96 A DISCOURSE ON in the growth and flourishing of mutual love and peace; and whatever rule is exercised in the church unto any other end, is foreign to the gospel, and tends only to the destruction of the church itself. (3.) In the way and manner of the administration of this rule and govern- ment, two things may be considered: (I.) What is inter- nal in the qualifications of the minds of them by whom it is to be exercised. Such arewisdom, diligence, love, meekness, patience, and the like evangelical endow- ments. (2.) What is external, or what is the outward rule of it, and this is the word and law of Christ alone, as we have elsewhere declared. 9. From these things it may appear, what is the na- ture, in general, of that skill in the rule of the church, which we assert to be a peculiar gift of the Holy Ghost, If it were only an ability or skill in the canon or civil law, or rules of men; ifonly an acquaintance with the nature and course of some courts proceeding litigiously by citations, processions, legal pleadings, issuing in pecu- niary mulcts, outward coercions, or imprisonments, I should willingly acknowledge that there is no peculiar gift of the Spirit of God required thereunto. But the nature of it being, as we have declared, it is impossible it should beexercised aright without the especial assistance of the Holy Ghost. Is any man of himself sufficient for these things? Will any man undertake of himselfto know the mind of Christ in all occasions of the church, and to administer thepower of Christ in them, and about them? Wherefore the apostle, in many places, teacheth that wisdom, skill, and understanding to administer theautho- rity ofChrist in the church unto itsedification with faith- fulness and diligence, are an especial gift of the Holy Ghost, Rom. xii. 6, 8. f Cor. xii. 28. It is the HolyGhost which makes the elders of the church its bishops or o- verseers, by calling them to their office, Acts xx. 28. And what he calls any man unto, that he furnisheth him with abilities for the discharge of. And so have we given a briefaccount of these ordinary gifts which the Holy Ghost communicates unto the constant ministry of the church, and will do so unto the consummation of all things; having, moreover, in our passage manifested the dependence of the ministry on this work ofhis; so that we need no addition of pains todemonstrate, that where he goeth not before in the communication of them, no outward order, call, or constitutionis sufficient to make any one a minister of the gospel. THEHOLY SPIRIT, 10. There are gifts which respect duties only. Such are those which the Holy Ghost continues to communi- cate unto all the members of the church in a great va- riety of degrees, according to the places and conditions which they are in unto their own and the church's edi- fication. There is no need that we should insist upon them in particular, seeing they are of the same stature with them which are continued unto the ministers of the church, who arc required to excel in them, so as to be able togo before the whole church in their exercise, The Spirit of the gospel was promised by Christ unto all his disciples, unto all believers, unto the whole church, and not unto the guides ofit only. To them he is so in an especial manner, with respect unto their office, power, and duty, but not absolutely or only. As he is the Spirit of grace, he quickens, animates, and unites the whole body of the church, and all the membersof it, in and unto Christ Jesus, 1 Cor. xii. 12, Ia. And, as he is the administrator of all supernatural gifts,. hefurnisheth the whole body, and all its members, with spiritual abilities unto its edification, Eph. iv. 19, 1G Col. ii. 19. And, without them in some measure or degree, ordinarily, we are not able to discharge our duty uuto the glory of God. For, I1. (I.) These gifts area great means and help to ex- cite and exercise grace itself, without which it will be lifeless, and apt to decay. Men grow in grace by the due exercise of their own giftsand duties, Wherefore every individual person, onhis own account, doth stand in need of themwith respect to the exercise and improvement of grace, Zech. xii. 10. (2.) Most men have, it may be, such duties incumbent on them with respect unto others, as they cannot discharge aright without the especial aid of theSpirit of God in this kind,. So is it with all them . who have families to take care of and provide for. For, ordinarily, they are bound to instruct their children and servants in the knowledge of the Lord, and togo befbre them in that worship which God requires of them, as A- braham did, the father of the faithful. And hereunto some spiritual abilities are requisite: for none can teach others more than they know themselves, nor perform spiritual worship without some spiritualgifts, unless they will betake themselves unto such shifts as we have be-. fore, on good grounds, rejected. (3.) Every member, of a church, in order, according to the mind of Christ, possesseth some place, use, and office in thebody, which,
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