vertue of an immediate Extraordinary Influence of Divine Power transiently affecting their Minds Such was the Gift of Miracles Healing and the like There were no Extraordinary Officers but they had these Gifts But yet they could work or operate by vertue of them only as the Holy Ghost gave them especial Direction for the putting forth of his Power in them So it is said that Paul and Barnabas Preaching at Iconium the Lord gave Testimony unto the word of his Grace and granted Signs and Wonders to be done by their Hands Acts 14. 3. The working of Signs and Miracles is the immediate operation of the Spirit of God nor can any Power or Faculty efficiently productive of such Effects abide in the Souls or Minds of Men These miraculous Operations were the witness of the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven which he gave to the Truth of the Gospel See Heb. 2. 4. with our Exposition thereon Wherefore there was no more in these Gifts which absolutely exceed the whole faculties of our Natures but the designing of certain Persons by the Holy Ghost in and with whose Ministry he would himself effect miraculous operations Secondly They were such as consisted in Extraordinary Endowments and Improvements of the Faculties of the Souls or Minds of Men such as Wisdom Knowledge Utterance and the like Now where these were bestowed on any in an Extraordinary manner as they were on the Apostles and Evangelists they differed only in Degree from them that are ordinary and still continued but are of the same kind with them whereof we shall treat afterward Now whereas all these Gifts of both sorts are expresly and distinctly enumerated and set down by our Apostle in one place I shall consider them as they are there proposed by him § 2. 1 COR. 12. 7 8 9 10 11. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every Man to profit withall For to one is given by the Spirit the word of Wisdom to another the word of Knowledge by the same Spirit to another Faith by the same Spirit to another the Gifts of Healing by the same Spirit to another the working of Miracles to another Prophesie to another discerning of Spirits to another divers kinds of Tongues to another the Interpretation of Tongues But all these worketh that one and self-same Spirit dividing to every one severally as he will The general Concernments of this passage in the Apostle were declared and the context opened at the beginning of our Discourse on this subject I shall only now consider the especial Spiritual Gifts that are here enumerated by the Apostle which are Nine in number laid down promiscuously without respect unto any order or dependance of one upon another although it is probable that those first placed were the principal or of principal use in the Church § 3. The first is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Word of Wisdom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here is of the same signification with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Hebrew which often signifies a Thing or Matter Wherefore the Word of Wisdom is nothing but Wisdom it self And our Enquiry is What was that Wisdom which was a peculiar and an especial Gift in those days of the Holy Ghost Our Lord Jesus Christ promised unto his Disciples that he would give them a Mouth and Wisdom which all their Adversaries should not be able to gainsay nor resist Luke 21. 15. This will be our Rule in the Declaration of the Nature of this Gift That which he hath respect unto is the Defence of the Gospel and its Truth against powerful persecuting Adversaries For although they had the Truth on their side yet being Men ignorant and unlearned they might justly fear that when they were brought before Kings and Rulers and Priests they should be baffled in their Profession and not be able to defend the Truth Wherefore this Promise of a Mouth and Wisdom respects Spiritual Ability and Utterance in the Defence of the Truth of the Gospel when they were called into question about it Spiritual Ability of Mind is the Wisdom and Utterance or freedom of Speech is the Mouth here promised An Eminent instance of the accomplishment hereof we have in Peter and John Acts 4. For upon their making a Defence of the Resurrection of Christ and the Truth of the Gospel therein such as their Adversaries were not able to gainsay nor resist it is said that when the Rulers and Elders saw their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is their utterance in Defence of their Cause with Boldness and so the Wisdom wherewith it was accompanied considering that they were unlearned and Ignorant they were astonished and only considered that they had been with Jesus v. 13. And he it was who in the accomplishment of his Promise had given them that Spiritual Wisdom and Utterance which they were not able to resist So it is said expresly of Stephen that his Adversaries were not able to resist the Wisdom and Spirit whereby he spake Actt 6. 10. Wherefore this Gift of Wisdom in the first place was a Spiritual Skill and Ability to defend the Truths of the GosPel when questioned opposed or blasphemed And this Gift was eminent in those Primitive Times when a Company of unlearned Men were able upon all occasions to maintain and defend the Truth which they Believed and Professed before and against Doctors Scribes Lawyers Rulers of Synagogus yea Princes and Kings continually so confounding their Adversaries as that being obstinate in their unbelief they were forced to cover their Shame by betaking themselves unto Rage and Bestial Fury Acts 6. 10 11 12 13 14. Chap. 7. 54. Chap. 22. 22 23. As hath been the manner of all their Successors ever since § 4. NOW although this be an especial kind of Wisdom an Eminent Gift of the Holy Ghost wherein the Glory of Christ and Honour of the Gospel in greatly concerned namely an Ability to manage and defend the Truth in times of Trial and Danger to the Confusion of its Adversaries yet I suppose the Wisdom here intended is not absolutely consined thereunto though it be principally intended Peter speaking of Paul's Epistles affirms that they were written according to the Wisdom given into him 2 Pet. 3. 15. That is that especial Gift of Spiritual Wisdom for the management of Gospel Truths unto the Edification of the Church of Christ which he had received And he that would understand what this Wisdom is must be throughly conversant in the Writings of that Apostle For indeed the Wisdom that he useth in the management of the Doctrine of the Gospel in the due consideration of all Persons Occasions Circumstances Temptations of Men and Churches of their State Condition Strength or Weakness Growth or Decays Obedience or Failings their Capacities and Progresses with the Holy Accommodation of himself in what he teacheth or delivereth in Meekness in Vehemency in Tenderness in Sharpness in severe Arguings and pathetical Expostulations with all other ways and means suited
and Corruption Wherefore whatever First-Fruits we may enjoy yet can we not enter into the actual Possession of the whole Inheritance untill not only our Souls are delivered from all Sins and Temptations but our Bodies also are rescued out of the Dust of the Grave This is the full Redemption of the Purchased Possession whence it is signally called the Redemption of the Body Rom. 8. 23. THUS as the Lord Christ himself was made Heir of all things by that Communication of the Spirit unto him whereby he was anointed unto his Office so the participation of the same Spirit from him and by him makes us Coheirs with him and so he is an Earnest given us of God of the future Inheritance It belongs not unto my present purpose to declare the Nature of that Inheritance whereof the Holy Spirit is the Earnest In brief it is the highest Participation with Christ in that Glory and Honour that our Natures are capable of AND in like manner we are said to receive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8. 23. That is the Spirit himself as the First Fruits of our Spiritual and Eternal Redemption God had appointed that the First Fruits which are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 should be a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Offering unto himself Hereunto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 answereth and is taken generally for that which is first in any kind Rom. 16. 5. 1 Cor. 15. 20. Jam. 1. 18. Rev. 14. 4. And the First Fruits of the Spirit must be either what he first worketh in us or all his Fruits in us with respect unto the full Harvest that is to come or the Spirit himself as the Beginning and Pledge of Future Glory And the latter of these is intended in this place For the Apostle discourseth about the Liberty of the whole Creation from that slate of Bondage whereunto all things were subjected by Sin With respect hereunto he saith that Believers themselves having not as yet obtained a full Deliverance as he had expressed it Chap. 7. 24. do groan after it's perfect Accomplishment But yet saith he we have the Beginning of it the First Fruits of it in the Communication of the Spirit unto us For where the Spirit of God is there is Liberty 2 Cor. 3. 17. For although we are not capable of the full and perfect Estate of the Liberty provided for the Children of God whilst we are in this World conflicting with the Remainders of Sin pressed and exercised with Temptations our Bodies also being subject unto Death and Corruption yet where the Spirit of God is where we have that First Fruit of the Fulness of our Redemption there is Liberty in the real Beginning of it and assured Consolation because it shall be consummated in the appointed Season THESE are some of the Spiritual Benefits and Priviledges which Believers enjoy by a Participation of the Holy Ghost as the promised Comforter of the Church These things he is unto them and as unto all other things belonging unto their Consolation he works them in them which we must in the next place enquire into Only something we may take notice of from what we have already insisted on As 1 That all Evangelical Priviledges whereof Believers are made Partakers in this World do center in the Person of the Holy Spirit He is the great Promise that Christ hath made unto his Disciples the great Legacy which he hath bequeathed unto them The Grant made unto him by the Father when he had done all his Will and fulfilled all Righteousness and exalted the Glory of his Holiness Wisdom and Grace was this of the Holy Spirit to be communicated by him unto the Church This he received of the Father as the Complement of his Reward wherein he saw of the Travail of his Soul and was satisfied This Spirit he now gives unto Believers and no Tongue can express the Benefits which they receive thereby Therein are they anointed and sealed therein do they receive the Earnest and First Fruits of Immortality and Glory In a Word therein are they taken into a Participation with Christ himself in all his Honour and Glory Hereby is their Condition rendred honourable safe comfortable and the whole Inheritance is unchangeably secured unto them In this one Priviledge therefore of receiving the Spirit are all others enwrapped For 2 No one way or thing or Similitude can express or represent the greatness of this Priviledge It is Anointing it is Seallng it is an Earnest and First Fruit every thing whereby the Love of God and the blessed Security of our Condition may be expressed or intimated unto us For what greater Pledge can we have of the Love and Favour of God What greater Dignity can we be made Partakers of What greater Assurance of a future blessed Condition than that God hath given us of his Holy Spirit And 3 Hence also is it manifest how abundantly willing he is that the Heirs of Promise should receive strong Consolation in all their Distresses when they fly for Refuge unto the Hope that is set before them The End of the First Part. A DISCOURSE OF Spiritual Gifts BEING The SECOND PART OF THE Work of the Holy Spirit IN WHICH These Particulars are distinctly handled in the following Chapters Chap. I. Spiritual Gifts their Names and Significations Chap. II. Differences between Spiritual Gifts and Saving Graces Chap. III. Of Gifts and Offices Extraordinary and First of Offices Chap. IV. Of Extraordinary Spiritual Gifts Chap. V. Of the Original Duration Use and End of Extraordinary Spiritual Gifts Chap. VI. Of Ordinary Gifts of the Spirit the Grant Institution Use Benefit and End of the Ministry Chap. VII Of Spiritual Gifts enabling the Ministry to the Exercise and Discharge of their Trust and Office Chap. VIII Of the Gifts of the Spirit with respect unto Doctrine Rule and Worship How attained and improved By the late Reverend JOHN OWEN D. D. London Printed for William Marshall at the Bible in Newgate Street 1693. OF Spiritual Gifts PART II. CHAP. I. Spiritual Gifts their Names and Significations § 1. THE Second part of the Dispensation of the Spirit in order unto the perfecting of the New Creation or the Edification of the Church consists in his communication of Spiritual Gifts unto the Members of it according as their places and stations therein do require By his Work of Saving Grace which in other Discourses we have given a large account of he makes all the Elect Living Stones and by his communication of Spiritual Gifts he fashions and builds those Stones into a Temple for the Living God to dwell in He spiritually unites them into one Mystical Body under the Lord Christ as an Head of Influence by Faith and Love and he unites them into an Organical Body under the Lord Christ as an Head of Rule by Gifts and Spiritual Abilities Their Nature is made one and the same by Grace their Use is various by Gifts Every one is a
in General which in the next place we enquire into will be much discovered in the Consideration of those things wherein these Gifts do agree with Saving Graces and wherein they differ from them § 2. THERE are three things wherein Spiritual Gifts and Saving Graces do agree 1. THEY are both sorts of them the Purchase of Christ for his Church the especial Fruit of his Mediation We speak not of such Gifts or Endowments of Men's Minds as consist meerly in the Improvement of their Natural Faculties Such are Wisdom Learning Skill in Arts and Sciences which those may abound and excell in who are utter Strangers to the Church of Christ and frequently they do so to their own Exaltation and Contempt of others Nor do I intend Abilities for Actions Moral Civil or Political as Fortitude Skill in Government or Rule and the like For although these are Gifts of the Power of the Spirit of God yet they do belong unto those Operations which he exerciseth in upholding or Ruling of the World or the Old Creation as such whereof I have treated before But I intend those alone which are conversant about the Gospel the things and Duties of it the Administration of its Ordinances the Propagation of its Doctrine and Profession of it's ways And herein also I put a difference between them and all those Gifts of the Spirit about Sacred things which any of the People of God enjoyed under the Old Testament For we speak only of those which are Powers of the World to come Those others were salted to the Oeconomy of the Old Covenant and confined with the Light which God was pleased then to communicate unto his Church Unto the Gospel State they were not suited nor would be useful in it Hence the Prophets who had the most eminent Gifts did yet all of them come short of John the Baptist because they had not by Vertue of their Gifts that Acquaintance with the Person of Christ and Insight into his Work of Mediation that he had and yet also he came short of him that is least in the Kingdom of Heaven because his Gifts were not purely Evangelical Wherefore these Gifts whereof we treat are such as belong unto the Kingdom of God erected in an especial manner by Jesus Christ after his Ascension into Heaven For he was exalted that he might fill all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the whole Church with these Effects of his Power and Grace The Power therefore of communicating these Gifts was granted unto the Lord Christ as Mediator by the Father for the Foundation and Edification of his Church as it is expressed Acts 2. 33. And by them was his Kingdom both set up and propagated and is preserved in the World These were the Weapons of Warfare which he furnished his Disciples withall when he gave them Commission to go forth and subdue the World unto the Obedience of the Gospel Acts 1. 4 8. And mighty were they through God unto that purpose 2 Cor. 10. 3 4 5 6. In the Use and Exercise of them did the Gospel run and was glorisied to the Ruine of the Kingdom of Sathan and Darkness in the World And that he was ever able to erect it again under another Form than that of Gentilism as he hath done in the Antichristian Apostasie of the Church Visible it was from a Neglect and Contempt of these Gifts with their due Use and Improvement When Men began to neglect the attaining of these Spiritual Gifts and the Exercise of them in praying in preaching in Interpretation of the Scripture in all the Administrations and whole Worship of the Church betaking themselves wholly to their own Abilities and Inventions accommodated unto their Ease and Secular Interests it was an easie thing for Sathan to erect again his Kingdom though not in the old manner because of the Light of the Scripture which had made Impression on the Minds of Men which he could not obliterate Wherefore he never attempted openly any more to set up Heathrnism or Paganism with the Gods of the Old World and their Worship but he insensibly raised another Kingdom which pretended some likeness unto and compliance with the Letter of the Word though it came at last to be in all things expresly contrary thereunto This was his Kingdom of Apostasie and Darkness under the Papal Antichristianism and woful Degeneracy of other Christians in the World For when Men who pretend themselves entrusted with the Preservation of the Kingdom of Christ did wilfully cast away those Weapons of their Warfare whereby the World was subdued unto him and ought to have been kept in Subjection by them what else could ensue § 3. BY these Gifts I say doth the Lord Christ demonstrate his Power and exercise his Rule External Force and Carnal Weapons were far from his Thoughts as unbecoming his absolute Sovereignty over the Souls of Men his infinite Power and Holiness Neither did any ever betake themselves unto them in the Affairs of Christ's Kingdom but either when they had utterly lost and abandoned these Spiritual Weapons or did not believe that they are sufficient to maintain the Interest of the Gospel though Originally they were so to introduce and fix it in the World That is that although the Gifts of the Holy Ghost were sufficient and effectual to bring in the Truth and Doctrine of the Gospel against all Opposition yet are they not so to maintain it which they may do well once more to consider Herein therefore they agree with Saving Graces For that they are peculiarly from Jesus Christ the Mediator is confessed by all unless it be by such as by whom all real internal Grace is denyed But the Sanctifying Operations of the Holy Spirit with their respect unto the Lord Christ as Mediator have been sufficiently before confirmed § 4. 2. There is an Agreement between Saving Graces and Spiritual Gifts with respect unto their immediate efficient Cause They are both sorts of them wrought by the Power of the Holy Ghost As to what concerneth the former or saving Grace I have already treated of that Argument at large nor will any deny that the Holy Ghost is the Author of these Graces but those that deny that there are any such That these Gifts are so wrought by him is expressly declared where-ever there is mention of them in general or particular Wherefore when they acknowledge that there were such Gifts all confess him to be their Author by whom he is denied so to be it is only because they deny the continuance of any such Gifts in the Church of God But this is that which we shall disprove § 5. 3. Herein also they agree that both sorts of them are designed unto the Good Benefit Ornament and Glory of the Church The Church is the proper Seat and Subject of them to it are they granted and in it do they reside For Christ is given to be Head over all things unto the Church which is his Body the
Grace as some do and the whole is rendred a meer outside Appearance Take away the outward Administration and all Spiritual Gifts and order thereon depending must cease But as it is possible that some may belong unto the Covenant with respect unto internal Grace who are no way taken into the External Administration of it as Elect Infants who die before they are Baptized so it is frequent that some may belong to the Covenant with respect to it's outward Administration by vertue of Spiritual Gifts who are not made Partakers of it's inward effectual Grace § 12. FOURTHLY Saving Grace hath an immediate respect unto the Friestly Office of Jesus Christ with the Discharge thereof in his Oblation and Intercession There is I acknowledge no Gracious Communication unto Men that respects any one Office of Christ exclusively unto the other For his whole Mediation hath an Influence into all that we receive from God in a way of Favor or Grace And it is his Person as vested with all his Offices that is the immediate Fountain of all Grace unto us But yet something may yea sundry things do peculiarly respect some one of his Offices and are the immediate Effects of the Vertue and Efficacy thereof So is our Reconciliation and Peace with God the peculiar Effect of his Oblation which as a Priest he offered unto God And so in like manner is our Sanctification also wherein we are washed and cleansed from our Sins in his Blood Ephes. 5. 25 26. Tit. 2. 14. And although Grace be wrought in us by the Administration of the Kingly Power of Christ yet it is in the pursuit of what he had done for us as a Priest and the making of it effectual unto us For by his Kingly Power he makes effectual the Fruits of his Oblation and Intercession But Gifts proceed solely from the Regal Office and Power of Christ. They have a remote respect unto and Foundation in the Death of Christ in that they are all given and distributed unto and for the good of that Church which he purchased with his own Blood but immediately they are Effects only of his Kingly Power Hence Authority to give and dispose them is commonly placed as a Consequent of his Exaliation at the Right Hand of God or with respect thereunto Mat. 28. 18. Acts 2. 33. This the Apostle declares at large Ephes. 4. 7 8 9 10 11. Christ being exalted at the Right Hand of God all Power in Heaven and Earth being given unto him and he being given to be Head over all things unto the Church and having for that end received the Promise of the Spirit from the Father he gives out these Gifts as it seemeth good unto him And the Continuation of their Communication is not the least Evidence of the Continuance of the Exercise of his Kingdom For besides the Faithful Testimony of the Word to that purpose there is a three-fold Evidence thereof giving us Experience of it 1 His Communication of Saving Grace in the Regeneration Conversion and Sanctification of the Elect. For these things he worketh immediately by his Kingly Power And whilst there are any in the World savingly called and sanctified he leaves not himself without Witness as to his Kingly Power over all Flesh whereon he gives Eternal Life unto unto as many as the Father hath given him John 17. 2. But this Evidence is wholly invisible unto the World neither is it capable of receiving it when tendred because it cannot receive the Spirit nor seeth him nor knoweth him John 14. 17. Nor are the things thereof exposed to the Judgment of Sence or Reason 1 Cor. 2. 9 10. 2 Another Evidence hereof is given in the Judgments that he executes in the World and the outward Protection which he affords unto his Church On both these there are evident Impressions of the continued actual Exercise of his Divine Power and Authority For in the Judgments that he executes on Persons and Nations that either reject the Gospel or persecute it especially in some signal and uncontrollable Instance as also in the Guidance Deliverance and Protection of his Church he manifests that though he was dead yet he is alive and hath the Keys of Hell and Death But yet because he is on the one Hand pleased to exercise great Patience towards many of his open stubborn Adversaries yea the greatest of them suffering them to walk and prosper in their own ways and to leave his Church unto various Trials and Distresses his Power is much hid from the World at present in these Dispensations 3 The third Evidence of the Continuance of the Administration of his Mediatory Kingdom consists in his Dispensation of these Spiritual Gifts which are properly the Powers of the New World For such is the Nature of them and their Use such the Sovereignty that appears in their Distribution such their Distinction and Difference from all natural Endowments that even the World cannot but take notice of them though it violently hate and persecute them and the Church is abundantly satisfied with the Sense of the Power of Christ in them Moreover the principal End of these Gifts is to enable the Officers of the Church unto the due Administration of all the Laws and Ordinances of Christ unto it's Edification But all these Laws and Ordinances these Offices and Officers he gives unto the Church as the Lord over his own House as the Sole Sovereign Lawgiver and Ruler thereof § 13. FIFTHLY They differ as unto the Event even in this World they may come unto and oft-times actually do so accordingly For all Gifts the best of them and that in the hignest Degree wherein they may be attained in this Life may be utterly lost or taken away The Law of their Communication is that who improveth not that Talent or Measure of them which he hath received it shall be taken from him For whereas they are given for no other end but to Trade withall according to the several Capacities and Opportunities that Men have in the Church or their Families or their own private Exercise if that be utterly neglected to what end should they be left unto rust and uselesness in the Minds of any Accordingly we find it to come to pass Some neglect them some reject them and from both sorts they are Judicially taken away Such we have amongst us Some there are who had received Considerable Spiritual Abilities for Evangelical Administrations But after a while they have fallen into an outward state of things wherein as they suppose they shall have no Advantage by them yea that their Exercise would turn to their Disadvantage and thereon do wholly neglect them By this means they have insensibly decayed until they become as devoid of Spiritual Abilities as if they never had Experience of any Assistance in that kind They can no more either pray or speak or evidence the Power of the Spirit of God in any thing unto the Edification of the Church Their Arm is dried
