58 A DISCOURSE ON T extraordinarygifts are intended : for they are said to be , set in the church, and are placed in the second rank of officers, next to the apostles; first apostles, secondarily prophets, L Cor. xii. 28. between them and Evange- lists, Eph. iv. 11. And two things are ascribed unto them : (1.) That they received immediate revelations and directions from the Holy Ghost, in things that be- longed unto the presentduty of the church. Unto them it was that the Holy Ghost revealed his mind, and gave commands concerning the separation of Barnabas and Saul unto their work, Acts xiii. 8. (2.) They foretold things to come by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, wherein the duty or edification of the church was con- cerned. So Agabus the prophet foretold the famine in the days of Claudius Cmiar, whereon provision was made for the poor saints at Jerusalem, that they might not stif- fer by it, Acts xi. 28, 29. And the same person after- wards prophesied of the bonds and sufferings of Paul at Jerusalem, Acts xxi. 10, 11. And the saine thing, it being of the highest concernment unto the church, was, (as it should seem) revealed unto the prophets that were in most churches; for so himselfgives an account hereof. And now behold Igo bound in theSpirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there, save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city that bonds and of fictions abide me, Acts xx 20, 21, 22. that is, in all the cities he passed through, where there were churches planted, and prophets in them. These things the chur- ches then stood in needof, for their confirmation, direc- tion, and comfort; and were therefore, 1 suppose, most of them supplied with such officers for a season, that is, whilst they were needful. And unto this office, though expressly affirmed to be set in the church, and placed between the apostles and the Evangelists, none that I know of do pretend a succession. All grant that they were extraordinary, because their gift and work wasso; but so were those of Evangelists also. But there is no mention of the power and rule of these prophets, or else undoubtedly we should have had on one pretence or o- ther, successors provided for them. 23. 2dly, Sometimes an extraordinary gift without office is intended in this expression. So it is said that , Philip the Evangelist had four daughters, virgins, that didprophecy, Acts xxi. 9. It is not said that they were prophetesses, asthere were some under the Old Testa ment; only that they did prophecy; that is, they had HE HOLY SPIRIT, revelations from the Holy Ghost occasionally for theuse of the church. For, to prophecy, is nothing but to de- clare hidden and secret things, by virtue of immediate revelation, be they of what nature they will; and so is the word commonly used, Matth. xxvi. 68. Luke xxii. 64. So an extraordinary gift without office is expressed, Acts xix. 6. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on then, and they spoke with tongues, andprophesied. Their prophesying, which was their declaration of spiritual things by immediate revela- tion, was of the same nature with their speaking with tongues; both extraordinary gifts and operations of the Holy Ghost. And of this sort were those miracles, healings, and tongues which God for a time set in the church, which did not constitute distinct officers in the church, but they wereonly sundry persons in each church which were endued with these extraordinary gifts for its edification. And therefore are they placed after teachers, comprising both, which were the principal sort of the ordinary continuing officersof the church, I Cor. xii. 28. And of this sort do I reckon those prophets to be who are treated of, 1 Cor. xiv. 29, 30, 31, 32, 33. For that they were neither stated officers in the churches, not yet the brethren of the church promiscuously; but such as had receivedan especial extraordinary gift, is e- vident from the context; see ver. 30, 37. 24. Again, an ordinary office with ordinary gifts is in- tended by this expression, Rom. xii. 6. Havingthengifts differing accordingto the grace that is given tous, whe- ther prophecy, let usprophecy according to the proportion offaith. Prophecy here can intend nothing but teach- ing, or preaching_in the exposition and application of the word ; for an external rule is given unto it, in that it must be done according to the proportion of faith, or the sound doctrine of faith revealed in the scripture. And this ever was and will ever continue to be the work and duty of the ordinary teachers of the church, whereunto they are enabled by the gifts of Christ, which they re- ceive by the Holy Ghost, Eph. iv. 7. as we shall see more afterwards. And hence also those who are not called unto office, who have yet received a gift enabling them to de- clare the mind of God in the scripture unto the edifica- tion of others, may be said to prophesy. 25. And these things I thought meet to interpose, with a brief description of those officers which the Lord Jesus Christ granted unto his church for a season, as its
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