as he was thereby carried on through great Bodily Weakness Languishing and Pains besides manifold other Tryals and Discouragements to bring forth out of his Treasury like a Scribe well instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven many useful and excellent Fruits of his Studies much beyond the Expectation and Hopes of those who saw how often and how long he was near unto the Grave But while he was thus indefatigably and restlesly laying out for the Service of Christ in this and succeeding Generations those Rich Talents with which he was furnished his Lord said unto him Well done thou good and faithful Servant enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord. No Man ever yet but Jesus Christ was able to finish all that was in his Heart to do for God On the removal of such accomplished and useful Persons I have sometimes relieved my self with this Thought that Christ lives in Heaven still and the Blessed Spirit from whom the Head and Heart of this Chosen Vessel were so Richly Replemshed liveth still Nath. Mather October 27. 1692. ERRATA PAge 3. line 19. for concera read content p. 7. l. 23. dele comma after external and put it after subsistence p. 11. l. 7. f. above r. about l. 18. f. comprize r. confine p. 12. l. 19. r. this is his p. 14. l. 2. r. that he should p. 15. l. 11. r. acted them l. 3. a fine f. expect r. expects p. 23. l. ult f. and r. end p. 32. l. 19. f. Discovery r. Recovery p. 35. l. 13. f. wherein r. when p. 37. l. 21. f. Things r. Thoughts l. ult f. Being r. Living p. 38. l. 25. f. Direction r. directs us p. 39. l. 13. à fine f. declaring r. declares p. 40. l. 7 8 10 13. dele the Interragatory Points p. 42. l. 15. f. this r. his p. 43. l. 24. f. instances r. instaences p. 55. l. 4. à fine f. Heb. 11. 13. r. Luke 11. 13. p. 83. l. 14. f. he had r. they had p. 86. l. 7. f. in r. is p. 89. l. 6. dele comma after Spirit p. 90. l. 18. f. And there was r. and that there was l. ult f. this Holy Spirits r. his Holy Spirit p. 91. l. 17. r. Arrhabone r. posuit l. 18. r. Arrhabo l. 21. f. quam r. quum f. tuerit r. fuerit l. 22. f. redditur r. reddatur p. 92. l. 10. f. Arrabon r. Arrhabon l. 12. r. Obinius penult f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 98. l. 5. f. natures r. names l. 14. f. longer r. long p. 99. l. 15. after called dele 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and and after 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 add and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 105. l. 5. f. significations r. signification p. 120. l. 14. f. they r. there CHAP. I. The Holy Ghost the Comforter of the Church by way of Office How He is the Churches Advocate Joh. 14. 16. 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. Joh. 16. 8 9 10 11. opened THAT which remains to compleat our Discourses concerning the Dispensation of the Holy Spirit is the Office and Work that he hath undertaken for the Consolation of the Church And THREE things are to be considered with respect unto this Head of the Grace of the Gospel 1. That the Holy Spirit is the Comforter of the Church by way of Especial Office 2. What is in that Office or wherein the Discharge of it doth consist 3. What are the Effects of it towards Believers IT must be granted that there is some Impropriety in that Expression by the way of Office An Office is not simply nor it may be properly spoken of a Divine Person who is absolutely so and nothing else But the like Impropriety is to be found in most of the Expressions which we use concerning God for who can speak of him aright or as he ought Only we have a safe Rule whereby to express our Conceptions even what He speaks of Himself And he hath taught us to learn the Work of the Holy Ghost towards us in this Matter by ascribing unto Him those things which belong unto an Office among Men. FOUR things are required unto the Constitution of an Office 1 An especial Trust. 2 An especial Mission or Commission 3 An especial Name 4 An especial Work All these are required unto an Office properly so called and where they are complyed withall by a voluntary susception in the Person designed thereunto an Office is compleatly constituted And we must enquire how these things in a Divine Manner do concur in the Work of the Holy Spirit as he is the Comforter of the Church FIRST He is intrusted with this Work and of his own Will hath taken it on Himself For when our Saviour was leaving of the World and had a full Prospect of all the Evils Troubles Dejections and Disconsolations which would befall his Disciples and knew full well that if they were left unto themselves they would faint and perish under them He gives them Assurance that the Work of their Consolation and Supportment was left entrusted and committed unto the Holy Spirit and that He would both take Care about it and perfect it accordingly THE Lord Christ when he left this World was very far from laying aside his Love unto and Care of his Disciples He hath given us the highest Assurance that he continueth for ever the same Care the same Love and Grace towards us he had and exercised when he layd down his Life for us See Heb. 4. 14 15 16. Cap. 7. 27. But inas much as there was a double Work yet to be performed in our behalf one towards God and the other in our selves He hath taken a two-fold way for the Performance of it That towards God he was to discharge immediately Himself in his Humane Nature For other Mediator between God and Man there neither is nor can be any This He doth by his Intercession Hence there was a necessity that as to his Humane Nature the Heavens should receive him unto the Time of the Restitution of all things as Acts 3. 21. There was so both with respect unto Himself and us THREE things with respect unto Himself made the Exaltation of his Humane Nature in Heaven to be necessary For 1. IT was to be a Pledge and Token of God's Acceptation of him and Approbation of what he had done in the World Joh. 16. 7 8. For what could more declare or evidence the Concern and Delight of God in what he had done and suffered than after he had been so ignominiously treated in the World to receive him visibly gloriously and triumphantly into Heaven He was manifested in the Flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels and in the issue received up into Glory 1 Tim. 3. 16. Herein God set the great Seal of Heaven unto his Work of Mediation and the Preaching of the Gospel which ensued thereon And a Testimony hereunto was that which filled his Enemies with Rage and Madness Act. 7. 55 56 57. His Resurrection confirmed his Doctrine
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
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
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
with undeniable Efficacy but his Assumption into Heaven testified unto his Person with an astonishing Glory 2. IT was necessary with respect unto the Humane Nature it self that after all its Labours and Sufferings it might be crowned with Honour and Glory He was to suffer and enter into his Glory Luk. 24 26. Some dispute whether Christ in his Humane Nature merited any thing for himself or no but not to immix our selves in the Niceties of that Enquiry it is unquestionable that the highest Glory was due to him upon his accomplishment of the Work committed unto him in this World which he therefore lays claim to accordingly Joh. 17. 4 5. It was so 3. WITH respect unto the Glorious Administration of his Kingdom For as his Kingdom is not of this World so it is not only over this World or the whole Creation here below The Angels of Glory those Principalities and Powers above are subject unto him and belong unto his Dominion Eph. 1. 21. Phil. 2. 9 10. Among them attended with their ready Service and Obedience unto all his Commands doth he exercise the Powers of his glorious Kingdom And they would but degrade Him from his Glory without the least Advantage unto themselves who would have him forsake his high and glorious Throne in Heaven to come and reign among them on the Earth unless they suppose themselves more meet Attendants on his Regal Dignity than the Angels themselves who are mighty in Strength and Glory SECONDLY The Presence of the Humane Nature of Christ in Heaven was necessary with respect unto Us. The Remainder of his Work with God on our behalf was to be carried on by Intercession Heb. 7. 26 27. And whereas this Intercession consisteth in the Vertual Representation of his Oblation or of himself as a Lamb slain in Sacrifice it could not be done without his continual Appearing in the Presence of God Heb. 9. 24. The other Part of the Work of Christ respects the Church or Believers as its immediate Object So in particular doth his comforting and supporting of them This is that Work which in a peculiar manner is committed and entrusted unto the Holy Spirit after the Departure of the Humane Nature of Christ into Heaven But two things are to be observed concerning it 1. That whereas this whole Work consisteth in the Communication of Spiritual Light Grace and Joy to the Souls of Believers it was no less the immediate Work of the Holy Ghost whilst the Lord Christ was upon the Earth than it is now he is absent in Heaven Only during the time of his Conversation here below in the days of his Flesh his holy Disciples looked on him as the only Spring and Foundation of all their Consolation their only Support Guide and Protector as they had just Cause to do They had yet no insight into the Mystery of the Dispensation of the Spirit nor was he yet so given or poured out as to evidence himself and his Operation unto their Souls Wherefore they looked on themselves as utterly undone when their Lord and Master began to acquaint them with his leaving of them No sooner did he tell them of it but Sorrow filled their Hearts Joh. 16. 