time And this Direction manifests that the Gift was extraordinary and is now ceased though there be a continuance of ordinary Gifts of the same kind and to the same end in the Church as we shall see afterwards ver 30. Fourthly By the observation of this order the Apostle shews that all the Prophets might exercise their Gift unto the Instruction and Consolation of the Church in a proper Season such as their frequent Assemblies would afford them ver 31. And whereas it may be objected that these things coming in an extraordinary immediate manner from the Holy Ghost it was not in the power of them who recieved them to confine them unto the order prescribed which would seem to limit the Holy Spirit in his operations whereas they were all to speak as the Spirit gave them Ability and Utterance let what would ensue the Apostle assures them by a general Principle that no such thing would follow on a due use and exercise of this Gift For God saith he is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace as in all Churches of the Saints ver 33. As if he should have said If such a course should be taken that any one should speak and prophesie as he pretended himself to be moved by the Spirit and to have none to judge of what he said all Confusion Tumult and Disorder would ensue thereon But God is the Author of no such thing gives no such Gifts appoints no such exercise of them as would tend thereunto But how shall this be prevented seeing these things are extraordinary and not in our own power yea saith he the Spirit of the Prophets is subject to the Prophets ver 32. By the Spirit of the Prophets that their Spiritual Gift and Ability for its exercise is intended none do question And whereas the Apostle had taught two things concerning the Exercise of this Gift 1 That it ought to be Orderly to avoid Confusion 2 That what proceedeth from it ought to be judged by others he manifests that both these may be observed because the Spirit of the Prophets is subject to the Prophets that is both their Spiritual Gift is so in their own Power as that they might dispose themselves unto its Exercise with Choice and Judgment so as to preserve Order and Peace not being acted as with an Enthusiastical Afflation and carried out of eheir own Power this Gift in it's Exercise was subject unto their own Judgment Choice and Understanding so what they expressed by vertue of their Spiritual Gift was subject to be judged of by the other Prophets that were in the Church Thus was the Peace and Order of the Church to be preserved and the Edefication of it to be promoted § 25. Discerning of Spirits is the next Gift of the Spirit here enumerated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To another the Discernings of Spirits the Ability and Faculty of Judging of Spirits The Dijudication of Spirits This Gift I have upon another occasion formerly given an Account of and therefore shall here but briefly touch upon it All Gospel-Administrations were in those Days avowedly executed by Vertue of Spiritual Gifts No Man then durst set his Hand unto this Work but such as either really had or highly pretended unto a Participation of the Holy Ghost For the Administration of the Gospel is the Dispensation of the Spirit This therefore was pleaded by all in the preaching of the Word whether in private Assemblies or publickly to the World But it came also then to pass as it did in all Ages of the Church that where God gave unto any the extraordinary Gifts of his Spirit for the Reformation or Edification of the Church there Sathan suborned some to make a Pretence thereunto unto it's Trouble and Destruction So was it under the Old Testament and so was it foretold that it should be under the New So the Apostle Peter having declared the Nature and Excellency Use and Certainty of that Prophesie which was of old 2 Pet. 1. 19 20 21. adds thereunto But there were false Prophets also among the People Chap. 2. 1. That is when God granted that signal Priviledge unto the Church of the Immediate Revelation of his Will unto them by the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost which constituted Men true Prophets of the Lord Sathan stirred up others to pretend unto the same Spirit of Prophesie for his own malicious Ends whereby there were false Prophets also among the People But it may be it will be otherwise now under the Gospel Church State No saith he There shall be false Teachers among you that is Persons pretending to the same Spiritual Gift that the Apostles and Evangelists had yet bringing in thereby damnable Heresies Now all their damnable Opininions they Fathered upon immediate Revelations of the Spirit This gave occasion to the Holy Apostle John to give that Caution with his Reason of it which is expressed 1 John 4. 1 2 3. which Words we have opened before And this false Pretence unto extraordinary Spiritual Gifts the Church was tried and pestred withall so long as there was any occasion to give it Countenance namely whilst such Gifts were really continued unto any therein What way then had God Ordained for the Preservation and Safety of the Church that it should not be imposed upon by any of these Delusions I answer There was a Standing Rule in the Church whereby whatsoever was or could be offered Doctrinally unto it might certainly and infallibly be tryed judged and determined on And this was the Rule of the written Word according to that everlasting Ordinance To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no light in them Isa. 8. 20. This in all Ages was sufficient for the Preservation of the Church from all Errors and Heresies or damnable Doctrines which it never fell into nor shall do so but in the sinful Neglect and Contempt hereof Moreover the Apostle further directs the Application of this Rule unto present occasions by advising us to fix on some Fundamental Principles which are likely to be opposed and if they are not owned and avowed to avoid such Teachers whatever Spiritual Gift they pretend unto 1 John 4. 2 3. 2 John 9 10 11. But yet because many in those Days were weak in the Faith and might be surprized with such Pretences God had graciously provided and bestowed the Gift here mentioned on some it may be in every Church namely of Discerning of Spirits They could by Vertue of the Extraordinary Gift and Aid therein of the Holy Ghost make a true Judgment of the Spirits that Men pretended to act and to be acted by whether they were of God or no. And this was of singular Use and Benefit unto the Church in those Days For as Spiritual Gifts abounded so did a Pretence unto them which was always accompanied with pernicious Designs Herein therefore did God grand Relief for them who were either less skilful or less
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
from any outward Consideration streightened in the Declaration of those things which he ought to speak This Frame and Ability the Apostle expresseth in Himself 2 Cor. 6. 11. O ye Corinthians our Mouth is open unto you our Heart is enlarged A free enlarged Spirit attended with an Ability of Speech suited unto the matter in Hand with its occasions belong to this Gift 2 So also doth Boldness and Holy Confidence So we often render 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wherein this utterance doth much consist When the Spirit of God in the midst of Difficulties Oppositions and Discouragements strengtheneth the Minds of Ministers so as that they are not terrified with any Amazement but discharge their Work freely as considering whose Word and Message it is that they do deliver belongs to this Gift of Utterance 3 So also doth Gravity in Expression becoming the Sacred Majesty of Chriist and his Truths in the Delivery of them He that speaks is to speak as the Oracles of God 1 Pet. 4. 11. That is not only as to Truth preaching the Word of God and nothing else but doing it with that Gravity and Soundness of Speech which becomes them who speak the Oracles of God For as we are to deliver Sound Doctrine and nothing else Tit. 1. 9. so we are to use sound Speech that cannot be condemned Tit. 2. 7 8. 4 Hereunto also belongs that Authority which accompanieth the Delivery of the Word when preached in Demonstration of these Spiritual Abilities For all these things are necessary that the Hearers may receive the Word not as the Word of Man but as it is indeed the Word of God § 6. THESE are the principal Spiritual Gifts wherewith the Holy Ghost endows the Ministers of the Church with respect unto the effectual Dispensation of the Word or the Doctrine of the Gospel which is committed unto them And where they are communicated in any such degree as is necessary unto the due Discharge of that Office they will evidence themselves to the Consciences of them that do believe The Dispensation of the Word by vertue of them though under great Variety from the various Degrees wherein they are communicated and the different natural Abilities of them that do receive them will be sufficiently distinguished and remote from that empty wordy sapless way of discoursing Spiritual things which is the meer effect of the Wit Fancy Invention and Projection of Men destitute of the Saving Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Mysteries of the Gospel § 7. THE second Head of Duties belonging unto the Ministerial Office respects the Worship of God By the Worship of God here I understand only that especial part thereof whereof himself is the immediate Object For absolutely the preaching and hearing of the Word is a part of Sacred Worship as that wherein we act the Obedience of Faith unto the Commands of God and submit our selves unto his Institution And indeed as unto those that hear it is God declaring himself by his Word that is the immediate Object of their Worship But the Dispensation of the Word which we have considered is the acting of Men upon the Authority and Command of God towards others But as was said by that part we enquire into I intend that alone whereof God himself was the immediate object Such are all the remaining Offices and Duties of the Church those only excepted which belong to it's Rule And this Worship hath various Acts according to the variety of Christ's Institutions and the Churches occasions Yet as to the manner of it's Performance it is comprized in Prayer For by Prayer we understand all Confessions Supplications Thanksgivings and Praises that are made unto God in the Church whether absolutely or in the Administration of other Ordinances as the Sacraments Wherefore in this Duty as comprehensive of all the Sacred Offices of publick Worship as the Glory of God is greatly concerned so it is the principal Act of Obedience in the Church This then as to the performance of it depends either on the natural Abilities of Men or on the Aids and Operation of the Holy Ghost By the natural Abilities of Men I understand not only what they are able of themselves in every Instance to perform but also what-ever Assistance they may make use of either of their own finding out or of others And by the Aids of the Holy Ghost I intend and especial Spiritual Gift bestowed on Men to this purpose Now to suppose that the whole Duty of the Church herein should consist in the Actings of Men in their own Strength and Power without any especial Assistance of the Holy Spirit is to exclude the consideration of him from those things with respect whereunto he is principally promised by our Lord Jesus Christ. But what concerneth this Gift of the Holy Ghost hath been at large handled by it self already and must not here be again insisted on Taking for granted what is therein sufficiently confirmed I shall only add that those who have not received this Gift are utterly unfit to undertake the Office of the Ministry wherein it is their Duty to go before the Churrh in the Administration of all Ordinances by vertue of these Abilities In things Civil or Secular it would be esteemed an intolerable Solecism to call and choose a Man to the Discharge of an Office or Duty whose Execntion depended solely on sach a peculiar Faculty or Skill as he who is so called hath no interest in or acquaintance with And it will one day appear to be so also in things Sacred and Religious yea much more § 8. THIRDLY The Rule of the Church belongeth unto the Ministers of it God hath established Rule in the Church Rom. 12. 8. 1 Cor. 12. 28. 1 Tim. 5. 17. 1 Thess. 5. 12. Heb. 13. 17. I dispute not now of what sort this Ministry is nor whether the Rule belong unto one sort alone It is enough unto my present Design that it is committed by Christ unto the Ministers of the Church which are it's Guides Rulers and Overseers Nor shall I at present enquire into the particular Powers Acts and Duties of this Rule I have done it elsewhere I am only now to consider it so far as it's Exercise requireth an especial Ministerial Gift to be communicated by the Holy Ghost And in order thereunto the things ensuing must be premised 1 That this Rule is Spiritual and hath nothing in common with the Administration of the Powers of the World It hath I say no Agreement with Secular Power and it's Exercise unless it be in some natural Circumstances that inseparably attend Rulers and Ruled in any kind It belongs unto the Kingdom of Christ and the Administration of it which are not of this World And as this is well pleaded by some against those who would erect a Kingdom for him in the World and as far as I can understand of this World framed in their own Imaginations unto a fancied Interest of their own so it
is as pleadable against them who pretend to exercise the Rule and Power of his present Kingdom after the manner of the Potestative Administrations of the World When our Saviour forbad all Rule unto his Disciples after the manner of the Gentiles who then possessed all Sovereign Power in the World and told them that it should not be so with them that some should be great and exercise Dominion over others but that they should serve one another in Love the greatest Condescention unto Service being required of them who are otherwise most eminent he did not intend to take from them or divest them of that Spiritual Power and Authority in the Government of the Church which he intended to commit unto them His Design therefore was to declare what that Authority was not and how it should not be exercised A Lordly or Despotical Power it was not to be nor was it to be exercised by Penal Laws Courts and Coercive Jurisdiction which was the way of the Administration of all Power among the Gentiles And if that kind of Power and Rule in the Church which is for the most part exercised in the World be not forbidden by our Saviour no Man living can tell what is so For as to Meekness Moderation Patience Equity Righteousness they were more easie to be found in the Legal Administrations of Power among the Gentiles than in these used in many Churches But such a Rule is signified unto them the Authority whereof from whence it proceedeth was Spiritual its Object the Minds and Souls of Men only and the way of whose Administration was to consist in an humble holy Spiritual Application of the Word of God or Rules of the Gospel unto them 2 The End of this Rule is meerly and solely the Edification of the Church All the Power that the Apostles themselves had either in or over the Church was but unto their Edification 2 Cor. 10. 8. And the Edification of the Church consists in the Encrease of Faith and Obedience in all the Members thereof in the subduing and mortifying of Sin in Fruitfulness in good Works in the Confirmation and Consolation of them that stand in the raising up them that are fallen and the recovery of them that wander in the Growth and Flourishing of mutual Love and Peace and whatever Rule is exercised in the Church unto any other end is Foreign to the Gospel and tends only to the Destruction of the Church it self 3 In the way and manner of the Administration of this Rule and Government two things may be considered 1 What is internal in the Qualifications of the Minds of them by whom it is to be exercised Such are Wisdom Diligence Love Meekness Patience and the like Evangelical Endowments 2 What is external or what is the outward Rule of it and this is the Word and Law of Christ alone as we have elsewhere declared § 9. FROM these things it may appear what is the Nature in general of that Skill in the Rule of the Church which we assert to be a peculiar Gift of the Holy Ghost If it were only an Ability or Skill in the Canon or Civil Law or Rules of Men if only an Acquaintance with the Nature and Course of some Courts proceeding litigiously by Citations Processes Legal Pleadings issuing in Pecuniary Mulcts outward Coercions or Imprisonments I should willingly acknowledge that there is no peculiar Gift of the Spirit of God required thereunto But the Nature of it being as we have declared it is impossible it should be exercised aright without the especial Assistance of the Holy Ghost Is any Man of himself sufficient for these things Will any Man undertake of himself to know the mind of Christ in all the occasions of the Church and to adminster the Power of Christ in them and about them Wherefore the Apostle in many places teacheth that Wisdom Skill and Understanding to administer the Authority of Christ in the Church unto its Edification with Faithfulness and Diligence are an especial Gift of the Holy Ghost Rom. 12. 6 8. 1 Cor. 12. 28. It is the Holy Ghost which makes the Elders of the Church it's Bishops or Overseers by calling them to their Office Acts 20. 28. And what he calls any Man unto that he furnisheth him with Abilities for the Discharge of And so have we given a brief Account of these Ordinary Gifts which the Holy Ghost communicates unto the constant Ministry of the Church and will do so unto the Consummation of all things having moreover in our Passage manifested the Dependance of the Ministry on this Work of his so that we need no Addition of Pains to demonstrate that where he goeth not before in the Communication of them no outward Order Call or Constitution is sufficient to make any one a Minister of the Gospel § 10 THERE are Gifts which respect Duties only Such are those which the Holy Ghost continues to communicate unto all the Members of the Church in a great Variety of Degrees according to the Places and Conditions which they are in unto their own and the Churches Edification There is no need that we should insist upon them in particular seeing they are of the same nature with them which are continued unto the Ministers of the Church who are required to excell in them so as to be able to go before the whole Church in their Exercise The Spirit of the Gospel was promised by Christ unto all his Disciples unto all Believers unto the whole Church and not unto the Guides of it only To them he is so in an especial manner with respect unto their Office Power and Duty but not absolutely or only As he is the Spirit of Grace he quickens animates and unites the whole Body of the Church and all the Members of it in and unto Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 12. 12 13. And as he is the Administrator of all Supernatural Gifts he furnisheth the whole Body and all it's Members with Spiritual Abilities unto it's Edification Ephes. 4. 15 16. Col. 2. 19. And without them in some measure or degree ordinarily we are not able to discharge our Duty unto the Glory of God For § 11. 1. THESE Gifts are a great means and help to excite and exercise Grace it self without which it will be lifeless and apt to decay Men grow in Grace by the due exercise of their own Gifts in Duties Wherefore every individual Person on his own account doth stand in need of them with respect unto the exercise and improvement of Grace Zech. 12. 10. 2 Most Men have it may be such Duties incumbent on them with respect unto others as they cannot discharge aright without the especial Aid of the Spirit of God in this kind So is it with all them who have Families to take care of and provide for For ordinarily they are bound to instruct their Children and Servants in the Knowledge of the Lord and to go before them in that Worship which God requires of
he expects from us and where it is neglected because of his Concernment in us we are said to grieve him For he looks not only for our Obedience but also that it be filled up with Joy Love and Delight When we attend unto Duties with an unwilling willing Mind when we apply our selves unto any Acts of Obedience in a Bondage or Servile Frame we grieve him who hath deserved other things of us 3 WHEN we lose and forget the Sense and Impressions of signal Mercies received by him So the Apostle to give Efficacy unto his Prohibition adds the signal Benefit which we receive by him in that he Seals us to the Day of Redemption which what it is and wherein it doth consist hath been declared And hence it is evident that he speaks of the Holy Spirit as dwelling in Believers For as such he seals them Whereas therefore in and by Sin we forget the great Grace Kindness and Condescension of the Holy Spirit in his dwelling in us and by various ways communicating of the Love and Grace of God unto us we may be well said to grieve him And certainly this Consideration together with that of the vile Ingratitude and horrible Folly there is in neglecting and defiling his Dwelling-place with the Danger of his withdrawing from us on the continuance of our Provocation ought to be as effectual a Motive unto Universal Holiness and constant watchfulness therein as any can be proposed unto us 3 SOME Sins there are which in an especial manner above others do grieve the Holy Spirit These our Apostle expresly discourseth of 1 Cor. 3. 15 16 17 18 19 20. And by the Connection of the Words in this place he seems to make corrupt Communication which always hath a Tendency unto Corruption of Conversation to be a Sin of this Nature ver 29 30. SECONDLY That which we have rendred to vex him Isa. 63. 10. is but the heightning and aggravation of his being grieved by our Continuance and it may be Obstinacy in those ways whereby he is grieved For this is the Progress in these things If those whom we are concerned in as Children or other Relations do fall into Miscarriages and Sins we are first grieved by it This Grief in our selves is attended with Pity and Compassion towards them with an earnest Endeavour for their Recovery But if notwithstanding all our Endeavours and the Application of Means for their Reducement they continue to go on frowardly in their ways then are we vexed at them which includes an Addition of Anger and Indignation unto our former Sorrow or Grief Yet in this posture of things we cease not to attempt their Cure for a Season which if it succeed not but they continue in their Obstinacy then we resolve to treat with them no more but to leave them to themselves And not only so but upon our Satisfaction of their Resolution for a continuance in ways of Sin and Debauchery we deal with them as their Enemies and labour to bring them unto Punishment And for our better Understanding of the Nature of our Sin and Provocation this whole Scheme of things is ascribed unto the Holy Ghost with respect unto them How he is said to be grieved and on what occasion hath been declared Upon a continuance in those ways wherewith he is grieved he is said to be vexed that we may understand there is also Anger and Displeasure towards us yet he forsakes us not yet he takes not from us the Means of Grace and our Recovery But if we discover an Obstinacy in our ways and an untreatable Perverseness then he will cast us off and deal with us no more for our Recovery And wo unto us when he shall depart from us So when the Old World would not be brought to Repentance by the Dispensation of the Spirit of Christ in the Preaching of Noah 1 Pet. 3. 19 20. God said thereon that his Spirit should give over and not always contend with Man Gen. 6. 3. Now the Cessation of the Operations of the Spirit towards Men obstinate in ways of Sin after he hath been long grieved and vexed comprizeth three things 1 A subduction from them of the means of Grace either totally by the removal of their Light and Candlestick all ways of the Revelation of the Mind and Will of God unto them Rev. 2. 5. Or as unto the Efficacy of the Word towards them where the outward Dispensation of it is continued so that hearing they shall hear but not understand Isa. 6. 9. John 12. 40. For by the Word it is that he strives with the Souls and Minds of Men. 2 A forbearance of all Chastisement out of a gracious design to heal and recover them Isa. 1. 6. 3 A giving of them up unto themselves or leaving them unto their own ways which although it seems only a Consequent of the two former and to be included in them yet is there indeed in it a positive Act of the Anger and Displeasure of God which directly influenceth the Event of Things for they shall be so given up unto their own Hearts Lusts as to be bound in them as in Chains of Darkness unto following vengeance Rom. 1. 26 28. But this is not all he becomes at length a Professed Enemy unto such obstinate Sinners Isa. 63. 10. They rebelled and vexed his Holy Spirit therefore he was turned to be their Enemy and he sought against them This is the length of his proceeding against obstinate Sinners in this World And herein also three things are included 1 He comes upon them as an Enemy to spoil them This is the first thing that an Enemy doth when he comes to Fight against any he spoils them of what they have Have such Persons had any Light or Conviction any Gift or Spiritual Abilities the Holy Spirit being now become their Professed Enemy he spoils them of it all From him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he seemeth to have Seeing he neither had nor used his Gifts or Talent unto any saving End being now at an open Enmity with him who leut it him it shall be taken away 2 He will come upon them with Spiritual Judgments smiting them with Blindness of Mind and Obstinacy of Will filling them with Folly Giddiness and Madness in their ways of Sin which sometimes shall produce most doleful Effects in themselves and others 3 He will cast them out of his Territories if they have been Members of Churches he will order that they shall be cut off and cast out of them 4 He frequently gives them in this World a fore-taste of that Everlasting Vengeance which is prepared for them Such are those Horrours of Conscience and other terrible Effects of an utter Desperation which he Justly Righteously and Holily sends upon the Minds and Souls of some of them And these things will he do as to demonstrate the Greatness and Holiness of his Nature so also that all may know what it is to despise
