its first beginning to be supposed equivalent hereunto forasmuch as the same relation wherein one single believer doth stand with reference to a true Church rightly constituted so do a Company of Believers stand in relation to Christ in their first congregating into the Visible Order of a Church-estate Which may be thus demonstrated Christ is the Bridegroom The Church is the Bride the Lamb's wife A company of Believers are supposed to be made willing by the power of Light and Love to be married to Christ and to put on that Conjugal-Yoke of visible Churchship wherein they may manifest their obedience to him subjecting themselves to such Ordinances and Appointments of his as are commanded touching that particular But to whom shall they make manifest this their willingness Who shall supply the room of the Bridegroom Or who is the Bridegroom's friend that can Ministerially declare Christ's acceptance of these Believers to become his Church his Wife and he to become their Bridegroom their Husband their Lord their Law-giver giving them power to sit upon Thrones for him to open and shut a door for him to binde and to loose in his Name and Power Believers I conceive can no more in this case give their own consents and Christ's too then a particular believer that would be joyned to a Visible Church can give his own consent and the Churches too Therefore as the true Church doth Ministerially contain in her self the state of power to binde and loose to open and shut in Christ's Name to signifie his consent and in his Name to receive or not receive the person who pretends to or assays to be joyned to her so is it seriously to be considered who did at first Ministerially supply the room of the Bridegroom who did at first judge of these Believers fitness or who did in Christ's Name accept of them as they do in Christ's Name accept of others that desire to joyn to them That the true Visible Church is the Spouse the Bride the Wife of the Lord Jesus these Scriptures among others witness Cant. 4.8 Eph. 5.32 Rev. 21.9 That the consent between Christ and his Church at first was acted Ministerially by such as himself had designed for that purpose viz. to accept of the believers consent on their part and to espouse them to Christ and that this was effected by that Ministery which was wont to precede and go before the Church and its feeding Ministery appears from the consideration of these Scriptures 1 Cor. 4.15 For in Christ Jesus have I begotten you through the Gospel 2 Cor. 5.29 We pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God And as this Ministery was thus instrumental towards their personal conversion so was it also touching their Visible Admission into their Espoused i. e. Church-estate For not onely did they in Christ's stead beseech them to be reconciled to God but also did receive them being so reconciled 2 Cor. 11.2 the Apostle Paul testifieth touching the Church of Corinth that he did espouse that Church to one husband that he might present it a chaste Virgin to Christ And of the Churches of Macedonia it is said in 2 Cor. 8.5 that they gave their own selves first unto the Lord and unto us by the will of God All that this Discourse intends is but to put persons whose spirits can bear it upon the consideration how they became a Church at first And whether that the practice of the present Churches doth not justly occasion that enquiry forasmuch as the reason is the same that the first Beginners of a Church have as much necessity of some person or persons Ministerially deputed by Christ to try and to accept of them as well as for them afterwards to try and judge and accept of others in the Name and Authority of Christ who desire to be added to them The consideration of which may serve for Answer to that part of the Question which concerns the present Churches That forasmuch as it is not demonstrable that the present Churches have been so constituted by persons Ministerially deputed on Christ's part to whom they might give up themselves Visibly as well as unto the Lord and by whom they might Visibly and Ministerially have the Lord's consent manifested to them as they themselves now manifest it to those which would be added to them but that they reckon it sufficient to be made free and willing in themselves and without any Visible or Ministerial Authority to try and judge one another and to accept of one another in Christ's Name and stead and so become a Church contrary to their own after-practice towards others Seems to be altogether without president from the Word of God and consequently are not to be acknowledged for the true Visible constituted Churches of Christ according to the Primitive Pattern To the second branch of the Question touching the present Ministery Quest Whether they are to be acknowledged the Ministery of Christ according to the first Pattern Besides what hath been spoken already it may be further added Answ That a Ministery of Jesus Christ may be considered Immediately or Mediately such either as coming of that Apostolical Race who had their call immediately from Christ as the first Messengers had Matth. 10.1 2. Matth. 