AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS. continuance ofthe ministry, is so clearly and fully repre- sented. And the end of this wholediscourse is to declare, that the gift and grant of the ministry, and ministers, of the office, and the persons to discharge it, is an eminent, most useful fruit and effect of the mediatory power of Christ, with his love and care towards his church. And those ofwhom the apostle speaks, (unto every one ofús) are the officers or ministers whom he doth afterwards enumerate, although the words may, in some sense, be extended unto all believers; but, principally, the mini- stry and ministers of the church are intended. And it is said, unto them, is grace given. It is evident, that by grace here, not sanctifying, saving grace is intended, but a participation of a gracious favour with respect to an especial end t so the word is frequently used in this case by our apostle, Rom. xv. 15. Gal. ii. 9. Eph. iii. 8. 'Ih'is gracious favour we are made partakers of; this trust is freely, in a way of grace, committed unto us, And that according to the measureofthe gift of Christ, unto every one according as the Lord Christdoth mea- sure the gift of it freely out unto them. Thus, in gene- ral was the ministry granted unto the church, the parti- cular account whereof is given in the ensuing verses. And, 3. First, It is declared to be a giftof Christ. ax, ceros á,axc, And he himself gave, ver. 11. It is the great fun.. damental of all church order, power, and worship,. that the gift and grant of Christ is the original of the mini- stry. If it had not been so given of Christ, it had not been lawful for any of the sons of men to institute such an office, or appoint such officers. Ifany had attempted so to do, as there would have been a nullity in what they did, so their attemptwould have been expressly a- gainst the headship of Christ, or his supreme authority over the church. Wherefore, that he would thus give ministers of the church waspromised of old, Jer. iii. 15. as well as signally foretold in the psalm from whence these words are taken. Andas his doing of it is an act of his mediatory power, as it is declared in this place, and Matth. xxviii. 18. so it was a fruit of his care, love, and bounty, 1 Cor. ii. 21, 22. And it will hence follow, not only, that offices in the church, which are not of Christ's giving by institution, and officers that are not of gift, grant, by provision and furnishment, have indeed no place therein, but also that they areset up in opposi- lion unto his authority, and in contempt ofhis care and absolutely extraordinary, did exceed the whole power and faculties of the souls of men, as heatings, tongues, and miracles; for otherwise they are of the same nature with most of those gifts which were bestowed on the apostles and evangelists, differing only in degree. Every true gospel ministry hath now gifts ofthe same kind with the apostles, in a degree and measure sufficient to their work, excepting those mentioned. (2.) Because oftheir continuance in the ordinary state of the church, which also they shall do unto the consummation of all things. Now, my design is to treat peculiarly of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. But because there is a gift of Christ which is the foundation and subject of them, some- thing must be spoken brieflyunto that, in thefirst place. And this, gift of Christ is that of the ministry of the church, the nature of which office I shall not consider at large, but only speak unto it, as it is a gift of Christ. And this 1 shall do by some little illustration given unto that passage of the apostle, where this gift, and the communication of it, is declared, Eph. iv. 7. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. s But unto everyone of us is given grace according to the measureof the gift of Christ. Whereforehesaith, when he ascended upon high he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts ofthe earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things,) and he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pas- tors, and teachers, for theperfecting ofthe saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity ofthe faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. That we henceforth be no more tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive ; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things which is the head, even Christ; from whom the whole body fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, accord- ing unto the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in love. 2. There is no other place of scripture, wherein, at one view, the grant, institution, use, benefit, end, and 179
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