6. Wherefore he immediately lets them know that this great Work of relieving them from all their Sorrows and Fears of dispelling their Disconsolations and supporting them under their Trouble was committed to the Holy Ghost and would by him be performed in so eminent a manner as that his Departure from them would be unto their Advantage Ver. 7. Wherefore the Holy Spirit did not then first begin really and effectually to be the Comforter of Believers upon the Departure of Christ from his Disciples but he is then first promised so to be upon a double Account 1. Of the Fall Declaration and Manifestation of it So things are often said in the Scripture then to be when they do appear and are made manifest An eminent lustance hereof we have in this Case John 7. 38 39. The Disciples had hitherto looked for all immediately from Christ in the Flesh the Dispensation of the Spirit being hid from them But now this also was to be manifested unto them Hence the Apostle affirms that though we have known Christ after the flesh yet henceforth we know him no more 2 Cor. 1. 16. That is so as to look for Grace and Consolation immediately from him in the Flesh as it is evident the Apostles did before they were instructed in this unknown Office of the Holy Ghost 2. Of the full Exhibition and eminent Communication of Him unto this End This in every kind was reserved for the Exaltation of Christ when he received the Promise of the Spirit from the Father and poured it out upon his Disciples 2. THE Lord Christ doth not hereby cease to be the Comforter of his Church For what he doth by his Spirit he doth by himself He is with us unto the end of the World by his Spirit being with us and he dwelleth in us by the Spirit dwelling in us and whatever else is done by the Spirit is done by him And it is so upon a Three-fold Account For 1 The Lord Christ as Mediator is God and Man in One Person and the Divine Nature is to be consider'd in all his Mediatory Operations For he who worketh them is God and he worketh them all as God-Man whence they are Theandrical And this is proposed unto us in the greatest Acts of his Humiliation which the Divine Nature in it self is not formally capable of So God redeemed his Church with his own Blood Acts 20. 28. Inasmuch as he who was in the form of God and thought it no Robbery to be equal with God humbled himself and became obedient unto Death the Death of the Cross Phil. 2. 6 7 8. Now in this respect the Lord Christ and the Holy Spirit are one in Nature Essence Will and Power As he said of the Father I and my Father are one John 10. 30. So it is with the Spirit he and the Spirit are One. Hence all the Works of the Holy Spirit are his also as his Works were the Works of the Father and the Works of the Father were his All the Operations of the Holy Trinity as to things external unto their Divine Subsistence being individed So is the Work of the Holy Spirit in the Consolation of the Church his Work also 2 BECAUSE the Holy Spirit in this Condescention unto Office acts for Christ and in his Name So the Son acted for and in the Name of the Father where he every where ascribed what he did unto the Father in a peculiar manner The Word saith he which you hear is not mine but the Fathers which sent me John 14. 24. It is his originally and eminently because as spoken by the Lord Christ he was said by him to speak it So are those Acts of the Spirit whereby he comforteth Believers the Acts of Christ because the Spirit speaketh and acteth for
in the way of their Hearts Ver. 17. How therefore doth this Holy Comforter now deal with them Doth he give them up unto their Frowardness Doth he leave and forsake them under their Distemper No a tender Mother will not so deal with her Children He manageth his Work with that infinite Love Tenderness and Compassion as that he will overcome all their frowardness and cease not untill he hath effectually administred Consolation unto them Ver. 18. I have seen saith he all these his ways all his frowardness and miscarriages and yet saith he I will heal him I will not for all this be diverted from my Work and the pursuit of my design before I have done I will lead him into a right frame and restore Comforts unto him And that there may be no failure herein I will do it by a creating act of Power Ver. 19. I create the fruit of the lips Peace Peace This is the Method of the Holy Ghost in administring Consolation unto the Church openly evidencing that Love and Compassion from whence it doth proceed And without this Method should no One Soul be ever spiritually refreshed under its Dejections For we are apt to behave our selves frowardly more or less under the Work of the Holy Ghost towards us Infinite Love and Compassion alone working by Patience and Long-suffering can carry it on unto Perfection But if we are not only froward under particular Occasions Temptations and Surprizals clouding our present View of the Holy Spirit in his Work but are also habitually careless and negligent about it and do never labour to come unto satisfaction in it but always indulge unto the peevishness and frowardness of Unbelief it argues a most depraved unthankful frame of Heart wherein the Soul of God cannot be well pleased 3. It is an Evidence that his Work proceedeth from and is wholly managed in Love in that we are cautioned not to grieve him Eph. 4. 30. And a double Evidence of the Greatness of his Love herein is tendred unto us in that Caution 1. In that those alone are subject to be grieved by us who act in Love towards us If we comply not with the Will and Rule of others they may be provoked vexed instigated unto Wrath against us But those alone who love us are grieved at our miscarriages A severe Schoolmaster may be more provoked with the fault of his Scholar than the Father is but the Father is grieved with it when the other is not Whereas therefore the Holy Spirit is not subject or liable unto the Affection of Grief as it is a Passion in us we are cautioned not to grieve him namely to teach us with what Love and Compassion with what tenderness and holy Delight he performs his Work in us and towards us 2. It is so in that he hath undertaken the Work of Comforting them who are so apt and prone to grieve him as for the most part we are The great Work of the Lord Christ was to dye for us But that which puts an Eminence on his Love is that he dyed for us whilest we were yet his Enemies Sinners and Ungodly Rom. 5. 6 7 8. And as the Work of the Holy Ghost is to comfort us so a Lustre is put upon it by this that he comforts those who are very prone to grieve himself For although it may be we will not through a peculiar Affection hurt molest or grieve them again by whom we are grieved yet who is it that will set himself to comfort those that grieve him and that when so they do But even herein the Holy Ghost commendeth his Love unto us that even whilest we grieve him by his Consolations he recovers us from those ways wherewith he is grieved This therefore is to be fixed as an important Principle in this part of the Mystery of God That the principal Foundation of the Susception of this Office of a Comforter by the Holy Spirit is his own peculiar and ineffable Love For both the Efficacy of our Consolation and the Life of our Obedience do depend hereon For when we know that every acting of the Spirit of God towards us every gracious Impression from him on our Understandings Wills or Affections are all of them in pursuit of that infinite peculiar Love whence it was that he took upon him the Office of a Comforter they cannot but all of them influence our Hearts with spiritual Refreshments And wherein Faith is defective in this matter that it doth not exercise it self in the Consideration of this Love of the Holy Ghost we shall never arrive unto solid abiding strong Consolation And as for those by whom all these things are despised and derided it is no straight unto me whether I should renounce the Gospel or reject them from an Interest in Christianity for the Approbation of both is inconsistent Moreover it is evident how great a Motive hence ariseth unto cheerfull watchfull universal Obedience For all the Actings of Sin or Unbelief in us are in the first Place Re-actions unto those of the Holy Ghost in us and upon us By them is he resisted in his Perswasions quenched in his Motions and himself grieved If there be any holy Ingenuity in us it will excite a vigilant Diligence not to be overtaken with such wickednesses against unspeakable Love He will walk both safely and fruitfully whose Soul is kept under a Sense of the Love of the Holy Spirit herein Thirdly Infinite Power is also needfull unto and accordingly evident in the Discharge of this Office This we have fixed that the Holy Ghost is and ever was the Comforter of the Church Whatever therefore is spoken thereof belongs peculiarly unto him And it is expressed as proceeding from and accompanyed with Infinite Power as also the Consideration of Persons and Things declare it necessary that so it should be Thus we have the Churches Complaint in a deep Disconsolation My way is hid from the Lord and my Judgment is passed over from my God Isa. 48. 27. It is not so much her Affliction and Miseries as an Apprehension that God regarded her not therein which causeth her Dejection And when this is added unto any pressing Trouble whether Internal or External it doth fully constitute a State of spiritual Disconsolation For when Faith can take a Prospect of the Love Care and concernment of God in us and our Condition however grievous things may be at present unto us yet can we not be comfortless And what is it that in the Consolation which God intendeth his Church he would have them to consider in himself as an assured Ground of Relief and Refreshment This he declares himself in the following Verses Ver. 28 29 30 31. Hast thou not known hast thou not heard that the Everlasting God the Creator of the Ends of the Earth fainteth not nor is weary c. The Church seemeth not at all to doubt of his Power but of his Love Care and Faithfulness towards her But it is
