These two were the Grand and Capital and Comprehensive Institutions and appointments of the Lord Jesus unto which He gave gifts for the perfecting of the Saints But whether the present Ministery and the present Churches be those Ordinances of His which He then instituted and appointed and not rather something like them or instead of them is the matter in Question The persons called by the name of Seekers having compared them with the Word of God and not finding them to conform thereunto dare not joyne issue in the present practice of them which of it self is ground sufficient yet that it may appear that this ground and reason is not without Reason somewhat is to be added by way of Demonstration and Evidence There have not been wanting those which have taken paines to prove the Affirmative and to reprove the Negative sharply It 's necessary to consider of those proofes seriously and endeavour to apply those reproofes as profitably as may be to state the matter in question as fairely and truely as the present Capacity is abilitated and can extend to First I finde it 's most generally taken for granted that Disciples quâ Disciples or as others say Disciples able to preach the Gospel have power and are commanded to Baptize Matth. 28.19 and upon this ground it 's practised and this is all the Ministery that I can finde is acknowledged by some Secondly that Believers may incorporate themselves and become a Church is by others affirmed from Joh. 1.12 That being made sons by believing they have power to become the sons of God in state which I suppose is meant that Believers have power to estate themselves into visible Sonship or else I know not what to make of the distinction Others express the same thing with other words much different proving a Church and Ministery upon other Principles and Grounds From all which as I differ in the Matter so I shall in the Method desiring to lay down something Positively from these Scriptures submitting to the judgement and censure thereof judging it most profitable rather then to take notice of the several Objections I have seen with the Answers to them Knowing well that Truth is truely evidencing and convincing and if this shall approve it self so it will save labour of answering those Objections though something will be spoken to them also in their place Our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who himself was the Great Apostle of his Father as well as the High-priest of our profession Heb. 3.1 whilst he was to perform his Father's work Rom. 15.8 whose Messenger or Apostle he was as being set apart and sent forth for that purpose Joh. 6.38 39 40. Joh. 12.49 and spake and acted according to the commandment he had received from the Father In the performance of which Ministration or Service he was pleased to single out some certain persons from amongst others whom he appointed and authorized to wait upon him in that Ministration or Service Those he termed Disciples or Apostles Matth. 10.1 When he had called to him his Disciples he gave them power c. Now the names of the twelve Apostles were these c. These twelve Jesus sent forth and commanded them saying Go not into the way of the Gentiles but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and as ye go preach 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vers 16. Behold I send you forth c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These twelve were such as he ordained from amongst others Mar. 3.13 He went up into a mountain and called to him whom he would and they came unto him And he ordained twelve that they should be with him and that he might send them forth to preach Luke 6.13 And when it was day he called to him his Disciples and of them he chose twelve whom he also named Apostles These Disciples were not meerly such as were followers of Christ and had learnt of him as Scholars but such as himself out of others had Chosen Called and Ordained that they should be with him and that he might send them forth to preach which accordingly he did and named them Apostles as Matth. 10. and Luke 6. doth evidence And what Commission he had the same he gave to them As he saith of himself I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel so he commanded them not to go to the Gentiles nor into the way of Samaria but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel Matth. 10.5 Besides these he likewise sent forth the Seventy with like Power and Commission to preach the Gospel and to confirm it by Miracles as Himself and the Apostles also did But in a more especial manner did the Twelve converse with him upon all occasions as his assidual attendants or houshold-servants During the time of his Administration upon earth and when he was about to finish the work which the Father sent him to do so far as concerned his personal presence he delegated that power the Father had committed to him into the hands of them those very persons whom before he had ordained to be with him Matth. 