AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS. 69 the church enjoyeth thereof, the more will its faith, love, obedience, and consolation be increased. Lastly, The manner ofthe exercise of this gift in the church unto edification, is prescribed and limited by our apostle, 1 Cor. xiv. 29, 30, 31, 3'2, 33. And first, he would not have the church burdened with the most profitable gift or its exercise, and therefore determines that at one time, not above two or three be suffered tospeak; that is, one after another, that thechurch beneither wearied nor bur- dened, ver. 29. Secondly, Because it was possible that someof-them who had this gift might mix somewhat of their own spirits in their word and ministry, and therein mistake and err from the truth ; he requires that the o- ther who had the like gift, and so were understanding in the mind of God, should judge of what was spoken by them, no as the church might not be led into any error by them ; let the other judge. Thirdly, That order be observed in their exercise ; and especially that way be given unto any immediate revelation, and no confusion be brought into the church by many speaking at the same time. And this direction manifests that the gift was extraordinary, and is now ceased; though there be a continuance ofordinary gifts of the some kind, and to the same end in the church, as we shall see after- wards, ver. 30. Fourthly, By the observation of this order, the apostle shews, that all theprophets might exer- cise their gill unto the instruction and consolation of the church in a proper season ; such as their frequent as- semblies would afford them, ver. 81. And whereas it may be objected, that these things coming in an extra- ordinary immediate manner from the Holy Ghost, it was not in the power of them who received them, to con- fine them to the order prescribed, which would seem to limit the Holy Spirit in his operations, whereas they were all to speak as the Spirit gave them ability and ut- terance, let what would ensue, the apostle assures them by a general principle, that no such thing would follow on a due use and exercise of this gift. For God, saith he, is not the author ofconfusion, but ofpeace, as in all the churches ofthe saints. ver. 33. As if he should have said; if such a coarse should be taken, that any one should speak and prophecy as he pretended himself to be mo- ved by the Spirit, and to have none to judge of what he said, all confusion, tumult, and disorder would ensue thereon. But God is the author ofnosuch thing, gives no such gifts, appoints no such exerciseof them as would S tend thereunto. But how shall this be prevented, seeing these things are extraordinary, and not in our own power! yea, saith he, the spirit of the prophets, is subject to the prophets, ver. 32. By the spirit of the prophets, that their spiritual gift and ability for its exercise isin- tended, none do question. And whereas the apostle had taught two things concerning the exercise of this gift; (1.) That it ought to be orderly, to avoid confu- sion. (2.) That what proceedeth from it ought to be judged by others ; he manifests that both these may be observed, because the spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets, that is, both their spiritual gift is so in their own power, as that they might dispose themselves unto its exercise with choice and judgment, so as to preserve order and peace, not beingactuated as with an enthusi- astical afflicti0n, and carried out of their own power; this gift in its exercise was subject unto their own judg- ment, choice andunderstanding; so what they expressed by virtue of their spirival gift was subject to bejudged of by the other prophets that were in the church. Thüs was the peace and order ofthe church to be preserved, and the edification of it to be promoted. 25'. Discerningofspirits is the next gift of the Spirit here enumerated, arro, in huo1se6rs suetcaara,, To another the discernings ofspirits; the ability and faculty ofjudg- ing of spirits; the dijudication ofspirits. This gift 1 have upon another occasion formerly given an account of, and therefore shall here but briefly touch upon it. All gospel-administrations were in those days avowedly exe- cuted by virtue of spiritual gifts. Noman then durst set his hand upon this work, but such as either really had, or highly pretended unto a participation of the Holy Ghost. For the administration of the gospel is the dis- pensation of the Spirit. This therefore was pleaded by all in the preaching of the word, whether in private as- semblies, or publicly to th0 world. But it carne also then to pass, as it did in all ages of the church, that where God gave unto any the extraordinary gifts of his Spirit for the reformation or edification of the church, there Satan suborned some to make a pretence thereunto unto its trouble and destruction : so was it under the Old Testament, and so was it foretold, that it should be under the New. So the apostle Peter having declar- ed the nature and excellency, use and certainty of that prophecy which was of old, 2 Peter i. 19, 20, 21. adds thereunto, But therewerefalseprophets also among the 39
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=