80 A DISCOURSE ON bounty: for the doing so ariseth out of an apprehen- sion, that both men have a power in the church, which is not derived from Christ, and that to impose servants upon him in his house, without his consent, as also that they have more care of the church than he had, who made not such provision for them. And if an examina- tion might be admitted by this rule, as it will, one day, come on, whether men will or no, some great names now in the church would scarce be able to preserve their sta- tion; popes, cardinals, metropolitans, diocesian prelates, arch-deacons, commissaries, officials, and I know not what other monstrousproducts of an incestuousconj unctionbe- tween secular pride and ecclesiastical degeneracy, would think themselves severely treated to be triedby this rule: but so it must beat last, and that unavoidably. Yea, and that no man shall be so hardy, as once to dare attempt the setting up of officers in the church without the to'- thority of Christ; the eminency bf this gift andgrantwf his is declared in sundry particular instances, wherein neither the wisdom, nor skill, nor power of any, or all of the sons of men, can have the least interest, or many thing alike unto them. 4. And this appears, (1.) From the granduer of its introduction, or the great and solemn preparation that was made for the giving out of this gift. It was given by Christ when he ascendedup on high, and led captivity captive, ver. 8. The words are taken from Psalm lxviii. 17, 18. The chariots ofGod are twenty thousand, even thousands ofangels, the Lord is among themas in Sinai in the holyplace. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive, thou hast receivedgiftsfor men, yea,for the rebellious also, that the LordGodmight dwell among then. In the firstplace, the glorious appearance of God on Mount Sinai in giving of the law, his descending and ascending unto that purpose, is intended. But they areap- plied here unto Christ, because all the glorious works of God in and towards the church of old, were either re- presentatory, or gradually introductory of Christ and the gospel. 'l'husthe glorious ascending of God fromMount Sinai after the giving of the law, was a representation of his ascending far above all heavens, to fill all things, as ver. 10. And as God then led captivity captive in the destruction of Pharaohand the Egyptians, whohad long beld his people in captivity, and under cruel bondage: so dealt the Lord Christ now in the destruction andcap- tivity of Satan and all his powers, Col. ii. 15. Only THE HOLY SPIRIT, whereas it is said in the psalm, that he receivedgifts,for men, here it is said, that hegave gifts to men, wherein no small mystery is couched: for, although Christ is God, and is so gloriously represented in the psalm, yet an inti- mation is given, that he should act what is here mention- ed in a condition wherein he was dapable to receive from another, as he did in this matter, Acts i. 2, 3. And so the phrase in the original doth more than insinuate =Ix= rmnn ranS, Thou hast received gifts in Adam, in the man or human nature. And UV, signifies as well to give as to receive, especially when any thing is receiv- ed to be given. Christ received this gift in the human nature to give it unto others. Now, to what end is this glorious theatre, as it were, prepared, and all this preparation made, all men being called to the prepara- tion of it? It was to set out the greatness of the gift he would bestow, and the glory of the work which he would effect. And this was to furnish thechurch with ministers, and ministers with gifts for the discharge of their office and duty. And it will one day appear, that there is more glory, more excellency, in giving one poor minister unto a congregation, by furnishing himwith spi- ritual gifts for the discharge of his duty, than in the pompous instalment of a thousand popes, cardinals, or metropolitans. The worst of men, in the observance of a few outward rites and ceremonies, can do the latter; Christ only can do the former, and that as he is ascended up on high to that purpose. 5. 2dty, It appears to be such an eminent gift from its original acquisition. There was a power acquired by Christ forthis great donation, which the apostle declares, ver. 9. Now that he ascended, what it is but that he also descendedfirst into the lower parts of the earth? Having mentioned theascension of Christ as the immediatecause or fountain of the communication of this gift, ver. 8. he found it necessary to trace it unto its first original. He loth not therefore make mention of the descending into the lower parts of the earth, occasionally,upon that of his ascending, as if he catched at an advantage of a word: nor doth he speak of the humiliation of Christ absolutely in itself, .which he had no occasion for; but heintrodu- ceth it, to shew what respect this gift of the ministry and ministers, of the office, gifts,' and persons, had thereun- to. And Christ's descending into the lower partsof the earth may be taken two ways, according as that expres- sion, the lowerparts of the earth, may be diversely un-
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