TWO DISCOURSES Concerning the Holy Spirit AND HIS WORK The One of The Spirit as a Comforter The Other as He is the Author of Spiritual Gifts In the former Discourse these Particulars are distinctly handled Chap. I. The Holy Ghost the Comforter and Advocate of the Church Chap. II. General Adjuncts or Properties of the Office of a Comforter Chap. III. Unto whom the Holy Spirit is a Comforter Chap. IV. Of the Inhabitation of the Spirit Chap. V. Actings of the Spirit as a Comforter How he is an Unction Chap. VI. The Spirit a Seal and how Chap. VII The Spirit an Earnest and how By the Late Reverend JOHN OWEN D. D. London Printed for William Marshall at the Bible in Newgate-street where you may be supplyed with most of Dr. Owen's Works 1693. THE PREFACE THAT there are sundry Great and Eminent Promises referring to New Testament Times concerning the pouring out of the Spirit none who is acquainted with the Scriptures and believes them can doubt By the performance of them a Church hath been begotten and maintained in the World through all Ages since the Ascension of Christ sometimes with greater Light and Spiritual Lustre and sometimes with less It hath been one of the Glories of the Protestant Reformation that it hath been accompanied with a very Conspicuous and Remarkable Effusion of the Spirit And indeed thereby there hath from Heaven a Seal been set and a Witness born unto that great Work of God In this unvaluable Blessing we in this Nation have had a Rich and Plentiful share insomuch as it seems Satan and his Ministers have been tormented and exasperated thereby And thènce it is come to pass that there have some risen up among us who have manifested themselves to be not only Despisers in Heart but virulent Reproachers of the Operations of the Spirit God who knows how to bring Good out of Evil did for Holy and Blessed Ends of his own suffer those horrid Blasphemies to be petulantly ventod On this occasion it was that this Great and Learned and Holy Person the Author of these Discourses took up Thoughts of writing concerning the Blessed Spirit and his whole Oeconomy as I understood from Himself sundry years ago discoursing with Him concerning some Books then newly published full of Contumely and Contempt of the Holy Spirit and his Operations For as it was with Paul at Athens when he saw the City wholly given to Idolaty so was Doctor Owen's Spirit stirred in him when he read the Scoffs and Blasphemies cast upon the Holy Spirit and his Grace and Gifts and Aids in some late Writers Had not Pelagius vented his Corrupt Opinions concerning the Grace of God it is like the Church had never had the Learned and Excellent Writings of Augustine in Defence thereof It appears from Bradwardin that the Revival of Pelagianism in his Days stirred up his Zealous and Pious Spirit to Wrise that Profound and Elaborate Book of his De Causa Dei Arminius and the Jesuits endeavouring to Plant the same Weed a-again produced the Scholastick Writings of Twiss and Ames not to mention Foreign Divines for which we in this Generation have abundant Cause of Enlarged Thankfulness unto the Father of Lights The occasion which the Holy Ghost laid hold on to carry forth Paul to Write his Epistle to the Galatians wherein the Doctrine of Justification by Faith is so fully cleared was the bringing in among them of another Gospel by Corrupt Teachers after which many in those Churches were soon drawn away The obstinate adherence of many among the Jews to the Mosaical Rites and Observances and the Inclination of others to Apostatize from the New Testament Worship and Ordinances was in like manner the occasion of the Epistle to the Hebrews The Light which shines and is held out in those Epistles the Church of Christ could ill have wanted The like way and working of the Wisdom of God is to be seen and adored in stirring up this Learned and Excellent Person to communicate and leave unto the World that Light touching the Spirit and his Operations which he had received by that Spirit from the Sacred Oracles of Truth the Scriptures To what advantage and increase of Light it is performed is not for so incompetent a Pen to say as writes this Nevertheless I doubt not but the discerning Reader will observe such Excellencies shining out in this and other of this Great Author's Writings as do greatly commend them to the Church of God and will do so in after Ages however this Corrupt and Degenerate Generation entertain them They are not the crude and hasty and untimely Abortions of a Self-full Distempered Spirit much less the Boilings over of inward Corruption and Rottenness put into a Fermentation but the mature sedate and seasonable Issues of a Rich Magazine of Learning well digested with great exactness of Judgment There is in them a great Light cast and reflected on as well as derived from the Holy Scriptures those inexhaustible Mines of Light in Sacred Things They are not filled with vain impertinent jangling nor with a noise of multiplyed futilous Distinctions nor with novel and uncouth Terms foreign to the Things of God as the manner of some Writers is ad nauseam usque But there is in them an happy and rare conjunction of firm Solidity Enlightning Clearness and Heart-searching Spiritualness evidencing themselves all along and thereby approving and commending his Writings to the Judgment Conscience Spiritual Taste and Experience of all those who have any Acquaintance with and relish of the Gospel On these and such like accounts the Writings of this Great and Learned Man as also his Ordinary Sermons if any of them shall be published as possibly some of them may will be while the World stands an upbraiding and condemning of this Generation whose vitiated and ill-affected Eyes could not bear so great a Light set up and shining on a Candlestick and which did therefore endeavour to put it under a Bushel These Two Discourses with those formerly published make up all that Dr. Owen perfected or designed on this Subject of the Spirit as the Reader may perceive in the Account which Himself hath given in his Prefaces to some of the former Pieces published by himself in his Life-time Not but that there are some other Lucubrations of his on Subjects nearly allied unto these which possibly may be published hereafter viz. One Entituled The Evidences of the Faith of God's Elect and perhaps some others What further he might have had in his Thoughts to do is known to Him whom he served so industriously and so faithfully in his Spirit in the Gospel while he was here on Earth and with whom he now enjoys the Reward of all his Labours and all his Sufferings For certain it is concerning Dr. Owen that as God gave him very Transcendent Abilities so he did therewithall give him a Boundless Enlargedness of Heart and unsatiable Desire to do Service to Christ and his Church Insomuch
unto Trial for their Testimony unto the Gospel We are in such cases to make use of any Reason Skill Wisdom or Ability of Speech which we have or other honest and advantageous Circumstances which present themselves unto us as the Apostle Paul did on all occasions But our dependance is to be solely on the Presence and Supplies of our blessed Advocate who will not suffer us to be utterly defective in what is necessary unto the Defence and Justification of our Cause 2 HE is the Advocate for Christ the Church and the Gospel in and by his Communication of Spiritual Gifts both extraordinary and ordinary unto them that do believe For these are things at least in their Effects visible unto the World Where Men are not utterly blinded by Prejudice Love of Sin and of the World they cannot but discern somewhat of a Divine Power in these Supernatural Gifts Wherefore they openly testifie unto the Divine Approbation of the Gospel and the Faith that is in Christ Jesus So the Apostle confirms the Truths that he had preached by this Argument that therewith and thereby or in the confirmation of it the Spirit as unto the Communication of Gifts was received Gal. 3. 2. And herein is he the Churches Advocate justifying their Cause openly and visibly by this Dispensation of his Power towards them and in their behalf But because we have treated separately and at large of the Nature and Use of these Spiritual Gifts I shall not here farther insist on the Consideration of them 3 BY Internal Efficacy in the Dispensation of the Word Herein also is he the Advocate of the Church against the World as is declared John 16. 8 9 10 11. For when he is come he will reprove the World of Sin and of Righteousness and of Judgment Of Sin because they believe not on me Of Righteousness because I go to my Father and ye see me no more Of Judgment because the Prince of this World is judged That which is ascribed unto him with respect unto the World is expressed by the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He shall reprove or convince 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Scripture is used variously Sometimes it is to manifest or bring forth unto Light Eph. 5. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For all things that are reproved or discovered are made manifest by the Light And it hath the same Sence John 3. 20. Sometimes it is to rebuke and reprove 1 Tim. 5. 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Those that sin rebuke before all So also Rev. 3. 19. Tit. 1. 13. Sometimes it is so to convince as in that to stop the Mouth of an Adversary that he shall have nothing to answer or reply John 8. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Being convicted by their own Consciences so as not having a Word to reply they deserted their Cause So Tit. 1. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To convince Gainsayers is explained Ver. 11. by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To stop their Mouth namely by the convincing Evidence of Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is an uncontroulable Evidence or an evident Argument Heb. 11. 1. Wherefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here is by undeniable Argument and Evidence so to convince the World or the Adversaries of Christ and the Gospel as that they shall have nothing to reply This is the Work and Duty of an Advocate who will absolutely vindicate his Client when his Cause will bear it AND the Effect hereof is Two-fold For all Persons upon such an over-powring Conviction take one of these two ways 1 They yield unto the Truth and embrace it as finding no Ground to stand upon in its refusal Or 2 They fly out into desperate Rage and Madness as being obstinate in their Hatred against the Truth and destitute of all Reason to oppose it An Instance of the former way we have in those Jews unto whom Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost Reproving and convincing of them beyond all Contradiction they were pricked in their Hearts and cried out Men and Brethren what shall we do And therewithall came over unto the Faith Acts 2. 37 41. Of the latter we have many Instances in the Dealings of our Saviour with that People For when he had at any time convinced them and stopped their Mouths as to the Cause in hand they called him Beelzebub cried out that he had a Devil took up Stones to throw at him and conspired his Death with all Demonstration of desperate Rage and Madness John 8. 48 58. Chap. 10. 30 31 39. So it was in the case of Stephen and the Testimony he gave unto Christ Acts 7. 56 57 58. And with Paul Acts 22. 22 23. An Instance of Bestial Rage not to be parallel'd in any other Case but in this it hath often fallen out in the World And the same Effects this Work of the Holy Ghost as the Advocate of the Church ever had and still hath upon the World Many being convinced by Him in the Dispensation of the Word are really humbled and converted unto the Faith So God adds daily to the Church such as shall be saved But the generality of the World are enraged by the same Work against Christ the Gospel and those by whom it is dispensed Whilst the Word is preached in a formal manner the World is well enough contented that it should have a quiet Passage among them But where ever the Holy Ghost puts forth a convincing Efficacy in the Dispensation of it the World is enraged by it which is no less an Evidence of the Power of their Conviction than the other is of a better Success THE Subject-matter concerning which the Holy Ghost manageth his Plea by the Word against the World as the Advocate of the Church is referred unto the Three Heads of Sin Righteousness and Judgment Ver. 8. the especial Nature of them being declared Ver. 9 10 11. 1. WHAT Sin it is in particular that the Holy Spirit shall so plead with the World about and convince them of is declared Ver. 9. Of Sin because they believe not in me There are many Sins whereof Men may be convinced by the Light of Nature Rom. 2. 14 15. More that they are reproved for by the Letter of the Law And it is the Work of the Spirit also in general to make these Convictions effectual But these belong not unto the Cause which he hath to plead for the Church against the World nor is that such as any can be brought unto Conviction about by the Light of Nature or Sentence of the Law but it is the Work of the Spirit alone by the Gospel And this in the first place is Unbelief particularly not believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of God the promised Messiah and Saviour of the World This he testified concerning himself this his Works evinced him to be and this both Moses and the Prophets bare witness unto Hereon he tells the Jews that if they believed not that he was He that is the
his infinite Power that he chooseth first to satisfie her in as that which all his actings towards her were founded in and resolved into without a due consideration whereof all that otherwise could be expected would not yield her Relief And this being fixed on their Minds he next proposeth unto them his Infinite Understanding and Wisdom there is no searching of his Understanding Conceive aright of his Infinite Power and then leave things unto his Sovereign unsearchable Wisdom for the Management of them as to Ways Degrees Times and Seasons An Apprehension of want of Love and Care in God towards them was that which immediately caused their Disconsolation but the Ground of it was in their Unbelief of his Infinite Power and Wisdom Wherefore in the Work of the Holy Ghost for the comforting of the Church his Infinite Power is peculiarly to be considered So the Apostle proposeth it unto the weakest Believers for their Supportment and that which should assure them of the Victory in their Conflict That greater is he that is in them than he that is in the World 1 John 4. 4. That Holy Spirit which is bestowed on them and dwelleth in them is greater more able and powerful than Sathan that attempts their Ruine in and by the World seeing he is of Power Omnipotent Things of our Disconsolation arise from the Impressions that Sathan makes upon our Minds and Consciences by Sin Temptation and Persecution For we find not in our selves such an Ability of Resistance as from whence we may have an Assurance of a Conquest This saith the Apostle you are to expect from the Power of the Holy Spirit which is infinitely above what-ever Sathan hath to make Opposition unto you or to bring any Disconsolation on you This will cast out all that Fear which hath Torment accompanying of it And however this may be disregarded by them who are filled with an Apprehension of their own Self-sufficiency as unto all the Ends of their Being and Obedience unto God as likewise that they have a never-failing Spring of Rational Considerations about them able to administer all necessary Relief and Comfort at all Times Yet those who are really sensible of their own Condition and that of other Believers if they understand what it is to be comforted with the Consolation of God and how remote they are from those Delusions which Men embrace under the Name of their Rational Considerations will grant that the Faith of Infinite Power is requisite unto any Solid Spiritual Comfort For 1. WHO can declare the Dejections Sorrows Fears Despondencies and Discouragements that Believers are obnoxious unto in the great Variety of their Natures Causes Effects and Occasions What Relief can be suited unto them but what is an Emanation from Infinite Power Yea such is the Spiritual Frame and Constitution of their Souls as that they will oft-times reject all means of Comfort that are not communicated by an Almighty Efficacy Hence God creates the Fruit of the Lips Peace Peace Isa. 57. 20. produceth Peace in the Souls of Men by a creating Act of his Power and Direction in the place before mentioned to look for it only from the infinite Excellency of his Nature None therefore was meet for this Work of being the Churches Comforter but the Spirit of God alone He only by his Almighty Power can remove all their Fears and support them under all their Dejections in all that Variety wherewith they are attempted and exercised Nothing but Omnipotence it self is suited to obviate those innumerable Disconsolations that we are obnoxious unto And those whose Souls are pressed in earnest with them and are driven from all the Reliefs which not only carnal Security and Stout-beartedness in Adversity do offer but also from all those lawful Diversions which the World can administer will understand that true Consolation is an Act of the exceeding Greatness of the Power of God and without which it will not be wrought 2. THE Means and Causes of their Disconsolation direct unto the same Spring of their Comfort Whatever the Power of Hell of Sin and the World separately or in Conjunction can effect it is all levelled against the Peace and Comfort of Believers Of how great Force and Efficacy they are in their Attempts to disturb and ruine them by what various ways and means they work unto that End would require great Enlargement of Discourse to declare And yet when we have used our utmost Diligence in an Enquiry after them we shall come short of a full Investigation of them yea it may be of what many Individual Persons find in their own Experience Wherefore with respect unto One Cause and Principle of Disconsolation God declaring that it is he who comforteth his People Isa. 51. 12 13 14 15. I even I am he that comforteth you Who art thou that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die and of the Son of Man which shall be made as Grass And forgettest the Lord thy Maker that hath stretched forth the Heavens and laid the Foundations of the Earth And hast feared continually every day because of the Fury of the Oppressor as if he were ready to destroy And where is the Fury of the Oppressor The Captive Exile hasteneth that he may be loosed and that he should not die in the Pit nor that his Bread should fail But I am the Lord thy God that divided the Sea whose Waves roared the Lord of Hosts is his Name He sees it necessary to declare his Infinite Power and to express in sundry Instances the Effects thereof WHEREFORE if we take a View of what is the State and Condition of the Church in it self and in the World How weak is the Faith of most Believers How great their Fears How many their Discouragements As also with how great Temptations Calamities Oppositions Persecutions they are exercised How vigorously and sharply these things are set on upon their Spirits according unto all Advantages inward and outward that their Spiritual Adversaries can lay hold upon It will be manifest how necessary it was that their Consolation should be entrusted with him with whom Infinite Power doth always dwell And if our own inward or outward Peace seems to abate of the necessity of this Consideration it may not be amiss by the Exercise of Faith herein to lay in Provision for the future seeing we know not what may befall us in the World And should we live to see the Church in Storms as who knows but we may our principal Supportment will be that our Comforter is of Almighty Power wonderful in Counsel and excellent in Operation 4. THIS Dispensation of the Spirit is unchangeable Unto whomsoever he is given as a Comforter he abides with them for ever This our Saviour expresly declares in the first Promise he made of sending him as a Comforter in a peculiar manner John 14. 16. I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for
