38 An Expofition of the CHAP. I. vehiture of him, with powerover allgifts, he makes the bottom of the million of the Apoftles, Matth. 28.18. This hehad as a fruit ofhis fuffering, as a part ofhis purchafe, and it is a choiceportion ofhis Lordship and Kingdom. The End alto why all thefe gifts are given into his power and difpofal, is evident; t. Thepropagation ofhis Gofpel, and confequently the fetting up of his Kingdom in the worlddepends upon them. Thefe are the Arms that he furnifhed his Mef engers withall, when he lent them forth to fight with, to conquer andfubdue the world unto him. And by thefe,they prevailed: By that Spirit ofwifdom and knowledge, prayer, utterance, wherewith they were endowed ; attended where, and when needful, with the extraordinary Of before mention'd,did they accomplifh the work committedunto their charge. Now the LordChrift having a right unto aKingdom and Inheritance given him, which was aétually under pofrnofhit Adverfary, it was neceffary that all thofe arms, wherewith he was to make a conquett of it, fhould be given to his difpofal, zCor. io. 4. Thefe weretheweapons ofibe warfare of hisApofiles and Difciples, which' through Godwere fo mighty to raft down thefirong holds offin and Sathan. Theft are theflings and (tones, before which the Goliahs of the Earth and Hell did fall. This was that power from above, which hepromifed his Apoftles to furnish them withall, when they fhould addrefs themfelves to the conquefi ofthe world, Ads z. S. With their weapons, this furniture for theirwarfare, afen, deJßifedperjms in the eyesof the world, went from Judea unto the ends"ofthe earth, fubduingall things before them to the obedience of their Lord and Maher. And, , 2. By there is his Churchedified; and to that end doth hecontinue to bellow them on men, and will do fo to the end of the world, z Cor. z z. 7, 13, 1 4. Ephef. 4, 8, 9, zo, 1 r, I , 13. Rom. 12. 6, 7, Si z Pet. 3. zo,11. Col.2. 19. And for any to hinder their growth and exercif, is what.in them lies to pulldown the Church ofChri(t, and to fet themfelves againft that teftimony which he gives in the world, that he is yet alive; and that he takes care ofhis Difciples, being, prefent with them according unto his promife. . 3. And by theft means and ways is Godglorified in him and by him; which is the great end ofhis Lordshipover all the gifts ofthe Spirit. That we may a littlebytheway look into our effiecial concernment in there things, the order et-them, and their fubferviency,one to another, may be brieflycontidered. For as Naturalgifs are the foundation of, and lie is au efpecial fubordinatión unto Spiritual, fo are Spiritualgifts enlivened, made cffeetual'and durable by Grace. The principal end ofChrift's bellowing gifts, is the erection ofa Mini/leg in his Church, for the ends before mentioned. And where all theft in their order and mutual fubfer- viency untoone another, are receivedby any, there, and there alone, is a competent fierni tore for the work ofthe Miniftery received. Andwhereanyof them, as to theirwhole kind, arewanting, there isa defet2 in the rerfon, ifnot a nullity as to the Office. Natu- ralgifts andendowments ofmind are fo neceffaryá foundation for any that looks to- wards the workofthe Miniftery, 'that without forne competent meafure ofthem, it is madnefs and folly to entertain thoughts ofany progrefs.Hnlefs unto thefe,Spiritualgifti are inChrift's timefuper-added, the other will benever ofany ufe for the edification of the Church, as having in their own natureandfèries, no efpecial tendency unto that end. Nor will theft toper-added f iritualgifts enable any man to difcharge his duty untoall well-pleating before God, unlefs they alto are quickned and feafoned by Grace. Andwhere there is an intercifion ofthisferiesandoder in any; the defect will quickly appear. Thus fome we fee ofexcellent natural endowments, in their hrft Petting forth in the world, and in their endeavours on that frngle hock; promifing great uffulnefs and excellency in theirway ; who when they fhouldcome to engage in theferviceof the Gofpel, evidence themfelves to be altogether unfurnifhed for the employment they undertake; yea, and to have loft, what before they feemed tohavereceived. Having gone to the utmott length and boundsthat Gifts meerlyNatural could carry them out unto, and not receivingftper-addedSpiritualg fir, which the Spirit ofChrih beftoweth as he pleafeth, n Cor. 12.11. theyfaint inthe way, wither, and become utterly ufelefs. And this for the molt part falleth out, when men either have abufed their naturalgifts to the ferviceoftheir lufts, and inan oppofition to the fimplicity ofthe Gofpel or when they. Pet upon Spiritualthings, and pretend to the fervice ofChrift, meerly in their own ftrength, without dependance on him, as the Heir and Lord of all, for abilities and furniture for his work ; or when they have fomefixed corrupt end and defign to accomplifh and bringabout by apretence ofthe Mini fiery, without regard to the glory of
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