from all other Individuals by Vertue of it's Personality Wherefore upon this Inhabitation of the Spirit wherein soever it doth consist there is no Personal Union ensuing between him and Believers nor is it possible that any such thing should be For he and they are distinct Persons and must eternally abide so whilst their Natures are distinct It is only the Assumption of our Nature into Union with the Son of God antecedent unto any individual Personal Subsistence of it's own that can constitute such an Union FOURTHLY The Union and Relation that ensues on this Inhabitation of the Spirit is not immediate between him and Believers but between them and Jesus Christ. For he is sent to dwell in them by Christ in his Name as his Spirit to supply his Room in Love and Grace towards them making use of his things in all his Effects and Operations unto his Glory Hence I say is the Union of Believers with Christ by the Spirit and not with the Spirit himself For this Holy Spirit dwelling in the Humane Nature of Christ manifesting and acting himself in all Fulness therein as hath been declared being sent by him to dwell in like manner and act in a limited Measure in all Believers there is a mystical Union thence arising between them whereof the Spirit is the Bond and Vital Principle ON these Considerations I say it is the Person of the Holy Ghost that is promised unto Believers and not only the Effects of his Grace and Power and his Person it is that always dwelleth in them And as this on the one hand is an Argument of his Infinite Condescention in complying with this Part of his Office and Work to be sent by the Father and Son to dwell in Believers so it is an evident Demonstration of his Eternal Deity that the one and self-same Person should at the same time inhabit so many Thousands of distinct Persons as are or were at any time of Believers in the World which is Fondness to imagine concerning any one that is not absolutely infinite And therefore that which some oppose as unmeet for him and beneath his Glory namely this his Inhabitation in the Saints of God is a most illustrious and incontroulable Demonstration of his Eternal Glory For none but he who is absolutely immense in his Nature and Omnipresence can be so present with and indistant from all Believers in the World and none but he whose Person by Vertue of his Nature is infinite can personally equally inhabit in them all An Infinite Nature and Person is required hereunto And in the Consideration of the Incomprehensibility thereof are we to acquiesce as to the Manner of his Inhabitation which we cannot conceive 1. THERE are very many Promises in the Old Testament that God would thus give the Holy Spirit in and by Vertue of the New Covenant as Ezek. 36. 27. Isa. 59. 21. Prov. 1. 23. And in every place God calls this promised Spirit and as promised His Spirit my Spirit which precisely denotes the Person of the Spirit himself It is generally apprehended I confess that in these Promises the Holy Spirit is intended only as unto his gracious Effects and Operations but not as to any Personal Inhabitation And I should not much contend upon these Promises only although in some of them his Person as promised be expresly distinguished from all his gracious Effects But the Exposition which is given of them in their Accomplishment under the New Testament will not allow us so to judge of them For 2. WE are directed to pray for the Holy Spirit and assured that God will give him unto them that ask him of him in a due manner Heb. 11. 13. If these Words must be expounded metonymically and not properly it must be because either 1 They agree not in the Letter with other Testimonies of Scripture Or 2 Contain some Sence absurd and unreasonable Or 3 That which is contrary unto the Experience of them that believe The first cannot be said for other Testimonies innumerable concur with it Nor the Second as we shall shew And for the Third it is that whose contrary we prove What is it that Believers intend in that Request I suppose I may say that there is no one Petition wherein they are more intense and earnest nor which they more frequently insist upon As David prayed that God would not take his Holy Spirit from him Psal. 51. So do they that God would bestow him on them For this they do and ought to do even after they have received him His Continuance with them his evidencing and manifestation of himself in and to them are the design of their continued Supplications for him Is it meerly external Operations of the Spirit in Grace that they desire herein Do they not always pray for his ineffable Presence and Inhabitation Will any Thoughts of Grace or Mercy relieve or satisfie them if once they apprehend that the Holy Spirit is not in them or doth not dwell with them Although they are not able to form any Conceptions in their Minds of the manner of his Presence and Residence in them yet is it that which they pray for and without the Apprehension whereof by Faith they can have neither Peace nor Consolation The Promise hereof being confined unto Believers those that are truly and really so as we shewed before it is their Experience whereby its Accomplishment is to be judged and not the Presumption of such by whom both the Spirit himself and his whole Work is despised 3. AND this Inhabitation is that which principally our Lord Jesus Christ directeth his Disciples to expect in the Promise of him He dwelleth with you and shall be in you John 14. 17. He doth so who is the Comforter the Spirit of Truth Or as it is emphatically expressed Chap. 16. 13. He the Spirit of Truth He is promised unto and he inhabits them that do believe So it is expresly affirmed towards all that are Partakers of this Promise Rom. 8. 9. Ye are not in the Flesh but in the Spirit if so be the Spirit of God dwells in you Ver. 11. The Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the Dead dwelleth in you The Holy Spirit dwelleth in us 1 Tim. 3. 14. He that is in us is greater than he that is in the World 1 John 4. 4. And many other express Testimonies there are unto the same purpose And whereas the Subject of these Promises and Propositions is the Holy Ghost himself the Person of the Holy Ghost and that so expressed as not to leave any Pretence for any thing else and not his Person to be intended And whereas nothing is ascribed unto him that is unreasonable inconvenient unto him in the Discharge of his Office or inconsistent with any of his Divine Perfections but rather what is every way suitable unto his Work and evidently demonstrative of his Divine Nature and Subsistence It is both irrational and unsuitable unto the Oeconomy of Divine
But this Communication is by Eternal Generation and not by Sealing But it is an external transient Act of God the Father on the Humane Nature with respect unto the Discharge of his Office For it is given as the Reason why he should be complied withal and believed in in that Work Labour for that Bread which the Son of Man shall give unto you for him hath God the Father Sealed It is the Ground whereon he perswades them to Faith and Obedience unto himself SECONDLY It is not spoken of him with an especial respect unto his Kingly Office as some conceive For this Sealing of Christ they would have to be his Designation of God unto his Kingdom in opposition unto what is affirmed Ver. 15. That the People designed to come and make him a King by Force For that is only an occasional Expression of the Sence of the People the principal Subject treated on is of a Nobler Nature But whereas the People did flock after him on the account of a Temporal Benefit received by him in that they were fed filled and satisfied with the Loaves which he had miraculously encreased Ver. 26. He takes occasion from thence to propose unto them the Spiritual Mercies that he had to tender unto them And this he doth in answer unto the Bread that he had eat under the Name of Meat and Bread enduring to everlasting Life which he would give unto them Under this Name and Notion of Meat he did comprize all the Spiritual Nourishment in his Doctrine Person Mediation and Grace that he had prepared for them But on what Grounds should they look for these things from him how might it appear that he was Authorized and enabled thereunto In answer unto that Enquiry he gives this Account of himself For him hath God the Father Sealed namely unto this End THIRDLY Wherefore the Sealing of God unto this End and Purpose must have two Properties and two Ends also annexed unto it 1 There is in it a Communication of Authority and Ability For the Enquiry is how he could give them that Meat which endured unto everlasting Life As afterwards they ask expresly How can this Man give us his Flesh to eat Ver. 52. To this it is answered That God the Father had Sealed him that is He it was who was enabled of God the Father to give and dispense the Spiritual Food of the Souls of Men. This therefore is evidently included in this Sealing 2 It must have Evidence in it also that is somewhat whereby it may be evinced that he was thus authorized and enabled by God the Father For whatever Authority or Ability any one may have unto any End none is obliged to make Application unto him for it or depend upon him therein unless it be evidenced that he hath that Authority and Ability This the Jews immediately enquired after What Sign say they dost thou then that we may see and believe thee What dost thou work Ver. 30. How shall it be demonstrated unto us that thou art authorized and enabled to give us the Spiritual Food of our Souls This also belonged unto his Sealing for therein there was such an express Representation of Divine Power communicated unto him as evidently manifested that he was appointed of God unto this Work These two Properties therefore must be found in this Sealing of the Lord Christ with respect unto the End here mentioned namely that he might be the Promuscondus or principal Dispenser of the Spiritual Food of the Souls of Men. FOURTHLY It being God's Seal it must also have two Ends designed in it 1 God's owning of him to be his Him hath God the Father Sealed unto this End that all may know and take notice of his Owning and Approbation of him He would have him not looked on as one among the rest of them that dispensed Spiritual things but as him whom he had singled out and peculiarly marked for himself And therefore this he publickly and gloriously testified at the Entrance and again a little before the fininishing of his Ministry For upon his Baptism there came a Voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Matth. 