THE HOLY SPIRIT perfection, carried on by him. How far present chur- ches do, or ought to stand on the same bottom, how far they are carried on upon the same principles, is worth our inquiry, andwill in its proper place, fall un- der our consideration. Sect. 7. Fourthly; The apostle distributes the spiritual gifts then bestowed on the church, or some members of it, into nine particular heads or instances. As (1.) Wisdom. (2.) Knowledge, ver. 8. or the word of Wisdom, and the word of Knowledge. (S.) Faith. (4.) Healing, ver. 9.(5.) Working of mira- cles.(6.) Prophecy.(7.) Discerning of spirits. (8.) Kinds of tongues. (9.) Interpretation of tongues, ver. 10. And all these were extraordinary gifts, in the manner of the communication and exercise, which re- lated unto the then present state of the church. What is yet continued analogous unto them, or holding pro- portionwith them, must be farther inquired into; when also their especial nature will be unfolded. * But now, if there be that great diversity of gifts in the church, if so much difference in their administrations, how can it possibly be prevented, but that differences and divisions will arise amongst them on schorn they are bestowed, and those amongst whom they are exercised? It is true this may so fall out, and sometimes doth so, and de facto, it did so in this church of Corinth. One admir- ed one gift, a second another ofa different kind, and so the third. Accordingly, among those who had re- ceived them, one boastedof this or that particular gift and ability, and would be continually in its exercise, to the exclusion and contempt of others, bestowed no less for the edificationof the church than his own. And so far were they transported with vain glory, and a desire of self -advancement, as that they preferred the use of those gifts in the church, which tended principally to beget astonishment and admiration in them which heard or beheld them, before those which were peculiarly use- ful unto the edification of the church itself; which evil in particular the apostle rebukes at large chap. xiv. By this means the church came to be divided in itself, and Ex hoc capita et proximo licet conjicere rpm fuerint dotes illius ye. kris Eeetads tertian, priusquam tot ceremonies, opibus, isepesiis, sopii,, beltis, aliisry; id genus eases °Iterata. None fere tot preclara mania ad anent potestetem redacta stint: h. e. Christi titulo palliatam Tyrannidemn Quid er m alliud est potestns nisi adsit animas Apestoli- cus ? Eresm. Annot. ad v. 4. AND HIS WORIN. almost to be broken in pieces, Chap. i. ver 11, 12. So foolish, oltimes, are the minds of men; so liable to be imposed upon; so common is it for their lasts, sedu- ced and principled by the crafts of Satan, to turn judg- ment into. wormwood, and to abuse the most useful ef- fects of divine grace and bounty. To prevent all these evils for the future, and to manifest how perfect an harmony there is in all these divers gifts and different administrations, at what an agreement they are among themselves is their tendency unto the same ends of the union. and edificationof the church: from what fountain of wisdom they do proceed, and with what care they ought to be used and improved; the apostle declares unto them both the author of them, and the rule he proceedeth by in their dispensation; ver. 11. All these, south he, a worketh that one and serfsaine Spirit, divid- ing to every man severally as he wilt. Sect. 8..I shall not,, at present further open or in- sist upon these words. Frequent recourse must be had unto them in our progress, wherein they will be fully explicated as to what concerns- the person of the Spirit, his will, and his operations, which are all asserted in them, For my purpose is, through the permission and assistance of God, to treat from hence of the name, na- ture, existence, and whole work of the Holy Spirit, with the grace of God through Jesus Christ in the corn- manication of him unto the sons of men. A work in itself too great and difficult for me to undertake, and beyond my ability to manage unto the glory of God, or the edificationof the souls of them that do believe. For who is sufficient for these things? But yet I dare not utterly faint in it, nor under it, whilst I look untohim whose work it is, who giveth: wisdom to them that lack it, and upbraideth them not, Jam. i. 5. Our eyes there- fore, are unto him alone, who both suppíieth seed to the sower, and when he bath done blesseth it with an increase. The present necessity, importance, and use- fulnessof this work, are the things which alone have engaged me into the undertaking of it. These there- fore I shall briefly represent in some general considera- tions, before I insist on the things themselves, whose especial explanation is designed. Sect. 9.First, then, we may consider, that the doe- * AaosrsTrtrzl satt itse,epasla , ¡reelel áí «vrtltelws. Basii, Homil. 15. de. fide.
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