28.18 19 20. Now the time approaching wherein the Mosaical Dispensation was to expire and the Christian Church and its Worships to be introduced in the stead thereof our Lord Jesus having fulfilled all righteousness as touching the Law gives commandment that the Gospel be preached to all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Spirit Touching the persons to whom Christ did delegate the power and authority of Preaching and Baptizing much is written as hath been hinted before Some say To Believers as Believers Some say To Disciples as Disciples Some say To Preaching Disciples Some say To Disciples able to preach the Gospel so as to bring over souls to believe and be baptized Others speak in other expressions It is too much to follow them in all There be four things I shall desire may be enquired into the discussion whereof will take in most of the Scripture which any way give light to the understanding of this Subject and which may occasionally answer many Objections which otherwise require particular discussion I shall propound them by way of Question First Whether Christ did not commit the Preaching of the Word and administration of Baptisme to a Ministery Secondly What the nature and end of that Ministery was which the Lord Jesus appointed to succeed him Thirdly Whether there be any pattern of any visible Congregated Church under the Gospel without or before a Ministery or Baptisme Fourthly Whether the present Ministery and present Churches may be acknowledged the Ministers and Churches of Christ according to the first Pattern To the first of these That Power and Authority to Preach and Baptize was committed to the Apostels or to the Eleven Disciples as to a Ministery might be demonstrated First From the Equity of it which appears in the Respect or Care which
is applied to such as had power that is authority to preach the Evangel yet it is distinguished as a thing differing from preaching when Evangelizing and Preaching come together Luk. 8.1 it 's said of Christ He went thorow every city and village Praedicans Evangelizans regnum Dei They do not say in the English Preaching and preaching the kingdom of God but Preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God Which later expression shews the true proper meaning of Evangelizing shewing or declaring glad tidings whether by Preaching or otherwise Of Philip it 's said not onely that he evangelized but it 's also said of him that he preached Christ to them of Samaria 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 8.5 and he baptized them also vers 12 which is not said of any of the other Disciples which were of this dispersion either in the eighth or eleventh Chapter And not without some reason may this distinction be between Philip and the rest of the dispersion forasmuch as he was one of those who was admitted into the service of the Church by laying on of hands Acts 6.5 6. and was also an Evangelist Act. 12.8 and consequently one of those the Apostle numbers up in Ephes 4.11 which Christ gave for the work of the Ministery Wherefore not without reason may it be observed that of him onely it is said He preached and baptized of the rest onely They evangelized Secondly The Disciples in Acts 11.19 20 't is said They spake the word to none but to the Jews onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nemini loquentes verbum So vers 20 Loquebantur ad Graecos They spake unto the Graecians The same word is used in Ephes 4.25 Loquimini quisque veritatem proximo suo Speak every man truth with his neighbour Thirdly Where they are said in the next words to evangelize the Lord Jesus which is translated preach both here and frequently elsewhere it is a word which signifieth to publish or declare good being compounded of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bene and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Annuntiatio It is said of Mary Magdalene Joh. 20.18 she did declare or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Disciples So it is recorded of her Mark 16.10 Illa profecto annunciavit iis qui cum ipso fuerant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 She did shew or declare or tell them that had been with him c. Matth. 28.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Annuntiate fratribus meis Shew my brethren or declare to my brethren that they go into Galilee Who would not conclude from these Scriptures that Mary Magdalene was a true Preacher of the Resurrection of Christ and did truely evangelize the tidings thereof Yet the Translations render it that she told the discisples and Go tell my disciples whenas if it be well considered it might as truely have been said of Mary that she preached the Lord Jesus and the Resurrection as it is said of those Disciples in Acts 11.19 of whom it may be thus said That having by the providence of God been scattered by means of Stephen's persecution they could not but speak the things which they had heard and seen Acts 4.20 And in 1 Joh. 1.2 3 the two words are expressed which the Apostles use in Acts 4.19 20 touching these Disciples We cannot but speak 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and shew unto you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And vers 3 it 's rendered in English We declare unto you So it might fall out with these Disciples in their dispersion that the glory which they had seen they could not but tell it and declare it and speak it everywhere as they went and wheresoever the tidings of it came it was news and in respect of the Subject of it it was good news it was Gospel or glad tidings But as the tidings hereof was strange and rare to the Gentiles to whom it thus unexpectedly came so the tidings of their receiving it by this means and upon this occasion was as strange to the Church at Jerusalem who upon the hearing of it sent Peter and John to Samaria and Barnabas to Antioch Which seems to me a thing needless if in the Church's account the Disciples Ministery had been esteemed sufficient for this work But lest it should be thought this distinction may not be sufficiently grounded upon the Word of Truth but may savour of