28.16 18 19 c. Gal. 1.1 12 Paul an Apostle or a Messenger or a man sent out not of men neither by man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father And these in the Scriptures are properly called Ministers of Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 4.1 Let a man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the Mysteries of God Now for a man to be a Minister of Christ in this sence requires to have an immediate call and sending forth with gifts sutable to such a Ministery Mark 16.15 20 Go ye forth into all the world and preach the Gospel to every Creature And they went forth and preached everywhere the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signes following Act. 1.4 5 8 And being assembled with them i.e. the Apostles whom he had chosen Vers 2. commanded them that they should not depart from Hierusalem but wait for the promise of the Father Vers 4. For ye shall be Baptized with the holy Spirit not many dayes hence Vers 5 Ye shall receive power after that the holy Spirit is come upon you and ye shall be Witnesses unto me c. Vers 8. Which was accordingly performed on God's part for they did receive the promise of the Father Act. 2.1 2 3
entering upon the work of the Ministery Luke 4.18 till the time of finishing of that Ministration Afterward he performed it by his Apostles whom he had chosen ordained and sent out for that purpose together with those other gifts of Ministery which as the fruit of his ascension to his Father he gave for that end to perfect i. e. to gather and edifie his Body the Church until they should all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man c. He did not leave it upon his people promiscuously to be equally and alike gifted for that work Compare Ephes 4.11 12 with 1 Cor. 12.29 Therefore there doth remain an Order to be observed in the exercise of the Ministery and the Disorder thereof is to be bewailed and Jesus Christ to whom all power is given of the Father and by whom at first it was derived and delegated to chosen men Acts 10.40 41 42 to be waited upon for restoration thereof in whose hand the power is and without whom we can do nothing Joh. 15.5 That he should do it by such instruments as he pleaseth furnished with such power and authority and with such a presence of Christ as may demonstrate them to be sent of God for that work or service by the Divine light and heat of the fire of the Spirit of God Act. 2. furnishing them with the true knowledge of the mind of God concerning the Fundamentals of Doctrine Worship together with true power to evince the truth thereof against all gainsayers of whom the world was never more full whether we respect Jews or Infidels or False Christians To be furnished with ability to shew to all Kindreds Nations Tongues and Peoples the glory of the Mystery of the ancient Gospel which once was declared and received but from which there hath been so deep a falling away according as was foretold 2 Thess 2.7 1 Tim. 3.16 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3 and accordingly effected through the power of the Beast Rev. 13. ult Quest Is not the Ministery of the Apostles as efficacious to possess the Saints of the enjoyment of their Liberties purchased by Christ Quest and to put them upon the doing their duties required of them in our Times as it was in theirs seeing that they by their Ministery were commanded to teach all nations to observe whatsoever Christ had commanded them Matth. 28.19 20. Rom. 10.6 7 8. 2 Tim. 2.2 Answ The Ministery of the Apostles may be considered Answ either in the word or in the power of it 1 Thess 1.5 The word of their Ministery without the power is not efficacious to put persons upon their duty Act. 2.11 13. Act. 17.18 The Power accompanying the Word is either Outward or Inward or both Outward and Inward The Outward power was the external demonstration of the Spirit expressed Acts 19.6 Rom. 15.18 19. Heb. 2.4 The Inward power was that internal operation of the Spirit expressed Acts 2.37 Acts 16.14 Now if the word of the Apostles Ministery be accompanied with a power and demonstration of the Spirit sutable to that demonstration and power will be the manifestation of the obedience that follows it according to Rom. 15.18 19. 1 Cor. 2.4 5. If the demonstration of the Spirit be visible and outward it directs to the Outward obedience according to the Rules of that demonstration If it be accompanied with power it not onely directs but enables to obedience in that particular according to Matth. 7.22 23. Luke 10.17 18 19 20. If the demonstration and power of the Spirit be onely Inward and Invisible it directs and enables to the more Inward and Invisible part of obedience Gal. 5.22 23 to believe hope joy love and to express the fruits thereof Gal. 5.26 If the demonstration and power of the Spirit which accompanieth the Word be both Outward and Inward then doth it direct and enable the soul both Inwardly and Outwardly to be obedient according to the Rules thereof Rom. 15.18 19. 1 Cor. 2.4 5. 