626 Chap. 40. An Expoftios upon the Book of j o E. Verf. a gä as much excel other men, as all men excel beafis ; yea, there is a difference in the fame man, his foul is more excellent than his body ; fome parts of the body are more excellent than others,, fome powers and faculties of the foul are more excellent than the refl. The Apoffle (r Cor.. a 2. 28, 29.) fpeaking of the Church, thews howGod bath put the guides of it into feveral ranks : He bath fet fome in the Church ; Firlf, Apofiles ; Se condly, Prophets; Thirdly, Teachers; after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diverfities of tongues. Are alllpoffles ? are all Prophets ? are all Teachers ? do all fpea4 with tongues ? are all workers of miracles ? are all chief ? are all in the firtl rank ? no, fome are in one condition, fome in another., And thus it is in the world, God bath fet fome Kings, all others Subje6ls; and among them, fome are Lords, fome Judges and Magifirares, &c. Are all Kings ? are all Lords ? are all Judges and Magifirates ? furely not. To have all men of one order, would put all men, and all things too, out of order. There is a chief among beafrs ; And thofe men are marfe than beafls, whoac- knowledgenot a chief among men. God. is not the author o, fconfu- rwn, as in all the Churches of the Saints ( faith the Apoffle,, a. Cor, t In 33. ) fo, I may fay , in all the Kingdoms of the world. And if fo,.I would only infer, then let none be troubled that they are not chief, no, nor that they are not of equal rank with other men ; let us be content with our Elation, though it be a low one. 'Tis bell for us to be where God bath placed us, and to be thankful for what God bath given us, though in gifts and parts we are much inferior tomany. God doth not beflow a like nice- lure of gifts,, no, norof grace upon all. And though it maybe a favour and a mercy to haveoutward preheminency above others .. yet to love or affe& preheminency, as the Apo(ile John taxed Diotrophes, is very finful. The Apoffle would have ^us covet ear- nefily the bell gifts (a: Car, 12. 3 t. ) and he there minds us of a better thing to be covered than the belt gifts, that is, grace, Faith, hope, charity; to covet thefe is a blefied covetoufnefs: Yet neither are thefe to be coveted meetly for felt-ends, but as by themwe may be fitted and furnished to do good,to honour God, and ferve our generation according to his will. To affe& chief- dome in any thing buringrace and goodness is not good; and our affcaiag_
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