Grace to wrest these Expressions unto a lower meaner figurative Signification And I am perswaded that it is contrary to the Faith of the Catholick Church of True Believers so to do For however some of them may not have exercised their Minds about the manner of the Abode of the Holy Spirit with the Church and some of them when they hear of his Personal Indwelling wherein they have not been duly instructed do fear it may be that indeed that cannot be which they cannot comprehend and that some Evil Consequence may ensue upon the Admittance of it although they cannot say what they are Yet it is with them all even an Article of Faith that the Holy Ghost dwelleth in the Church that is them that truly believe and herein have they an Apprehension of such a Personal Presence of his as they cannot conceive This therefore being so expresly so frequently affirmed in the Scripture and the Comfort of the Church which depends thereon being singular and eminent it is unto me an important Article of Evangelical Truth 3. ALTHOUGH all the principal Actings of the Holy Spirit in us and towards us as a Comforter do depend on this Head or flow from this Spring of his Inhabitation yet in the Confirmation of it's Truth I shall here name one or two by which it self is evidenced and it's Benefits unto the Church declared 1 THIS is the Spring of his gracious Operations in us So our Saviour himself declares it The Water that I shall give unto him shall be in him a Well of Water springing up into everlasting Life John 4. 14. The Water here promised is the Holy Spirit called the Gift of God Ver. 10. This is evident from that parallel place John 7. 38 39. where this Living Water is plainly declared to be the Holy Ghost And this Water which is given unto any is to be in him and there to abide which is but a Metaphorical Expression of the Inhabitation of the Spirit For it is to be in him as a Well as a Living Fountain which cannot be spoke of any gracious Habit whatever No Quality in our Minds can be a Spring of Living Water Besides all gracious Habits are Effects of the Operation of the Holy Spirit and therefore they are not the Well it self but belong unto the springing of it up in Living Waters So is the Spirit in his Indwelling distinguished from all his Evangelical Operations of Grace as the Well is distinct from the Streams that flow from it And as it is natural and easie for a Spring of Living Waters to bubble up and put forth refreshing Streams so it belongs unto the Consolation of Believers to know how easie it is unto the Holy Spirit how ready he is on the account of his gracious Inhabitation to carry on and perfect the Work of Grace Holiness and Sanctification in them And what Instruction they may take for their own Deportment towards him may be afterwards spoken unto So in many other places is his Presence with us which we have proved to be by the way of gracious Inhabitation proposed as the Cause and Spring of all his gracious Operations and so distinct from them So the Holy Ghost that is given us Sheds abroad the Love of God in our Hearts Rom. 5. 5. The Spirit of God that dwelleth in us shall quicken our mortal Bodies Rom. 8. 12. He beareth Witness with our Spirits that we are the Sons of God Rom. 8. 16. Which places have been elsewhere explained and vindicated 2 THIS is the hidden Spring and Cause of that inexpressible Distance and Difference that is between Believers and the rest of the World Our Apostle tells us that the Life of Believers is hid with Christ in God Col. 3. 3. A blessed Life they have whilst they are here dead to the World and as dead in the World A Life that will issue in eternal Glory But no such thing appears no Lustre of it is cast abroad into the Eyes of Men True saith the Apostle for it is hid with Christ in God It is so both in its Causes Nature Operations and Means of Preservation But by this hidden Life it is that they are differenced from the perishing World And it will not be denyed as I suppose that this Difference is real and great For those who believe do enjoy the especial Love and Favour of God whereas those who do not are under the Curse and the Wrath of God abideth on them They are alive unto God but these are dead in Trespasses and Sins And if Men will not believe that there is so inexpressible a difference between them in this World they will be forced to confess it at the last Day when the Decretory Sentences of Come ye Blessed and Go ye Cursed shall be openly denounced But for the most part there is no Visible Cause in the Eyes of the World of this inexpressible and eternal Difference between these two sorts of Persons For besides that for the most part the World doth judge amiss of all that Believers are and do and do rather through an inbred Enmity working by wicked and foolish Surmizes suppose them to be the worst rather than absolutely the best of Men There is not for the most part such a visible manifest difference in outward Actions and Duties on which alone a Judgment may be passed in Man's Day as to be a just Foundation of believing so unspeakable Difference between their Persons as is spoken of There is a difference in their Works which indeed ought to be far greater than it is and so a greater Testimony given to the Righteousness of God 1 John 3. 12. There is yet a greater difference in internal habitual Grace whereby the Minds of Believers are transformed initially into the Image of God Tit. 1. 15. But these things will not bear the Weight of this inconceivable Distance Principally therefore it depends hereon namely the Inhabitation of the Spirit in them that believe The great difference between the two Houses that Solomon built was that God dwelt in the one and he himself in the other Though any two Houses as unto their outward Fabrick make the same Appearance yet if the King dwell in the one and a Robber in the other the one may be a Pallace and the other a Den. It is this Inhabitation of the Spirit whereon all the Priviledges of Believers do immediately depend and all the Advantages which they have above the Men of the World And the difference which is made hereby or ensueth hereon is so inconceivably great as a sufficient Reason may thence be given of all the excellent things which are spoken of them who are Partakers of it CHAP. V. Particular Actings of the Holy Spirit as a Comforter How he is an Unction THE especial Actings of the Holy Spirit towards Believers as their Comforter with the Priviledges and Advantages which by them they are made Partakers of have been severally spoken unto by many and I have also
the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me His Unction consisted principally in the Communication of the Spirit unto him For he proves that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him because he was anointed And this gives us a general Rule that the anointing with material Oyl under the Old Testament did presigure and represent the Effusion of the Spirit under the New which now answers all the Ends of those Typical Institutions Hence the Gospel in opposition unto them all in the Letter outwardly visibly and materially is called the Ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 6 8. So is the Unction of Christ expressed Isa. 11. 2. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding the Spirit of Counsel and Might the Spirit of Knowledge and of the Fear of the Lord. 4. WHEREAS the Unction of Christ did consist in the full Communication of the Spirit unto him not by Measure in all his Graces and Gifts needful unto his Humane Nature or his Work though it be essentially one entire Work yet was it carried on by several Degrees and Distinctions of Time For 1 He was anointed by the Spirit in his Incarnation in the Womb Luke 1. 35. the Nature of which Work we have at large before explained 2 He was so at his Baptism and Entrance into his Publick Ministry when he was anointed to Preach the Gospel as Isa. 61. 1. And the Holy Ghost descended on him in the shape of a Dove Matth. 3. 17. The first part of his Unction more peculiarly respected a Fulness of the Grace the latter of the Gifts of the Spirit 3 He was peculiarly anointed unto his Death and Sacrifice in that Divine Act of his whereby he sanctify'd himself thereunto John 17. 19. which hath also been before declared 4. He was at his Ascension when he received of the Father the Promise of the Spirit pouring him forth on his Disciples Acts 2. 23. And in this latter instance he was anointed with the Oyl of Gladness which includes his glorious Exaltation also For this was absolutely peculiar unto him whence he is said to be so anointed above his Fellows For although in some other parts of this anointing he hath them who partake of them by and from him in their Measure yet in this of receiving the Spirit with a Power of Communicating him unto others herein he is singular nor was ever any other Person sharer with him therein in the least degree See the Exposition on Heb. 1. 8 9. Now although there be an inconceivable difference and distance between the Unction of Christ and that of Believers yet is his the only Rule of the Interpretation of theirs as to the kind thereof And 5. BELIEVERS have their Unction immediately from Christ. So is it in the Text You have an Unction from the Holy One. So is He called Acts 3. 14. Rev. 3. 7. These things saith He that is Holy He Himself was anointed as the most Holy Dan. 9. 24. And it is his Spirit which Believers do receive Eph. 3. 16. Phil. 1. 19. It is said That he who anointeth us is God 2 Cor. 1. 21. And I do take God there Personally for the Father as the same Name is in the verse foregoing For all the Promises of God in him that is in Christ are yea and in Him Amen Wherefore the Father is the Original Supream Cause of our Anointing but the Lord Christ the Holy One is the immediate Efficient Cause thereof This Himself expresseth when he affirms that he will send the Spirit from the Father The Supream Donation is from the Father the immediate Collation from the Son 6. IT is therefore manifest that the anointing of Believers consisteth in the Communication of the Holy Spirit unto them from and by Jesus Christ. It is not the Spirit that doth anoint us but he is the Unction wherewith we are anointed by the Holy One. This the Analogy unto the Unction of Christ makes undeniable for as he was anointed so are they in the same kind of Unction though in a degree inferior unto him For they have nothing but a Measure and Portion from his Fulness as he pleaseth Eph. 4. 7. Our Unction therefore is the Communication of the Holy Spirit and nothing else He is that Unction which is given unto us and abideth with us But this Communication of the Spirit is general and respects all his Operations It doth not yet appear wherein the especial Nature of it doth consist and whence this Communication of him is thus expressed by an Unction And this can be no otherwise learned but from the Effects ascribed unto him as he is an Unction and the Relation with the Resemblance that is therein unto the Unction of Christ. It is therefore some particular Grace and Priviledge which is intended in this Unction 2 Cor. 1. 21. It is mentioned only neutrally without the Ascription of any Effects unto it so that therein we cannot learn its especial Nature But there are two Effects elsewhere ascribed unto it The first is Teaching with a saving permanent knowledge of the Truth thereby produced in our Minds This is fully expressed 1 John 2. 20 27. You have an Unction from the Holy One aend you know all things that is all those things of the Fundamental Essential Truths of the Gospel all you need to know that you may obey God truely and be saved infallibly This you have by this Unction For this anointing which you have received abideth in you and teacheth you all things And we may observe that it is spoken of in an especial manner with respect unto our Permanency and Establishment in the Truth against prevalent Seducers and Seductions so it is joined with establishing in that other Place 2 Cor. 1. 21. WHEREFORE in the first Place this anointing with the Holy Ghost is the Communication of him unto us with respect unto that gracious Work of his in the Spiritual saving Illumination of our Minds teaching us to know the Truth and to adhere firmly unto it in Love and Obedience This is that which is peculiarly ascribed unto it and we have no way to know the Nature of it but by its Effects THE Anointing then of Believers with the Spirit consists in the Collation of him upon them to this End that he may graciously instruct them in the Truths of the Gospel by the saving Illumination of their Minds causing their Souls firmly to cleave unto them with Joy and Delight and transforming them in the whole inward Man into the Image and Likeness of it Hence it is called the anointing of our Eyes with Eye-salve that we may see Rev. 3. 18. So doth it answer that Unction of the Lord Christ with the Spirit which made him quick of Understanding in the fear of the Lord Isa. 11. 3. Let these things therefore be fixed in the first place namely that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Unction which Believers receive from the
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
a summ of Money and bid him take it as a Pledge or Earnest of what he will yet do for him So doth God in a way of Soveraign Grace and Bounty give his Holy Spirit unto Believers and withall lets them know that it is with a design to give them yet much more in his appointed season And here is he said to be an Earnest Other things that are observed from the Nature and Use of an Earnest in Civil Contracts and Bargains between Men belong not hereunto tho' many things are occasionally spoken and discoursed from them of Good Use unto Edification THIRDLY In two of the Places wherein mention is made of this matter the Spirit is said to be an Earnest but wherein or unto what End is not expressed 2 Cor. 1. 22. Chap. 5. 5. The third place affirms him to be an Earnest of our Inheritance Eph. 1. 14. What that is and how he is so may be briefly declared And 1. WE have already manifested that all our Participation of the Holy Spirit in any kind is upon the Account of Jesus Christ and we do receive him immediately as the Spirit of Christ. For to as many as receive Christ the Father gives Power to become the Sons of God John 1. 12. And because we are Sons he sends forth the Spirit of his Son into our Hearts Gal. 4. 6. And as we receive the Spirit from him and as his Spirit so he is given unto us to make us conformable unto him and to give us a Participation of his Gifts Graces and Priviledges 2. CHRIST himself in his own Person is the Heir of all things So he was appointed of God Heb. 1. 2. and therefore the whole Inheritance is absolutely his What this Inheritance is what is the Glory and Power that is contained therein I have at large declared in the Exposition of that Place 3. MAN by his Sin had universally forfeited his whole Right unto all the Ends of his Creation both on the Earth below and in Heaven above Death and Hell were become all that the whole Race of Mankind had either Right or Title unto But yet all the glorious things that God had provided were not to be cast away an Heir was to be provided for them Abraham when he was old and rich had no Child complained that his Steward a Servant was to be his Heir Gen. 15. 3 4. but God lets him know that he would provide another Heir for him of his own Seed When Man had lost his right unto the whole Inheritance of Heaven and Earth God did not so take the Forfeiture as to seize it all into the Hands of Justice and destroy it But he invested the whole Inheritance in his Son making him the Heir of all This he was meet for as being God's Eternal Son by Nature and hereof the Donation was free gratuitous and absolute And this Grant was confirmed unto him by his Unction with the Fulness of the Spirit But 4. THIS Inheritance as to our Interest therein lay under a Forfeiture and as unto us it must be redeemed and purchased or we can never be made Partakers of it Wherefore the Lord Christ who had a Right in his own Person unto the whole Inheritance by the Free Grant and Donation of the Father yet was to redeem it from under the Forfeiture and purchase the Possession of it for us Thence is it called the Purchased Possession How this Purchase was made what made it necessary by what means it was effected are declared in the Doctrine of our Redemption by Christ the Price which he paid and the Purchase that he made thereby And hereon the whole Inheritance is vested in the Lord Christ not only as unto his own Person and his Right unto the whole but he became the great Trustee for the whole Church and had their Interest in this Inheritance committed unto him also No Man therefore can have a right unto this Inheritance or to any part of it not unto the least share of God's Creation here below as a part of the rescued or purchased Inheritance but by Vertue of an Interest in Christ and Union with him Wherefore FOURTHLY The way whereby we come to have an Interest in Christ and thereby a right unto the Inheritance is by the Participation of the Spirit of Christ as the Apostle fully declares Rom. 8. 14 15 16 17. For it is by the Spirit of Adoption the Spirit of the Son that we are made Children Now saith the Apostle If we are Children then Heirs Heirs of God and joynt Heirs with Christ. Children are Heirs unto their Father And those who are Children of God are Heirs of that Inheritance which God hath provided for his Children Heirs of God And all the good things of Grace and Glory which Believers are made Partakers of in this World or that which is to come are called their Inheritance because they are the Effects of free gratuitous Adoption They are not things that themselves have purchased bargained for earned or merited but an Inheritance depending on and following solely upon their free gratuitous Adoption But how can they become Heirs of God seeing God hath absolutely appointed the Son alone to be Heir of all things Heb. 1. 2. He was the Heir unto whom the whole Inheritance belonged Why saith the Apostle by the Participation of the Spirit of Christ we are made joynt Heirs with Christ. The whole Inheritance as unto his own Personal Right was entirely his by the free Donation of the Father all Power in Heaven and Earth being given unto him But if he will take others into a joynt Right with him he must purchase it for them which he did accordingly FIFTHLY Hence it is manifest how the Holy Spirit becomes the Earnest of our Inheritance For by him that is by the Communication of him unto us we are made joynt-Heirs with Christ which gives us our Right and Title whereby our Natures are as it were inserted into the assured Conveyance of the great and full Inheritance of Grace and Glory In the giving of his Spirit unto us God making of us Coheirs with Christ we have the greatest and most assured Earnest and Pledge of our future Inheritance And he is to be thus an Earnest untill or unto the Redemption of the Purchased Possession For after that a Man hath a good and firm Title unto an Inheritance settled in him it may be a longer time before he can be admitted into an actual Possession of it and many Difficulties he may have in the mean time to conflict withall And it is so in this Case The Earnest of the Spirit given unto us whereby we become Coheirs with Christ whose Spirit we are made Partakers of secures the Title of the Inheritance in and unto our whole Persons But before we can come unto the full Possession of it not only have we many Spiritual Trials and Temptations to conflict withall in our Souls but our Bodies also are liable unto Death
part of the Body of Christ of the Essence of it by the same quickning animating Spirit of Grace but one is an Eye another an Hand another a Foot in the Body by vertue of peculiar Gifts For unto every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the Gift of Christ Eph. 4. 7. § 2. THESE Gifts are not saving sanctifying Graces those were not so in themselves which made the most glorious and astonishing appearance in the World and which were most eminently useful in the Foundation of the Church and propagation of the Gospel Such as were those that were Extraordinary and Miraculous There is something of the Divine Nature in the least Grace that is not in the most glorious Gift which is only so It will therefore be part of our work to shew wherein the Essential Difference between these Gifts and sanctifying Graces doth consist as also what is their Nature and Use must be enquired into For although they are not Grace yet they are that without which the Church cannot subsist in the World nor can Believers be useful unto one another and the rest of Mankind unto the Glory of Christ as they ought to be They are the powers of the World to come those effectual Operations of the power of Christ whereby his Kingdom was Erected and is preserved § 3. AND hereby is the Church state under the New Testament differenced from that under the Old There is indeed a great Difference between their Ordinances and ours theirs being suited unto the dark apprehensions which they had of Spiritual things ours accommodated unto the clearer Light of the Gospel more plainly and expresly representing Heavenly things unto us Heb. 10. 1. But our Ordinances with their Spirit would be carnal also The principal Difference lyes in the Administration of the Spirit for the due performance of Gospel Worship by vertue of these Gifts bestowed on Men for that very End Hence the whole of Evangelical Worship is called the Ministration of the Spirit and thence said to be glorious 2 Cor. 3. 8. And where they are neglected I see not the Advantage of the outward Worship and Ordinances of the Gospel above those of the Law For although their Institutions are accommodated unto that Administration of Grace and Truth which came by Jesus Christ yet they must lose their whole Glory Force and Efficacy if they be not dispensed and the Duties of them performed by vertue of these spiritual Gifts And therefore no sort of Men by whom they are neglected do or can content themselves with the pure and immixed Gospel Institutions in these things but do rest principally in the outward part of Divine Service in things of their own finding out For as Gospel Gifts are useless without attending unto Gospel Institutions so Gospel Institutions are found to be fruitless and unsatisfactory without the attaining and exercising of Gospel Gifts § 4. BE it so therefore that these Gifts we intend are not in themselves saving Graces yet are they not to be despised For they are as we shall shew The powers of the World to come by means whereof the Kingdom of Christ is preserved carried on and propagated in the World And although they are not Grace yet are they the great means whereby all Grace is ingenerated and exercised And although the spiritual Life of the Church doth not consist in them yet the Order and Edification of the Church depends wholly on them And therefore are they so frequently mentioned in the Scripture as the great priviledge of the New Testament Directions being multiplyed in the Writings of the Apostles about their nature and proper use And we are commanded earnestly to desire and labour after them especially those which are most useful and subservient unto Edification 1 Cor. 12. 31. And as the neglect of Internal saving Grace wherein the power of Godliness doth consist hath been the Bane of Christian Profession as to Obedience issuing in that Form of it which is consistent with all manner of Lusts so the neglect of these Gifts hath been the Ruin of the same Profession as to Worship and Order which hath thereon issued in fond Superstition § 5. THE great and signal promise of the Communication of these Gifts is recorded Psal. 68. 18. Thou hast ascended on high thou hast led Captivity Captive thou hast received Gifts for Men. For these words are applyed by the Apostle unto that Communication of spiritual Gifts from Christ whereby the Church was founded and edified Ephes. 4. 8. And whereas it is foretold in the Psalm that Christ should receive Gifts that is to give them unto Men as that Expression is Expounded by the Apostle so he did this by receiving of the Spirit the proper cause and immodiate Author of them all as Peter declares Acts 2. 23. Therefore being by the Right Hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the Promise of the Holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear speaking of the miraculous Gifts conferred on the Aposties at the Day of Pentecost For these Gifts are from Christ not as God absolutely but as Mediator in which Capacity he received all from the Father in a way of free Donation Thus therefore he received the Spirit as the Author of all spiritual Gifts And whereas all the powers of the World to come consisted in them and the whole work of the Building and Propagation of the Church depended on them the Apostles after all the Instructions they had received from Christ whilst he conversed with them in the Days of his Flesh and also after his Resurrection were commanded not to go about the great work which they had received Commission for until they had received power by the coming of the Holy Ghost upon them in the Communication of those Gifts Acts 1. 4 8. And as they neither might nor could do any thing in their peculiar work as to the laying of the Foundation of the Christian Church until they had actually received those extraordinary Gifts which gave them power so to do so if those who undertake in any Place Degree or Office to carry on the Edification of the Church do not receive those more ordinary Gifts which are continued unto that end they have neither Right to undertake that work nor Power to perform it in a due manner § 6. The things which we are to enquire into concerning these Gifts are 1. Their Name 2. Their Nature in general and therein how they agree with and differ from Saving Graces 3. Their Distinction 4. The particular Nature of them and 5. Their Use in the Church of God § 7. 1. THE general Name of those Spiritual Endowments which we intend is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the Apostle renders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 4. 8. from Psal. 68. 18. Dona Gifts That is they are free and undeserved Effects of Divine Bounty In the Minds of Men on whom they are bestowed they are Spiritual Powers
