AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS. 55 nary is hence apparent, its that no rules are any where given or prescribed about their choice or ordination, no qualification of their persons expressed, nor any direc- tion given the church as to its future proceeding about them, no more than about new or other apostles. They seem tohave been called by theapostles, by thedirection of a spirit of prophecy, or immediate revelation from Christ. Suit is saidof Timothy, who is expressly called an Evangelist, 'l Tim. iv. 5. that he received that gift by prophecy, 1 Tim. i. 14. that is, thegift of the office: as when Christ ascended, hegave bits untomen, some to be Evangelists, Eph. iv. 8, 11. For this way did the Holy Ghost design men unto extraordinary offices and enn ploytnents, Acts xiii. 1, 2, 3. And when they were so designed by prophecy, or immediate revelation from Christ by the Holy Ghost, then the church, in compli- ance therewith, both prayed for them, and laid their hands on them: So, when the Holy Ghost had reveal- ed his choosing of Paul and Barnabas unto an especial work, the prophetsand teachers of the church of An- tioch where they then were, fastedand prayed, and laid Meir hands on them, so sending them away, Acts xiii. 1+. And when Timothy wascalled to be an Evangelist, by especial revelation or prophecy, the apostle laid his hands on him, wherebyhe received the Holy Ghost in his extraordinary gifts: Thegift ofGod which was in him by theputting an ofhis hands, 2 Tim. i. 6. And as it wasusual with him tojoin others with himself in those epistles which Ise wrote by immediate divine inspira- tion, so in this act of laying his hands on an Evangelist as a sign of the communication of extraordinary gifts, he joined the ordinary presbytery of the church with him that were present in the place where he was socall- ed. It is evident, therefore, that both their call and their gifts were extraordinary, and therefore so also was their office: for, although men, who have only an ordi- nary call to office, may have extraordinary gifts, and many had so in primitive times: and although somemight have extraordinary gifts, who were never called unto office at all, as some of those who spake with tongues, and wrought miracles; yet, where there is a concur- rence of an extraordinary call and extraordinary gifts, there the office is extraordinary. 13. The power that these officers in the church were intrusted with, was extraordinary: for this is a certain consequent of an extraordinary call, and extraordinary 'gifts. And this power respected all churches in the world equally; yea, and all persons, as the apostles also did. But whereas their ministry was subordinate unto that of the apostles, they were by them guided as to the particular places wherein they were to exercise their power, anddischarge their office for a season. This is evident from Paul's disposal of Titus, as to his work and time, Titus i. 5. chap. iii. 12. But yet their power did at no time depend on their relation unto any parti- cular place or church, nor were they ever ordained to anyone placeor see more than another. But the extent oftheir employment was every way as large as that of the apostles, both as bathe world and as to the churches; only in their present particular disposal of themselves, they were, as it is probable, for the most part, under the guidance-of the apostles; although, sometimes they had particular revelations and directions from the Holy Ghost, or by the ministry of angels, for their especial employment, as Philip had, Acts viii. 26. 14. And as for their work, it may be reduced unto three heads: (I.) Topreach thegospel in all places unto all persons, as they had occasion. So Philip went down to Samaria, and preachedChrist, Acts viii. 5. And when the apostle Paul chargeth Timothy to do the work of an Evangelist, 2 'rim. iv., 5. he prescribesunto himpreach- ing the word in season, and out ofseason, ver. 2. And whereas this was incumbent, in like manner, on the or- dinary teachers of every church, the teaching of these Evangelists differed from theirs in two things: (1.) -In the extent of their work, which, as we shewed before, was equal unto that of the apostles; whereas ordinary bishops, pastors, or teachers, were to feed, teach, and take care of the especial flocks only which they were set over, Acts xx. 17, 18. 1 Peter v. 2. (2.) They were obliged to labour in their work in a more thanordinary manner; as it should seem from 2 Tim. iv. 5. (2dly,) The second part of their work was to confirm the doctrine of the gospel by miraculous operations as occasion did re- quire. So Philip the Evangelist wrought manymiracles of sundry sorts in Samaria, in the confirmation of the doctrine which he taught, Acts viii .6, 7, 13. And, in likemanner, there is no question, but that the rest of the Evangelists had the power or gift of miraculous opera- tions, to beexercised as occasion did require, and as they wereguided by the HolyGhost. (Shcy,) They wereem- ployed in the settlingand completeing ofthose churches;
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