a Critical Curiosity I shall submit what hath been spoken to the examination and censure of an Impartial Judgement In the mean time while that which hath been spoken lies under Examination that which remains to be spoken may serve to answer the Objection Therefore I propose in the second place 2. If it might be supposed or admitted that the scattered Disciples mentioned in the eighth and eleventh of the Acts did as truely preach as they were truely scattered yet it 's not said that they did Baptize as the Brethren do who urge this Scripture for their practice Philip onely excepted who is also called an Evangelist Acts 21. which is a part of the gift given by Christ for the work of the Ministery Eph. 4.11 12. Admit they did both Preach and Baptize yet it must be remembred that they were Disciples who themselves were Baptized For they were members of the true Church at Hierusalem and scattered from thence Act. 8.1 2. Act. 11.19 If the Brethren urging these for a pattern of Imitation for Preaching and Baptizing will be measured by this pattern It must be then supposed First That they be members of a truly-constituted visible Church as these of the Dispersion were Act. 8.1 2. Secondly That they are gifted with the knowledge of Fundamentals of worship and with those gifts of the Holy Spirit now called extraordinary gifts with which that Church was endued and these scattered members amongst others might not want their share considering that in Act. 2.3 4 it 's said that there appeared cloven tongues like as of fire and sate upon each of them And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance But lest it should be said This was onely the pouring out of the holy Spirit upon the Apostles according to the promise of the Father Act. 1.4 8 or if it do extend it self to all present it could be but to the hundred and twenty who continued together with one accord waiting for the promise of the Father And whereas there was a great and plentiful increase and addition of Believers and Disciples to this first number as appears Act. 2.41.47 therefore it 's said after this great increase and plentiful addition of Disciples in the fourth Chapter of the Acts that when the Apostles Peter and John had been examined and threatned by the high-Priest and his accomplices Act. 4.6 it 's said in Vers 23 They returned to their owne company and reported all that the chiefe Priests and Elders had said of them And when they heard that they lift up their
readiness to be admitted so the Church judging of his profession of Faith and fitness manifests her consent by receiving him in the Name of the Lord Jesus either by Baptism or without according as they have faith in that Particular I mean that Fellowship or Society which so admits him Now if this be the Method or Ordinary way of proceeding in a Church after it is gathered Is not the gathering of that Church in its first beginning to be supposed equivalent hereunto forasmuch as the same relation wherein one single believer doth stand with reference to a true Church rightly constituted so do a Company of Believers stand in relation to Christ in their first congregating into the Visible Order of a Church-estate Which may be thus demonstrated Christ is the Bridegroom The Church is the Bride the Lamb's wife A company of Believers are supposed to be made willing by the power of Light and Love to be married to Christ and to put on that Conjugal-Yoke of visible Churchship wherein they may manifest their obedience to him subjecting themselves to such Ordinances and Appointments of his as are commanded touching that particular But to whom shall they make manifest this their willingness Who shall supply the room of the Bridegroom Or who is the Bridegroom's friend that can Ministerially declare Christ's acceptance of these Believers to become his Church his Wife and he to become their Bridegroom their Husband their Lord their Law-giver giving them power to sit upon Thrones for him to open and shut a door for him to binde and to loose in his Name and Power Believers I conceive can no more in this case give their own consents and Christ's too then a particular believer that would be joyned to a Visible Church can give his own consent and the Churches too Therefore as the true Church doth Ministerially contain in her self the state of power to binde and loose to open and shut in Christ's Name to signifie his consent and in his Name to receive or not receive the person who pretends to or assays to be joyned to her so is it seriously to be considered who did at first Ministerially supply the room of the Bridegroom who did at first judge of these Believers fitness or who did in Christ's Name accept of them as they do in Christ's Name accept of others that desire to joyn to them That the true Visible Church is the Spouse the Bride the Wife of the Lord Jesus these Scriptures among others witness Cant. 4.8 Eph. 5.32 Rev. 21.9 That the consent between Christ and his Church at first was acted Ministerially by such as himself had designed for that purpose viz. to accept of the believers consent on their part and to espouse them to Christ and that this was effected by that Ministery which was wont to precede and go before the Church and its feeding Ministery appears from the consideration of these Scriptures 1 Cor. 4.15 For in Christ Jesus have I begotten you through the Gospel 2 Cor. 5.29 We pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God And as this Ministery was thus instrumental towards their personal conversion so was it also touching their