3. 17. which was nothing but a publick Declaration that this was He whom God had Sealed and so owned in a peculiar manner And this Testimony was afterwards renewed again at his Transfiguration in the Mount Matth. 17. 5. Behold a Voice out of the Cloud which said This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased hear ye him This is he whom I have Sealed And this Testimony is pleaded by the Apostle Peter us that whereinto their Faith in him as the Sealed One of God was resolved 2 Pet. 1. 17 18. 2 To manifest that God would take Care of him and preserve him in his Work unto the End Isa. 42. FIFTHLY Wherefore this Sealing of the Son is the Communication of the Holy Spirit in all Fulness unto him authorizing him unto and acting his Divine Power in all the Acts and Duties of his Office so as to evidence the Presence of God with him and Approbation of him as the only Person that was to distribute the Spiritual Food of their Souls unto Men. For the Holy Spirit by his powerful Operations in him and by him did evince and manifest that he was called and appointed of God to this Work owned by him and accepted with him which was God's Sealing of him Hence the Sin of them who despised this Seal of God was unpardonable For God neither will nor can give greater Testimony unto his Approbation of any Person than by the Great Seal of his Spirit And this was given unto Christ in all the Fulness of it He was declared to be the Son of God according to the Spirit of Holiness Rom. 1. 4. and justified in the Spirit or by his Power evidencing that God was with him 1 Tim. 3. 16. Thus did God Seal the Head of the Church with the Holy Spirit and thence undoubtedly may we best learn how the Members are sealed with the same Spirit seeing we have all our Measures out of his Fulness and our Conformity unto him in the design of all gracious Communications unto us SIXTHLY Wherefore Gods Sealing of Believers with the Holy Spirit is his gracious Communication of the Holy Ghost unto them so to act his Divine Power in them as to enable them unto all the Duties of their Holy Calling evidencing them to be accepted with him both unto themselves and others and asserting their Preservation unto Eternal Salvation The Effects of this Sealing are gracious Operations of the Holy Spirit in and upon Believers but the Sealing it self is the Communication of the Spirit unto them They are Sealed with the Spirit And farther to evidence the Nature of it with the Truth of our Declaration of this Priviledge we may observe 1. THAT when any Persons are so effectually called as to become true Believers they are brought into many new Relations
as to God himself as his Children unto Jesus Christ as his Members unto all Saints and Angels in the Families of God above and below and are called to many new Works Duties and Uses which before they knew nothing of They are brought into a new World erected by the New Creation and which way soever they look or turn themselves they say Old things are past away behold all things are become new So it is with every one that is made a New Creature in Christ Jesus 2 Cor. 5. 17. In this state and condition wherein a Man hath new Principles put within him new Relations contracted about him new Duties presented unto him and a new Deportment in all things required of him How shall he be able to behave himself aright and answer the condition and holy station wherein he is placed This no Man can do of himself for who is sufficient for these things Wherefore 2. IN this state God owns them and communicates unto them his Holy Spirit to fit them for their Relations to enable them unto their Duties to act their new Principles and every way to discharge the Work they are called unto even as their Head the Lord Christ was unto his God doth not now give unto them the Spirit of Fear but of Power of Love and of a sound Mind 2 Tim. 1. 7. And hereby doth God Seal them For 1. HEREBY he gives his Testimony unto them that they are his owned by him accepted with him his Sons or Children which is his Seal For if they were not so he would never have given his Holy Spirit unto them And herein consists the greatest Testimony that God doth give and the only Seal that he doth set unto any in this World That this is Gods Testimony and Seal the Apostle Peter proveth Acts 15. 8 9. For on the debate of that Question Whether God approved and accepted of the humble Believers although they observed not the Rites of Moses he confirmeth that he did with this Argument God saith he which knoweth their Hearts bare them Witness How did he do it How did he set his Seal to them as his Saith he By giving them the Holy Ghost even as he did unto us Hereby God gives Testimony unto them And lest any should suppose that it was only the Gifts and Miraculous Operations of the Holy Ghost which he had respect unto so as that this Sealing of God should consist therein alone he adds that his Gracious Operations also were no less an effect of this Witness which God gave unto them And put no difference between us and them purifying their Hearts by Faith This therefore is that whereby God giveth his Testimony unto Believers namely when he Seals them with his Spirit or by the Communication of the Holy Spirit unto them And this he doth in two Respects For 2. THIS is that whereby he giveth Believers Assurance of their Relation unto him of their Interest in him of his Love and Favour to them It hath been generally conceived that this Sealing with the Spirit is that which gives Assurance unto Believers and so indeed it doth although the way whereby it doth it hath not been rightly apprehended And therefore none have been able to declare the especial Nature of that Act of the Spirit whereby he Seals us whence such Assurance should ensue But it is indeed not any Act of the Spirit in us that is the Ground of our Assurance but the Communication of the Spirit unto us This the Apostle plainly testifieth 1 John 3. 24. Hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us That God abideth in us and we in him is the subject matter of our Assurance This we know saith the Apostle which expresseth the highest Assurance we are capable of in this World And how do we know it Even by the Spirit which he hath given unto us But it may be the sence of these words may be that the Spirit which God gives us doth by some especial Work of his effect this Assurance in us and so it is not his being given unto us but some especial Work of his in us that is the Ground of our Assurance and consequently our Sealing I do not deny such an especial Work of the Spirit as shall be afterwards declared but I judge that it is the Communication of the Spirit himself unto us that is here intended For so the Apostle declares his sence to be Chap. 4. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in God and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit This is the great Evidence the great Ground of Assurance which we have that God hath taken us into a near and dear Relation unto himself because he hath given us of his Spirit that great and Heavenly Gift which he will impart unto no others And indeed on this one Hinge depends the whole Case of that Assurance which Believers are capable of If the Spirit of God dwell in us we are his But if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8 9. Hereon alone depends the Determination of our especial Relation unto God By this therefore doth God Seal Believers and therein gives them Assurance of his Love And this is to be the sole Rule of your self-Examination whether you are Sealed of God or no. 3. HEREBY God evidenceth them unto the World which is another End of sealing He marks them so hereby for his own as that the World cannot but in general take notice of them For where God sets this Seal in the Communication of his Spirit it will so operate and produce such Effects as shall fall under the Observation of the World As it did in the Lord Christ so also will it do in Believers according unto their measure And there are two ways whereby Gods sealing doth evidence them unto the World The one is by the Effectual Operation of the Spirit communicated unto them both in Gifts and Graces Though the World is blinded with Prejudices and under the Power of a prevalent Enmity against spiritual things yet it cannot but discover what a Change is made in the most of those whom God thus sealeth and how by the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit which they hate they are differenced from other Men. And this is that which keeps up the difference and enmity that is in the World between the Seeds For Gods sealing of Believers with his Spirit evidenceth his especial Acceptance of them which fills the Hearts of them who are acted with the Spirit of Cain with Hatred and Revenge Hence many think that the respect which God had unto the Sacrifice of Abel was testified by some visible sign which Cain also might take notice of And there was an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the kindling of his Sacrifice by Fire from Heaven which was the Type and Resemblance of the Holy Ghost as hath been shewed All other Causes of difference are capable