and Endowments with respect unto a certain end But as to their Original and principal cause they are free undeserved Gifts Thence the Holy Spirit as the Author of them and with respect unto them is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Gift of God John 4. 10. And the Effect it self is also termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Gift of the Holy Ghost Acts 10. 45. The Gift of God Acts 8. 20. The Gift of the Grace of God Ephes. 3. 7. The Gift of Christ Ephes. 4. 7. The Heavenly Gift Heb. 6. 4. All expressing the Freedom of their Communication on the part of the Father Son and Spirit And in like manner on the same account are they called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is gracious largesses Gifts proceeding from meer Bounty And therefore saving Graces are also expressed by the same Name in general because they also are freely and undeservedly communicated unto us Rom. 11. 28. But these Gifts are frequently and almost constantly so expressed Rom. 12. 6. 1 Cor. 1. 7. Chap. 7. 7. Chap. 12. 4 9 28 30. 1 Pet. 4. 14. 2 Tim. 1. 6. And it is absolute freedom in the Bestower of them that is principally intended in this Name Hence he hath left his Name as a Curse unto all Posterity who thought this free gift of God might be purchased with Money Acts 8. 20. A Pageantry of which Crime the Apostate Ages of the Church erected in applying the Name of that Sin to the purchase of Benefices and Dignities whilst the Gift of God was equally despised on all hands And indeed this was that whereby in all Ages Countenance was given unto Apostasie and Defection from the Power and Truth of the Gospel The Names of Spiritual things were still retained but applyed to outward Forms and Ceremonies which thereby were substituted insensibly into their room to the ruine of the Gospel in the Minds of Men. But as these Gifts were not any of them to be bought no more are they absolutely to be attained by the Natural Abilities and Industry of any whereby an Image of them is attempted to be set up by some but deformed and useless They will do those things in the Church by their own Abilities which can never be acceptably discharged but by Vertue of those Free Gifts which they despise whereof we must speak more afterwards Now the full Signification of these Words in our Sence is peculiar unto the New Testament For although in other Authors they are used for a Gift or Free Grant yet they never denote the Endowments or Abilities of the Minds of Men who do receive them which is their principal Sence in the Scripture § 8. WITH respect unto their especial Nature they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sometimes absolutely 1 Cor. 12. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but concerning Spirituals that is Spiritual Gifts And so again Chap. 14. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Desire Spirituals that is Gifts for so it is explained Chap. 12. 31. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Covet Earnestly the best Gifts Whenever therefore they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 denoting their general Nature is to be supplied And where they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to be understood as expressing their especial Difference from all others They are neither Natural nor Moral but Spiritual Endowments For both their Author Nature and Object are respected herein Their Author is the Holy Spirit their Nature is Spiritual and the Object about which they are exercised are Spiritual Things § 9. AGAIN with respect unto the Manner of their Communication they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 2. 4. Distributions or Partitions of the Holy Ghost Not whereof the Holy Ghost is the Subject as though he were parted or divided as the Socinians dream on this place but whereof he is the Author the Distributions which he makes And they are thus called Divisions Partitions or Distributions because they are of divers sorts and kinds according as the Edification of the Church did require And they were not at any time all of them given out unto any one Person at least so as that others should not be made Partakers of the same sort From the same inexhaustible Treasure of Bounty Grace and Power these Gifts are variously distributed unto Men. And this Variety as the Apostle proves gives both Ornament and Advantage to the Church If the whole Body were an Eye where were the Hearing c. 1 Cor. 12. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25. It is this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this various Distribution of Gifts that makes the Church an Organical Body and in this Composure with the peculiar Uses of the Members of the Body consists the Harmony Beauty and Safety of the whole Were there no more but One Gift or Gifts of one sort the whole Body would be but one Member As where there is none there is no animated Body but a dead Carkass § 10. AND this various Distribution as it is an Act of the Holy Spirit produceth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There are Diversities of Gifts 1 Cor. 12. 4. The Gifts thus distributed in the Church are Divers as to their sorts and kinds one of one kind another of another An Account hereof is given by the Apostle particularly Ver. 8 9 10. in a distinct Enumeration of the sorts or kinds of them The Edification of the Church is the general End of them all but divers distinct different Gifts are required thereunto § 11. THESE Gifts heing bestowed they are variously expressed with regard unto the Nature and Manner of those Operations which we are enabled unto by Vertue of them So are they termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Minisirations 1 Cor. 12. 5. That is Powers and Abilitles whereby some are enabled to administer Spiritual Things unto the Benefit Advantage and Edification of others And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ver. 6. Effectual Workings or Operations efficaciously producing the Effects which they are applied unto And lastly they are comprized by the Apostle in that Expression 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Manifestation of the Spirit Ver. 7. In and by them doth the Holy Spirit evidence and manifest his Power For the Effects produced by them and themselves in their own Nature especially some of them do evince that the Holy Spirit is in them that they are given and wrought by him and are the ways whereby he acts his own Power and Grace These things are spoken in the Scripture as to the Names of these Spiritual Gifts And it is evident that if we part with our Interest and Concern in them we must part with no small Portion of the New Testament For the mention of them Directions about them their Use and Abuse do so frequently occur that if we are not concerned in them we are not so in the Gospel CHAP. II. Differences between Spiritual Gifts and Saving Grace § 1. THEIR Nature
fulness of him that filleth all in all Ephes. 1. 22 23. But this Church falls under a double Consideration First as it is Believing Secondly as it is Professing In the first respect absolutely it is invisible and as such is the peculiar subject of Saving Grace This is that Church which Christ loved and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it and present it unto himself a Glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be Holy and without Blemish Eph. 5. 26 27. This is the work of Saving Grace and by a participation thereof do Men become Members of this Church and not otherwise And hereby is the professing Church quickened and enabled unto Profession in an acceptable manner â—or the Elect receive Grace unto this end in this World that they may glorifie Christ and the Gospel in the Exercise of it Col. 1. 6. John 15. 8. But Gifts are bestowed on the professing Church to render it visible in such a way as whereby God is glorified Grace gives an invisible Life to the Church Gifts give it a visible Profession For hence doth the Church become Organical and disposed into that Order which is Beautiful and Comely Where any Church is Organized meerly by outward Rules perhaps of their own devising and makes Profession only in an attendance unto outward Order not following the leading of the Spirit in the Communication of his Gifts both as to Order and Discharge of the Duties of Profession it is but the Image of a Church wanting an animating Principle and Form That Profession which renders a Church visible according to the Mind of Christ is the orderly Exercise of the spiritual Gifts bestowed on it in a Conversation evidencing the invisible Principle of Saving Grace Now these Gifts are conferred on the Church in order unto the Edification of it self in Love Ephes. 4 16. as also the propagation of its Profession in the World as shall be declared afterwards Wherefore both of these sorts have in general the same end or are given by Christ unto the same purpose namely the Good and Benefit of the Church as they are respectively suited to promote them § 6. It may also be added that they agree herein that they have both the same respect unto the Bounty of Christ. Hence every Grace is a Gift that which is given and freely bestowed on them that have it Mat. 13. 11. Phil. 1. 29. And although on the other side every Gift be not a Grace yet proceeding from gracious Favour and Bounty they are so called Rom. 12. 6. Ephes. 4. 7. How in their due Exercise they are mutually helpful and assistant unto each other shall be declared afterwards § 7. SECONDLY We may consider wherein wherein the Difference lyes or doth consist which is between 〈◊〉 spiritual Gifts and sanctifying Graces And this may be seen in sundry Instances As 1. SAVING Graces are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Fruit or Fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5. 22. Ephes. 5. 9. Phil. 1. 11. Now Fruits proceed from an abiding Root and flock of whose Nature they do partake There must be a good Tree to bring forth good Fruit Mat. 12. 33. No external Watering or Applications unto the Earth will cause it to bring forth useful Fruits unless they are Roots from which they spring and are educed The Holy Spirit is as the Root unto these Fruits the Root which bears them and which they do not bear as Rom. 11. 18. Therefore in order of Nature is he given unto Men before the production of any of these Fruits Thereby are they ingrafted into the Olive are made such Branches in Christ the true Vine as derive Vital Juice Nourishment and Fructifying Vertue from him even by the Spirit So is he a Well of Water springing up unto Everlasting Life John 4. 14. He is a Spring in Believers and all saving Graces are but Waters arising from that Living overflowing Spring From him a Root or Spring as an internal Vertue Power or Principle do all these Fruits come To this end doth he dwell in them and abide with them according to the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ John 14. 17. Rom. 8. 11. 1 Cor. 3. 16. whereby the Lord Christ effecteth his purpose in ordaining his Disciples to bring forth Fruit that should remain John 15. 16. In the place of his Holy Residence he worketh these Effects freely according to his own will And there is nothing that hath the true Nature of saving Grace but what is so a Fruit of the Spirit We have not first these Graces and then by vertue of them receive the Spirit for whence should we have them of our selves but the Spirit bestowed on us worketh them in us and gives them a Spiritual Divine Nature in conformity unto his own § 8. With Gifts singly considered it is Otherwise They are indeed Works and Effects but not properly Fruits of the Spirit nor are any where so called They are effects of his operation upon Men not Fruits of his working in them And therefore many receive these Gifts who never receive the Spirit as to the principal ends for which he is promised They receive him not to sanctifie and make them Temples unto God though Metonymically with respect unto his outward Effects they may be said to be made partakers of him This renders them of a different Nature and kind from Saving Graces For whereas there is an Agreement and Coincidence between them in the respects before mentioned and whereas the Seat and Subject of them that is of Gifts absolutely and principally of Graces also is the Mind the difference of their Nature proceeds from the different manner of their Communication from the Holy Spirit § 9. Secondly Saving Grace proceeds from or is the effect and fruit of Electing Love This I have proved before in our Enquiry into the Nature of Holiness See it directly asserted Ephes. 1. 3 4. 2 Thes. 2. 13. Acts 2 41. Chap. 13. 48. Whom God graciously chuseth and designeth unto Eternal Life them he prepares for it by the Communication of the Means which are necessary unto that end Rom. 8. 28 29 30. Hereof Sanctification or the Communication of saving Grace is comprehensive for we are chosen unto Salvation through the Sanctification of the Spirit 2 Thes. 2. 13. For this is that whereby we are made meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Col. 1. 12. The End of God in Election is the Sonship and Salvation of the Elect unto the praise of the Glory of his Grace Ephes. 1. 5 6. And this cannot be unless his Image be renewed in them in Holiness or Saving Graces These therefore he works in them in pursuit of his Eternal purpose therein But Gifts on the other hand which are no more but so and where they are solitary or alone are only the Effects of a temporary Election Thus God chuseth some Men into some Office in the Church or unto some
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
up and their right Eye is utterly darkened Zech. 11. 17. And this sometimes they come to be sensible of yea ashamed of and yet cannot retrieve themselves But for the most part they fall into such a state as wherein the Profession and Use of them becomes as they suppose inconsistent with their present Interest and so they openly renounce all concernment in them Neither for the most part do they stay here but after they have rejected them in themselves and espoused lazy profitable outward Helps in their room they blaspheme the Author of them in others and declare them all to be Delusions Fancies and Imaginations And if any one hath the Confidence to own the Assistance of the Holy Spirit in the Discharge of the Duties of the Gospel unto the Edification of the Church he becomes unto them a Scorn and Reproach These are Branches cut off from the Vine whom Men gather or those whose miserable Condition is described by the Apostle Heb. 6. 4 5 6. But one way or other these Gifts may be utterly lost or taken away from them who have once received them and that whether they be Ordinary or Extraordinary There is no kind of them no degree of them that can give us any Security that they shall be always continued with us or at all beyond our diligent Attendance unto their Use and Exercise With Saving Grace it is not so It is indeed subject unto various Decays in us and it 's thriving or flourishing in our Souls depends upon and answers unto our diligent Endeavour in the use of all means of Holiness ordinarily 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7 8 9 10. For besides that no Man can have the least Evidence of any thing of this Grace in him if he be totally negligent in it's Exercise and Imyrovement so no Man ought to expect that it will thrive or abound in him unless he constantly and diligently attend unto it and give up himself in all things to it's Conduct But yet as to the continuance of it in the Souls of the Elect as to the Life and Being of it's Principle and principal Effect in habitual Conformity unto God and his Will it is secured in the Covenant of Grace § 14 SIXTHLY On whomsoever Saving Grace is bestowed it is so firstly and principally for himself and his own Good It is a Fruit of the especial Love and Kindness of God unto his own Soul Jer. 31. 3. This both the Nature and all the Ends of it do declare For it is given unto us to renew the Image of God in us to make us like unto him to restore our Nature enable us unto Obedience and to make us meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in Light But yet we must take heed that we think not that Grace is bestowed on any meerly for themselves For indeed it is that wherein God designeth a Good unto all Vir bonus commune Bonum A good Man is a good to all Mic. 5. 7. And therefore God in the Communication of Saving Grace unto any hath a three-sold respect unto others which it is the Duty of them that receive it diligently to consider and attend unto 1 He intends to give an Example by it of what is his Will and what he opproveth of And therefore he requires of them in whom it is such Fruits in Holy Obedience as may express the Example of an Holy Life in the World according to the Will of God and unto his Glory Hereby doth he further the Salvation of the Elect 1 Pet. 3. 1 2. 1 Cor. 7. 16. Convince the Unbelieving World at present 1 Pet. 2. 12. 15. Chap. 3. 16. And condemn it hereafter Heb. 11. 7. And himself is glorified Matth. 5. 16. Let therefore no Man think that because Grace is firstly and principally given him for himself and his own Spiritual Advantage that therefore he must not account for it also with respect unto those other Designs of God Yea he who in the Exercise of what he esteems Grace hath respect only unto himself gives an Evidence that he never had any that was genuine and of the right kind 2 Fruitfulness unto the benefiting of others is hence also expected Holy Obedience the Effect of Saving Grace is frequently expressed in the Scripture by Fruits and Fruitfulness See Col. 1. 10. And these Fruits or the things which others are to feed upon and to be sustained by are to be born by the Plants of the Lord the Trees of Righteousness The Fruits of Love Charity Bounty Mercy Wisdom are those whereby Grace is rendred useful in the World and is taken notice of as that which is lovely and desireable Ephes. 2. 10. 3 God requires that by the Exercise of Grace the Doctrine of the Gospel be adorned and propagated This Doctrine is from God Our Profession is our avowing of it so to be What it is the World knows not but takes it's Measures of it from what it observes in them by whom it is professed And it is the unprofitable flagitious Lives of Christians that have almost thrust the Gospel out of the World with Contempt But the Care that it be adorned that it be glorified is committed of God unto every one on whom he bestows the least of Saving Grace And this is to be done only by the Guidance of an Holy Conversation in Conformity thereunto And many other such blessed Ends there are wherein God hath respect unto the Good and Advantage of other Men in the Collation of Saving Grace upon any And if gracious Persons are not more useful than others in all things that may have a real Benefit in them unto Mankind it is their Sin and Shame But yet after all Grace is principally and in the first place given unto Men for themselves their own Good and Spiritual Advantage out of Love to their Souls and in order unto their Eternal Blessedness all other Effects are but Secondary Ends of it But as unto these Spiritual Gifts it is quite otherwise They are not in the first place bestowed on any for their own sakes or their own Good but for the Good and Benefit of others So the Apostle expresly declares 1 Cor. 12. 7. The Manifestation of the Spirit is given to every Man to profit withall These Gifts whereby the Spirir evidenceth and manisesteth his Power are bestowed on Men for this very End that they may profit and benefit others in their Edification And yet also where they are duly improved they tend much to the Spiritual Advantage of them on whom they are bestowed as we shall see afterwards Wherefore as Grace is primarily given unto us for our selves and secondarily for the Good of others so Gifts are bestowed in the first place for the Edification of others and secondly for our own Spiritual Advantage also § 15. SEVENTHLY The principal difference between them is in their nature and Kind discovering it self in their different Subjects Operations and Effects For those already insisted on are principally
from External Causes and Considerations And 1 As to the different Subjects of them Spiritual Gifts are placed and seated in the Mind or Understanding only whether they are ordinary or extraordinary they have no other Hold nor Residence in the Soul And they are in the Mind as it is Notional and Theoretical rather than as it is practical They are Intellectual Abilities and no more I speak of them which have any Residence in us For some Gifts as Miracles and Tongues consisted only in a transient Operation of an extraordinary Power Of all others Illumination is the Foundation and Spiritual Light their Matter So the Apostle declares in his Order of Expression Heb. 6. 4. The Will and the Affections and the Conscience are unconcerned in them Wherefore they change not the Heart with Power although they may reform the Life by the Efficacy of Light And although God doth not ordinarily bestow them on flagitious Persons nor continue them with such as after the reception of them become flagitious yet they may be in those who were unrenewed and have nothing in them to preserve Men absolutely from the worst of Sins But Saving Grace possesseth the whole Soul Men are thereby sanctified throughout in the whole Spirit Soul and Body 1 Thes. 5. 17. as hath been at large declared Not the Mind only is savingly enlightened but there is a Principle of Spiritual Life infused into the whole Soul enabling it in all its Powers and Faculties to act Obedientially unto God whose Nature hath been fully explained elsewhere Hence 2. They differ in their Operations For Grace changeth and transformeth the whole Soul into its own Nature Isa. 11. 6 7 8. Rom. 6. 17. Chap. 12. 2. 2 Cor. 3. 18. It is a New a Divine Nature unto the Soul and is in it an Habit disposing inclining and enabling of it unto Obedience It acts it self in Faith Love and Holiness in all things But Gifts of themselves have not this Power nor these Operations They may and do in those who are possessed of them in and under their Exercise make great impression on their own Affections but they change not the Heart they renew not the Mind they transform not the Soul into the Image of God Hence where Grace is predominant every Notion of Light and Truth which is Communicated unto the Mind is immediately turned into practice by having the whole Soul cast into the Mould of it where only Gifts bear sway the use of it in Duties unto Edification is best whereunto it is designed 3. As to Effects or Consequents the great difference is that on the part of Christ Christ doth thereby dwell and reside in our Hearts when concerning many of those who have been made partakers of these other Spiritual Endowments he will say Depart from me I never knew you which he will not say of any one whose Soul he hath inhabited § 16. These are some of the principal Agreements and Differences between Saving Graces and Spiritual Gifts both sorts of them being wrought in Believers by that one and self-same Spirit which divideth to every one as he will And sor a close of this discourse I shall only add that where these Graces and Gifts in any Eminency or good Degree are bestowed on the same Persons they are exceedingly helpful unto each other A Soul sanctified by Saving Grace is the only proper Soil for Gifts to flourish in Grace Influenceth Gifts unto a due Exercise prevents their abuse stirs them up unto proper occasions keeps them from being a matter of Pride or Contention and subordinates them in all things unto the Glory of God When the actings of Grace and Gifts are inseparable as when in Prayer the Spirit is a Spirit of Grace and Supplication the Grace and Gift of it working together when utterance in other Duties is always accompanied with Faith and Love then is God glorified and our own Salvation promoted Then have Edifying Gifts a Beauty and Lustre upon them and generally are most successful when they are cloathed and adorned with Humility Meekness a Reverence of God and Compassion for the Souls of Men. Yea when there is no evidence no manifestation of their being accompanied with these and the like Graces they are but as a Parable or wise Saying in the Mouth of a Fool. Gifts on the other side excite and stir up Grace unto its proper Exercise and Operations How often is Faith Love and Delight in God excited and drawn forth unto especial Exercise in Believers by the use of their own Gifts And thus much may suffice as to the Nature of these Gifts in general we next consider them under their most general Distributions CHAP. III. Of Gifts and Offices Extraordinary And first of Offices § 1. THE Spiritual Gifts whereof we treat respect either Powers and Duties in the Church or Duties only Gifts that respect Powers and Duties are of two sorts or there have been or are at any time two sorts of such Powers and Duties The first whereof was Extraordinary the latter Ordinary and consequently the Gifts subservient unto them must be of two sorts also which must further be cleared § 2. Wherever Power is given by Christ unto his Churches and Duiies are required in the execution of that Power unto the Ends of his Spiritual Kingdom to be performed by vertue thereof there is an Office in the Church For an Ecclesiastical Office is an especial Power given by Christ unto any Person or Persons for the performance of especial Duties belonging unto the Edification of the Church in an especial manner And these Offices have been of two sorts 1. Extraordinary 2. Ordinary Some seem to deny that there was ever any such thing as Extraordinary Power or Extraordinary Offices in the Church For they do provide Successors unto all who are pleaded to have been of that kind and those such as look how far short they come of them in other things do exceed them in Power and Rule I shall not contend about words and shall therefore only enquire what it was that constituted them to be Officers of Christ in his Church whom thence we call Extraordinary and then if others can duely lay claim unto them they may be allowed to pass for their Successors § 3. THERE are four things which constitute an extraordinary Officer in the Church of God and consequently are required in and do constitute an extraordinary Office 1. An extraordinary Call unto an Office such as none other have or can have by virtue of any Law Order or Constitution whatever 2. An Extraordinary Power communicated unto Persons so called enabling them to act what they are so called unto wherein the Essence of any Office doth consist 3. Extraordinary Gifts for the Exercise and Discharge of that Power 4. Extraordinary Imployment as to its extent and measure requiring extraordinary Labour Travail Zeal and Self-denial All these do and must concur in that Office and unto those Offices which we call Extraordinary § 4.
