V E R. t, Z. Epifile to the H E BR E WS. this Life ; as Wifdom, Learning, skill and cunning in Arts and Sciences : I call. them Natural, in refped ofthe Objeds that they are exercifed about, which are 7à Ri rixa, things of this life, asalto in refped oftheir End andIlk. They arenot alwaysfä, as to their rife and fpring, but may be immediately infrsfed, as Wifdom was into Solomon, for Civil Government, r King. 9. 12. and skillfor all manner of Mechanical Operati- ons into Bezaleel, Exod. 31. z, 3, 6. But how far theft gifts-are educed in an ordinary courfeofProvidence, out of their hiddenfeeds and principles in nature, in a jut} con- nexion' of Caucsand Effects, and fo fall under acertain Luw ofAcquifrtioit, or what theremay beof the Interpofition ofthe Spirit of God in an efpecial manner, imme- diately conferring themon any, falls not under our prefent confideration of them. Not yet can we infll on their life, which is fuck, that they are thegreat Inftrisment in the hand ofGod for the prefervation ofHumane Society, and to keep the court of mans life and pilgrimage from being wholly bruitifh. I delign only to thew, that even they alío belong ( though more remotely ) tothe Lordfhip of Jefus Chrift; which they do on twoaccounts; i.'Inthat the very ufe ofmens Rearm, and their natural faculties, as to anygood end pr purpofe, is continued unto them upon theaccount ofhis Interp J tion, bringing the world thereby under a difpenfation of patience and forbearance, as was declared, yob. ,. 9. 2. He is enduedwithPower and Authorityto ufe them, in whofe hand foever they lie, whether òfhisfriends or enemies, to theefpecial Ends of his Glory, in doing good unto his Church. And indeed in the Efficacy ofhis Spirit and Power upon the Gifts ofthe minds ofmen, exciting, ordering, difpofng,enabling them unto various Adings andOperations, byand with them ; controuling, over-ruling, entangling eachother, and themfelves in whom they are by them, his Wifdom and carein the Rule, Govern- ment, Chaflifement, and Deliverance ofhis Church, are molt confpicuous: Ili. 2. Spiritual Gifts, which principallycome under that Denomination are Of two fórts; Extraordinary, and'Ordinary. The fin's are immediate Endowments of the minds of men withAbilitiesexceeding the whole Syfieme of Nature, in the exercife whereof they are meet Inftruments ofhim who bellows thofe gifts upon them. Such Ofold were the Gifts ofMiracles, Tongues, Healing, Predidion, and infallible Infpiration, given out by the-Lord Chrift unto fuck as he was pleafed toufe inhis Goff+el fervice in an Extraordinary manner. The latter fort areFurni/bmenrsof the minds ofmen,enabling them unto the Comprehenfion offpiritualthings, and the management ofthem forj iritual Ends andpurpofes.Such are Wifdom,Knowledge,Prudence,ütterance,Aptnefs to teach; in general, Abilities to manage the things ofChrift and theGape], unto their own pro- per ends. And thefe alto ,are oftwoforts. t.Suchas are peculiar unto Office; and, z. Such as are common unto others for their own and others Good and Edification, ac- cordingas they are called unto the exercifeofthem. And thefe two forts ofGifts differ only inrefped of degrees. There are no ordinaryGifts that Chrift's Officers are made partakers of, theirOffice only excepted, whichdiffers in the kndor nature ofthem from thofe which hebellows on all his Difeiples: which makes their furring up, and en- deavoursto improve the Gifts they have received exceeding necelfary unto them. And Chriff'scollation of thefe Gifts unjo men, is the foundation ofall the Offices that under him they are called todifcharge. See Ephef.4. 8, 11. t Cor. 12.7. job. 20. 21, 22. Andas they are the fpring and foundation of Office, fo they are the great and only means of the Churches edification. By them Chrift builds up his Church, to the mea- fure appointed unto the whole and every memberofit. And there is no Member but bathits Gift: which is the Talent given, or rather lent, to trade withal!. Now of all thefe Chrif} istheonly Lord, theybelong unto his Kingdom. Pfal. 68.18. nnp4 01Na nunn, when he afcended onhigh, he took, or received gifts for man ; hé tooltthem into his own power anddilpofal, being given himof his Father : as Peter, declares, Ad.2. 33. adding, that he received the Spirit, by whom all thefe gifts 'are wroug'lrt. And EpheC4.8,the Apof}le renders thewords ofthe Pfalmill, thxed'5µa1a, be gavegifts s becaufe he received them into his power, not to keep them unto himfelf, but togive them out to theufe ofothers. And fo r t't dotti fometimesLiignifie togive. Hof14. 2. Verbum accipiendi darefgnificat cumaccipiunt alitende ut dent, fay the yerniyh Matters. And it was after his Refurreelion,that this acceflionwas made unto his King- dom, in fach an eminent andvilble manner as to be a tellimony ofhis Office, fob. 7. 39. ëuu ñv aveduaäy,.v, the holy Ghoft was not yet, becaufe Jefus was not yet glorified i not eminentlygiven, ihd received,as to theft gifts, Ads 19, 2. And this in- A a a a vefiture
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