Work in the World As this includeth a preferring them before or above others or the using them when others are not used we call it Election and in it self it is their fitting for and separation unto their Office or Work And this temporary Election is the Cause and Rule of the Dispensation of Gifts So he chose Saul to be King over his People and gave him thereon another Spirit or Gifts fitting him for Rule and Government So our Lord Jesus Christ chose and called at the first Twelve to be his Apostles and gave unto them all alike Miraculous Gifts His temporary choice of them was the ground of his Communication of Gifts unto them By vertue hereof no saving Graces were Communicated unto them for one of them never arrived unto a participation of them Have not I saith our Saviour unto them chosen you Twelve and one of you is a Devil John 6. 70. He had chosen them unto their Office and Endowed them with extraordinary Gifts for the Discharge thereof but one of them being not chosen unto Salvation before the Foundation of the World being not ordained unto Eternal Life but on the other side being the Son of Perdition or one certainly appointed unto destruction or before of old ordained unto that Condemnation he continued void of all sanctifying Graces so as unto any acceptation with God he was in no better condition than the Devil himself whose Work he was to do Yet was he by vertue of this choice unto the Office of Apostleship for a season Endowed with the same Spiritual Gifts that the other was And this Distinction our Saviour himself doth plainly lay down For whereas he says John 6. 70. I have chosen you Twelve that is with a temporary choice unto Office John 13. 18. he saith I speak not of you all I know whom I have chosen so excepting Judas from that number as is afterwards expresly declared For the Election which here he intends is that which is accompanied with an infallible ordination unto abiding fruit-bearing Chap. 15. 16. that is Eternal Election wherein Judas had no Interest § 10. And thus it is in general and in other instances When God chuseth any one to Eternal Life he will in pursuit of that purpose of his communicate saving Grace unto them And although all Believers have Gifts also sufficient to enable them unto the discharge of their Duty in their station or condition in the Church yet they do not depend on the Decree of Election And where God calleth any or chuseth any unto an Office Charge or Work in the Church he always furnisheth them with Gifts suited unto the end of them He doth not so indeed unto all that will take any Office unto themselves but he doth so unto all whom he calls thereunto Yea his Call is no otherwise known but by the Gifts which he communicates for the discharge of the Work or Office whereunto any are called In common use I confess all things run contrary hereunto Most Men greatly insist on the necessity of an outward Call unto the Office of the Ministry and so far no doubt they do well for God is the God of Order that is of his own But whereas they limit this outward Call of theirs unto certain Persons 〈◊〉 Modes and Ceremonies of their own without â—hich they will not allow that any Man is tightly called unto the Ministry they do but contend to oppress the Consciences of others by their Power and with their Inventions But their most pernicious mistake is yet remaining So that Persons have or do receive an outward Call in their Mode and Way which what it hath of a Call in it I know not they are not solicitous whether they are called of God or no. For they continually admit of them unto their outward Call on whom God hath bestowed no Spiritual Gifts to fit them for their Office whence it is as evident as if written with the Beams of the Sun that he never called them thereunto They are as watchful as they are able that God himself shall impose none on them besides their Way and Order or their Call For let a Man be furnished with Ministerial Gifts never so Excellent yet if he will not come up to their Call they will do what lyes in them for ever to shut him out of the Ministry But they will impose upon God without his Call every day For if they ordain any one in their way unto an Office though he have no more of Spiritual Gifts than Balaam's Ass yet if you will believe them Christ must accept of him for a Minister of his whether he will or no. But let Men dispose of things as they please and as it seemeth good unto them Christ hath no other Order in this matter but as every one hath received the Gift so let them minister as good Stewards of the Grace of God 1 Pet. 4. 10. and Rom. 12. 6 7 8. It is true that no Man ought to take upon him the Office of the Ministry but he that is and until he be solemnly Called and set apart thereunto by the Church But it is no less true that no Church hath either Rule or Right so to call or set apart any one to the Ministry whom Christ hath not previously called by the Communication of Spiritual Gifts necessary to the Discharge of his Office and these things must be largely insisted on afterwards § 11. THIRDLY Saving Grace is an Effect of the Covenant and bestowed in the Accomplishment and by Vertue of the Promises thereof This hath been declared elsewhere at large where we treated of Regeneration and Sanctification All that are taken into this Covenant are sanctified and made holy There is no Grace designed unto any in the Eternal Purpose of God none purchased or procured by the Mediation of Christ but it is comprized in and exhibited by the Promises of the Covenant Wherefore they only who are taken into that Covenant are made Partakers of Saving Grace and they are all so Things are not absolutely so with respect unto Spiritual Gifts altho' they also in some Sence belong unto the Covenant For the Promises of the Covenant are of two sorts 1 Such as belong unto the Internal Form and Essence of it 2 Such as belong unto it's outward Administration that is the Ways and Means whereby it 's Internal Grace is made Effectual Saving Grace proceedeth from the former Gifts relate unto the latter For all the Promises of the plentiful Effusion of the Spirit under the New Testament which are frequently applied unto him as he works and effects Evangelical Gifts Extraordinary and Ordinary in Men do belong unto the New Covenant not as unto it's internal Essence and Form but as unto it's outward Administration And if you overthrow this Distinction that the Covenant is considered either with respect unto it's Internal Grace or it 's External Administration every thing in Religion will be cast into Confusion Take away Internal
affirmeth that the Care of all the Churches was upon him daily 2 Cor. 11. 28. And it was the Crime of Diotrephes for which he is branded that he opposed the Apostolical Power of John in that Church where probably he was the Teacher 3 John 9 10. But what Power now over all Churches or Authority in all Churches some may fancy or claim to themselves I know not but it were to be wished that Men would reckon that Care and Labour are as extensive in this Case as Power and Authority § 10. AGAIN the Power of this extraordinary Office may be consider'd intensively or formally what it was And this in one Word was All the Power that the Lord Christ hath given or thought meet to make use of for the Edification of the Church I shall give a brief Description of it in some few general Instances 1 It was a Power of administring all the Ordinances of Christ in the way and manner of his Appointment Every Apostle in all places had Power to Preach the Word to Administer the Sacraments to Ordain Elders and to do whatever else belonged unto the Worship of the Gospel But yet they had not Power to do any of these things any otherwise but as the Lord Christ had appointed them to be done They could not Baptize any but Believers and their Seed Acts 8. 36 37 38. Acts 16. 15. They could not Administer the Lord's Supper unto any but the Church and in the Church 1 Cor. 10. 20 22 23 24. Chap. 10. 17. They could not Ordain Elders but by the Suffrage and Election of the People Acts 14. 23. Those indeed who pretend to be their Successors plead for such a Right in themselves unto some if not all Gospel-Administrations as that they may take Liberty to dispose of them at their pleasure by their sole Authority without any regard unto the Rule of all Holy Duties in particular 2 It was a Power of executing all the Laws of Christ with the Penalties annexed unto their Disobedience We have saith the Apostle in a readiness wherewith to revenge all Disobedience 2 Cor. 10. 6. And this principally consisted in the Power of Excommunication or the Judiciary Excision of any Person or Persons from the Society of the Faithful and Visible Body of Christ in the World Now although this Power were absolutely in each Apostle towards all Offenders in every Church whence Paul affirms that he had himself delivered Hymeneus and Alexander unto Satan 1 Tim. 1. 20. Yet did they not exercise this Power without the Concurrence and Consent of the Church from whence an Offender was to be cut off because that was the Mind of Christ and that which the Nature of the Ordinance did require 1 Cor. 5. 3 4 5. 3 Their whole Power was Spiritual and not Carnal It respected the Souls Minds and Consciences of Men alone as it's Object and not their Bodies or Goods or Liberties in this World Those extraordinary Instances of Ananias and Saphira in their suddain Death of Elymas in his Blindness were only miraculous Operations of God in testifying against their Sin and proceeded not from any Apostolical Power in the Discharge of their Office But as unto that kind of Power which now hath devoured all other Appearances of Church Authority and in the Sence of the most is only significant namely to Fine Punish Imprison Banish Kill and Destroy Men and Women Christians Believers Persons of an unblameable useful Conversation with the worst of Carnal Weapons and Savage Cruelty of Mind as they were never intrusted with it nor any thing of the like kind so they have sufficiently manifested how their Holy Souls did abhor the Thoughts of such Antichristian Power and Practices though in others the Mystery of Iniquity began to work in their Days § 11. THE Ministry of the LXX also which the Lord Christ sent forth afterwards to go two and two before his Face into every City and Place whither he himself would come was in like manner Temporary that is it was subservient and commensurate unto his own Personal Ministry in the Flesh Luke 10. 