V E R. II. Ephefian.r, Chap. 4.. theyobjeét the place in r Pet.z.g. We areaKingly Priefthood. For anfwer ; Wee are Priefts in regardof the commgnoyntment of Chriftians , not the particular calling ofpublike teaching. As Priefls, all Chriftians areto offer up themfelves: Rom. r a.r, to teach themfelves andothers inprivate, tooffer up fpirituall facrifice , yet fo as that remaineth ; are a,Y Prophets ? areit/Teachers ? Wee mutt marke that fome have the gift oncly given, againft filch confufion. 3. It is to bemarked, howmanyChrift bath given : which doth teachus, ThatChrifl bath not one gift, but divers, which himfelfv hath, anddothfantliflefor thegoodofhis Church : Thus here are A- poftles with their gifts, Prophets, Evangelifts, yea divers ordinary gifts. Rom. r z. one bath a wordofknowledge, another a word ofexhor_ ration : for as in the building of a houfe, divers handy-crafts are ofufe, artificers that are not all ofone nature: So in the buildingof the faithful! who are the houfeofGod : And thereforein the oldChurch ofthe Jewsthere were their retrd'áçxxrot , men that had skill in inter- pretingthe text read, and others that hadagift inexhortation, as may begathered, Ails /3.15. and 1 g. z r. Compared together. Which Confideration of diverfity of gifts doth reprove thofe that will take miflike at this or that kind , becaufe it is not asthey would have. Ifone fpeak treatablyand folly , though he laydowne thetruth foundly,ifhe apply not forcibly, he is no body, asif every one fhould beanEliab, or a Sonne of thunder. Ifothers on fome, plaine ground belabour the confciende, tufh, heis not forthem , hee doth not goe to the depthofhis text; they could themfelves at the firft fight obferve as much; as if every Bark that fayled diddraw a like depth , yet all forts carry their pafkngers fafe to their haven. So inMinifters , everyone bathnot a like infight intodot Trine , yet all be Gods inftrunients to thy falvation. This is a malepert itching humour, which if you will bee Chriftians in deed , you mutt lay afide. It mull teachus toloveand reverence all fortsofgifts, feing itplea- Yfe a î fed God to deale them in filch diverfity, and all for our good;ifwe be All forts of fpirituallyhungry, thecourfeft things will be fweet, theleaft giftwill gifts are to be reverenced. be precious. Laltly , it is to bee marked , that Chrift is faid to give the ordi- nary Pallor, as well as the extraordinary Apoftles ; which doth teach us , That the c.Miniferswehave withue are no leffefent by Chrtfl, Do17. then thofe a other extraordinary were whichnewarttea f ed. Our ordinary Minifersare God doth acknowledgetheone fet over us by him and, hisinftru- of Chrift as ments, to worke ourfalvation,as well as the other.' t ldYO 20. a B.The wen asextra- Minifters calledby the Church , arePaid robe fetover their people ordinary. by the Holy Ghoft. Take heed onto your [elves and to all theflocks, whereof the Holy Ghofl bath made you overfeers. So the Apoftle, r Cor.3. What is Paul ? anApoftic. What is .sdpollos ? anordina- ryMini1 er : are they not both the Minifters ofChrift e yetboth one aftera fort, the one hath no more inhim of that faving power then V v a the Do/b. Chrift giveih divers gifts for the good ofhis Church. Rom.tz. Yfe It reproveth fiftidious fighters of men not gifted to theft mind.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=