42 A DISCOURSE ON 9. Again with respect unto the manner of their cons- munication they are called weg[ as: za ,r.,,waws ay., Heb. íi. 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 orna- ment and advantage to the church. If the whole body teere an eye, telsere were the hearing, &c. 1 Cor. xii. 16. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. It is this wsgmwos, this various distribution of gifts, that makes the church an organical body; and in this composure, with the pe- culiar uses of the members of the body, consists the har- mony, 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`carcase. 10. And this various distribution, as it is an act of the Holy Spirit, produceth é/a/gso S/a[gses[s ag[mwaz there are diversities ofgifts, I Cor.xii. 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 THE HOLT SPIRIT, 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 divërs, distinct, different gifts are re- quired thereunto. 11. These gifts being bestowed, they are variously expressed with regard unto the nature. and manner of those operations which we are enabled unto by virtue of them. So are they. termed S[ass,sas, ministrations, 1 Cor. xii. 5. that is, powers and abilities, whereby some are enabled to administer spiritual things unto the benefit, ad- vantage, and edification of others: and .sgy,wwrap, ver. 6. effectual workings or operations, efficaciously producing the effects which they are applied unto. And, lastly, they are comprised by the apostle in that expression, fa.sgao[s vs avnans, the manifestation ofthe Spirit, ver. T. In and by them cloth the Holy Spirit evidence and mani- fest 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 theyare given and wrought by him, und'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 andconcern 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, ive are not so in the gospel. - CHAP. II. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND SAVING GRACE. THEIR nature in general, which, in the next place, we inquire into, will be much discovered in the consi- deration of those things wherein these gifts do agree with saving graces, and wherein they differ from them. 2. There are three things wherein spiritual gifts and saving graces do agree. I. They are both sorts of them the purchase of Christ for his church, the especial fruit of his mediation. We speak not of such gifts or endowments of mens minds as consist merely in the improvement of their natural fa- culties. Such are wisdom, learning, skill in arts and sciences, which those may abound and excel in who are utter strangers to the church of Christ; and frequently they do so, to their own exaltation and contempt of
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