1 2 3. These are commonly called Evangelists from the General Nature of their Work but were not those Extraordinary Officers which were afterwards in the Christian Church under that Title and Appellation But there was some Analogy and Proportion between the one and the other For as these first Seventy seem to have had an Inferiour Work and subordinate unto that of the Twelve in their Ministry unto the Church of the Jews during the time of the Lord Christ his Converse among them so those Evangelists that afterwards were appointed were subordinate unto them in their Evangelical Apostleship And these also as they were immediately called unto their Employment by the Lord Jesus so their Work being Extraordinary they were endued with Extraordinary Gifts of the Holy Ghost as Ver. 9. 17 19. § 12. IN the Gospel Church-state there were Evangelists also as they are mentioned Eph. 4. 11. Acts 21. 2. 2 Tim. 4. 5. Gospellers Preachers of the Gospel distinct from the Ordinary Teachers of the Churches Things I confess are but obscurely delivered concerning this sort of Men in Scripture their Office being not designed unto a Continuance Probably the Institution of it was traduced from the Temporary Ministry of the Seventy before mentioned That they were the same Persons continued in their first Office as the Apostles were is uncertain and improbable though it be not that some of them might be called thereunto as Philip and Timothy and Titus were Evangelists that were not of that first Number Their especial Call is not mentioned nor their Number any where intimated That their Call was Extraordinary is hence apparent in that no Rules are any where given or prescribed about their Choice or Ordination no Qualification of their Persons expressed nor any Direction given the Church as to it 's future Proceeding about them no more than about new or other Apostles They seem to have been called by the Apostles by the Direction of a Sp irit of Prophesie or immediate Revelation from Christ. So it is said of Timothy who is expresly called an Evangelist 2 Tim. 4. 5. That he received that Gift by Prophesie 1 Tim. 4. 14. that is the Gift of the Office As when Christ ascended he gave Gifts unto Men some to be Evangelists Eph. 4. 8 11. For this way did the Holy Ghost design Men unto extraordinary Offices and Employments Acts 13. 1 2 3. And when they were so designed by Prophesie or immediate Revelation from Christ by the Holy Ghost then the Church in Compliance therewith both prayed for them and laid their Hands on them So when the Holy Ghost had revealed his choosing of Paul and Barnabas unto an especial Work the Prophets and Teachers of the Church of Antioch where they then were fasted and prayed and laid their Hands on them so sending them away Acts 13. 14. And when Timothy was called to be
unto his Holy Ends in the propagation of the Gospel and Edification of the Church are inexpressibly Glorious and Excellent All this did he do according to the singular Gift of Wisdom that was bestowed on him Wherefore I take the Word of Wisdom here mentioned to be a peculiar Spiritual Skill and Ability wisely to manage the Gospel in it's Administration unto the Advantage and Furtherance of the Truth especially in the Defence of it when called unto the Trial with it's Adversaries This was an Eminent Gift of the Holy Ghost which considering the Persons employed by him in the Ministry for the most part being known to be unlearned and ignorant fill'd the World with Amazement and was an effectual Means for the subduing of Multitudes unto the Obedience of Faith And so eminent was the Apostle Paul in this Gift and so successful in the Management of it that his Adversaries had nothing to say but that he was subtle and took Men by Craft and Guile 2 Cor. 12. 16. The Sweetness Condescention Self-denial Holy Compliance with all which he made use of mixed with Truth Gravity and Authority they would have had to be all Craft and Guile And this Gift when it is in any measure continued unto any Minister of the Gospel is of singular Use unto the Church of God Yea I doubt not but the Apostle fixed it here in the first place as that which was eminent above all the rest And as where it is too much wanting we see what wosul Mistakes and Miscarriages Men otherwise good and holy will run themselves into unto the great Disadvantage of the Gospel so the real Enjoyment and Exercise of it in any competent measure is the Life and Grace of the Ministry As God filled Bezaliel and Aholiab with Wisdom for the building of the Tabernacle of old so unless he give this Spiritual Wisdom unto the Ministers of the Gospel no Tabernacle of his will be erected where it is fallen down nor kept up where it stands I intend not Secular Wisdom or Civil Wisdom much less Carnal Wisdom but a Spiritual Ability to discharge all our Duties aright in the Ministry committed unto us And as was said where this is wanting we shall quickly see woful and shameful Work made in Churches themselves § 5. I cannot pass by the Consideration of this Gift without offering something that may guide us either in the obtaining or the due Exercise of it And hereunto the things ensuing may be subservient As 1 A Sense of our own Insufficiency as of our selves as unto any End for which this Wisdom is requisite As it is declared that we have no Sufficiency in our selves for any thing that is good all our Sufficiency being of God So in particular it is denyed that we have any for the Work of the Ministry in that Interrogation containing a Negative Proposition And who is sufficient for these things 2 Cor. 2. 16. A Sense hereof is the first Step towards this Wisdom as our Apostle expresly declares Let no Man deceive himself if any among you seemeth to be wise in this world let him become a Fool that he may be wise 1 Cor. 3. 18. Untill we discover and are sensible of our own Folly we are fit neither to receive nor to use this Spiritual Wisdom And the want hereof proves the Ruine of many that pretend unto the Ministry And it were to be wished that it were only their own They come to the Work of it full of Pride Self-conceit and foolish Elation of Mind in an Apprehension of their own Abilities which yet for the most part are mean and contemptible This keeps them sufficiently estranged from a Sense of that Spiritual Wisdom we treat of Hence there is nothing of a Gospel Ministry nor it's Work found among them but an empty Name And as for those who have reduced all Ecclesiastical Administrations to Canons Laws Acts Courts and Legal Processes in them they seem to do it with a Design to cast off all Use of Spiritual Gifts yea to exclude both them and their Author Name and Thing out of the Church of God Is this the Wisdom given by the Holy Ghost for the due Management of Gospel Administrations namely that Men should get a little Skill in some of the worst of Humane Laws and uncomely Artifices of intreiguing Secular Courts which they pride themselves in and terrifie poor Creatures with Mulcts and Penalties that are any way obnoxious unto them What use these things may be of in the World I know not unto the Church of God they do not belong § 6. 2. Being sensible of our own Insufficiency Earnest Prayers for a Supply of this Wisdom are required in us If any of you lack Wisdom let him ask of God who giveth to all Men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him James 1. 5. There is both a Precept and a Promise to enforce this Duty That we all want Wisdom in our selves is unquestionable I mean as to our Concerns in the Gospel either to bear Testimony unto it in Difficulties or to manage the Truths of it unto Edification The way for our Supply lies plain and open before us neither is there any other that we can take one step in towards it Let us ask it of God who giveth liberally and we shall receive it This was that which rendred Solomon so great and glorious when he had his Choice given him of all desireable things he made his Request for Wisdom to the Discharge of the Office and Duties of it that God had called him unto Tho' it were an whole Kingdom that he was to Rule yet was his Work carnal and of this World compared with the Spiritual Administrations of the Gospel And hereunto a worldly Ministry is no less averse than unto a Sence of their own Insufficiency The Fruits do sufficiently manifest how much this Duty is contemned by them But the Neglect of it I say the Neglect of Praying for Wisdom to be enabled unto the Discharge of the Work of the Ministry and the due Management of the Truths of the Gospel according as occasion do require in them who pretend thereunto is a Fruit of Unbelief yea of Atheism and Contempt of God § 7. 3. DUE Meditation on our great Pattern the Lord Jesus Christ and the Apostles being Followers of them as they were of him is also required hereunto As in all other things so in especial in his Ministry for the Revelation of the Truth and giving Testimony thereunto the Lord Jesus was the great Pattern and Example God in him representing unto us that Perfection in Wisdom which we ought to aim at I shall not here in particular look into this Heavenly Treasury but only say that he who would be really and truly wise in Spiritual things who would either rightly receive or duly improve this Gift of the Holy Ghost he ought continually to bear in his Heart his Mind and Affections this great Exemplar and
