AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS. (ants who die before they are baptized; so it is frequent that some may belong to the covenant, with respect to its outward administration, by virtue of spiritual gifts, who are not made partakers of its inward effectual grace. 12. Fourthly, Saving grace hash an immediate re- spect unto the priestly office of Jesus Christ, with the discharge thereofin his oblation and intercession. There is, I acknowledge, no gracious communication unto men that respects any one office of Christ exclusively unto the other: for his whole mediation hath an influ- ence into all that we receive front God in a way of fa. oar or grace. And it is his person, as vested with all his offices, that is the immediate fountain of all grace unto us. But yet something may, yea, sundry things do peculiarly respect some one of his offices, and are the im- mediate effects of the virtue and efficacy thereof. So is our reconciliation and peace with God the peculiar ef- fect of his oblation, which, as a l'riest, he offered unto God. And so, in like manner, is our sanctificationalso, wherein we are trashedand cleansedfromn our sins in his blood, EMI. v. 25, 26. Titus ii. 14. And although grace be wrought in us .by the administration of the kingly power of Christ, yet it is in the pursuit of what he had done for us as a Priest, and the making of it effectual un- to us. For, by his kingly power, he makeseffectual the fruits of his oblation and intercession. But gifts proceed solely from the regal office and power of Christ. They . have a remote respectunto, and foundation in the death of Christ, in that they are all given and distributed unto, and for the good of that church which he purchased with his ownblood; butimmediately they are effects on- ly ofhis kingly power. Hence authority to give and dis- pose of them is commonly placed as a consequent of his exaltation at the right hand of God, or with respect thereunto, Matth. xxviii. 18. Acts ii. 33. This the apostle declares at large, Eph. iv. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Christ being exalted at the right hand of God, all power in heaven and earth being given unto him, and he being given to be head over all things unto the church, and having for that end received the promise of the Spirit from the Father, he gives out these gifts as it seemeth good unto him. And the continuation of their com- munication is not the least evidence of the continuance; ofthe exercise of his kingdom for besides the faithful testimony of the word to that purpose,there is a threefold evidence thereof giving us experience of it.: (1.) His 47 communication of saving grace in the regeneration, con version, and sanctification of the elect : for these things. he worketh immediately by his kingly power. And whilst there are any in the world savingly called . and sanctified, he leaves not himself without witness as to his kingly power over all flesh, whereon he gives eternal life unto as many as the Father bath given hint, John xvii. 2. But this evidence is wholly invisible unto the world, neither is it capable of receiving it when tendered, be- cause it cannot receive the Spirit, nor seeth Iaiso, nor lenosoeth him, John xiv. 17. Nor are the things thereof exposed to the judgment of senseor reason, 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10. (2.) Another evidence hereof is given in the judg- ments that he executes in the world, and the outward protection which he affords unto his church. On both these there are evident impressions of the continued ac- tual exercise of his divine power and authority : for, in the judgments that he executes on persons and nations, that either reject thegospel; or persecute it, especially in somesignal and uncontrolable instances, as also in the guidance, deliverance and protection of his church, he manifests that though he was dead, yet he is alive, and bath thekeys ofhell and death. But yet, because he is, on the one hand, pleased to exercise great patience to- wards many of his open stubborn adversaries, yea, the greatest of them, suffering them to walk and prosper in their own ways, and to leave his church unto various trials and distresses, his power is much hid from the world at present in these dispensations. (3.) The third evidence of the continuance of the administration of his. mediatory kingdom, consists in his dispensation ofthese spiritual gifts, which are properly the powersof the new world. For such is the nature of them and their use,. such the sovereignty that appears in their distribution, . such their distinction and differencefrom all naturist en- dowments, that even the world cannot but take notice of themthough it violently hate and persecute them; and the church is abundantly satisfied with the sense of the power of Christ in them. Moreover, the principal end of these gifts is to enable the officers of the church unto the due administration ofall the laws and ordinan- ces of Christ unto its edification. But all these laws and . ordinances, these offices and officers he gives unto the church, as the Lord over his own house, as the sole sov- ereign Lawgiver and ruler thereof. 13. Fifthly, They differ as unto the event, even in
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