continued by the Will of Christ in the ordinary State and Course of the Chrrch. 2 That there is no need of their Continuance from any Work applied unto them § 16. AND 1. The things that are Essential unto the Office of an Evangelist are unattainable at present unto the Church For where no Command no Rule no Authority no Directions are given for the calling of any Officer there that Office must cease as doth that of the Apostles who could not be called but by Jesus Christ. What is required unto the Call of an Evangelist was before declared And unless it can be manifested either by Institution or Example how any one may be otherwise called unto that Office no such Office can be continued For a Call by Prophesie or Immediate Revelation none now will pretend unto And other Call the Evangelists of Old had none § 17. NOR is there in the Scripture the least mention of the Call or Appointment of any one to be an Ecclesiastical Officer in an Ordinary stated Church but with Relation unto that Church whereof he was or was to be an Officer But an Evangelist as such was not especially related unto any one Church more than another though as the Apostles themselves they might for a time attend unto the Work in one Place or Church rather or more than another Wherefore without a Call from the Holy Ghost either immediate by Prophesie and Revelation or by the Direction of Persons infallibly inspired as the Apostles were none can be called to be Evangelists nor yet to succeed them under any other Name in that Office Wherefore the Primitive Church after the Apostles time never once took upon them to constitute or Ordain an Evangelist as knowing it a thing beyond their Rule and out of their Power Men may invade an Office when they please but unless they be called unto it they must account for their Usurpation And as for those who have erected an Office in the Church or an Episcopacy principally if not solely out of what is ascribed unto these Evangelists namely to Timothy and Titus they may be further attended unto in their Claim when they lay the least Pretence unto the whole of what is ascribed unto them But this doing the Work of an Evangelist is that which few Men care for or delight in only their Power und Authority in a new kind of Mannagery many would willingly possess themselves of § 18. 2. THE Evangelists we read of had extraordinary Gifts of the Holy Spirit without which they could not warrantably undertake their Office This we have manifested before Now these extraordinary Gifts differing not only in Degrees but in Kind from all those of the Ordinary Ministry of the Church are not at present by any pretended unto And if any should make such a Pretence it would be an easie matter to convince them of their Folly But without these Gifts men must content themselves with such Offices in the Church as are stated with respect unto every particular Congregation Acts 14. 23. Chap. 20. 28. Tit. 1. 5. 1 Pet. 5. 1 2. Phil. 1. 1. § 19. SOME indeed seem not satisfied whether to derive their Claim from Timothy and Titus as Evangelists or from the Bishops that were Ordained by them or described unto them But whereas those Bishops were no other but Elders of particular Churches as is evident beyond a modest Denyal from Acts 20. 28. Phil. 1. 1. 1 Tim. 3. 1 2 8. Tit. 1. 4 5. So certainly they cannot be of both sorts the one being apparently superiour unto the other If they are such Bishops as Titus and Timothy Ordained it is well enough known both what is their Office their Work and their Duty If such as they pretend Timothy and Titus to be they must manifest it in the like Call Gifts and Employment as they had § 20. FOR 3 There are not any now who do pretend unto their Principal Employment by Vertue of Office nor can so do For it is certain that the Principal Work of the Evangelists was to go up and down from one Place and Nation unto another to preach the Gospel unto Jews and Gentiles as yet unconverted and their Commission unto this purpose was as large and extensive as that of the Apostles But who shall now empower any one hereunto What Church what Persons have received Authority to Ordain any one to be such an Evangelist Or what Rules or Directions are given as to their Qualifications Power or Duty or how they should be so ordained It is true those who are ordained Ministers of the Gospel and others also that are the Disciples of Christ may and ought to preach the Gospel to unconverted Persons and Nations as they have opportunity and are particularly guided by the Providence of God But that any Church or Person have Power or Authority to ordain a Person unto this Office and Work cannot be proved § 21. LASTLY The Continuance of the Employment as unto the Settling of new planted Churches is no way necessary For every Church being planted and settled is entrusted with Power for it's own Preservation and continuance in due Order according to the Mind of Christ and is enabled to do all those things in it self which at first were done under the Guidance of the Evangelists nor can any one Instance be given wherein they are defective And where any Church was called and gathered in the Name of Christ which had some things yet wanting unto it's Perfection and Compleat Order which the Evangelists were to finish and settle they did it not but in and by the Power of the Church it self only presiding and directing in the things to be done And if any Churches through their own Default have lost that Order and Power which they were once established in as they shall never want Power in themselves to recover their pristine Estate and Condition who will attend unto their Duty according unto Rule to that purpose So this would rather prove a Necessity of raising up new Evangelists of a new extraordinary Ministry on the Defection of Churches than the continuance of them in the Church rightly stated and settled § 22. Besides these Evangelists there were Prophets also who had a Temporary Extraordinary Ministry in the Church Their grant from Christ or Institution in the Church is mentioned 1 Cor. 12. 28. Ephes. 4. 11. and the Exercise of their Ministry is declared Acts 13. 1. But the Names of Prophets and Prophesie are used variously in the New Testament For sometimes an Extraordinary Office and Extraordinary Gifts are signified by them and sometimes Extraordinary Gifts only sometimes an Ordinary Office with Ordinary Gifts and sometimes Ordinary Gifts only And unto one of these Heads may the use of the word be every where reduced In the places mentioned Extraordinary Officers endued with Extraordinary Gifts are intended For they are said to be set in the Church and are placed in the second Rank of Officers next to the
Apostles first Apostles secondarily Prophets 1 Cor. 12. 28. between them and Evangelists Ephes. 4. 11. And two things are ascribed unto them 1. That they received immediate Revelations and Directions from the Holy Ghost in things that belonged unto the present Duty of the Church Unto them it was that the Holy Ghost revealed his Mind and gave Commands concerning the separation of Barnabas and Saul unto their Work Acts 13. 2. 2. They foretold things to come by the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost wherein the Duty or Edification of the Church was concerned So Agabus the Prophet foretold the Famine in the days of Claudius Caesar whereon Provision was made for the poor Saints at Hierusalem that they might not suffer by it Acts 11. 28 29. And the same Person afterwards prophesied of the Bonds and Sufferings of Paul at Hierusalem Acts 21. 10 11. And the samething it being of the highest Concernment unto the Church was as it should seem revealed unto the Prophets that were in most Churches for so himself gives an account hereof And now behold I go bound in the Spirit unto Hierusalem not knowing the things that shall befall me there save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every City that Bonds and Afflictions abide me Acts 20. 21 22. That is in all the Cities he passed through where there were Churches planted and Prophets in them These things the Churches then stood in need of for their Confirmation Direction and Comfort and were therefore I suppose most of them supplyed with such Officers for a Season that is whilst they were needful And unto this Office though expresly affirmed to be set in the Church and placed between the Apostles and the Evangelists none that I know of do pretend a Succession All grant that they were extraordinary because their Gift and Work was so but so were those of Evangelists also But there is no mention of the Power and Rule of these Prophets or else undoubtedly we should have had on one pretence or other Successors provided for them § 23. 2dly Sometimes an Extraordinary Gift without Office is intended in this Expression So it is said that Philip the Evangelist had four Daughters Virgins which did Prophesie Acts 21. 9. It is not said that they were Prophetesses as there were some under the Old Testament only that they did Prophesie that is they had Revelations from the Holy Ghost occasionally for the use of the Church For to Prophesie is nothing but to declare hidden and secret things by virtue of immediate Revelation be they of what Nature they will and so is the word commonly used Mat. 26. 68. Luke 22. 64. So an Extraordinary Gift without Office is expressed Acts 19. 6. And when Paul had laid his Hands upon them the Holy Ghost came and they spake with Tongues and Prophesied Their Prophesying which was their Declaration of Spiritual things by immediate Revelation was of the same Nature with their speaking with Tongues both Extraordinary Gifts and Operations of the Holy Ghost And of this sort were those Miracles Healings and Tongues which God for a time set in the Church which did not constitute distinct Officers in the Church but they were only sundry Persons in each Church which were endued with these Extraordinary Gifts for its Edification And therefore are they placed after Teachers comprizing both which were the principal sort of the ordinary continuing Officers of the Church 1 Cor. 12. 28. And of this sort do I reckon those Prophets to be who are treated of 1 Cor. 14. 29 30 31 32 33. For that they were neither stated Officers in the Churches nor yet the Brethren of the Church promiscuously but such as had received an especial Extraordinary Gift is evident from the Context see verse 30. 37. § 24. AGAIN an Ordinary Office with Ordinary Gifts is intended by this Expression Rom. 12. 6. Having then Gifts differing according to the Grace that is given to us whether Prophesie let us Prophesie according to the proportion of Faith Prophesie here can intend nothing but Teaching or Preaching in the Exposition and Application of the Word for an External Rule is given unto it in that it must be done according to the proportion of Faith or the sound Doctrine of Faith revealed in the Scripture And this ever was and will ever continue to be the Work and Duty of the ordinary Teachers of the Church whereunto they are enabled by the Gifts of Christ which they receive by the Holy Ghost Eph. 4. 7. as we shall see more afterwards And hence also those who are not called unto Office who have yet received a Gift enabling them to declare the Mind of God in the Scripture unto the Edification of others may be said to Prophesie § 25. AND these things I thought meet to interpose with a brief Description of those Officers which the Lord Jesus Christ granted unto his Church for a Season at its first Planting and Establishment with what belonged unto their Office and the necessity of their Work For the Collation of them on the Church and their whole Furniture with Spiritual Gifts was the immediate Work of the Holy Ghost which we are in the Declaration of and withall it was my Design to manifest how vain is the pretence of some unto a kind of Succession unto these Officers who have neither an Extrordinary Call nor Extraordinary Gifts nor Extraordinary Imployment but only are pleased to assume an Extraordinary Power unto themselves over the Churches and Disciples of Christ and that such as neither Evangelists nor Prophets nor Apostles did ever claim or make use of But this matter of Power is Fuel in it self unto the Proud Ambitious Minds of Diotrephists and as now circumstanced with other Advantages is useful to the corrupt Lusts of Men and therefore it is no wonder if it be pretended unto and greedily reached after by such as really have neither Call to the Ministry nor Gifts for it nor do employ themselves in it And therefore as in these Extraordinary Officers and their Gifts did consist the Original Glory and Honour of the Churches in an especial manner and by them was their Edification carried on and perfected so by an empty pretence unto their Power without their Order and Spirit the Churches have been stained and deformed and brought to destruction But we must return unto the Consideration of Extraordinary Spiritual Gifts which is the especial Work before us CHAP. IV. Extraordinary Spiritual Gifts 1 Cor. 12. v. 8 9 10 11. § 1. EXTRAORDINARY Spiritual Gifts were of two sorts First Such as absolutely exceed the whole Power and Faculties of our Minds and Souls These therefore did not consist in an abiding Principle or Faculty alway resident in them that received them so as that they could Exercise them by vertue of any inherent Power and Ability They were so granted unto some Persons in the Execution of their Office as that so often as was needful they could produce their Effects by
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
the Apostle Paul who had received all these Gifts in the highest Degree and Measure affirms that by his Writing those to whom he wrote might perceive his Skill and Understanding in the Mystery of Christ. § 12. AND this was in an especial manner necessary unto those first Dispensers of the Gospel for how else should the Church have been instructed in the Knowledge of it This they prayed for them namely that they might be filled with the Knowledge of the Will of God in all Wisdom and Understanding Col. 1. 9. Ephes. 1. 18 19 20. Chap. 3. 18 19. Col. 2. 2. The means whereby they might come hereunto was by their Instruction who therefore were to be skilled in a peculiar manner in the Knowledge of those Mysteries which they were to impart unto others and to do it accordingly And so it was with them Acts 20. 27. Ephes. 3. 8 9. Col. 4. 2. Now although this Gift as to that excellent Degree wherein it was in the Apostles and those who received the Knowledge of Christ and the Gospel by immediate Revelation be with-held yet it is still communicated in such a Measure unto the Ministers of the Church as is necessary unto it's Edification And for any one to undertake an Office in the Church who hath not received this Gift in some good measure of the Knowledge of the Mystery of God and the Gospel is to impose himself on that Service in the House of God which he is neither called unto nor sitted for And whereas we have lived to see all Endeavours after an especial Acquaintance with the Mysteries of the Gospel despised or derided by some it is an Evidence of that fatal and fearful Apostasie whereinto the Generality of Christians are fallen § 13. FAITH is added in the 3d place To another Faith by the same Spirit That the Saving Grace of Faith which is common unto all True Believers is not here intended is manifest from the Context There is a Faith in Scripture which is commonly called the Faith of Miracles mentioned by our Apostle in this Epistle as a principal extraordinary Spiritual Gift Chap. 13. 2. Though I had all Faith so that I could remove Mountains that is the highest Degree of a Faith of Miracles or such as would effect miraculous Operations of the highest Nature This I should readily admit to be here intended but that there is mention made of working Miracles in the next Verse as a Gift distinct from this Faith Yet whereas this working of Miracles is every where ascribed to Faith and could not be any where but where the peculiar Faith from which those Operations did proceed was first imparted it is not unlikely but that by Faith the Principle of all miraculous Operations may be intended and by the other Expressions the Operations themselves But if the Distinction of these Gifts be to be preserved as I rather judge that it ought to be considering the placing of Faith immediately upon Wisdom and Knowledge I should judge that a peculiar Confidence Boldness and Assurance of Mind in the Profession of the Gospel and the Administration of it's Ordinances is here intended Faith therefore is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Freedom Confidence and Boldness in the Faith or Profession of the Faith which is in Christ Jesus mentioned by the Apostle 1 Tim. 3. 13. That is our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Confidence in Profession whose Beginning we are to hold fast and firm unto the end Heb. 3. 14. And we do see how excellent a Gift this is on all occasions When Troubles and Trials do befall the Church upon the account of it's Profession many even true Believers are very ready to faint and despond and some to draw back at least for a Season as others do utterly to the Perdition of their Souls In this State the eminent Usefulness of this Gift of Boldness in the Faith of an assured Confidence in Profession of an especial Faith to go through Troubles and Tryals is known unto all Oft-times the Eminence of it in one single Person hath been the means to preserve an whole Church from Coldness Back-sliding or sinful Compliances with the World And where God stirreth up any one unto some great or singular Work in his Church he constantly endows them with this Gift of Faith So was it with Luther whose undaunted Courage and Resolution in Profession or Boldness in the Faith was one of the principal means of succeeding his great Undertaking And there is no more certain Sign of Churches being forsaken of Christ in a time of Tryal than if this Gift be with-held from them and Pusillanimity Fearfulness with Carnal Wisdom do spring up in the room of it The Work and Effects of this Faith are expressed 1 Cor. 16. 13. Watch ye stand fast in the Faith quit you like men be strong So also Ephes. 6. 10. 2 Pet. 2. 1. And the especial way whereby it may be attained or improved is by a diligent careful discharge at all times of all the Duties of the Places we hold in the Church 1 Pet. 3. 13. § 14. THE Gifts of Healing are nextly mentioned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To another the Gifts of Healings by the same Spiris So they are again expressed Ver. 28. in the Plural Number because of their Free Communication unto many Persons These Healings respected those that were sick in their suddain and miraculous Recovery from long or deadly Distempers by the Imposition of Hands in the Name of the Lord Jesus And as many of the mighty Works of Christ himself for the Reasons that shall be mentioned consisted in these Healings so it was one of the first things which he gave in Commission to his Apostles and furnished them with Power for whilst they attended on him in his personal Ministry Matth. 10. 1. So also did he do to the Seventy making it the principal Sign of the Approach of the Kingdom of God Luke 10. 9. And the same Power and Vertue he promiseth to Believers namely that they should lay Hands on the Sick and recover them after his Ascension Of the Accomplishment of this Promise and the Exercise of this Power the Story of the Acts of the Apostles giveth us many Instances Acts 5. 15. Chap. 3. 7. Chap. 9. 33 34. And two things are observed singular in the Exercise of this Gift As First That many were cured by the Shadow of Peter as he passed by Acts 5. 15. And again many were so by Handkerchiefs and Aprons carried from the Body of Paul Chap. 19. 12. And the Reason of these extraordinary Operations in extraordinary Cases seems to have been the Encouragement of that great Faith which was then stirred up in them that beheld those miraculous Operations which was of singular Advantage unto the Propagation of the Gospel as the Magical Superstition of the Roman Church sundry ways endeavouring to imitate these inimitable Actings of Sovereign Divine Power hath been a Dishonour to Christian Religion §
thereof when the Healing may not ensue it is to turn an Ordinance into a Lie For if a Recovery follow Ten times on this anointing if it once fall out otherwise the Institution is rendred a Lie a False Testimony and the other Recoveries manifested to have had no dependance on the Observation of it For these Reasons I judge that this Gift of Healing though belonging unto miraculous Operations in general is every where reckoned as a distinct Gift by it self And from that place of James I am apt to think that this Gift was communicated in an especial manner unto the Elders of Churches even that were ordinary and sixed it being of so great Use and such singular Comfort unto them that were poor and persecuted which was the Condition of many Churches and their Members in those Days § 18. MIRACLES ensue in the fifth place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Effectual Working of mighty Powers or powerful Works For the Signification of this Word here rendred Miracles the Reader may consult our Exposition on Heb. 2. 4. I shall not thence transcribe what is already declared nor is any thing necessary to be added thereunto Concerning this Gift of Miracles we have also spoken before in general so that we shall not much further here insist upon it neither is it necessary that we should here treat of the Nature End and Use of Miracles in general which in part also hath been done before Wherefore I shall only observe some few things as to the Gift it self and the Use of it in the Church which alone are our present Concernment And 1 As we before observed this Gift did not consist in any Inherent Power or Faculty of the Mind so as that those who had received it should have an Ability of their own to work or effect such Miracles when and as they saw good As this is disclaimed by the Apostles Acts 3. 12. so a Supposition of it would overthrow the very Nature of Miracles for a Miracle is an immediate Effect of Divine Power exceeding all created Abilities and what is not so though it may be strange or wonderful is no Miracle Only Jesus Christ had in his own Person a Power of working Miracles when and where and how he pleased because God was with him or the Fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him Bodily 2 Unto the working of every Miracle in particular there was a pcculiar Act of Faith required in them that wrought it This is that Faith which is called the Faith of Miracles Have all Faith so that I could remove Mountains 1 Cor. 13. 2. Now this Faith was not a strong fixing of the Imagination that such a thing should be done as some have blasphemously dreamed nor was it a Faith resting meerly on the Promises of the Word making particular Application of them unto Times Seasons and Occasions wherein it no way differs from the Ordinary Grace of Faith But this was the true Nature of it that as it was in general resolved into the Fromises of the Word and Power of Christ declared therein that such and such things should be wrought in general so it had always a peculiar immediate Revelation for it's Warranty and Security in the working of any Miracle And without such an immediate Revilation or Divine Impulse and Impression all Attempts of miracuious Operations are vain and means only for Sathan to infinuate his Delusions by § 19 No Man therefore could work any Miracle nor attempt in Faith so to do without an immediate Revelation that Divine Power should be therein exerted and put forth in it's Operation Yet do I not suppose that it was necessary that this Inspiration and Revelation should in order of time precede the acting of this Faith though it did the operation of the Miracle it self Yea the Inspiration it self consisted in the Elevation of Faith to apprehend Divine Power in such a Case for such an end which the Holy Ghost granted not to any but when he designed so to work Thus Paul at once acted Faith apprehended Divine Power and at the same time struck Elymas the Sorcerer Blind by a Miraculous Operation Acts 13. 9 10 11 12. Being filled with the Holy Ghost vor 9. That is having received an Impression and Warranty from him he put forth that act of Faith at whose presence the Holy Spirit would effect that miraculous Operation which he believed Wherefore this was the Nature of this Gift some Persons were by the Holy Ghost Endowed with that especial Faith which was prepared to receive Impressions and Intimations of his putting forth his Power in this or that Miraculous operation Those who had this Faith could not work Miracles when and where and how they pleased only they could infallibly signifie what the Holy Ghost would do and so were the outward Instruments of the Execution of his Power § 20. 3. ALTHOUGH the Apostles had all Gift of the Spirit in an Eminent Degree and Manner above all others as Paul saith I thank my God I speak with Tongues more than you all yet it appears that there were some other Persons distinct from them who had this Gift of working Miracles in a peculiar manner For it is not only here reckoned as a peculiar distinct Gift of the Holy Ghost but also the Persons who had received it are reckoned as distinct from the Apostles and other Officers of the Church 1 Cor. 12. 28 29. Not that I think this Gift did constitute them Officers in the Church enabling them to Exercise Power in Gospel Administrations therein only they were Brethren of the Church made Eminent by a participation of this Gift for the end whereunto it was ordained By these Persons Ministry did the Holy Spirit on such occasions as seemed meet to his Infinite Wisdom effect miraculous Operations besides what was done in the same kind by the Apostles and Evangelists all the World over § 21. 4. THE use of this Gift in the Church at that time and season was manifold For the Principles which Believers proceeded on and the Doctrines they professed were new and strange to the World and such as had mighty prejudices raised against them in the Minds of Men. The Persons by whom they were maintained and asserted were generally as to their outward condition poor and contemptible in the World The Churches themselves as to their Members few in number encompassed with multitudes of Scoffers and persecuting Idolaters themselves also newly converted and many of them but weak in the Faith In this state of things this Gift of Miracles was exceeding useful and necessary unto the propagation of the Gospel the vindication of the Truth and the Establishment of them that did believe For 1. By Miracles occasionally wrought the people round about who yet believed not were called in as it were unto a due consideration of what was done and what was designed thereby Thus when the noise was first spread abroad of the Apostles speaking with Tongaes the multitude came