Visible Admission into their Espoused i. e. Church-estate For not onely did they in Christ's stead beseech them to be reconciled to God but also did receive them being so reconciled 2 Cor. 11.2 the Apostle Paul testifieth touching the Church of Corinth that he did espouse that Church to one husband that he might present it a chaste Virgin to Christ And of the Churches of Macedonia it is said in 2 Cor. 8.5 that they gave their own selves first unto the Lord and unto us by the will of God All that this Discourse intends is but to put persons whose spirits can bear it upon the consideration how they became a Church at first And whether that the practice of the present Churches doth not justly occasion that enquiry forasmuch as the reason is the same that the first Beginners of a Church have as much necessity of some person or persons Ministerially deputed by Christ to try and to accept of them as well as for them afterwards to try and judge and accept of others in the Name and Authority of Christ who desire to be added to them The consideration of which may serve for Answer to that part of the Question which concerns the present Churches That forasmuch as it is not demonstrable that the present Churches have been so constituted by persons Ministerially deputed on Christ's part to whom they might give up themselves Visibly as well as unto the Lord and by whom they might Visibly and Ministerially have the Lord's consent manifested to them as they themselves now manifest it to those which would be added to them but that they reckon it sufficient to be made free and willing in themselves and without any Visible or Ministerial Authority to try and judge one another and to accept of one another in Christ's Name and stead and so become a Church contrary to their own after-practice towards others Seems to be altogether without president from the Word of God and consequently are not to be acknowledged for the true Visible constituted Churches of Christ according to the Primitive Pattern To the second branch of the Question touching the present Ministery Quest Whether they are to be acknowledged the Ministery of Christ according to the first Pattern Besides what hath been spoken already it may be further added Answ That a Ministery of Jesus Christ may be considered Immediately or Mediately such either as coming of that Apostolical Race who had their call immediately from Christ as the first Messengers had Matth. 10.1 2. Matth. 28.16 18 19 c. Gal. 1.1 12 Paul an Apostle or a Messenger or a man sent out not of men neither by man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father And these in the Scriptures are properly called Ministers of Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 4.1 Let a man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the Mysteries of God Now for a man to be a Minister of Christ in this sence requires to have an immediate call and sending forth with gifts sutable to such a Ministery Mark 16.15 20 Go ye forth into all the world and preach the Gospel to every Creature And they went forth and preached everywhere the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signes following Act. 1.4 5 8 And being assembled with them i.e. the Apostles whom he had chosen Vers 2. commanded them that they should not depart from Hierusalem but wait for the promise of the Father Vers 4. For ye shall be Baptized with the holy Spirit not many dayes hence Vers 5 Ye shall receive power after that the holy Spirit is come upon you and ye shall be Witnesses unto me c. Vers 8. Which was accordingly performed on God's part for they did receive the promise of the Father Act. 2.1 2 3
entering upon the work of the Ministery Luke 4.18 till the time of finishing of that Ministration Afterward he performed it by his Apostles whom he had chosen ordained and sent out for that purpose together with those other gifts of Ministery which as the fruit of his ascension to his Father he gave for that end to perfect i. e. to gather and edifie his Body the Church until they should all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man c. He did not leave it upon his people promiscuously to be equally and alike gifted for that work Compare Ephes 4.11 12 with 1 Cor. 12.29 Therefore there doth remain an Order to be observed in the exercise of the Ministery and the Disorder thereof is to be bewailed and Jesus Christ to whom all power is given of the Father and by whom at first it was derived and delegated to chosen men Acts 10.40 41 42 to be waited upon for restoration thereof in whose hand the power is and without whom we can do nothing Joh. 15.5 That he should do it by such instruments as he pleaseth furnished with such power and authority and with such a presence of Christ as may demonstrate them to be sent of God for that work or service by the Divine light and heat of the fire of the Spirit of God Act. 2. furnishing them with the true knowledge of the mind of God concerning the Fundamentals of Doctrine Worship together with true power to evince the truth thereof against all gainsayers of whom the world was never more full whether we respect Jews or Infidels or False Christians To be furnished with ability to shew to all Kindreds Nations Tongues and Peoples the glory of the Mystery of the ancient Gospel which once was declared and received but from which there hath been so deep a falling away according as was foretold 2 Thess 2.7 1 Tim. 3.16 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3 and accordingly effected through the power of the Beast Rev. 13. ult Quest Is not the Ministery of the Apostles as efficacious to possess the Saints of the enjoyment of their Liberties purchased by Christ Quest and to put them upon the doing their duties required of them in our Times as it was in theirs seeing that they by their Ministery were commanded to teach all nations to observe whatsoever Christ had commanded them Matth. 