Idea of it even the Lord Jesus Christ in his Ministry namely what he did what he spake how on all occasions his Condescention Meekness and Authority did manifest themselves until he be changed into the same Image and likeness by the Spirit of the Lord. The same is to be done in their place and Sphere towards the Apostles as the principal Followers of Christ and who do most lively represent his Graces and Wisdom unto us Their Writings and what is written of them are to be searched and studied unto this very end that considering how they behaved themselves in all Instances on all occasions in their Testimony and all Administrations of the Truth we may endeavour after a Conformity unto them in the Participation of the same Spirit with them It would be no small stay and Guidance unto us if on all occasions we would diligently search and consider what the Apostles did in such Circumstances or what they would have done in answer to what is recorded of their Spirit and Actings For although this Wisdom be a Gift of the Holy Spirit yet as we now consider it as it is continued in the Church it may be in part obtained and greatly improved in the due Use of the Means which are subservient thereunto provided that in all we depend solely on God for the giving of it who hath also prescribed these Means unto us for the same End § 8. 4. LET them who design a Participation of this Gift take heed it be not stifled with such vitious Habits of Mind as are expresly contrary unto it and destructive of it Such are Self-fulness or Confidence Hastiness of Spirit Promptness to speak and Slowness to hear which are the great Means which make many abound in their own Sense and Folly to be wise in their own Conceits and contemptible in the Judgment of all that are truly so Ability of Speech in time and season is an especial Gift of God and that eminently with respect unto the Spiritual things of the Gospel But a Profluency of Speech venting it self on all occasions and on no occasions making Men open their Mouths wide when indeed they should shut them and open their Ears and to pour out all that they know and what they do not know making them angry if they are not heard and impatient if they are contradicted is an unconquerable Fortification against all true Spiritual Wisdom § 9 5. LET those who would be Sharers herein follow after those Gifts and Graces which do accompany it promote it and are inseparable from it Such are Humility Meekness Patience Constancy with Boldness and Confidence in Profession without which we shall be Fools in every Trial. Wisdom indeed is none of all these but it is that which cannot be without them nor will it thrive in any Mind that is not cultivated by them And he who thinks it is not worth his Pains and Travail nor that it will quit Cost to seek after this Spiritual Wisdom by a constant Watchfulness against the opposite Vices mentioned and Attendance unto those concomitant Duties and Graces must be content to go without it This is the first Instance given by our Apostle of the Spiritual Gifts of the Primitive Times to one is given by the Spirit the Word of Wisdom § 10. TO another the Word of Knowledge by the same Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I shewed before that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may denote the thing it self the Word of Knowledge that is Knowledge But if any shall suppose that because this Knowledge was to be expressed unto the Church for it's Edification it is therefore called a Word of Knowledge as a Word of Exhortation or a Word of Consolation that is Exhortation and Consolation administred by Words I shall not contend to the contrary It is Knowledge that is the Gift peculiarly intended in this Second Place And we must enquire both how it is an especial Gift and of what sort it is And it should seem that it cannot have the Nature of an especial Gift seeing it is that which was common to all For so saith the Apostle speaking unto the whole Church of the Corinthians We know that we all have Knowledge 1 Cor. 8. 1. And not only so but also adds that this Knowledge is a thing which either in it's own Nature tends unto an ill Issue or is very apt to be abused thereunto For saith he Knowledge puffeth up for which cause he frequently reflects upon it in other places But yet we shall find that it is a peculiar Gift and in it self singularly useful However it may be abused as the best things may be yea are most liable thereunto The Knowledge mentioned in that place by the Apostle which he ascribes in common unto all the Church was only that which concerned things Sacrificed unto Idols and if we should extend it farther unto an Understanding of the Mystery of the Gospel which was in the Community of Believers yet is there place remaining for an Eminency therein by vertue of an especial Spiritual Gift And as to what he adds about Knowledge puffing up he expounds in the next Words if any Man thinketh that he knoweth any thing he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know Ver. 2. It is not Men's Knowledge but the vain and proud Conceit of ignorant Men supposing themselves knowing and wise that so puffeth up and hindreth Edification § 11. WHEREFORE 1 By this Word of Knowledge not that Degree of it which is required in all Christians in all the Members of the Church is intended Such a Measure of Knowledge there is necessary both unto Faith and Confession Men can believe nothing of that whereof they know nothing nor can they confess with their Mouths what they apprehend not in their Minds But it is somewhat singular eminent and not common to all Neither 2 Doth that Eminency or Singularity consist in this that it is Saving and Sanctifying Knowledge which is intended That there is such a peculiar Knowledge whereby God shines into the Hearts of Believers with a Spiritual Saving Insight into Spiritual things transforming the Mind into the Likeness of them I have at large elsewhere declared For it is reckoned among Gifts whereas that other is a Saving Grace whose difference hath been declared before It is expressed by the Apostle 1 Cor. 13. 2. by understanding all mysteries and all knowledge that is having an Understanding in and the knowledge of all Mysteries This Knowledge he calleth a Gift which shall vanish away Ver. 8. and so not belonging absolutely unto that Grace which being a part of the Image of God in us shall go over into Eternity And Knowledge in Ver. 2. is taken for the thing known if I understand all Knowledge which is the same with all Mysteries Wherefore the Knowledge here intended is such a peculiar and especial Insight into the Mysteries of the Gospel as whereby those in whom it was were enabled to teach and instruct others Thus
either Apostolical Office Power or Gifts The like may be said of Evangelists Nor have we any undoubted Testimony that any of those Gifts which were truly miraculous and every way above the Faculties of Men were communicated unto any after the Expiration of the Generation of them who conversed with Christ in the Flesh or those who received the Holy Ghost by their Ministry It is not unlikely but that God might on some occasions for a longer Season put forth his Power in some miraculous Operations and so he yet may do and perhaps doth sometimes But the Superstition and Folly of some ensuing Ages inventing and divulging innumerable Miracles false and foolish proved a most disadvantagious Prejudice unto the Gospel and a means to open a way unto Sathan to impose endless Delusions upon Christians For as true and real Miracles with becoming Circumstances were the great means that won and reconciled a Regard and Honour unto Christian Religion in the World so the Pretence of such as either were absolutely false or such as whose Occasions Ends Matter or Manner were unbecoming the Greatness and Holiness of him who is the true Author of all miraculous Operations is the greatest Dishonour unto Religion that any one can invent But although all these Gifts and Operations ceased in some respect some of them absolutely and some of them as to the immediate manner of Communication and Degree of Excellency yet so far as the Edification of the Church was concerned in them something that is Analogous unto them was and is continued He who gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists gave also some Pastors and Teachers And as he furnished the former with extraordinary Gifts so as far as any thing of the like kind is needful for the continual Edification of the Church he bestows it on the latter also as shall be declared § 3. AND these Gifts of the Spirit added unto his Grace in real Holiness were the Glory Honour and Beauty of the Church of Old Men have but deceived themselves and others when they have seigned a Glory and Beauty of the Church in other things And whatever any think or say where these Gifts of the Holy Ghost which are the Ornaments of the Church her cloathing of wrought Gold and her Raiment of Needle-work being neglected and lost and they think to adorn her with the meritricious Paint of pompous Ceremonies with outward Grandeur Wealth and Power she is utterly fallen from her Chastity Purity and Integrity But it is evident that this is the state of many Churches in the World which are therefore worldly and carnal not Spiritual or Evangelical Power and Force and Wealth the Gifts in this Case of Another Spirit under various Pretences and Names are their Life and Glory indeed their Death and Shame I deny not but that it is lawful for Ministers of the Gospel to enjoy Earthly Possessions which they do attain by any commendable way among other Men. Neither are they required unless in extraordinary Cases to part with the Right and Use of their Temporal Goods because they are so Ministers of Christ though those who are so indeed will not deny but that they ought to use them in a peculiar manner unto the Glory of Christ and Honour of the Gospel beyond other Men. Neither shall I ever question that wherein the Scripture is so express namely That those who labour in the Word and Doctrine should have a convenient yea an Honourable Subsistence provided for them according to the best Ability of the Church for their Work 's sake It is in like manner also granted that the Lord Christ hath committed