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
of his Disciples with their Relief therein that he is promised under this Name by our Saviour I will not saith he leave you Orphans Chap. 14. 18. Though I go away from you yet I will not leave you in a desolate and disconsolate Condition How shall that be prevented in his Absence who was the Life and Spring of all their Comforts Saith he I will pray the Father and he shall give you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ver. 16. that is Another to be your Comforter So he renews again his Promise of sending him under this Name because Sorrow had filled their Hearts upon the Apprehension of his Departure Chap. 16. 7 8. Wherefore he is principally considered as a Comforter And as we shall see further afterwards this his principal Work most suited unto his Nature as he is the Spirit of Peace Love and Joy For he who is the Eternal Essential Love of the Divine Being as existing in the distinct Persons of the Trinity is most meet to communicate a Sense of Divine Love with Delight and Joy unto the Souls of Believers Hereby he sets up the Kingdom of God in them which is Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. And in nothing doth he so evidence his Presence in the Hearts and Spirits of any as by the Disposal of them unto Spiritual Love and Joy For shedding abroad the Love of God in our Hearts as Rom. 5. 5. He produceth a Principle and Frame of Divine Love in our Souls and fills us with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory The Attribution therefore of this Name unto him the Comforter evidenceth that he performs this Work in the way of an Office NEITHER 2 Is the signification of an Advocate to be omitted seeing what he doth as such tendeth also to the Consolation of the Church And we must first observe that the Holy Spirit is not our Advocate with God This belongs alone unto Jesus Christ and is a part of his Office He is said indeed to make Intercession with Groans that cannot be uttered Rom. 8. 26. But this he doth not immediately nor in his own Person He no otherwise maketh Intercession for us but by enabling us to make Intercession according unto the Mind of God For to make Intercession formally is utterly inconsistent with the Divine Nature and his Person who hath no other Natare but that which is Divine He is therefore incapable of being our Advocate with God The Lord Christ is so alone and that on the Account of his precedent Propitiation made for us But he is an Advocate for the Church in with and against the World Such an Advocate is one that undertaketh the Protection and Defence of another as to any Cause wherein he is engaged The Cause wherein the Disciples of Christ are engaged in and against the World is the Truth of the Gospel the Power and Kingdom of their Lord and Master This they testify unto this is opposed by the World and this under various Forms Appearances and Pretences is that which they suffer Reproaches and Persecutions for in every Generation In this Cause the Holy Spirit is their Advocate justifying Jesus Christ and the Gospel against the World AND this he doth three ways 1 By suggesting unto and furnishing the Witnesses of Christ with Pleas and Arguments to the Conviction of Gainsayers So it is promised that should do Mat. 10. 18 19 20. And ye shall be brought before Governours and Kings for my sake for a Testimony against them and the Gentiles But when they deliver you up take no thought how or what ye shall speak for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak For it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you They were to be given up that is delivered up as Malefactors unto Kings and Rulers for their Faith in Christ and the Testimony they gave unto Him In this Condition the best of Men are apt to be solicitous about their Answers and the Plea they are to make in the Defence of themselves and their Cause Our Saviour therefore gives them Encouragement not only from the Truth and Goodness of their Cause but also from the Ability they should have in pleading for it unto the Conviction or Confusion of their Adversaries And this he tells them should come to pass not by any Power or Faculty in themselves but by the Aid and Supply they should receive from this Advocate who in them would speak by them This was that Mouth and Wisdom which he promised unto them which all their Adversaries should not be able to gainsay or resist Luke 21. 15. A present Supply of Courage Boldness and Liberty of Speech above and beyond their Natural Temper and Abilities immediately upon their receiving of the Holy Ghost And their very Enemies saw the Effects of it unto their Astonishment Upon the Plea they made before the Council at Jerusalem it is said That when they saw the Boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were ignorant and unlearned Men they marvailed Acts 4. 