28.19 20. Rom. 10.6 7 8. 2 Tim. 2.2 Answ The Ministery of the Apostles may be considered Answ either in the word or in the power of it 1 Thess 1.5 The word of their Ministery without the power is not efficacious to put persons upon their duty Act. 2.11 13. Act. 17.18 The Power accompanying the Word is either Outward or Inward or both Outward and Inward The Outward power was the external demonstration of the Spirit expressed Acts 19.6 Rom. 15.18 19. Heb. 2.4 The Inward power was that internal operation of the Spirit expressed Acts 2.37 Acts 16.14 Now if the word of the Apostles Ministery be accompanied with a power and demonstration of the Spirit sutable to that demonstration and power will be the manifestation of the obedience that follows it according to Rom. 15.18 19. 1 Cor. 2.4 5. If the demonstration of the Spirit be visible and outward it directs to the Outward obedience according to the Rules of that demonstration If it be accompanied with power it not onely directs but enables to obedience in that particular according to Matth. 7.22 23. Luke 10.17 18 19 20. If the demonstration and power of the Spirit be onely Inward and Invisible it directs and enables to the more Inward and Invisible part of obedience Gal. 5.22 23 to believe hope joy love and to express the fruits thereof Gal. 5.26 If the demonstration and power of the Spirit which accompanieth the Word be both Outward and Inward then doth it direct and enable the soul both Inwardly and Outwardly to be obedient according to the Rules thereof Rom. 15.18 19. 1 Cor. 2.4 5. 1 Thes 1.5 Now it may so come to pass that the Word of the Lord or the Ministery of the Apostles may come in demonstration and power upon the outward man onely and extend no further it may convince that Acts 4.14 16 and may bring that under obedience Act. 8.12 13. but it seldome or never befals the Lord's people to be convinced in the outward man onely I say onely But it may and certainly doth many times befal them to finde and feel the inward power and demonstration of the Spirit invisibly and inwardly whenas they are deprived of the external Manifestations of it Matth. 16.15 16 17 when the soul cannot and what it cannot see it may by the inward power of the Spirit believe Heb. 11.1 when it cannot possess and enjoy it may by the power of the same Spirit be helped to wait for Rom. 8.24 25. and when it knows not what to pray for as it ought it may by the inward power of the same Spirit be enabled to sigh and groan to God Rom. 8.26 27. This did seeme to be the condition of those believers in the nineteenth of the Acts who though they believed through the inward power of the Spirit upon their hearts yet they were ignorant of the external power and demonstration of the Spirit and consequently what they were further to know and do Act. 19.2 6. Cornelius who though the power of the Spirit had been great upon his heart Act. 10.24 yet he was ignorant of that external demonstration and power which afterwards he received Act. 10.44 So Paul though it pleased God to reveale himself to him or in him in the way Gal. 1.16 and caused him to pray in or by the Spirit Act. 9.11 compared with Rom. 8.26 27 yet he remained ignorant of that external power and demonstration of the Spirit which afterward he received when Ananias came unto him and laid his hands upon him and opened his eyes and told him what he should do Act. 9.6 17. Sometimes the Word or the Apostles Ministery came both in word and power both in the outward demonstration and inward operation and then it made men obedient in word and deed Rom. 15.16 19. 1 Thess 1.5 1 Cor. 2.4 5. These things being premised I conceive I may say in answer to your Question That the word of the Gospel or Ministery of the Apostles as you call it is so far forth efficacious to put the Saints upon doing their duties as it comes furnished with the demonstration and power of the Spirit 1 Cor. 1.1.5 2 Cor. 4.5 2 Cor. 3.6 If the Spirit do demonstrate and make evident to the Soule that part of the Word which concerns the Soul's hope faith joy love c. according as that Word is evidenced with demonstration and power of the Spirit to the Soule so far is that Soule not onely taught but enabled to hope believe joy love and no farther So likewise for that part of
the Word which requires outward obedience so far as the demonstration and power of the Spirit comes so far are we taught and enabled outwardly to obey Now the demonstration of the Spirit is as I conceive the Spirits evidencing and making manifest the true intent and minde of the Apostles in the Ministery as it did evidence and make manifest its own minde in their Administrations when they did administer Now the Apostles they spake by the Spirit and had the minde of Christ He therefore that will interpret their minde in their Ministery which was none other but the minde of Christ must do it by the power demonstration and evidence of the same Spirit by which they spake which was unerring and infallible 1 Cor. 2.11 12 16 Who knows the minde of a man but the spirit of a man c. Again though it might be supposed that there were a clear demonstration of the Spirit yet without the power of the same Spirit believers were not sufficiently furnished to obedience Luke 24.45 49. Act. 1.2 4. Acts 10.38 This Power I take to be a power of Authority as well as Ability Matth. 