all that Power which with repect unto the Edification of the Church he will exercise in this World unto the Church it self as it cannot without a Virtual Renunciation of the Gospel and Faith in Christ Jesus as the Head and King of the Church be supposed that this Power is any other but Spiritual over the Souls and Consciences of Men. And therefore cannot this Power be exercised or be any ways made effectual but by vertue of the Spiritual Gifts we treat of But for Men to turn this Spiritual Power to be exercised only by vertue of Spiritual Gifts into an external coercive Power over the Persons Bodies Liberties and Lives of Men to be exercised by Law-Courts in Ways Forms Manners utterly Forreign to the Gospel and all Evangelical Administrations without the least Pretence unto or Appearance of the Exercise of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost therein yea and by Persons by whom they are hated and derided acting with Pride Scorn and Contempt of the Disciples of Christ and over them being utterly ignorant of the true Nature and Use of all Gospel Administrations this is to disorder the Church and in stead of an House of Spiritual Worship in some Instances to turn it into a Den of Thieves Where hereunto there are moreover annexed earthly Revenues containing all Food and Fuel of corrupt Lusts with all things satisfactory unto the Minds of Worldly Sensual Men as a meet Reward of these Carnal Administrations as it is at this Day in the Church of Rome there all Use of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost is excluded and the Church is brought into extream Desolacion And although these things are are as contrary to the Gospel as Darkness to Light yet the World for many Reasons not now to be insisted on being willing to be deceived in this matter it is generally apprehended that there is nothing so pernicious unto the Church so justly to be watched against and rooted out as a Dislike of their Horrible Apostasies in the Corrupt Depravation of all Evangelical Administrations This was not the State this was not the Condition of the Primitive Churches their Life consisted in the Grace of the Spirit and their Glory in his Gifts None of their Leaders once dreamed of that new kind of Beauty Glory and Power consisting in numberless Superstitious Ceremonies instead of Religious Worship Worldly Grandeur instead of Humility and Self-denyal and open Tyranny over the Consciences and Persons of Men in the room of Spiritual Authority effectual in the Power of Christ and by vertue of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost § 4. THERE are many sore Divisions at this Day in the World among and between the Professors of Christian Religion both about the Doctrine and Worship of the Gospel as also the Discipline thereof That these Divisions are evil in themselves and the Cause of great Evils Hinderances of the Gospel and all the Effects thereof in the World is acknowledged by all and it is a thing doubtless to be greatly lamented that the generality of them who are called Christians are departed from the great Rule of keeping the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace He who doth not pray always who is not ready with his utmost Endeavour to remedy this Evil to remove this great Obstruction of the Benefit of the Gospel is scarce
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
Applauses from Persons unacquainted with the Mystery of these things let them frame to themselves such a Work of the Ministry as whose Discharge stands in little or no need of these Gifts yet it will at length appear that where the Gifts of the Holy Ghost are excluded from their Administration the Lord Christ is so and the Spirit himself is so and all true Edification of the Church is so and so are all the real Concerns of the Gospel And so have we as I hope confirmed the second part of the Work of the Holy Ghost with respect unto Spiritual Gifts namely his continuance to distribute and communicate unto the Church to the End of the World according unto the Powers and Duties which he hath erected in it or required of it CHAP. VIII Of the Gifts of the Spirit with respect unto Doctrine Rule and Worship how attained and improved § 1. THERE remain yet two things to be spoken unto with respect unto the Gifts which the Holy Ghost bestows on the Ministers of the Gospel to qualifie them unto their Office and to enable them unto their Work And these are 1 What they are 2. How they are to be attained and improved In our Enquiry after the first or what are the Gifts whereby Men are fitted and enabled for the Ministry we wholly set aside the consideration of all those gracious qualifications of Faith Love Zeal Compassión Careful tender Watchfulness and the like whereon the Holy Use of their Ministry doth depend For our Enquiry is only after those Gifts whereon depends the very Being of the Ministry There may be a true Ministry in some cases where there is no sanctifying Grace but where there are no Spiritual Gifts there is no Ministry at all They are in General Abilities for the due management of the Spiritual Administrations of the Gospel in its Doctrine Worship and Discipline unto the Edification of the Church It is not easie nay it they be unto us it is not possible to enumerate in particular all the various Gifts which the Holy Ghost endows the Ministers of the Gospel withall â—â—ereas all the Concerns of the Church may be referred unto these three Heads of Doctrine Worship and Rule we may enquire what are the principal Spiritual Gifts of the Holy Ghost with respect unto them distinctly § 2. THE first great Duty of the Ministry with reference unto the Church is the Dispensation of the Doctrine of the Gospel unto it for its Edification As this is the Duty of the Church continually to attend unto Acts 2. 42. so it is the principal Work of the Ministry the Foundation of all other Duties which the Apostles themselves gave themselves unto in an especial manner Acts 6. 4. Hence is it given in charge unto all Ministers of the Gospel Acts 20. 28. 1 Pet. 5. 2. 1 Tim. 1. 3. chap. 5. 17. chap. 4. 13 14 16. 2 Tim. 4. 1 2 3. For this is the principal means appointed by Christ for the Edification of his Church that whereby Spiritual Life is begotten and preserved Where this Work is neglected or carelesly attended unto there the whole Work of the Ministry is despised And with respect unto this Ministerial Duty there are three Spiritual Gifts that the Holy Ghost endoweth Men withall which must be considered § 3. THE first is Wisdom or Knowledge or Understanding in the Mysteries of the Gospel the Revelation of the Mystery of God in Christ with his Mind and Will towards us therein These things may be distinguished and they seem to be so in the Scripture sometimes I put them together as all of them denote that Acquaintance with and Comprehension of the Doctrine of the Gospel which is indispensibly necessary unto them who are called to Preach it unto the Church This some imagine an easie matter to be attained at least that there is no more nor the use of any other means required thereunto than what is necessary to the Acquisition of Skill in any other Art or Science And it were well if some otherwise concerned in Point of Duty would but lay out so much of their Strength and Time in the obtaining of this Knowledge as they do about other things which will not turn much unto their account But the Cursory Perusal of a few Books is thought sufficient to make any Man wise enough to be a Minister And not a few undertake ordinarily to be Teachers of others who would scarcely be admitted as tolerable Disciples in a well ordered Church But there belongeth more unto this Wisdom Knowledge and Understanding than most Men are aware of Were the Nature of it duely considered and withall the Necessity of it unto the Ministry of the Gospel probably some would not so rush on that Work as they do which they have no provision of Ability for the performance of It is in brief such a comprehension of the Scope and End of the Scripture of the Revelation of God therein such an Acquaintance with the Systeme of particular Doctrinal Truths in their Rise Tendency and Use such an Habit of Mind in judging of Spiritual Things and comparing them one with another such a distinct insight into the Springs and Course of the Mystery of the Love Grace and Will of God in Christ as enables them in whom it is to declare the Counsel of God to make known the Way of Life of Faith and Obedience unto others and to instruct them in their whole Duty to God and Man thereon This the Apostle calls his Knowledge in the Mystery of Christ which he manifested in his Writings Ephes. 3. 4. For as the Gospel the Dispensation and Declaration whereof is committed unto the Ministers of the Church is the Wisdom of God in a Mystery 1 Cor. 2. 7. so their Principal Duty is to become so wise and understanding in that Mystery as that they may be able to declare it unto others without which they have no Ministry committed unto them by Jesus Christ. See Ephes. 1. 9. Chap. 3. 3 6 19. Col. 4. 3. The sole Enquiry is Whence we may have this Wisdom seeing it is abundantly evident that we have it not of our selves That in general it is from God that it is to be asked of him the Scripture every where declares See Col. 1. 9. Chap. 2. 2. 2 Tim. 2. 7. Jam. 1. 5. 1 John 5. 20. And in particular it is plainly affirmed to be the especial Gift of the Holy Ghost He gives the Word of Wisdom 1 Cor. 12. 8. which place hath been opened before And it is the first Ministerial Gift that he bestows on any Where this is not in some measure to look for a Ministry is to look for the Living among the Dead And they will deceive their own Souls in the End as they do those of others in the mean time who on any other grounds do undertake to be Preachers of the Gospel But I shall not here divert unto the full description of this Spiritual Gift
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