13. They saw their outward Condition that they were poor and of the meanest of the People yet carried it with Courage and Boldness before this great Sanhedrim with whose Authority and unusual Appearance in Grandure all Persons of that sort were wont to be abashed and tremble at them They found them ignorant and unlearned in that Skill and Learning which the World admired yet plead their Cause unto their Confusion They could not therefore but discern and acknowledge that there was a Divine Power present with them which acted above themselves their State their natural or acquired Abilities This was the Work of this Advocate in them who had undertaken the Defence of their Cause So when Paul pleaded the same Cause before Agrippa and Felix one of them confessed his Conviction and the other trembled in his Judgment-Seat NEITHER hath he been wanting unto the Defence of the same Cause in the same manner in succeeding Generations All the Story of the Church is filled with Instances of Persons mean in their outward Condition timerous by Nature and unaccustomed unto Dangers unlearned and low in their Natural Abilities who in the Face of Rulers and Potentates in the sight of Prisons Tortures Fires provided for their Destruction have pleaded the Cause of the Gospel with Courage and Success unto the Astonishment and Confusion of their Adversaries Neither shall any Disciple of Christ in the same case want the like Assistance in some due Measure and Proportion who expect it from him in a way of believing and depends upon it Examples we have hereof every Day in Persons acted above their own natural Temper and Ablities unto their own Admiration For being conscious unto themselves of their own Fears Despondencies and Disabilities it is a Surprizal unto them to find how all their Fears have disappeared and their Minds have been enlarged when they have been called
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
defection from it in Seasons of Temptation and Persecution 3. It so teacheth as to give withall an Approbation of and Love unto the things that are taught These are the next Principle and Cause of Practice or the doing of the things that we know which is the only Cement of all the Means of our security rendring them firm and stable The Mind may discern Spiritual Truths but if the Will and Affections be not wrought over to love them and delight in them we shall never conform our selves unto them in the diligent exercise and practice of what they do require And what we may do on the solitary Efficacy of Light and Conviction without the adherence of Love and Delight will neither be acceptable unto God nor shall we be permanent and stable therein All other means in the World without the Love and Practice of the Truth will be insufficient unto our Preservation in the Saving Profession of it And this is the Characteristical Note of the Teachings by this Unction It gives and communicates with it the Love of that Truth wherein we are instructed and delight in Obedience unto what it doth require Where these are not however raised our Minds may be or our Understandings enlarged in the apprehension of Objective Truths whatever sublime Notions or subtle Conceptions about them we may have though we could master and manage all the Speculations and Niceties of the Schools in their most pretended accuracy of Expression yet as to the Power and Benefit of Religion we should be but as sounding Brass and tinckling Symbals But when this Holy Spirit doth in and by his Teaching breathe into our Hearts an Holy Divine Love unto and Complacency in the things we are taught when he enables us to taste how gracious the Lord is in them rendring them sweeter unto us than the Honey or the Honey-comb when he makes them our Delight and Joy exciting and quickning the practical Principles of our Minds unto a compliance with them in holy Obedience then have we that Unction from the Holy One which will both sanctifie and secure our Souls unto the End And hereby may we know whether we have our selves received of this anointing Some would fain put it off unto what was peculiar unto the Times of the Apostles and would suppose another kind of Believers in those days than any are now in the World or need to be though what our Saviour prayed for them even for the Apostles themselves as to the Spirit of Grace and Consolation he prayed also for all them who should believe on him through their Word unto the End of the World But take away the Promise of the Spirit and the Priviledges thereon depending from Christians and in truth they cease so to be Some neglect it as if it were an empty Expression and either wholly insignificant or at best intended somewhat wherein they need not much concern themselves and whatever it be they doubt not but to secure the pretended Ends of it in their Preservation from Seduction by their own Skill and Resolutions On such Pretences are all the Mysteries of the Gospel by many despised and a Religion is formed wherein the Spirit of Christ hath no Concernment But these things are otherwise stated in the Minds of the true Disciples of Christ. They know and own of how great Importance it is to have a share in this Unction how much their Conformity unto Christ their Participation of him and the Evidence of their Union with him how much their Stability in Profession their Joy in believing their Love and Delight in Obedience with their Dignity in the sight of God and all his Holy Angels do depend thereon Neither do we look upon it as a thing obscure or unintelligible that which no Man can know whether he hath or no. For if it were so a thing so thin aerial and imperceptible as that no Spiritual Sense or Experience could be had of it the Apostle would not have referred all sorts and degrees of Believers Fathers Young Men and little Children unto it for their Relief and Encouragement in the times of Danger Wherefore it evidenceth it self in the way and manner of its Acting Operation and Teaching before declared And as by those Instances they satisfie themselves as unto what Experience they have of it so it is their Duty to pray continually for it's Encrease and further Manifestation of it's Power in them Yea it is their Duty to labour that their Prayers for it may be both fervent and effectual For the more express and eminent the Teachings of this Anointing in them are