28.18 and this Authority and Ability are both required at least in some of the branches of a believers obedience In particular the business of the Ministery and the Administrations which are particular to a Church I conceive are such as unto which there is required in whomsoever they may concern a clear understanding by the Spirit so as to be able to say I have the minde of Christ and Thus speaks the Lord and not I. A true Power of Authority as well as Ability to do that work which they say by the Spirit is their duty to do Luke 24.45 49. Acts 4.7 Matth. 9.6 8. A clear evidence and manifestation thereof not onely in themselves but to manifest to others for their profit 1 Cor. 12.7 Now if there be such Believers who not onely touching their own personal estate and condition but also touching Visible Administrations of Publike Worship can say in truth by the Spirit We have the minde of Christ and This speaks the Lord and not we and have also a true and lawful authority to act those things they say they know I shall leave such persons to the trial of their spirits and not doubt but to be able to see that spirit demonstrating it self to the world either in them or others to the praise and glory of the God and Father of spirits In the mean time I shall conceive that whatsoever in the Word is required of believers to do personally as believers that ought to be endeavoured after by every one that is truely so But whatsoever is relatively appropriated to persons as such and such due regard is to be had to God's Order and Dispensation there according to the limits and bounds he hath set Better it is to be fed of Ravens or fast fourty days then distrusting God's provision turn stones into bread Read 1 Sam. 13.11 12 13 a fair pretence but he that believeth maketh not haste Quest Whether those Signes and Wonders whereby God manifested his presence with the Apostles Quest were not rather to confirm their Word and Doctrine then to bear witness to their persons being sent Heb. 2.4 Answ It is in my understanding a truth Answ that those Signes and Wonders were to confirm their Word and Doctrine Mark 16.20 but the case is evident that the works which God wrought by them were not onely to confirm their Word but also to testifie of their Persons that they were sent of God Joh. 5.36 The works which the Father hath given me to finish the same works that I do bear witness of me that the Father hath sent me compared with Joh. 20.21 As my Father sent forth me so I send forth you Joh. 17.18 If the Father sent forth Christ and the works which Christ did testified of him that he was sent of God Joh. 11.42 then Christ sending forth his Disciples as the Father sent forth him Acts 4.13 14 16 the works which they do testifie of them that they are sent of Christ as the works which he did testified of him that he was sent of God 2 Cor. 12.12 The signes of an Apostle were wrought among you c. Quest Seeing gifts are given to profit withal Quest and talents to be improved How according to Rule and Order may the Saints edifie one another and improve their talents for the honour of Jesus Christ out of a Church-estate 1 Cor. 12.7 Answ Such as the gifts and talents be which are given Answ such must the improvement of them be for the honour of Christ I pray you consider the Scripture you have quoted 1 Cor. 12. Where those gifts of the Spirit which are there spoken of are to be found there need not be any care taken how to improve them out of a Church for surely then and there will be a glorious Church where and when those gifts of the Spirit are given to profit with Where there is given by the Spirit a word of Wisdom a word of Knowledge a gift of Faith a gift of Healing a gift of Miracles a gift of Prophecie a gift of discerning of Spirits a gift of Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues when the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every one to profit withal as the Scripture expresseth then there will be an Orderly Administration and an Effectual Operation to the honour of Jesus Christ In the mean time I could desire the Lord's people to consider of that thing they call Gift or Gifts and try by what Name or Title they may be distinguished or called Whether any of these before mentioned or some other If not these but some other I would consider what it is Whether it be given to them to believe Phil. 1.29 to hope joy suffer pray to distribute to the Lord 's poor to bear the burden of the afflicted to mourn over the desolations of the Israel of God to wait for the Day of Restoration to long to groan in expectation for the Day of the Lord. Now if the gifts you speak of be of the first kinde mentioned in 1 Cor. 12. they bring manifestation enough with them to direct to the improvement of them and where-ever they are found surely a Church of Christ is not far off If they be of the later sort I conceive the Spirit of the Lord whose gifts they are is not wanting to manifest to such to whom they are given how they in their measure may be improved to the glory of him that is the author of them But yet a few words more particularly to what I conceive may be the scope of the Question The Apostle in 1 Cor. 10.6 11. speaking of the Jews and that which befel them saith Those things happened to them in types and Whatsoever was written before-time was written for our learning Now it is to be noted that in their travelling condition while they were