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A53734 Two discourses concerning the Holy Spirit, and His work the one, Of the Spirit as a comforter, the other, As He is the author of spiritual gifts ... / by ... John Owen. Owen, John, 1616-1683.; Mather, Nathanael, 1631-1697.; Owen, John, 1616-1683. Discourse of spiritual gifts. 1693 (1693) Wing O818; ESTC R2819 174,342 306

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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 ●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
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 i●●s he seeth good for the Conviction and Conversion of Sinners wherein there is a secret 〈◊〉 of the Spirit also We may there●●●●●●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
Liberty is better than Bondage the Mind more excellent than the outward Carkass Spiritual and Eternal things than things Carnal and Temporary as the Wisdom and Holiness of God are more excellent than the Folly and Lusts of Men. § 6. SEEING therefore this was the Design of Christ this was the Nature and Work of the Gospel which was to be propagated wherein Carnal Power and outward Force could be of no use yea whose Exercise was inconsistent with dishonourable unto and destructive of the whole Design and wherein the Work to be accomplished on the Minds and Souls of Men is incomparably greater than the conquering of Worlds with Force and Arms it is enquired what Power the Lord Christ did employ herein what Means and Instruments he used for the Accomplishment of his Design and the erecting of that Kingdom or Church-State which being promised of Old was called the World to come or the New World the New Heaven and Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness And I say it was these Gifts of the Holy Ghost whereof we have treated which were those Powers of this World to come By them it was or in their Exercise that the Lord Christ erected his Empire over the Souls and Consciences of Men destroying both the Work and Kingdom of the Devil It is true it is the Word of the Gospel it self that is the Rod of his Strength which is sent out of Sion to erect and dispense his Rule But that hidden Power which made the Word effectual in the dispensation of it consisted in these Gifts of the Holy Ghost Men may despise them or think light of them whilst they please they are those Powers which the Lord Christ in his Wisdom thought meet alone to engage in the propagation of the Gospel and setting up of his Kingdom in the World § 7. THE Recovery and Return of the People from the Captivity of Babylon was a Type of the Spiritual Redemption of the Church by Jesus Christ And how God effected that as a Type hereof he declares Zech. 4. 6. Not by Army nor by Power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts so much more was this work to be effected So after his Resurrection the Lord Christ tells his Apostles that they were to be his Witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the Earth that is all the World over Acts 1. 8. But how shall they be able so to bear Testimony unto them as that their witness shall be received and become effectual Saith he Ye shall receive power for this end I have given you Authority to Preach the Word before and now I will give you such an Ability for it as none shall be able to withstand or resist and this is after the Holy Ghost is come upon you that is in the Communication of these Gifts whereby you may be enabled unto your work In them consisted that Mouth and Wisdom which he promised he would give them which all their Adversaries were not able to gainsay or resist Luke 21. 15. Wherefore that which I shall close this Discourse withall shall be a brief endeavour to declare how these Gifts were the Spiritual Powers of the Gospel unto all the ends we have before mentioned as designed by Jesus Christ whence it will appear how little there was of the Wisdom Skill Power or Authority of Men in the whole work of propagating the Gospel and planting the Church of Christ as we shall afterwards manifest how by the Dispensation of the other more ordinary Gifts of the Spirit both the Gospel and the Church are continued and preserved in the World FIRST the Persons whom the Lord Christ chose called and designed unto this Work were by these Gifts enabled thereunto As no Mortal Men had of themselves any sufficiency for such a work so the Persons particularly called unto it by Jesus Christ lay under all the Disadvantages that any Persons could possibly be liable unto in such an undertaking For 1 They were all of them unlearned and ignorant which the Jews took notice of Acts 4. 