AND stttrTCnl. GIFTS. 4 i world /0 come consisted in them, and the whole work of But these gifts are frequently and almost constantly so expressed, Rom. xii. 6. 1 Cor. i. 7. chap. vii. 7. chap. 4, 9, 28, 30. 1 Peter iv. 14. 2 Tim. i. 6. And it is absolute freedom in the bestower of them that is prin- cipally 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 viii. 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 despisedon all hands. And indeed this was that whereby, in all ages, countenance was given unto apostacy and defection from the power and truth of thegospel. The names of spiritual things were still retained, but applied to outward forms and cere- monies, which thereby were substituted insensibly into their room, to the ruin 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 thüogs in the church, by their own abilities, which can never be ac- ceptably discharged but by virtue of those free gifts which they despise, whereof we must speak more after- wards. Now, the full signification of these words in our sense 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 theminds of men who do receive them, which is their principal sense in the scripture. 8. With respect unto their especial nature, they are ealled ,rr,,,aarra; sometimes absolutely, 1 Cor. xii. 1. wig, Is ro, a,oaar oa , but concerning spirituals, that is, spiritual gifts. And so again, chap. xiv. 1. CuSsre TO x,vaav,..a, desire spirituals, that is, gifts; for so it is explained, chap xii. 31. Ynasre rayag,rcaree v sgnr,va, covet earnestly the best gifts. Whenever therefore they are called ,r.uaar,sa, there %ag,rwaree, denoting their ge- neral nature is to be supplied: and where they are call- ed xagw,Pnara only, ,rsosar,,:a is to be understood, as expressing their especial difference from all others. They are neither natural, nor moral, but spiritual en- dowments: 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. 08 the building and propagation of the church depended on them; the apostles, after all the instructions they had received from Christ whilst he conVersed with them in the days of bis flesh, and also after bis resurrection, were commanded not to go about the great work which they had received commission for, until they had re- ceivedpower by the corning ofthe Holy Ghost upon them in the communication of thosegifts, Acts i. 4, 8. And as they neither might nor could do any thing in their peculiar work, as to the laying of the foundation of the Christian church, until they had actually received those extraordinary/ gifts which gave them power so to do; so, if those who undertake in any place, degree, or office, to carry on the edification of the church, do not receive those more ordinary gifts which are con- tinued unto that end, they have neither right to under- take that work, nor power to perform it in a due man- ner. 6. The things which we are to inquire into concern- ing these gifts, are: (12) Their name. (2.) Their na- ture in general, and therein how they are agreed with and differ from saving graces. (3.) Their distinction. (4.) The particular nature of them. And, (5.) Their use in the church of God. 7. The general name of those spiritual endowments, whichwe intend, isdoworo; so the apostle renders unto, Eph. iv. 8. from Peal. lxviii. 18. Dona, gifts, that is, they are free and undeserved effects of divine bounty. In the minds of men on whom they are bestowed, they are spiritual powers and endowments with respect unto a certain end. But as to their original and principal cause, they arefree undeserved gds. Thence the Holy Spirit, as the author of them, and with respect unto them, is called loges rs no, thegift ofGod, John iv. 10. And the effect itself is also termed loggia rs ây,s x,scoares, the gift of the Holy Ghost, Acts x.45. the gift ofGod. Acts viii. 20. the gift of the grace of God, Eph. iii. 7. the gift of Christ, Eph. iv. 7. the heavenly gift, Heb. vi. 4. all expressing the freedomof theircommunication on thepart of theFather, Son, and Spirit. And in like manner, on the same account, are they called ;oagrcwe- a, that is, gracious largesses, gifts proceedingfrom mere bounty. And therefore saving gracesare also expressed by the same name ingeneral, because they also are freely and undeservedly communicated unto us, Rom. xi. 28. I.
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