1 Thes 1.5 Now it may so come to pass that the Word of the Lord or the Ministery of the Apostles may come in demonstration and power upon the outward man onely and extend no further it may convince that Acts 4.14 16 and may bring that under obedience Act. 8.12 13. but it seldome or never befals the Lord's people to be convinced in the outward man onely I say onely But it may and certainly doth many times befal them to finde and feel the inward power and demonstration of the Spirit invisibly and inwardly whenas they are deprived of the external Manifestations of it Matth. 16.15 16 17 when the soul cannot and what it cannot see it may by the inward power of the Spirit believe Heb. 11.1 when it cannot possess and enjoy it may by the power of the same Spirit be helped to wait for Rom. 8.24 25. and when it knows not what to pray for as it ought it may by the inward power of the same Spirit be enabled to sigh and groan to God Rom. 8.26 27. This did seeme to be the condition of those believers in the nineteenth of the Acts who though they believed through the inward power of the Spirit upon their hearts yet they were ignorant of the external power and demonstration of the Spirit and consequently what they were further to know and do Act. 19.2 6. Cornelius who though the power of the Spirit had been great upon his heart Act. 10.24 yet he was ignorant of that external demonstration and power which afterwards he received Act. 10.44 So Paul though it pleased God to reveale himself to him or in him in the way Gal. 1.16 and caused him to pray in or by the Spirit Act. 9.11 compared with Rom. 8.26 27 yet he remained ignorant of that external power and demonstration of the Spirit which afterward he received when Ananias came unto him and laid his hands upon him and opened his eyes and told him what he should do Act. 9.6 17. Sometimes the Word or the Apostles Ministery came both in word and power both in the outward demonstration and inward operation and then it made men obedient in word and deed Rom. 15.16 19. 1 Thess 1.5 1 Cor. 2.4 5. These things being premised I conceive I may say in answer to your Question That the word of the Gospel or Ministery of the Apostles as you call it is so far forth efficacious to put the Saints upon doing their duties as it comes furnished with the demonstration and power of the Spirit 1 Cor. 1.1.5 2 Cor. 4.5 2 Cor. 3.6 If the Spirit do demonstrate and make evident to the Soule that part of the Word which concerns the Soul's hope faith joy love c. according as that Word is evidenced with demonstration and power of the Spirit to the Soule so far is that Soule not onely taught but enabled to hope believe joy love and no farther So likewise for that part of
the Word which requires outward obedience so far as the demonstration and power of the Spirit comes so far are we taught and enabled outwardly to obey Now the demonstration of the Spirit is as I conceive the Spirits evidencing and making manifest the true intent and minde of the Apostles in the Ministery as it did evidence and make manifest its own minde in their Administrations when they did administer Now the Apostles they spake by the Spirit and had the minde of Christ He therefore that will interpret their minde in their Ministery which was none other but the minde of Christ must do it by the power demonstration and evidence of the same Spirit by which they spake which was unerring and infallible 1 Cor. 2.11 12 16 Who knows the minde of a man but the spirit of a man c. Again though it might be supposed that there were a clear demonstration of the Spirit yet without the power of the same Spirit believers were not sufficiently furnished to obedience Luke 24.45 49. Act. 1.2 4. Acts 10.38 This Power I take to be a power of Authority as well as Ability Matth. 28.18 and this Authority and Ability are both required at least in some of the branches of a believers obedience In particular the business of the Ministery and the Administrations which are particular to a Church I conceive are such as unto which there is required in whomsoever they may concern a clear understanding by the Spirit so as to be able to say I have the minde of Christ and Thus speaks the Lord and not I. A true Power of Authority as well as Ability to do that work which they say by the Spirit is their duty to do Luke 24.45 49. Acts 4.7 Matth. 9.6 8. A clear evidence and manifestation thereof not onely in themselves but to manifest to others for their profit 1 Cor. 12.7 Now if there be such Believers who not onely touching their own personal estate and condition but also touching Visible Administrations of Publike Worship can say in truth by the Spirit We have the minde of Christ and This speaks the Lord and not we and have also a true and lawful authority to act those things they say they know I shall leave such persons to the trial of their spirits and not doubt but to be able to see that spirit demonstrating it self to the world either in them or others to the praise and glory of the God and Father of spirits In the mean time I shall conceive that whatsoever in the Word is required of believers to do personally as believers that ought to be endeavoured after by every one that is truely so But whatsoever is relatively appropriated to persons as such and such due regard is to be had