AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS. 95 performance of it, depends either on the natural abili- ties of men, or on the aids and operation of the Holy Ghost. By the natural abilities of men, I understand not only what they are able of themselves, in every instance, to perform, but alsowhatever assistance they may make use of either of their own finding out, or of others. And, by the aids of the Holy Ghost, I intend an especial spiritual gilt bestowed on men to this purpose. Now, to suppose that the whole duty of the church herein should consist in the actings of men in their own strength and power, without any especial assistance ofthe Holy Spirit, is to exclude the consideration of hint from those things, with respect whereunto he is principally promised by our Lord Jesus Christ. But what concerned, this gift of the Holy Ghost bath been at large handled by itself already, and must not herebe again insisted on. Taking for granted what is therein sufficiently confirmed, I shall only add, that those who have not received this gift are utterly unfit to undertake the office of the ministry, wherein it is their duty to go before the church in the administration of all ordinances by virtue of these abili- ties. In things civil or secular, it would be esteemed an intolerable solecism, to call and choose a man to the dis- charge of an office or duty, whose execution depended solely on such a peculiar faculty or skill, as he who is so called path no interest in, or acquaintance with: and it will one day appear to be so also in all things sacred and religious, yea, much mure. 8. Thirdly, The rule of the church belongeth unto the Itinisters of it. God path established rule in the church, Rom. xii. 8. 1 Cor. xii. 28. .1 Tim. v. 17. 1 Thess..v. 12. Heb. xiii. 1. 1 dispute not now of what sort this ministry is, nor whether the rule belong unto one sorttalone. It is enough unto mÿ present design, that it is committed by Christ unto the ministers of the church, which are its guides, rulers, and overseers. Nor shall I at present inquire into the particular pow- ers, acts, and duties of this rule. I have done it else- where. I am only now to consider it so far as its exer- cise requireth an especial ministerial gift to be communi- cated by the Holy Ghost. And, inorder thereunto, the things ensuing must be premised: (l.) That this rule is spiritual, and bath nothing in common with the admini- stration of the powers of the world. It bath, I say, no agreement with secular power and its exercise, unless it be in some natural circumstances that inseparablyattend rulers and ruled in any kind. it belongs unto theking- dom of Christ, and the administration of it, which are not of this world. And, as this is well pleaded by some against those who would erect a kingdom for him in the world, and, as far I can understand, of this world, fram- ed in their own imaginations unto a fancied interest of their own; so it is as pleadable against them who pre- tend to exercise the rule and power of his present king- dom after the manner of the potestative administrations ofthe world. When our Saviour f34badc all rule unto his disciples, after the manner of the Gentiles, who then possessed all sovereign power in the world, and told theme that it should not be so with them, that some should be great and exercise dominion over others, but that theyshould serve one another in love, the great- est condescension unto service being- required of them who are otherwise most eminent; he did not intend to take from them, or divest them of that spiritual power and authority in the government of the church which he intended to commit unto them. His design therefore was to declare, what that authority was not, and how it shouldnot be exercised. A lordly or despotical power it was not to be, nor was it to be exercisedby penal laws, courts, and coercive jurisdiction, which was the way of the administration ofall power among the Gentiles. And if that kind of power and rule in the church, which is for the most part exercised in the world, be not forbid- den by our Saviour, no man living can tell what is so. h'or, as to meekness, moderation, patience, equity, right- eousness, they were more easy to be found in the legal administrations of power among the Gentiles, than in these used in many churches. But such a rule is signi- fied unto them, the authority whereof from whence it proceedethwas spiritual, its object the minds and souls of men only, and the wayof whose administrationwas to consist in an humble, holy, spiritual application of the word of God, or rules of the gospel unto them. (2.) The end of this rule is merely and solely the_edifi^atioñ of the church. All the power the apostles themselves had either in ev over the church, was but unto their edifica.. tion, 2Cor. x. S. And the edification of the church con- sists in the increase of faith and obedience in all the members thereof, in the subduing and mortifyingof sin, in fruitfulness in good works, in the confirmation and consolation of them that stand, in the raising up them that are fallen, and the recovery of them that wander,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=