Owen - BX5085 O84x 1681

Sz Whatfort o f Churches (23 That thole who are called unto theOffice ofthe Minifiry be duely qualified, by their Endowment with Spiritual Gifts for the Dilcharge of their Duty, is fun- damental unto the Miniftry ; That the LordJefus Chrill loth fhll continue hisDifpenfation ofSpiritual Gifts un- to men, to fit and enable them unto the Office and Work of the Miniftry ; that if he doth not do fo, or should at any time ceafe fo to do, the whole Office of the Miniftry muff ceafe, and the Being of the Church with it; that it is altogether ufelefs for any Churches or Perlons to erect an Image ofthe Gofpel Miniftry by out- ward Rites and Ceremonies , without the enlivening formofthefe Spiritual Gifts, I have proved fufliciently in my Difcourfè ofSpiritualGifts and their continuance in the Church. Wherefore a Communication ofSpiritual Gifts peculiarly enablingmen unto the Workof theMiniffry, antecedent unto their folemn Separation unto the Office, in home Good Meafure, is abfolutely neceílàry unto the duecontinuance ofthe Office and its Work; See Ephef. 4. 7, II, 12, 13, 14, 15. To fuppofe that the Lord Chrift doth call and appoint men, unto a certain Office and Work in his Church, fecluding all others from any Intereff in the one or other, and yet not endow them with peculiar Gifts and Arbilities for thedifcharge ofthat Office and Work, is to afcribe that unto him, which is every way, unbecoming his Wifdom and Grace, with his Love unto the Church. But when men look on all Church Order, as a lifelef Machine to be aéfed moved and difpofed by External Rules, Laws, Canons and Orders, without refpecf unto the Atfings of the Spirit ofChrift going before in the Rule of his Word to enli- ven every part ofit, the trueDifciples of Chrift will re- ceive no advantage thereby. (30 It

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