the more fresh and plentiful is their Unction the more will their Holiness and Consolation abound AND whereas this is that by which as it immediately proceeds from the Holy Spirit they have their peculiar Dedication unto God being made Kings and Priests unto him they are highly concerned to secure their Interest therein For it may be they are so far from being exalted promoted and dignified in the World by their Profession as that they are made thereby the Scorn of Men and the Out-casts of the People Those indeed whose Kingdom and Priesthood their Dignity and Honour in Christianity their Approximation unto God and Christ in a peculiar manner consist in Secular Titles Honour Power and Grandure as it is in the Papacy may content themselves with their Chrysme or greasie Unction of their outward Ceremonious Consecration without much Enquiry after or Concern in this Spiritual Anointing But those who get little or nothing in this World that is of the World by their Profession but Labour Pain Travail of Soul and Body with Scorns Reproaches and Persecutions had need look after that which gives them a Dignity and Honour in the sight of God and which brings in Satisfaction and Peace unto their own Souls And this is done by that Anointing alone whereby they are made Kings and Priests unto God having Honour before him and a free sacred Access unto him I shall only add that whereas we ascribe this Anointing in a pecnliar manner unto the Holy Ghost as the Comforter of the Church we may easily discern wherein the Consolation which we receive by it doth consist For who can express that Satisfaction Refreshment and Joy which the Mind is possessed with in those Spiritual effectual Teachings which give it a clear Apprehension of Saving Truth in its own Nature and Beauty and enlarge the Heart with Love unto it and Delight in it It is true that the greatest part of Believers are oft-times either at such a Loss as unto a clear Apprehension of their own Spiritual State or so unskilled in making a right Judgment of the Causes and Means of Divine Consolations or so confused in their own Experiences or so negligent in their Enquiries into these things or are so disordered by Temptations as that they receive not a refreshing Sence of those Comforts and Joys which are really inseparable from this anointing But still it
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
THUS was it with the Apostles Prophets and Evangelists at the first which were all Extraordinary Teaching Officers in the Church and all that ever were so 1 Cor. 12. 28. Ephes. 4. 11. Besides these there were at the first planting of the Church Persons endued with Extraordinary Gifts as of Miracles Healing and Tongues which did not of themselves constitute them Officers but do belong to the second Head of Gifts which concern Duties only Howbeit these Gifts were always most eminently bestowed on them who were called unto the Extraordinary Offices mentioned 1 Cor. 14. 18. I thank my God I speak with Tongues more than you all They had the same Gift some of them but the Apostle had it in a more Eminent Degree See Mat. 10. 8. And we may treat briefly in our passage of these several sorts of Extraordinary Officers § 5. First For the Apostles they had a double Call Mission and Commission or a Twofold Apostleship Their first Call was unto a subserviency unto the Personal Ministry of Jesus Christ. For he was a Minister of the Circumcision for the Truth of God to confirm the Promises made unto the Fathers Rom. 15. 8. In the discharge of this his Personal Ministry it was necessary that he should have peculiar Servants and Officers under him to prepare his Way and Work and to attend him therein So he Ordained Twelve that they should be with him and that he might send them forth to Preach Mark 3. 14. This was the substance of their first Call and Work namely to attend the presence of Christ and to go forth to Preach as he gave them order Hence because he was in his own Person as to his Prophetical Office the Minister only of the Circumcision being therein according to all the Promises sent only to the lost Sheep of the House of Israel he confined those who were to be thus assistant unto him in that his especial Work and Ministry and whilst they were so unto the same Persons and People expresly prohibiting them to extend their Line or Measure any further Go not saith he into the way of the Gentiles and into any City of the Samaritans enter you not but go rather unto the lost Sheep of the House of Israel Mat. 10. 5. This rather was absolutely exclusive of the others during his Personal Ministry and afterwards included only the preeminence of the Israelites that they were to have the Gospel offered unto them in the first place It was necessary the Word of God should be first spoken unto them Acts 13. 46. § 6. And this it may be occasioned that Difference which was afterwards among them whether their Ministry extended unto the Gentiles or no as we may see Acts Chap. 10 and 11. But whereas our Saviour in that Commission by virtue whereof they were to act after his Resurrection had extended their Office and Power expresly to all Nations Mat. 28. 19. or to every Creature in all the World Mat. 16. 15. A Man would wonder whence that uncertainty should arise I am perswaded that God suffered it so to be that the Calling of the Gentiles might be more signaliz'd or made more eminent thereby For whereas this was the great Mystery which in other Ages was not made known but hid in God namely that the Gentiles should be Fellow Heirs and of the same Body and partakers of his Promise in Christ that is of the Promise made unto Abraham by the Gospel Ephes. 