together and were confounded Acts 2. 6. So the multitude gathered together at Lystra upon the Curing of the Cripple by Paul and Barnabas thinking them to have been Gods Acts 14. 11. When therefore any were so amazed with seeing the Miracles that were wrought hearing that they were so in the confirmation of the Doctrine of the Gospel they could not but enquire with Diligence into it and cast out those Prejudices which before they had entertained against it 2. They gave Authority unto the Ministers of the Church For whereas on outward accounts they were despised by the Great Wise and Learned Men of the World it was made evident by these Divine Operations that their Ministry was of God and what they taught approved by him And where these two things were effected namely that a sufficient yea an eminently cogent Ground and Reason was given why Men should impartially enquire into the Doctrine of the Gospel and an evidence given that the Teachers of it were approved of God unless Men were signally Captivated under the power of Sathan 2 Cor. 4. 4. or given up of God judicially unto Blindness and Hardness of Heart it could not be but that the prejudices which they had of themselves or might receive from others against the Gospel must of necessity be prevailed against and conquered And as many of the Jews were so hardned and blinded at that time Rom. 11. 7 8 9 10. 1 Thes. 2. 14 15 16. so it is marvellous to consider with what Artifices Sathan bestirred himself among the Gentiles by false and lying Signs and Wonders with many other ways to take off from the Testimony given unto the Gospel by these Miraculous Operations AND this was that which Miracles were designed unto towards unbelievers namely to take away prejudices from the Doctrine of the Gospel and the Persons by whom it was taught so disposing the Minds of Men unto an attendance unto it and the Reception of it For they were never means instituted of God for the ingenerating of Faith in any but only to provoke and prevail with Men to attend unprejudicately unto that whereby it was to be wrought For Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Rom. 10. 17. And therefore whatever Miracles were wrought if the Word preached was not received if that did not accompany them in its powerful Operation they were but despised Thus whereas some upon hearing of the Apostles speak with Tongues mocked and said These Men are full of new Wine Acts 2. 13. yet upon preaching of the Word which ensued they were Converted unto God And the Apostle Paul tells us that if there were nothing but miraculous speaking with Tongues in the Church and Unbeliever coming in would say they were all mad 1 Cor. 14. 23. who by the Word of Prophesie would be convinced judged and converted unto God ver 24 25. 3. They were of singular use to confirm and establish in the Faith those who were weak and newly Converted For whereas they were assaulted on every hand by Sathaen the World and it may be their nearest Relations and that with Contempt Scorn and Cruel Mocking it was a singular Confirmation and Establishment to behold the miraculous Operations which were wrought in the approbation of the Doctrine which they did profess Hereby was a sence of it more and more let into and impressed on their Minds until by an habitual Experience of its Goodness Power and Efficacy they were established in the Truth § 22. PROPHESY is added in the sixth place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To another Prophesie that is is given by the same Spirit Of this Gift of Prophesie we have sufficiently treated before Only I take it here in its largest Sense both as it signifies a faculty of Prediction or foretelling things future upon Divine Revelation or an Ability to declare the Mind of God from the Word by the especial and immediate Revelation of the Holy Ghost The first of these was more rare the latter more ordinary and common And it may be there were few Churches wherein besides their Elders and Teachers by vertue of their Office there were not some of these Prophets so of those who had this Gift of Prophesie enabling in an eminent manner to declare the Mind of God from the Scriptures unto the Edification of the Church It is expressed that there were some of them in the Church at Antioch Acts 13. 1 2. and many of them in the Church at Corinth 1 Cor. 14. For this Gift was of singular use in the Church and therefore as to the end of the Edification thereof is preferred by our Apostle above all other Gifts of the Spirit whatever 1 Cor. 12. 31. Chap. 14. 1 39. For it had a double use 1. The Conviction and Conversion of such as came in occasionally into their Church Assemblies Those unto whom the propagation of the Gospel was principally committed went up and down the World laying hold on all occasions to preach it unto Jews and Gentiles as yet unconverted And where Churches were gathered and settled the principal work of their Teachers was to Edifie them that did believe But whereas some would come in among them into their Church Assemblies perhaps out of Curiosity perhaps out of worse designs the Apostle declares that of all the Ordinances of the Church this of Prophecy was suited unto the Conviction and Conversion of all Unbelievers and is oft-times Blessed thereunto whereby this and that Man is Born in Sion 2dly This Exposition and Application of the Word by many and that by vertue of an extraordinary assistance of the Spirit of God was of singular use in the Church it self For if all Scripture given by Inspiration from God so expounded and applyed be profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness the more the Church enjoyeth thereof the more will its Faith Love Obedience and Consolation be encreased Lastly the manner of the Exercise of this Gift in the Church unto Edification is prescribed and limited by our Apostle 1 Cor. 14. 29 30 31 32 33. And first he would not have the Church burdened with the most profitable Gift or its exercise and therefore determines that at one time not above two or three be suffered to speak that is one after another that the Church be neither wearied nor burthened ver 29. Secondly Because it was possible that some of them who had this Gift might mix somewhat of their own Spirits in their Word and Ministry and therein mistake and err from the Truth he requires that the other who had the like Gift and so were understanding in the Mind of God should judge of what was spoken by them so as the Church might not be led into any Errour by them let the other judge Thirdly That order he observed in their Exercise and especially that way be given unto any immediate Revelation and no Confusion be brought into the Church by many speaking at the same
wary or less able on any account to make a right Judgment between those who were really endowed with extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit and those who falsly pretended thereunto For these Persons received this Gift and were placed in the Church for this very End that they might guide and help them in making a right Judgment in this matter And whereas the Communication of these Gifts is ceased and consequently all Pretences unto them unless by some Persons Phrenetical and Enthusiastical whose Madness is manifest to all there is no need of the Continuance of this Gift of Discerning of Spirits that standing Infallible Rule of the Word and ordinary Assistance of the Spirit being every way sufficient for our Preservation in the Truth unless we give up our selves to the Conduct of corrupt Lusts Pride Self-conceit Carnal Interest Passions and Temptations which Ruine the Souls of Men. § 22. THE two Spiritual Gifts here remaining are Speaking with Tongues and their Interpretation The first Communication of this Gift of Tongues unto the Apostles is particularly described Acts 2. 1 2 3 4 c. And although they were at that time endued with all other Gifts of the Holy Ghost called Power from Above Acts 1. 8. yet was this Gift of Tongues signalized by the Visible Pledge of it the joynt Participation of the same Gift by all and the Notoriety of the matter thereon as in that place of the Acts is at large described And God seems to have laid the Foundation of Preaching the Gospel in this Gift for two Reasons 1 To signify that the Grace and Mercy of the Covenant was now no longer to be confined unto one Nation Language or People but to be extended unto all Nations Tongues and Languages of People under Heaven 2 To testifie by what means he would subdue the Souls and Consciences of Men unto the Obedience of Christ and the Gospel and by what means he would maintain his Kingdom in the World Now this was not by Force and Might by external Power or Armies but by the Preaching of the Word whereof the Tongue is the only Instrument And the outward Sign of this Gift in Tongues of Fire evidenced the Light and Efficacy wherewith the Holy Ghost designed to accompany the Dispensation of the Gospel Wherefore although this Gift began with the Apostles yet was it afterwards very much diffused unto the Generality of them that did believe See Acts 10. 46. Chap. 19. 6. 1 Cor. 14. And some few things we may observe concerning this Gift As 1 The especial matter that was expressed by this Gift seems to have been the Praises of God for his wonderful Works of Grace by Christ. Although I doubt not but that the Apostles were enabled by vertue of this Gift to declare the Gospel unto any People unto whom they came in their own Language yet ordinarily they did not Preach nor Instruct the People by Vertue of this Gift but only spake forth the Praises of God to the Admiration and Astonishment of them who were yet Strangers to the Faith So when they first received the Gift they were heard speaking the wonderful Works of God Acts 2. 11. And the Gentiles who first believed spake with Tongues and magnified God Acts 10. 46. 2 These Tongues were so given for a Sign unto them that believed not 1 Cor. 14. 22. that sometimes those that spake with Tongues understood not the Sence and Meaning of the Words delivered by themselves nor were they understood by the Church it self wherein they were uttered 1 Cor. 14. 6 7 8 9 10. c. But this I suppose was only sometimes and that it may be mostly when this Gift was unnecessarily used For I doubt not but the Apostles understood full well the things delivered by themselves in divers Tongues And all who had this Gift though they might not apprehend the meaning of what themselves spake and uttered yet were so absolutely in the Exercise of it under the Conduct of the Holy Spirit that they neither did nor could speak any thing by vertue thereof but what was according unto the Mind of God and tended unto his Praise 1 Cor. 14. 2. 14 17. 3 Although this Gift were excellent in it self and singularly effectual in the Propagation of the Gospel unto Unbelievers yet in the Assemblies of the Church it was of little or no Use but only with respect unto the things themselves that were uttered For as to the principal End of it to be a Sign unto Unbelievers it was finished and accomplished towards them so as they had no farther need nor use of it But now whereas many Unbelievers came occasionally into the Assemblies of the Church especially at some freer Seasons for whose Conviction the Holy Ghost would for a Season continue this Gift among Believers that the Church might not be disadvantaged thereby he added the other Gift here mentioned namely The Interpretation of Tongues He endowed either those Persons themselves who spake with Tongues or some others in the same Assembly with an Ability to interpret and declare to the Church the things that were spoken and uttered in that miraculous manner which is the last Gift here mentioned But the Nature Use and Abuse of these Gifts is so largely and distinctly spoken unto by the Apostle 1 Cor. 14. that as I need not insist on them so I cannot fully do it without an entire Exposition of that whole Chapter which the Nature of my Design will not permit CHAP. V. The Original Duration Use and End of Extraordinary Spiritual Gifts § 1. THIS Summary Account doth the Apostle give of these Extraordinary Gifts of the Holy Ghost which then flourished in the Church and were the Life of it's extraordinary Ministry It may be mention may occur of some such Gifts under other Names but they are such as may be reduced unto some one of those here expressed Wherefore this may be admitted as a perfect Catalogue of them and comprehensive of that Power from Above which the Lord Christ promised unto his Apostles and Disciples upon his Ascension into Heaven Acts 1. 8. For he ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things Ephes. 4. 10. that is the Church with Officers and Gifts unto the Perfection of the Saints by the Work of the Ministry and the Edification of his Body Ver. 11. For being by the Right Hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the Promise of the Holy Ghost he shed forth or abundantly poured out these things whereof we speak Acts 2. 33. And as they were the great Evidence of his Acceptation with God and Exaltation seeing in them the Spirit convinced the World of Sin Righteousness and Judgment so they were the great means whereby he carried on his Work amongst Men as shall afterwards be declared § 2. THERE was no certain limited Time for the Cessation of these Gifts Those peculiar unto the Apostles were commensurate unto their Lives None after their Decease had
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
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
Souls of Men unto his Obedience making them free ready willing in the Day of his Power These were the Forces and Weapons that he used in the establishing of his Kingdom which were mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds casting down of Imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the Knowledge of God and bringing into Captivity every Thought to the Obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. So doth the Apostle describe the success of these Administrations as an absolute conquest wherein all Opposition is broken all strong Holds and Fortifications are demolished and the whole reduced unto due Obedience For by this means were all things effected all the strong holds of Sin in the Minds of Men in their natural Darkness Blindness and Obstinacy all the high Fortifications of prejudices and vain proud lofty imaginations raised in them by Sathan were all cast down by and before Gospel Administrations managed by Vertue and Authority of these Spiritual Gifts which the Lord Christ ordained to be the Powers of his Kingdom § 9. THIRDLY Those of them which consisted in miraculous operations were suited to fill the World with an Apprehension of a Divine Power accompanying the Word and them by whom it was administred And sundry things unto the furtherance of the Gospel depended hereon As 1 The World which was stupid asleep in Sin and Security satisfied with their Lusts and Idolatries regardless of any thing but present Enjoyments was awakened hereby to an Attendance unto and Enquiry into this new Doctrine that was proposed unto them They could not but take notice that there was something more than ordinary in that Sermon which they were summoned unto by a Miracle And this was the first and principal use of these miraculous Operations They awakened the dull stupid World unto a consideration of the Doctrine of the Gospel which otherwise they would have securely neglected and despised 2 They weaken'd and took off those mighty prejudices which their Minds were possessed with by Tradition and Secular Enjoyments what these prejudices were I shall not here declare I have done it elsewhere It is enough to observe that they were as great as many as effectual as Humane Nature in any Case is capable of But yet although they were sufficiently of proof against all other means of Conviction yet they could not but sink and weaken before the manifest evidence of present Divine Power such as these miraculous Operations were accompanied withall For although all the things which they cleaved unto and intended to do so inseparably were as they thought to be preferred above any thing that could be offered unto them yet when the Divine Power appeared against them they were not able to give them Defence Hence upon these Operations one of these two Effects ensued 1 Those that were shut up under their Obstinacy and Unbelief were filled with Tormenting Convictions and knew not what to do to relieve themselves The Evidence of Miracles they could not withstand and yet would not admit of what they tendred and confirmed whence they were filled with Disquietments and Perplexities So the Rulers of the Jews manifested themselves to have been upon the Curing of the Impotent Person at the Gate of the Temple What shall we do say they to these Men for that indeed a notable Miracle hath been done by them Acts 4. 16. 2 The Minds of others were exceedingly prepared for the Reception of the Truth the Advantages unto that purpose being too many to be here insisted on 3 They were a great means of taking off the Scandal of the Cross. That this was that which the World was principally offended at in the Gospel is sufficiently known Christ Crucified was to the Jews a Stumbling-block and unto the Greeks Foolishness Nothing could possibly be or have been a matter of so high offence unto the Jews as to offer them a Crucified Messiah whom they expected as a Glorious King to subdue all their Enemies nor ever will they receive him in the Mind wherein they are upon any other Terms And it seemed a part of the extreamest Folly unto the Grecians to propose such Great and Immortal Things in the Name of one that was himself Crucified as a Malefactor And a shame it was thought on all hands for any Wise Man to profess or own such a Religion as came from the Cross. But yet after all this blustering of Weakness and Folly when they saw this Doctrine of the Cross owned by God and witnessed unto by manifest Effects of Divine Power they could not but begin to think that Men need not be much ashamed of that which God so openly avowed And all these things made way to let in the Word into the Minds and Consciences of Men where by its own Efficacy it gave them satisfying Experience of its Truth and Power § 10. FROM these few Instances whereunto many of an alike Nature might be added it is manifest how these Spiritual Gifts were the Powers of the World to come the Means Weapons Arms that the Lord Christ made use of for the subduing of the World destruction of the Kingdom of Sathan and Darkness with the planting and establishment of his own Church on the Earth And as they were alone suited unto his Design so his Accomplishment of it by them is a glorious Evidence of his Divine Power and Wisdom as might easily be demonstrated Of Ordinary Gifts of the Spirit CHAP. VI. The Grant Institution Use Benefit End and Continuance of the Ministry § 1. THE consideration of those Ordinary Gifts of the Spirit which are annexed unto the Ordinary Powers and Duties of the Church doth in the next place lye before us And they are called Ordinary not as if they were absolutely common unto all or were not much to be esteemed or as if that were any way a diminishing Term But we call them so upon a double account 1 In distinction from those Gifts which being absolutely Extraordinary did exceed the whole Power and Faculties of the Souls of Men as Healings Tongues and Miracles For otherwise they are of the same Nature with most of those Gifts which were bestowed on the Apostles and Evangelists differing only in degree Every true Gospel Ministry hath now Gifts of the same kind with the Apostles in a degree and measure sufficient to their Work excepting those mentioned 2 Because of their continuance in the ordinary state of the Church which also they shall do unto the Consummation of all things Now my design is to treat peculiarly of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit But because there is a Gift of Christ which is the Foundation and Subject of them something must be spoken briefly unto that in the first place And this Gift of Christ is that of the Ministry of the Church the Nature of which Office I shall not consider at large but only speak unto it as it is a Gift of Christ. And this I shall do by some little illustration
allow in these Days such uncouth and bold Principles are continually advanced among us yet I suppose it will not in Words at least be denied by many but that Ministers have or ought to have Gifts for the due Discharge of their Office To some indeed the very Name and Word is a Derision because it is a Name and Notion peculiar to the Scripture Nothing is more contemptible unto them than the very mention of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost at present I deal not with such directly though what we shall prove will be sufficient for their Rebuke though not for their Conviction Wherefore our Enquiry is Whether the Spirit of God doth effectually collate on the Ministers of the Gospel Spiritual Gifts enabling them to perform and effect Evangelical Administrations according to the Power committed unto them and duly required of them unto the Glory of Christ and Edification of the Church It is moreover enquired whether the Endowmen of Men with these Spiritual Gifts in a Degree and Measure suited unto publick Edification be not that which doth materially constitute them Ministers of the Gospel as being Antecedently necessary unto their Call unto their Office These things I say are to be Enquired into because in opposition unto the first it is affirmed that these supposed Gifts are nothing but meer Natural Abilities attained by Diligence and improved by Exercise without any especial respect unto the working of the Holy Ghost at least otherwise than what is necessary unto the attaining of Skill and Ability in any Humane Art or Science which is the ordinary Blessing of God on Man's Honest Endeavours And to the other it is opposed that a Lawful ordinary outward Call is sufficient to constitute any Man a Lawful Minister whether he have received any such Gifts as those enquired after or no. Wherefore the substance of what we have to declare and confirm is that there is an especial Dispensation and Work of the Holy Ghost in providing able Ministers of the New Testament for the Edification of the Church wherein the Continuance of the Ministry and Being of the Church as to its outward Order doth depend and that herein he doth exert his Power and exercise his Authority in the Communication of Spiritual Gifts unto Men without a participation whereof no Man hath de jure any Lot or Portion in this Ministration Herein consists no small part of that Work of the Spirit which belongs unto his promised Dispensation in all Ages which to deny is to renounce all Faith in the Promise of Christ all regard unto his continued Love and Care towards the Church in the World or at least the principal pleadable Testimony given thereunto and under pretence of exalting and preserving the Church totally to overthrow it Now the Evidence which we shall give unto this Truth is contained in the ensuing Assertions with their Confirmation § 2. THE Lord Jesus Christ hath faithfully promised to be present with his Church unto the end of the World It is his Temple and his Tabernacle wherein he will dwell and walk continually And this presence of Christ is that which makes the Church to be what it is a Congregation Essentially distinct from all other Societies and Assemblies of Men. Let Men be formed into what Order you please according unto any outward Rules and Measures that are either given in the Scripture or found out by themselves let them derive Power and Authority by what Claim soever they shall think fit yet if Christ be not present with them they are no Church nor can all the Powers under Heaven make them so to be And where any Church loseth the especial presence of Christ it ceaseth so to be It is I suppose confessed with and among whom Christ is thus present or it may be easily proved See his Promises to this purpose Mat. 18. 20. Revel 21. 3. And those Churches do exceedingly mistake their Interest who are sollicitous about other things but make little Enquiry after the Evidences of the presence of Christ among them Some walk as if they supposed they had him sure enough as it were immured in their Walls whilst they keep up the Name of a Church and an outward Order that pleaseth and advantageth themselves But outward Order be it what it will is so far from being the only Evidence of the presence of Christ in a Church that where it is alone or when it is principally required it is none at all And therefore whereas Preaching of the Word and the right Administration of the Sacraments are assigned as the Notes of a true Church if the outward Acts and Order of them only be regarded there is nothing of Evidence unto this purpose in them § 3. 2dly THIS promised presence of Christ is by his Spirit This I have safficiently proved formerly so that here I shall be brief in its rehearsal though it be the next Foundation of what we have farther to offer in this Case We speak not of the Essential presence of Christ with respect unto the Immensity of his Divine Nature whereby he is equally present in or equally indistant from all places manifesting his Glory when where and how he pleaseth Nor doth it respect his Humane Nature for when he promised this his presence he told his Disciples that therein he must leave and depart from them John 16. 5 6 7 8. whereon they were filled with Sorrow and 〈◊〉 until they knew how he would make good the Promise of his Presence with them and who or that it was that should unto their Advantage supply his Bodily Absence And this he did in his viâ—â—â—â— Ascension when he was taken up and a Cloud 〈…〉 Him out of their sight Acts 1. 9. when also 〈…〉 given in charge unto them not to expect His return untill his coming unto Judgment ver 11. And accordingly Peter tells us That the Heavens 〈◊〉 receive him unto the time of the Restitution of all 〈◊〉 Acts 3. 21. when he will appear again in the Glory of his Father Mat. 16. 27. even 〈…〉 Glory which the Father gave him upon his 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 1. 17. joined unto that Glory which he had with him before the World was John 17. 5. In and upon this his Departure from them he taught his Disciples how they should understand his Promise of being present and abiding with them unto the End of the World And this was by sending of his Holy Spirit in his Name Place and Stead to do all to them and for them which he had yet to do with them and for them See John 14. 16 17 18 26 27 28. Chap. 15. 26. Chap. 16. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14. And other Vicar in the Church Christ hath none nor doth stand in need of any nor can any Mortal Man supply that Charge and Office Nor was any such ever thought of in the World untill Men grew weary of the Conduct and Rule of the Holy Spirit by various ways taking his Work out