to God's Order and Dispensation there according to the limits and bounds he hath set Better it is to be fed of Ravens or fast fourty days then distrusting God's provision turn stones into bread Read 1 Sam. 13.11 12 13 a fair pretence but he that believeth maketh not haste Quest Whether those Signes and Wonders whereby God manifested his presence with the Apostles Quest were not rather to confirm their Word and Doctrine then to bear witness to their persons being sent Heb. 2.4 Answ It is in my understanding a truth Answ that those Signes and Wonders were to confirm their Word and Doctrine Mark 16.20 but the case is evident that the works which God wrought by them were not onely to confirm their Word but also to testifie of their Persons that they were sent of God Joh. 5.36 The works which the Father hath given me to finish the same works that I do bear witness of me that the Father hath sent me compared with Joh. 20.21 As my Father sent forth me so I send forth you Joh. 17.18 If the Father sent forth Christ and the works which Christ did testified of him that he was sent of God Joh. 11.42 then Christ sending forth his Disciples as the Father sent forth him Acts 4.13 14 16 the works which they do testifie of them that they are sent of Christ as the works which he did testified of him that he was sent of God 2 Cor. 12.12 The signes of an Apostle were wrought among you c. Quest Seeing gifts are given to profit withal Quest and talents to be improved How according to Rule and Order may the Saints edifie one another and improve their talents for the honour of Jesus Christ out of a Church-estate 1 Cor. 12.7 Answ Such as the gifts and talents be which are given Answ such must the improvement of them be for the honour of Christ I pray you consider the Scripture you have quoted 1 Cor. 12. Where those gifts of the Spirit which are there spoken of are to be found there need not be any care taken how to improve them out of a Church for surely then and there will be a glorious Church where and when those gifts of the Spirit are given to profit with Where there is given by the Spirit a word of Wisdom a word of Knowledge a gift of Faith a gift of Healing a gift of Miracles a gift of Prophecie a gift of discerning of Spirits a gift of Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues when the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every one to profit withal as the Scripture expresseth then there will be an Orderly Administration and an Effectual Operation to the honour of Jesus Christ In the mean time I could desire the Lord's people to consider of that thing they call Gift or Gifts and try by what Name or Title they may be distinguished or called Whether any of these before mentioned or some other If not these but some other I would consider what it is Whether it be given to them to believe Phil. 1.29 to hope joy suffer pray to distribute to the Lord 's poor to bear the burden of the afflicted to mourn over the desolations of the Israel of God to wait for the Day of Restoration to long to groan in expectation for the Day of the Lord. Now if the gifts you speak of be of the first kinde mentioned in 1 Cor. 12. they bring manifestation enough with them to direct to the improvement of them and where-ever they are found surely a Church of Christ is not far off If they be of the later sort I conceive the Spirit of the Lord whose gifts they are is not wanting to manifest to such to whom they are given how they in their measure may be improved to the glory of him that is the author of them But yet a few words more particularly to what I conceive may be the scope of the Question The Apostle in 1 Cor. 10.6 11. speaking of the Jews and that which befel them saith Those things happened to them in types and Whatsoever was written before-time was written for our learning Now it is to be noted that in their travelling condition while they were
in the wilderness they were our Types 1 Cor. 10.11 In their Temple-state they were our Types and what God spake to them then was as typing out the state which was to come after 2 Cor. 6.16 In the state of their Captivity they were the types of the Captivity of the present Israel of God Jer. 50. Revel 11.8 Revel 18.2 4. Therefore what is recorded of them and what befel them according to the Divine wisdom of the most holy God is written for us and for our learning that we might fear with a holy fear Now it appears by the testimony of Divine Truth that there were some parts of Worship which the people were to perform to their God in the Temple at Jerusalem and not elsewhere Deut. 12.6 7 11 13 14. But there were some other parts of his Worship which they might perform to him when they were at the greatest distance from the Temple even in the Land of their Captivity When they were in their own Land they were to perform their Temple-work and Temple-worship at Jerusalem the place where God had chosen to put his Name But in case the Lord should deliver them into the hands of their enemies and they should be led captive into a strange Land inasmuch as they could not come to Jerusalem to worship before the Lord there yet if they did but remember the Lord in the land of their captivity and did humble themselves and pray unto him looking towards his house he would hear in heaven c. That the Lord 's Israel might be put past Temple-work and worship read 1 Kings 8.44 46 47 48 49 50 51. and yet in this their condition when they could not come to Jerusalem if they did but look towards it and repent and pray God would have mercy hear and forgive That these people were carried captive appears 2 Chron. 