3. 5 6 7 8 9 10. it being now to be laid open and displayed he would by their Hesitation about it have it searched into examined tryed and proved that the Faith of the Church might never be shaken about it in after Ages And in like manner when God at any time suffereth Differences and Doubts about the Truth or his Worship to arise in the Church he doth it for Holy Ends although for the present we may not be able to discover them But this Ministry of the Apostles with its Powers and Duties this Apostleship which extended only unto the Church of the Jews ceased at the Death of Christ or at the end of his own Personal Ministry in this World Nor can any I suppose pretend unto a Succession to them therein Who or what peculiar Instruments he will use and imploy for the final Recovery of that miserable lost People whether he will do it by an Ordinary or an Extraordinary Ministry by Gifts Miraculous or by the naked Efficacy of the Gospel is known only in his own Holy Wisdom and Counsel The Conjectures of Men about these things are vain and fruitless For although the Promises under the Old Testament for the calling of the Gentiles were far more clear and numerous than those which remain concerning the recalling of the Jews yet because the Manner Way and all other Circumstances were obscured the whole is called a Mystery hid in God from all the former Ages of the Church much more therefore may the way and manner of the recalling of the Jews be esteemed an hidden Mystery as indeed it is notwithstanding the Dreams and Conjectures of too many § 7. BUT these same Apostles the same individual Persons Judas only excepted had another Call unto that Office of Apostleship which had respect unto the whole Work and Interest of Christ in the World They were now to be made Princes in all Lands Rulers Leaders in Spiritual things of all the Inhabitants of the Earth Psal. 4. 5. 16. And to make this Call the more conspicuous and evident as also because it includes in it the Institution and Nature of the Office it self whereunto they were called our Blessed Saviour proceedeth in it by sundry degrees For 1. He gave unto them a Promise of Power for their Office or Office-Power Mat. 16. 19. So he promised unto them in the Person of Peter the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven or a power of Spiritual binding and loosing of Sinners of remitting or retaining Sin by the Doctrine of the Gospel Mat. 18. 18. John 20. 23. 2. He actually collated a Right unto that Power upon them expressed by an outward Pledge John 20 21 22 23. Jesus saith unto them Peace be unto you as my Father hath sent me even so send I you And when he had said this he breathed on them and saith unto them Receive ye the Holy Ghost whose soever Sins ye remit they are remitted unto them and whose soever Sins ye retain they are retained And this Communication of the Holy Ghost was such as gave them a peculiar Right and Title unto their Office but not a Right and Power unto its Exercise 3. He Sealed as it were their Commission which they had for the Discharge of their Office containing the whole warranty they had to enter upon the World and to subdue it unto the Obedience of the Gospel Mat. 28. 18 19 20. Go Teach Baptize Command But yet 4. All these things did not absolutely give them a present Power for the Exercise
an Evangelist by especial Revelation or Prophesie the Apostle laid his Hands on him whereby he received the Holy Ghost in his extraordinary Gifts The Gift of God which was in him by the putting on of his Hands 2 Tim. 1. 6. And as it was usual with him to joyn others with himself in those Epistles which he wrote by immediate Divine Inspiration so in this Act of laying his Hands on an Evangelist as a Sign of the Communication of extraordinary Gifts he joyned the Ordinary Presbytery of the Church with him that were present in the place where he was so called It is evident therefore that both their Call and their Gifts were extraordinary and therefore so also was their Office For although Men who have only an Ordinary Call to Office may have Extraordinary Gifts and many had so in Primitive Times And although some might have Extraordinary Gifts who were never called unto Office at all as some of those who spake with Tongues and wrought Miracles yet where there is a Concurrence of an Extraordinary Call and Extraordinary Gifts there the Office is Extraordinary § 13. THE Power that these Officers in the Church were entrusted with was Extraordinary For this is a certain Consequent of an Extraordinary Call and Extraordinary Gifts And this Power respected all Churches in the World equally yea and all Persons as the Apostles also did But whereas their Ministry was subordinate unto that of the Apostles they were by them guided as to the particular places wherein they were to exercise their Power and discharge their Office for a Season This is evident from Paul's Disposal of Titus as to his Work and Time Tit. 1. 5. Chap. 3. 12. But yet their Power did at no time depend on their Relation unto any particular place or Churcb nor were they ever Ordained to any one Place or See more than another But the Extent of their Employment was every way as large as that of the Apostles both as to the World and as to the Churches only in their present particular Disposal of themselves they were as it is probable for the most part under the Guidance of the Apostles although sometimes they had particular Revelations and Directions from the Holy Ghost or by the Ministry of Angels for their especial Employment as Philip had Acts 8. 