90 A DISCOURSE ON fering according to the grace that is given unto us, whe Cher prophecy," &c. It is indifferent as to our present purpose, whether the apostle treat here ofoffices or of duties only. The things ensuing, which are plain and obvious in the text, are sufficient unto the confirmation of what we plead for: (I.) It is the ordinary state ofthe church, its continuance, being planted, its preservation an) edification, that the apostle discourseth about; where- fore what he speaks is necessary unto the church in all ages andconditions. To suppose a church devoid ofthe gifts here mentioned, is to overthrow the whole nature and endof a gospel-church. (2.) That the principle of all administrations in the church-statedescribed, is gifts received from Jesus Christ by his Spirit. For declaring the way whereby the church may be edified, he layeth the foundation of it in this, that to every one of us is grace given according to the measureofthegift ofChrist. For the apostle exhorts those unto whom he speaks, to attend unto those duties whereby the church may be e- dified, and that by virtue of the gifts which they had received. All the whole dutyof any one in the church lies in this, that he act according to the xaq.ea" that he is made partaker of. And what these gopara are, as also by whom they are bestowed, hath been already ful- ly declared. (3.) That these gifts give not only ability f,r duty, but rule and measure unto all works of ser- vice that are to be performed in the church. Every one is to act therein according to his gift, and no otherwise To say that this stateof the church is now ceased, and that another is introduced, wherein all gospel admin- istrations may bemanaged without spiritual gifts, or not by virtue of them, is to say that which, defacto, is true in most places; but whether the true nature of thechurch is not overthrown thereby, is left unto consideration, 1 Peter iv. 10, 11. is a parallel testimony hereunto, and many others to the same purpose might be pleaded, to- gether with that which is the foundation of this whole discourse, Eph. iv. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, &c. Only let it be remembered, that in this discourse, by gifts, 1 do understand those xaqwaeea a ,sv ar xm, those spiritual lar- gesses which are neither absolutely natural endowments, nor attainable by our own industry and diligence. 9. 7thly, These gifts, as they are bestowed unto that end, so they are indispensibly necessary unto gospel ad- ministrations. For, as we have proved, they are spirit- ual, and not legal or carnal; and spiritual administrations THE HOLY SPIRIT, cannot be exercised in a due manner without spiritual gifts: yea, one reason why they are spiritual, and socal- led, is, because they cannot be performed without the aid and assistanceof the Holy Spirit in and by these gifts of his. Had the Lord Christ appointed administrations of another nature, such as were every way suited unto the reason of men, and tobe exercised by the powers thereof, there had been no need of these spiritual gifts : for the spirit of a man knoweth the things of a man, and will both guide and actuate him therein. And where- as these administrations are in their nature, use, signifi- cation, and efficacy, spiritual, it is by spiritual gifts alone that they may be managed. Hence these things do live and dfe together. Where the one is not, there neither will the other be. Thus, when many, perhaps, the most who were outwardly called unto office in the church, began to be carnal in their hearts and lives, and to ne- glect the useof these gifts, neither applying themselves unto the attaining of them, nor endeavouring to excite or increase what they had received, by diligence or con- stant exercise, refusing to trade with the talent commit- ted unto them, they quickly began to wax weary of spir- itual administrations also. Hereon, in compliance with many corrupt affections, they betook themselves unto art outward, carnal, ceremonious worship and administra- tion of ordinances, which they might discharge and per- form without the least aid or assistance of the Holy Ghost, or supply of spiritual gifts. So in the neglect of these gifts, and the loss of them which ensued thereon, lay the beginning of the apostacy of the Christian church as to its outward profession, which was quickly com- pleted by the neglectof the grace of the Spirit, where- by it lost both truth and holiness. Nor could it be otherwise: for, as wehave proved, the outward formawl being of the church, as to its visible profession, de- pends on the receipt and use of them: on their decay, therefore, the church must decay as to its profession, and in their loss is its ruin. And we have an instance in the church of Rome, what various, extravagant, and endless inventions the minds of men will put them upon to keep up a shew of worship, when, by the loss of spirit- ual gifts, spiritual administrations are lost also. This is that which their innumberableforms, modes, sets of rites and ceremonies, seasons of worship, are invented to supply, but to no purpose at all; but only the aggravaa tion of their sin and folly.
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