AND SPIRITUA the word of truth, which is committedurto his dispen- sation, aright, or in a due manner. Ministers are stew- ards in the house of God, and dispensers of the myste- ries thereof. And therefore it is required of them, that they give unto all the servants that are in the house, or do belong unto it, a meet portion according unto their wants, occasions, and services, suitable unto the will and wisdom of their Lord and Master, Luke xii. 42, 43. Who is that faithful and wise steward, whom his Master shall make ruler over his household, togive there their por- tion ofmeat in due season. For this giving ofprovision, and a portion of nmat unto the household of Christ, con- sists principally in the right dividing and distribution of the word of truth, It is the taking out from these great stones of it in the scripture, and, as it were, cutting ofa portion suitable unto the various conditions of those in the family. Herein consists the principal skill ofa scribe furnished for the kingdom of heaven, with the wisdom before described, And, without this, a common course ofdispensing orpreaching the word, without difilerencing of persons and truths, however it-may be gilded over with a flourish of words and oratory, is shameful work in the house of God. Now, unto this skill sundry things are required; (1.) A sound judgment, in general,, concern- ing the state and condition of those untowhom any one is so dispensing the word, It is the duty ofa shepherd to know the state of his flock; and unless he do so, he will never feed them profitably. He must know whether they are babes, or young men, orold; whetherthey need milk or strong meat; whether they are skilful or unskil- ful in the word of righteousness; whether they have their senses exercised to discern good and evil, or not; or whether their bearers are mixed with all these sorts. 'Whether, in the j. :gment of charity, they are convert- ed unto God, or are yet in an unregenerate condition? What probably are their principal temptations, their hinderances and furtherances; what is their growth or decay in religion? He that is not able to make a com- petent judgment concerning these thifigs, and the other circumstances of the flock, so as to be steered thereby in his work, will never evidence himself to be a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. (2.) An acquaintance with the ways and methods of the work of God's grace on the minds and hearts ofmen, that he maypursue and comply with its design in the ministry of the word. No- thing is by many more despised, than-an understanding 0 A L GIFTS. DS hereof; yet is nothing more necessary to the workof the ministry. The word of the gospel, as preached, is veki- edam grathe, and ought to be ordered so, as it may com- ply with its design in its whole work on the souls of men. He therefore who is unacquainted with the ordi- nary methods of the operation of grace, fights uncertain- ly in his preaching of the word, like a man beating of the air. It is true, God can, and often doth, direct a word of truth, spoken, as it were, at random, unto a proper effect of grace on some or other, as it was when the man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Is- rael between the joints of the harness. But ordinarily a man is not like to hit a joint, who knows not how to take his aim. (3..) An acquaintance with the nature of temptation, with the especial hinderances of faith and obedience, which -may befal those unto whom the word is dispensed, is in like mannerrequired hereunto. Many things might be added on this head, seeing a principal part of ministerial skill cloth consist herein, (4.) A right understanding of the nature of spiritual diseases, disteme pers, and sicknesses, with their proper cures and reme, dies, belongeth hereunto. t'or the want hereof the hearts of the wicked are oftentimes made glad in the preaching of the word, and those of the righteous filled with sor- row ; the hands of sinners are strengthened, and those who are looking towards God are discouraged or turned out of theway. And where men either know not these things, or donot, or cannot apply themselves skilfully to distribute the word, according to this variety ofoccasion, they cannot give the household its portion of meat in season, And he that wants this spiritual gift, will never divide the word aright unto its proper ends, 2 Tim. iii. 1G, 17. And it is lamentable toconsider what shameful work is made for want hereof in the preaching of some men t yea, how the whole gift is lost, as to its power, use, and benefit, 5, Thirdly, The gift of utterance also. belongeth un- to this part of the ministerial duty in the dispensationof the doctrine of the gospel. This is particularly reckon- edby the apostle among the gifts of the Spirit, 1 Cor, i. 5. 2 Cor. viii. 5. And he desires the prayers of the church, that the gift may abide with Izinzself, and abound in hint, Eph. vi. 19. . And he there declares, that the nature of it consists in the opening of the mouth boldly to snakeknown the mysteries ofthe gospel: As also, Col, iv. 3. Now, this utterance doth not consist in anatural *0
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