13. and which the Gentiles despised them for 2 They were Poor and of no Reputation in the World which made them contemned by all sorts of Persons And 3 They seem in many instances to have been pasillanimous and fearful which they all manifested when they so shamefully fled and left their Master in his Distresses the chief of them also Swearing that he knew him not Now it is easily understood what great disadvantages these were unto the undertaking of so great a work as they were called unto yea how impossible it was for them under these qualifications to do any thing in the pursuit of it Wherefore by the Communication of these Gifts unto them all these Impediments arising from themselves were removed and they were furnished with Endowments of quite another nature whereby they were eminently sitted with that Spiritual Wisdom Knowledge and Understanding which surpassed all the Wisdom that was of the VVorld or in it by what ways or means soever it were attained They both had and declared a VVisdom which none of the Princes of this VVorld were acquainted withal 1 Cor. 2. Those who during the abode of Christ in the Flesh with them could not understand a plain Parable and were ever and anon at no small loss about the sense and meaning of their matter having very low and carnal apprehensions about his Person VVork and Office were now filled with a Knowledge of all Heavenly Mysteries and with VVisdom to declare manage and maintain them against all opposers Kings Princes Rulers of Synagogues were now all one to them they had a Mouth and VVisdom given them which none of their Adversaries could resist VVhere ever they came in all Nations to all sorts of People of all Languages they were now enabled in their own Tongue and Speech to declare and preach the Gospel unto them being always filled with a Treasure of Wisdom and Spiritual Mysteries whence they could draw forth as every occasion did require 2 Whereas they were poor the difficulties wherewith such a condition is attended were also by this means utterly taken away For although they had neither Silver nor Gold by their Work or Employment but their outward Wants and Distresses were rather encreased thereby yet their Minds and Souls were by this Communication of the Spirit so raised above the World and filled with such a Contempt of all the desireable things in it and of all the Pride of Men upon their account as that their want of Possessions and outward Enjoyments made them only the more ready and expedite for their work whence also such of them as had Possessions sold them gave their price to the Poor that they might be no hindrance unto them in their Design And hence also it was that those who even after the Resurrection of Christ were enquiring after a Temporal Kingdom wherein no doubt a good part of its Glory Power and
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. A Brief Instruction in the Worship of God and Discipline of the Churches of the New Testament by way of Questions and Answers with an Explication and Confirmation of those Answers Price Bound 1 s. 5. Meditations and Discourses concerning the Glory of Christ Applied unto Unconverted Sinners and Saints under Spiritual Decays from John 17. 24. Price Bound 1 s. 6. A Guide to Church-Fellowship and Order according to Gospel Institution Price Bound 6 d. These with the rest of Dr. Owen's Works that are in Print are sold by William Marshall at the Bible in Newgate-street where you may be supplied of other Authors Books following An Exposition of the whole Book of the Revelation wherein the Visions and Prophesies of Christ are Opened and Expounded by that Late Reverend Divine Hanserd Knollys Price Bound 2 s. 6 d. Dr. Crisp's Works in large Quarto four parts Bound 7 s. A Plain and Familiar Conference concerning Gospel Churches and Order for the Information and Benefit of those who shall seek the Lord their God and ask the way to Sion with their Faces thitherwards Price Bound 1 s. Ashwood's Heavenly Trade or the best Merchandize Price Bound 2 s. 6 d. Ashwood's best Treasure or the unsearchable Riches of Christ. Bound 2 s. 6 d. Mr. Mead's Effigies lately Engraven and Printed on large Paper Price 6 d. Mr. Caryl's Effigies large Paper 6 d. Dr. Owen's Effigies in large Paper 6 d. Mr. Bunyan's Effigies large Paper 6 d. Dr. Crisp's Effigies in Paper 6 d. There is Newly Printed a Stitch'd Book containing Six Sheets Entituled The Sufficiency of the Spirits Teaching By Samnel How Price 6 d. 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. A Discourse of Prayer 14. The Strait Gate 15. Gospel Truths opened 16. Light for them in Darkness 17. Instructsons for the Ignorant 18. A Map of Salvation c. 19. The New Jerusalem 20. The Resurrection Price Bound 14 s. 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