26. § 14. AND as for their Work it may be reduced unto Three Heads 1 To Preach the Gospel in all Places unto all Persons as they had occasion So Philip went down to Samaria and preached Christ Acts 8. 5. And when the Apostle Paul chargeth Timothy to do the Work of an Evangelist 2 Tim. 4. 5. he prescribes unto him Preaching the Word in Season and out of Season ver 2. And whereas this was incumbent in like manner on the Ordinary Teachers of every Church the Teaching of those Evangelists differed from theirs in two things 1 In the Extent of their Work which as we shewed before was equal unto that of the Apostles whereas Ordinary Bishops Pastors or Teachers were to feed teach and take care of the especial Flocks only which they were set over Acts 20. 17 18. 1 Pet. 5. 2. 2 They were obliged to labour in their Work in a more than ordinary manner as it should seem from 2 Tim. 4. 5. 2ly The Second Part of their Work was to confirm the Doctrine of the Gospel by Miraculous Operations as occasion did require So Philip the Evangelist wrought many Miracles of sundry sorts at Samaria in the Confirmation of the Doctrine which he taught Acts 8. 6 7 13. And in like manner there is no question but that the rest of the Evangelists had the Power or Gift of Miraculous Operations to be exercised as occasion did require and as they were guided by the Holy Ghost 3 They were employed in the settling and compleating of those Churches whose Foundations were laid by the Apostles For whereas they had the great Work upon them of Preaching the Gospel unto all Nations they could not continue long or reside in any one Place or Church And yet when Persons were newly converted to the Faith and disposed only into an Imperfect Order without any especial peculiar Officers Guides or Rulers of their own it was not safe leaving of them unto themselves lest they should be too much at a Loss as to Gospel-Order and Worship Wherefore in such places where any Churches were planted but not compleated nor would the Design of the Apostles suffer them to continue any longer there they left these Evangelists among them for a Season who had Power by vertue of their Office to dispose of things in the Churches until they came unto Compleatness and Perfection When this End was attained and the Churches were settled under Ordinary Elders of their own the Evangelists removed into other places according as they were directed or disposed These things are evident from the Instructions given by Paul unto Timothy and Titus which have all of them respect unto this Order § 15. Some there are who plead for the Continuance of this Office Some in express Terms and under the same Name Others for Successors unto them at least in that part of their Work which consisteth in Power over many Churches Some say that Bishops succeed to the Apostles and Presbyters unto those Evangelists But this is scarce defensible in any tolerable manner by them whose Interest it is to defend it For Timothy whom they would have to be a Bishop is expresly called an Evangelist That which is pleaded with most probability for their Continuance is the Necessity of the Work wherein they were employed in the Rule and Settlement of the Churches But the Truth is if their whole Work as before described be consulted as none can perform some parts of it so it may be very few would over-earnestly press after a Participation of their Office For to preach the Word continually and that with a peculiar Labour and Travail and to move up and down according as the Necessity of the Edification of the Churches doth require doing nothing in them but according to the Rule and Appointment of Christ are things that not many will earnestly covet to be engaged in But there is an Apprehension that there was something more than Ordinary Power belonging unto this Office that those who enjoyed it were not obliged always to labour in any particular Church but had the Rule of many Churches committed unto them Now whereas this Power is apt to draw other desireable things unto it or carry them along with it this is that which some pretend a Succession unto Though they are neither Called like them nor Gifted like them nor Labour like them nor have the same Object of their Employment much less the same Power of Extraordinary Operations with them yet as to the Rule over sundry Churches they must needs be their Successors I shall therefore briefly do these two things 1 Shew that there are no such Officers as these Evangelists
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
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
Warranty from the Word to yield Obedience unto all the Commands of Christ which when we have talked of Power and Authority whilst we please is all that is lest unto us in this World or that in so doing he will not accept them and approve of what they have done is an Assertion fit for Men to maintain who have a Trade to drive in Religion unto their own especial Advantage § 10. 2ly THE Lord Christ giveth and continneth this Office by giving Spiritual Gifts and Abilities unto Men to enable them to discharge the Duties and perform the Work of it This is that which I principally design to confirm in it's proper place which will immediately ensue All I shall say at present is that Spiritual Gifts of themselves make no Man actually a Minister yet no Man can be made a Minister according to the Mind of Christ who is not partaker of them Wherefore supposing the continuance of the Law and Institution mentioned if the Lord Christ doth at any time or in any place cease to give out Spiritual Gifts unto Men enabling them in some good measure unto the Discharge of the Ministry then and in that place the Ministry it self must cease and come to an end To erect a Ministry by Vertue of outward Order Rites and Ceremonies without Gifts for the Edification of the Church is but to hew a Block with Axes and smooth it with Planes and set it up for an Image to be adored To make a Man a Minister who can do nothing of the proper peculiar Work of the Ministry nothing towards the only end of it in the Church is to set up a dead Carcass fastning it to a Post and expecting it should do you Work and Service § 11. 