36.17 to the end of vers 21. Now the Sion of God became a plowed field Now the ways of Sion mourned none came to her solemn Assemblies and for their part they could not sing the songs of Jehovah in a strange Land Now the Lord had broken his two staves of Beauty and Bands Zech. 11.9 10 14. Now was Israel given up to the Robbers Isa 42.23 24 25. Quest Well Quest but what do these people do in the Land of their Captivity Answ They seek the Lord by Fasting and Prayer Answ looking towards his House they hang their Harps upon the willows and fall a mourning and weeping at the remembrance of Sion Read these Scriptures Psal 137. Dan. 9.2 3 4. Dan. 6.10 Zech. 7.3 5. Zech. 8.19 21 22. Ezra 8.23 Quest Quest But did the people ever pray together during the time of their Captivity Answ Answ Yea besides what other places of Scripture may hold out for the clearing of it without doubt it lies clear in the face of this Text Esth 4.3 16. Go gather together all the Jews which are in Shushan and fast ye for me If ever this were the case of this people and they were herein as well as in other things Types in respect of what was to come methinks we are taught to consider that which was afore-time written for our learning according to Rom. 15.4 Rom. 11. That in the Christian Church-state there is something so peculiar to it as that it may not elsewhere be administred as the power of Binding and Loosing in the Name of the Lord Jesus together with the Administration of such Ordinances as are peculiar to a Church wherein the Primitive Churches were exercised for their season contending earnestly for the faith once given to the Saints the woman wearing her Brides attire her goodly cloathing Revel 12.1 until the Dragon made war against her and put her to flight pursuing her with floods of water in which condition of hers she hath lien in the wilderness of the world in the rubbish and confusion of Babel among the pots unpolished growing up as a lily among thorns here one and there another like an Army routed like Sheep unfolded according to that Scripture I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains like sheep having no shepherd 1 King 22.17 Oh that we could read with affection those passages Psal 80. and Psal 81. Oh how is the Sion of the Lord become a plowed field indeed How is the Vineyard of the Lord spoiled Once it was not so but at this day how do the poor people of the Lord rend and devour and tear and eat up one another what sharp and bitter words How great is the company of spear-men the mother eating up the children of a span long Could this be if the Veil were taken away and our Bondage removed What may be the reason Truth is so miscalled so mistaken one pretends to have it and another to have it Is it not because night is to us for a vision We say we see and we think we see but know not that we are as men that dream The Builders are at oddes among themselves and the stones in the building rise up one against another Can Christ be thus divided If that his true Ministery were on foot would not that rectifie that great Confusion which is among the Builders Would not a Trowel be a Trowel and Brick be Brick and Mortar be Mortar Would not the language of Truth be distinctly understood Would he suffer one of his own servants to throw down what another most dear to himself hath been a building up and a third to destroy the work of them both Oh how great is the desolation if we were but sensible of it and affected with it And when we think to mend our selves and to become Repairers of the breaches behold in stead of a girdle a rent in stead of well-set hair baldness This this is the condition of the Lord's people to them that see it and surely unless the Lord of hosts had left us a remnant we had been like Sodom But blessed be the Lord our Rock who hath given us the valley of Achor for a door of hope Hos 2.15 Ier. 31.16 17. Zeph. 3.8 9 17 18. Now the condition of the Lords Israel being thus routed thus scattered they ought to be afflicted deeply with this their desolation and scattering yet not to mourn as men without hope Jer. 31.15 16 17 but cry mightily unto the Lord and give him no rest Isa 62.1 6 7. Luk. 18.1 7 8. To beare one anothers burthens To inquire of the Lord and one of another the way to Sion Jer. 50.4 5 6. To inquire after the true Lord Jesus Cant. 6.1 Thus according to this order and pattern of a poor captivated people ought the scattered Israel of Jehovah to go mourning and weeping and seeking the Lord and not to go about to build and set up wayes by their own mistaken miscalled and misunderstood gifts But to wait upon the Lord lest it be to them in stead of a girdle a rent Isa 3.24 Quest Seeing God hath