of his Hand leaving him nothing to do in that which they called the Church But I suppose I need not handle this Principle as a thing in Dispute or Controversie If I greatly mistake not this presence of Christ in his Church by his Spirit is an Article of Faith unto the Catholick Church and such a Fundamental Truth as whoever denies it overthrows the whole Gospel And I have so confirmed it in our former Discourses concerning the Dispensation and Operations of the Holy Ghost as that I fear not nor expect any direct opposition thereunto But yet I acknowledge that some begin to talk as if they owned no other presence of Christ but by the Word and Sacraments Whatever else remains to be done lyes wholly in our selves It is acknowledged that the Lord Christ is present in and by his Word and Ordinances but if he be no otherwise present or be present only by their External Administration there will no more Church-State among Men ensue thereon than there is among the Jews who enjoy the Letter of the Old Testament and the Institutions of Moses But when Men rise up in express contradiction unto the Promises of Christ and the Faith of the Catholick Church in all Ages we shall not contend with them But § 4. 3 dly THIS presence of the Spirit is secured unto the Church by an Everlasting unchangeable Covenant Isa. 59. 21. As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord my Spirit that is upon them and my Words which I have put in thy Mouth shall not depart out of thy Mouth nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed nor out of the Mouth of thy Seeds Seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever This is God's Covenant with the Gospel Church to be erected then when the Redeemer should come out of Zion and unto them that turn from Transgression in Jacob ver 20. This is a part of the Covenant that God hath made in Christ the Redeemer And as the continuance of the Word unto the Church in all Ages is by this Promise secured without which it would cease and come to nothing seeing it is Built on the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Ephes. 2. 20. so is the presence of the Spirit in like manner secured unto it and that on the same Terms with the Word so as that if he be not present with it all Covenant Relation between God and it doth cease where this promise doth not take place there is no Church no Ordinance no acceptable Worship because no Covenant-Relation In brief then where there is no participation of the Promise of Christ to send the Spirit to abide with us always no Interest in that Covenant wherein God ingageth that his Spirit shall not depart from us for ever and so no presence of Christ to make the Word and Ordinances of Worship living useful effectual in their Administration unto their proper Ends there is no Church-State whatever outward Order there may be § 5. AND hereon 4thly is the Gospel called the Ministration of the Spirit and the Ministers of it the Ministers of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 6. Who hath also made us able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit not the Ministration of Death but that of the Spirit which is Glorious ver 7 8. There never was nor ever shall be any but these two Ministrations in the Church that of the Letter and of Death and that of the Spirit and of Life If there be a Ministration in any Church it must belong to one of these and all Ministers must be so either of the Letter or of the Spirit If there be a Ministry pretended unto that is neither of the Letter nor of the Spirit it is Antichristian The Ministry which was Carnal of the Letter and Death was a true Ministry and in its place Glorious because it was appointed of God and was efficacious as unto its proper end That of the Gospel is of the Spirit and much more Glorious But if there be a Ministration that hath the outward form of either but indeed is neither of them it is no Ministration at all And where it is so there is really no Ministration but that of the Bible that is God by his Providence continuing the Bible among them maketh use of iâ—â—s he seeth good for the Conviction and Conversion of Sinners wherein there is a secret 〈◊〉 of the Spirit also We may thereâ—â—â—â—â—â—quire in what sence the Ministration of the 〈…〉 called the Ministry of the Spirit Now this cannot be because the Laws Institutions and Ordinances of its Worship were revealed by the Spirit for so were all the Ordinances and Institutions of the Old Testament as hath been proved before and yet the Ministration of them was the Ministration of the Letter and of Death in a worldly Sanctuary by Carnal Ordinances Wherefore it must be so called in one of these Respects Either 1 Because it is the peculiar Aid and Assistance of the Spirit whereby any are enabled to administer the Gospel and its Institutions of Worship according to the Mind of God unto the Edification of the Church In this sence Men are said to be made able Ministers of the New Testament that is Ministers able to Administer the Gospel in due order Thus in that Expression Ministers of the Spirit the Spirit denotes the Efficient Cause of the Ministry and he that quickeneth it ver 6 7. Or 2 It may be said to be the Ministration of the Spirit because in and by the Ministry of the Gospel the Spirit is in all Ages Administred and Communicated unto the Disciples of Christ unto all the ends for which he is promised So Gal. 3. 2. the Spirit is received by the Preaching of Faith Take it either way and the whole of what we plead for is confirmed That he alone enableth Men unto the Discharge of the Work of the Ministry by the Spiritual Gifts which he communicateth unto them is the first sence and expresly that which we contend for and if in and by the Ministration of the Gospel in all Ages the Spirit is Communicated and Administred unto Men then doth he abide with the Church for ever and for what Ends we must further enquire § 6. 5thly THE great End for which the Spirit is thus promised administred and communicated under the Gospel is the continuance and preservation of the Church in the World God hath promised unto the Lord Christ that his Kingdom in this World should endure unto all Generations with the course of the Sun and Moon Psal. 72. 5. and that of the Encrease of his Government there should be no End Isa. 9. 7. And the Lord Christ himself hath declared his preservation of his Church so as that the Gates of Hell should not prevail against it Mat. 16. It may therefore be enquired whereon the Infallible Accomplishment of these Promises and others innumerable unto the same End doth depend or what
Prophesie c. It is indifferent as to our present purpose whether the Apostle treat here of Offices or of Duties only The things ensuing which are plain and obvious in the Text are sufficient unto the confirmation of what we plead for 1 It is the ordinary state of the Church its Continuance being planted its Preservation and Edification that the Apostle discourseth about wherefore what he speaks is necessary unto the Church in all Ages and Conditions To suppose a Church devoid of the Gifts here mentioned is to overthrow the whole Nature and End of a Gospel Church 2 That the Principle of all Administrations in the Church-state described is Gifts received from Jesus Christ by his Spirit For declaring the way whereby the Church may be Edified he laveth the Foundation of it in this that to every one of us is Grace given according to the measure of the Gift of Christ. For the Apostle exhorts those unto whom he speaks to attend unto those Duties whereby the Church may be Edified and that by vertue of the Gifts which they had received All the whole Duty of any one in the Church lyes in this that he act according to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he is made partaker of And what these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are as also by whom they are bestowed hath been already fully declared 3. That these Gifts give not only Ability for Duty but Rule and Measure unto all Works of Service that are to be performed in the Church Every one is to act therein according to his Gift and no otherwise To say that this state of the Church is now ceased and that another state is introduced wherein all Gospel Administrations may be managed without Spiritual Gifts or not by virtue of them is to say that which de facto is true in most places but whether the true Nature of the Church is not overthrown thereby is left unto consideration 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. is a parallel Testimony hereunto and many others to the same purpose might be pleaded together with that which is the Foundation of this whole Discourse Ephes. 4. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 c. Only let it be remembred that in this whole Discourse by Gifts I do understand those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those Spiritual Largesses which are neither absolutely Natural Endowments nor attainable by our own Industry and Diligence § 9. 7thly THESE Gifts as they are bestowed unto that End so they are indispensibly necessary unto Gospel Administrations For as we have proved they are Spiritual and not Legal or Carnal and Spiritual Administrations cannot be exercised in a due manner without Spiritual Gifts Yea one Reason why they are Spiritual and so called is because they cannot be performed without the Aid and Assistance of the Holy Spirit in and by these Gifts of his Had the Lord Christ appointed Administrations of another Nature such as were every way suited unto the Reason of Men and to be exercised by the Powers thereof there had been no need of these Spiritual Gifts For the Spirit of a Man knoweth the things of a Man and will both guide and act him therein And whereas these Admistrations are in their Nature Use Signification and Efficacy Spiritual it is by Spiritual Gifts alone that they may be managed Hence these things do live and die together Where the one is not there neither will the other be Thus when many perhaps the most who were outwardly called unto Office in the Church began to be Carnal in their Hearts and Lives and to neglect the use of these Gifts neither applying themselves unto the attaining of them nor endeavouring to excite or encrease what they had received by Diligence or constant Exercise refusing to Trade with the Talent committed unto them they quickly began to wax weary of Spiritual Administrations also Hereon in compliance with many corrupt Affections they betook themselves unto an outward Carnal Ceremonious Worship and Administration of Ordinances which they might discharge and perform without the least Aid or Assistance of the Holy Ghost or Supply of Spiritual Gifts So in the neglect of these Gifts and the loss of them which ensued thereon lay the beginning of the Apostasie of the Christian Church as to its outward Profession which was quickly compleated by the neglect of the Grace of the Spirit whereby it lost both Truth and Holiness Nor could it be otherwise For as we have proved the outward Form and Being of the Church as to its visible Profession depends on the receipt and use of them On their decay therefore the Church must decay as to its Profession and in their loss is its Ruin And we have an instance in the Church of Rome what Various Extravagant and Endless Inventions the Minds of Men will put them upon to keep up a shew of Worship when by the loss of Spiritual Gifts Spiritual Administrations are lost also This is that which their innumerable Forms Modes sets of Rites and Ceremonies seasons of Worship are invented to supply but to no purpose at all but only the aggravation of their Sin and Folly § 10. IN the last place we plead the Event even in the days wherein we live For the Holy Ghost doth continue to dispense Spiritual Gifts for Gospel Administrations in great variety unto those Ministers of the Gospel who are called unto their Office according unto his Mind and Will The opposition that is made hereunto by Profane Scoffers is not to be valued The Experience of those who are Humble and Wise who fearing God do enquire into those things is appealed unto Have they not an Experiment of this Administration Do they not find the presence of the Spirit himself by his various Gifts in them by whom Spiritual things are Administred unto them Have they not a proof of Christ speaking in them by the Assistance of his Spirit making the Word mighty unto all its proper Ends And as the thing it self so variety of his Dispensations manifest themselves also unto the Experience of Believers Who see not how different are the Gifts of Men the Holy Ghost dividing unto every one as he will And the Experience which they have themselves who have received these Gifts of the especial Assistance which they receive in the Exercise of them may also be pleaded Indeed the Profaneness of a contrary apprehension is intolerable among such as profess themselves to be Christians For any to boast themselves they are sufficient of themselves for the Stewardly Dispensation of the Mysteries of the Gospel by their own Endowments Natural or Acquired and the Exercise of them without a participation of any peculiar Spiritual Gift from the Holy Ghost is a presumption which contains in it a Renunciation of all or any Interest in the Promises of Christ made unto the Church or the continuance of his presence therein Let Men be never so well perswaded of their own Abilities let them Pride themselves in their Performances in Reflection of
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
because I have discoursed concerning it elsewhere § 4 WITH respect unto the Doctrine of the Gospel there is required unto the Ministry of the Church skill to divide the word aright which is 〈…〉 a peculiar Gift of the Holy Ghost 2 Tim. 〈…〉 study to approve thy self unto God a 〈…〉 â—hat needeth not to be ashamed rightly 〈…〉 Word of Truth Both the former Clauses depend on the latter If a Minister 〈◊〉 be accepted with God in his Work if he would 〈◊〉 found at the last day a Workman that needs 〈◊〉 to be ashamed that is such a Builder of the House of God as whose Work is meet proper and useful he must take care to divide the word of Truth which is committed unto his Dispensation aright or in a due manner Ministers are Stewards in the House of God and Dispensers of the Ministeries thereof And therefore it is required of them that they give unto all the Servants that are in the House or do belong unto it a meet Portion according unto their Wants Occasions and Services suitable unto the Will and Wisdom of their Lord and Master Luke 12. 42 43. Who is that faithful and wise Steward whom his Master shall make Ruler over his Houshold to give them their Portion of Meat in due Season For this giving of Provision and a Portion of Meat unto the Houshold of Christ consists principally in the Right dividing and distribution of the Word of Truth It is the taking out from those great stores of it in the Scripture and as it were cutting off a Portion suitable unto the various Conditions of those in the Family Hèrein consists the principal Skill of a Scribe furnished for the Kingdom of Heaven with the Wisdom before described And without this a â—â—â—mon course of Dispensing or Preaching the 〈◊〉 without differencing of Persons and 〈…〉 ever it may be Gilded over with a 〈…〉 VVords and Oratory is shameful 〈◊〉 House of God Now unto this skill 〈…〉 are required 1 A sound Judgment in 〈…〉 â—â—ncerning the state and condition of thâ—se 〈…〉 any one is so dispensing the VVord 〈…〉 of a Shepherd to know the state of his Flock and unless he do so he will never feed them profitably He must know whether they are Babes or Young Men or Old whether they need Milk or strong Meat whether they are skilful or unskilful in the VVord of Righteousness whether they have their Senses exercised to discern Good and Evil or not or whether their Hearers are mixed with all these sorts VVhether in the Judgment of Charity they are Converted unto God or are yet in an unregenerate Condition VVhat probably are their principal Temptations their Hinderances and Furtherances what is their growth or decay in Religion He that is not able to make a competent Judgment concerning these things and the other Circumstances of the Flock so as to be steered thereby in his VVork will never Evidence himself to be a VVorkman that needeth not to be ashamed 2 An Acquaintance with the VVays and Methods of the VVork of God's Grace on the Minds and Hearts of Men that he may pursue and comply with its design in the Ministry of the VVord Nothing is by many more despised than an understanding hereof yet is nothing more necessary to the VVork of the Ministry The VVord of the Gospel as Preached is Vehiculum Gratiae and ought to be ordered so as it may comply with its design in its whole VVork on the Souls of Men. He therefore who is unacquainted with the ordinary Methods of the Operation of Grace sights uncertainly in his Preaching of the Word like a Man beating of the Air. It is true God can and often doth direct a Word of Truth spoken as it were at Random unto a proper effect of Grace on some or other as it was when the Man drew a Bow at a venture and smote the King of Israel between the Joynts of the Harness But ordinarily a Man is not like to hit a Joynt who knows not how to take his aim 3 An Acquaintonce with the Nature of Temptation with the especial Hinderances of Faith and Obedience which may befall those unto whom the Word is dispensed is in like manner required hereunto Many things might be added on this Head seeing a principal part of Ministerial Skill doth consist herein 4 A right understanding of the Nature of Spiritual Diseases Distempers and Sicknesses with their proper Cures and Remedies belongeth hereunto For the want hereof the Hearts of the wicked are oftentimes made glad in the Preaching of the Word and those of the Righteous filled with sorrow the Hands of Sinners are strengthened and those who are looking towards God are discouraged or turned out of the way And where Men either know not these things or do not or cannot apply themselves skilfully to distribute the Word according to this variety of occasion they cannot give the Houshold its portion of Meat in Season And he that wants this Spiritual Gift will never divide the Word aright unto its proper Ends 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. And it is lamentable to consider what shameful Work is made for want hereof in the Preaching of some Men Yea how the whole Gift is lost as to its Power Use and Benefit § 5. THIRDLY The Gift of Utterance also belongeth unto this part of the Ministerial Duty in the Dispensation of the Doctrine of the Gospel This is particularly reckoned by the Apostle among the Gifts of the Spirit 1 Cor. 1. 5. 2 Cor. 8. 5. And he desires the Prayers of the Church that the Gift may abide with himself and abound in him Ephes. 6. 19. And he there declares that the Nature of it consists in the opening of the Mouth boldly to make known the Mysteries of the Gospel As also Col. 4. 3. Now this Utterance doth not consist in a Natural Volubility of Speech which taken alone by it self is so far from being a Gift of the Spirit or a thing to be so earnestly prayed for as that it is usually a Snare to them that have it and a trouble to them that hear them Nor doth it consist in a Rhetorical Ability to set off Discourses with a flourish of Words be they never so plausible or enticing much less in a bold corrupting of the Ordinance of Preaching by a Foolish Affectation of words in supposed Elegancies of Speech Quaint Expressions and the like Effects of Wit that is Fancy and Vanity But four things do concur hereunto 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or dicendi libertas The word we Translate Utterance is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Speech But that not Speech in general but a certain kind of Speech is intended is evident from the places mentioned and the Application of them And it is such a Speech as is elsewhere called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a freedom and liberty in the declaration of the Truth conceived This a Man hath when he is not from any Internal Defect or
them as Abraham did the Father of the Faithful And hereunto some Spiritual Abilities are requisite For none can teach others more than they know themselves nor perform Spiritual Worship without some Spiritual Gifts unless they will betake themselves unto such shifts as we have before on good Grounds rejected 3. Every Member of a Church in Order according to the Mind of Christ possesseth some Place Use and Office in the Body which it cannot fill up unto the Benefit and Ornament of the whole without some Spiritual Gift These places are various some of greater use than others and of more necessity unto the Edification of the Church but all are useful in their kind This our Apostle disputes at large 1 Cor. 12. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 c. All Believers in due order do become one Body by the participation of the same Spirit and Union unto the same Head Those who do not so partake of the one Spirit who are not united unto the Head do not properly belong to the Body whatever place they seem to hold therein Of those that do so some are as it were an Eye some as an Hand and some as a Foot All these useful in their several places and needful unto one another None of them is so highly exalted as to have the least occasion of being lifted up as though he had no need of the rest for the Spirit distributeth unto every one severally as he will not all unto any one save only unto the Head our Lord Jesus from whom we all receive Grace according to the measure of his Gift Nor is any so depressed or useless as to say It is not of the Body nor that the Body hath no need of it But every one in his Place and Station concurrs to the Unity Strength Beauty and Growth of the Body which things our Apostle disputes at large in the place mentioned 4 Hereby are supplies communicated unto the whole from the Head Ephes. 4. 15 16. Col. 2. 19. It is of the Body that is of the Church under the Conduct of its Officers that the Apostle discourseth in those places And the Duty of the whole it is to speak the Truth in Love every one in his several Place and Station And herein God hath so ordered the Union of the whole Church in it self unto and in dependance on its Head as that through and by not only the supply of every Joint which may express either the Officers or more Eminent Members of it but the effectual working of every part in the Exercise of the Graces and Gifts of the Spirit doth impart to the whole the Body may Edifie it self and be Encreased Wherefore 5 The Scripture is express that the Holy Ghost doth communicate of those Gifts unto private Believers and directs them in that Duty wherein they are to be exercised 1 Pet. 4. 10. Every one that is every Believer walking in the Order and Fellowship of the Gospel is to attend unto the Discharge of his Duty according as he hath received Spiritual Ability So was it in the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 1. 5 6 7. and in that of the Romans Chap. 15. 14. as they all of them knew that it was their Duty to covet the best Gifts which they did with success 1 Cor. 12. 31. And hereon depend the Commands for the Exercise of those Duties which in the Ability of these Gifts received they were to perform So were they all to admonish one another to exhort one another to Build up one another in their most Holy Faith And it is the loss of those Spiritual Gifts which hath introduced amongst many an utter neglect of these Duties so as they are scarce heard of among the generality of them that are called Christians But blessed be God we have large and full Experience of the continuance of this Dispensation of the Spirit in the Eminent Abilities of a multitude of private Christians however they may be despised by them who know them not By some I confess they have been abused some have presumed on them beyond the Line and Measure which they have received some have been puffed up with them some have used them disorderly in Churches and to their hurt some have boasted of what they have not received all which miscarriages also befell the Primitive Churches And I had rather have the Order Rule Spirit and Practice of those Churches that were planted by the Apostles with all their Troubles and Disadvantages than the Carnal Peace of others in their open Degeneracy from all those things § 12. IT remains only that we enquire how Men may come unto or attain a participation of these Gifts whether Ministerial or more Private And unto this End we may observe 1 That they are not Communicated unto any by a sudden Afflatus or extraordinary Infusion as were the Gifts of Miracles and Tongues which were bestowed on the Apostles and many of the first Converts That Dispensation of the Spirit is long since ceased and where it is now pretended unto by any it may justly be suspected as an Enthusiastick Delusion For as the End of those Gifts which in their own Nature exceed the whole power of all our Faculties is ceased so is their Communication and the manner of it also Yet this I must say that the Infusion of Spiritual Light into the Mind which is the Foundation of all Gifts as hath been proved being wrought sometimes suddenly or in a short season the Concomitancy of Gifts in some good measure is oftentimes sudden with an appearance of something Extraordinary as might be manifested in instances of several sorts 2 These Gifts are not absolutely attainable by our own Diligence and Endeavours in the use of means without respect unto the Soveraign Will and Pleasure of the Holy Ghost Suppose there are such means of the Attainment and Improvement of them and that several Persons do with the same measures of Natural Abilities and Diligence use those means for that end yet it will not follow that all must be equally Partakers of them They are not the immediate product of our own Endeavours no not as under an ordinary Blessing upon them For they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arbitrary Largesses or Gifts which the Holy Spirit worketh in all Persons severally as he will Hence we see the different Events that are among them who are exercised in the same Studies and Endeavours some are endued with Eminent Gifts some scarce attain unto any that are useful and some despise them Name and Thing There is therefore an immediate Operation of the Spirit of God in the Collation of these Spiritual Abilities which is unaccountable by the measures of Natural Parts and Industry Yet I say 4 That ordinarily they are both attained and increased by the due use of Means suited thereunto as Grace is also which none but Pelagians affirm to be absolutely in the power of our own Wills And the naming of these Means shall put
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. 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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