3ly HE doth it by giving Power unto his Church in all Ages to call and separate unto the Work of the Ministry such as he hath sitted and gifted for it The things before mentioned are essentially constituent of the Ministry this belongs unto the outward Order of their Entrance into the Ministry who are by him called thereunto And concerning this we may observe the things following 1 That this Power in the Church is not Despotical or Lordly but consists in a Faculty Right and Ability to act in this matter obedientially unto the Commands of Christ. Hence all the Acting of the Church in this matter is nothing but an instituted means of conveying Authority and Office from Christ unto Persons called thereunto The Church doth not give them any Authority of it's own or resident in it's self but only in a way of Obedience unto Christ do transmit Power from him unto them who are called Hence do they become the Ministers of Christ and not of the Bishops or Churches or Men holding their Office and Authority from Christ himself by the Law and Rule of the Gospel so that whosoever despiseth them despiseth him also in them Some would have Ministers of the Gospel to receive all their Authority from the People that choose them and some from the Bishops who Ordain them and whence they have theirs I know not But this is to make them Ministers of Men and Servants of Men and to constitute other Masters between them and Christ. And whereas all Church-Power is originally and absolutely vested in Christ and in him solely so that none can be Partaker of the least Interest in it or share of it without a Communication of it from him unto them neither Popes nor Prelates nor People are able to produce any such Grant or Concession of Power unto them from him as that they should have an Authority residing in them and in their Power to despose unto others as thay see cause so as they should hold it from them as a part or efflux of the Power vested in them It is Obedience unto the Law of Christ and following the Guidance of his previous Communication of Gifts as a Means to communicate his Power unto them who are called to the Ministry that is the whole of what is committed unto any in this kind 2 The Church hath no Power to call any unto Office of the Ministry where the Lord Christ hath not gone before it in the Designation of him by an Endowment with Spiritual Gifts For if the whole Authority of the Ministry be from Christ and he never gives it but where he bestows these Gifts with it for it's Discharge as in Eph. 4. 7 8 c. then to call any to the Ministry whom he hath not so previously gifted is to set him aside and to act in our own Names and Authority And by reason of these things the Holy Ghost is said to make Men Overseers of the Flocks who are thus called thereunto because both the Communication of Power in the Constitution of the Law and of Spiritual Gifts by internal effectual Operation are from him alone Acts 20. 28. 3 The outward way and Order whereby a Church may call any Person unto the Office of the Ministry among them and over them is by their joynt solemn Submission unto him in the Lord as unto all the Powers and Duties of this Office testified by their Choice and Election of him It is concerning this outward Order that all the World is fill'd with Disputes about the Call of Men unto the Ministry which yet in Truth is of the least concernment therein For whatever Manner or Order be observed herein if the things before mentioned be not premised thereunto it is of no Validity or Authority On the other hand grant that the Authority of the Ministry dependeth on the Law Ordinance and Institution of Christ that he calls Men unto this Office by the collation of Spiritual Gifts unto them and that the Actings of the Church herein is but an instituted moral means of communicating Office-Power from Christ himself unto any and let but such other things be observed as the Light and Law of Nature requireth in cases of an alike kind and the outward Mode of the Churches acting herein need not much be contended about It may be proved to be a Beam of Truth from the Light of Nature that no Man should be imposed on a Church for their Minister against their Wills or without their express Consent considering that his whole Work is to be conversant about their Understandings Judgments Wills and Affections and that this should be done by their Choice and Election as the Scripture doth manifestly declare Numb 8. 9 10. Acts 1. 23 26. Acts 6. 35. Acts 14. 23. so that it was for some Ages observed Sacredly in the Primitive Churches cannot modestly be denied But how far any People or Church may commit over this Power of declaring their Consent and Acquiescency unto others to act for them and as it were in their stead so as that the Call to Office should yet be valid provided the former Rules be observed I will not much dispute with any though I approve only of what maketh the nearest Approaches to the
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
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