60 A DISCOURSE ON T 2. 1 Cor. xii. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. " But the manifesta- tion of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. " For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; " to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; " to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the " gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the " working of miracles; toanother prophecy; to another " discerningofspirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; " to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these " worketh that one and the self -same Spirit, dividing " to every man severally as he will." Thegeneral con- cernments of this passage in the apostle were declared, and -the context-opened, at the beginning of our dis- course on this subject. I shall only now consider the especial spiritual gifts that are here enumerated by the apostle, which are nine in number, laid down promis- cuously without respect unto any order or dependence of one upon another; although it is probable that those first placed, were the principle, or of principal use in the church. 5. The first is s eyes '-,Pan, the word of wisdom. Aeyee here is of the same signification with v., in the He- brew; which often signifies a thing or matter. Where- fore the word of wisdom is nothing but wisdom itself. And our inquiry is, what was that wisdom which was a peculiar and an especial gift (in those days) of theHoly Ghost? Our Lord Jesus Christ promised unto his dis- ciples, that he would give them a mouth and wisdom, which all their adversaries should not be able to gainsay nor resist, Luke xxi. 15. This will be our rule in the declaration ofthe nature of this gift. That which he bath respect unto, is the defence of the gospel, and its truth, against powerful persecuting adversaries. For, although they had the truth on their side, yet being men ignorant and unlearned, they might justly fear, that when they were brought before kings, and rulers, and priests, they should be baffled in their profession, and not be able to defend the truth. Wherefore this promise of a mouth and wisdom respects spiritual ability and utterance in the defence of the truth of the gospel, when they were called into questionabout it. Spiritual ability of mind is the wisdom, and utterance or freedom ofspeech is the mouth here promised. An eminent in- stance of the accomplishment hereof we have in Peter 'ohm. Acts iv. For, upon their making a defence of the resurrection of Christ, and the truth of the gospel 11E HOLY SPIRIT, therein, such as their adversaries were not able to gain- say nor resist, it is said, that when the rulers and elders saw their aolcnc, =a that is, their utterance in,defence of their cause with boldness, and so the wisdom wherewith it was accompanied, considering that they were unlearn- ed and ignorant, they were astonished, and only consi- dered, that theyhad been with Jesus, ver. 13. And he it was, who, in the accomplishment of his promise, had given them that spiritual wisdom and utterance, which they were not able to resist. So it is said expressly of Stephen, that his adversaries were not able to resist the wisdom and spirit whereby he spake, Acts vi. 10. Wherefore this gift of wisdom, in the first place, was a spiritual skill and ability to defend the truths of the gos- pel, when questioned, opposed or blasphemed. And this gift was eminent in those primitive times, when a company of unlearned men were able, upon all occa- sions, to maintain anddefend the truth which they be- lieved and professed before and against doctors, scribes, lawyers, rulers ofsynagogues, yea, princes, and kings, continually so confounding their adversaries, as that, be- ing obstinate in their unbelief, they were forced to cover their shame, by betaking themselves unto rage and bes- tial fury, Acts vi. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. chap. vii. 54. chap. xxii. 22, 23, as hath been the manner of all their suc- cessors ever since. 4. Now; although this be an especial kind of wisdom, an eminent gift of the Holy Ghost, wherein the gloryof Christ, and honour of the gospel, is greatly concerned, namely, an ability to manage and defend the truth in times of trial and danger, to the confusion of its adver- series; yet 1 suppose the wisdom here intended, is not absolutely confined thereunto, though it be principally intended. Peter, speaking of Paul's epistles, affirms, that they were written according to the wisdomgiven un- to him, 2 Peter iii. 15. that is, that especial gift of spi- ritual wisdom, for the management of gospel-truths un- to the edification of the church of Christ which he had received. And he that would understand what this wis- dom is, must be thoroughly conversant in the writings of that apostle. For indeed the wisdom that be useth in the management of the doctrine of the gospel, in the due consideration of all persons, occasions, circum- stances, temptations of men and churches, of their state, condition, strength, or weakness, growth, or decays, obedience, or tailings, their capacities and progresses,
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