internal effectual operation, are from him alone; Acts xx. 28. (3.) The outward way and order whereby a church may call any person unto the office of the ministry among them and over them, is by their joint solemn submission unto him in the Lord, as unto all the powers and duties of this office, testified by their choice and election of him. It is concerning this outward order that all the world is filled with disputes about the call of men unto the ministry, which yet in truth is of the least concernment therein. For whatever manner or order be observed herein, if the things before mentioned be not premised thereunto, it is of no validity or authority. On the other hand, grant that the authority of the ministry dependeth on the law, ordinance, and institution of Christ, that he calls men unto this office by the collation of spiritual gifts unto them, and that the actings of the church herein is but an instituted moral means of communicating office-power from Christ himself unto any; and let but such other things be observed as the light and law of nature requireth in cases of an alike kind, and the outward mode of the churches acting herein need not much be contended about. It may be proved to be a beam of truth from the light of nature, that no man should be imposed on a church for their minister against their wills, or without their express consent; considering that his whole work is to be conversant about their understandings, judgments, wills, and affections; and that this should be done by their choice and election, as the Scripture doth manifestly declare; Numb. viii. 9, 10. Acts i. 23. 26. vi. 35. xiv. 23. so that it was for some ages observed sacredly in the primitive churches, cannot modestly be denied. But how far any people or church may commit over this power of declaring their consent and acquiescency unto others to act for them, and as it were in their stead, so as that the call to office should yet be valid, provided the former rules be observed, I will not much dispute with any, though I approve only of what maketh the nearest approaches to the primitive pattern that the circumstances of things are capable of. (4.) The Lord Christ continueth his bestowing of this gift, by the solemn ordinance of setting apart those who are called in the manner declared, by fasting and prayer, and imposition of hands;' Acts xiv. 23. xiii. 2. 1 Tim. iv. 14. By these means, I say, doth the Lord

Christ continue to declare, that he accounts men faithful, and puts them into the ministry, as the apostle speaks; 1 Tim. i. 12.

There are yet remaining sundry things in the passage of the apostle, which we now insist on, that declare the eminency of this gift of Christ, which may yet be farther briefly considered. As,

6. The end why it is bestowed; and this is expressed, (1.) Positively, as to the good and advantage of the church there by; ver. 12. (2.) Negatively, as to its prohibition and hinderance of evil; ver. 14. In the end of it as positively expressed, three things may be considered. [1.] That it is πpòc ròv καταρτισμὸν τῶν ἁγίων, that is, for the gathering of the saints into complete church order. The subject matter of this part of their duty is the saints, that is, by calling and profession; such as are all the disciples of Christ. And that which is ef fected towards them is Karaprioμòs, their coagmentation, jointing or compacting into order. So the word signifies, Gal. vi.l. And this effect is here declared; ver. 16. It is true, the saints mentioned may come together into some initial church order, by their consent and agreement to walk together in all the ways of Christ, and in obedience unto all his institutions, and so become a church essentially before they have any ordinary pastor or teacher, either by the conduct of extraor dinary officers, as at first, or through obedience unto their word; whence elders were ordained among those who were in church-state, that is, thus far before; Acts xiv. 23. but they cannot come to that perfection and completeness which is designed unto them. That which renders a church completely organical, the proper seat and subject of all gospel worship and ordinances, is this gift of Christ in the ministry.

A

But it may be asked, Whether a church before it come unto this karaρriouós, or completeness, before it hath any minister in office, or have by any means lost the ministry among them, may not delegate and appoint some one or more from among themselves for to administer all the ordinances of the gospel among them, and unto them, and by that means make up their own perfection?

[2.] The church being so completed, these officers are given unto it for the work of the ministry:' this expression is comprehensive, and the particulars included in it are not

in this place to be inquired into. It may suffice unto our present purpose to consider that it is a work, not a preferment; and a work they shall find it, who design to give up a comfortable account of what is committed unto them. It is usually observed, that all the words whereby the work of the ministry is expressed in the Scripture, do denote a peculiar industrious kind of labour: though some have found out ways of honour and ease to be signified by them. And, [3.] both these are directed unto one general issue. It is all siç οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ σώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ, Unto the edification of the body of Christ.' Not to insist on the metaphors that are in this expression, the excellency of the ministry is declared in that, the object of its duty and work is no other but the body of Christ himself; and its end, the edification of this body, or its increase in faith and obedience, in all the graces and gifts of the Spirit, until it comes unto conformity unto him, and the enjoyment of him. And a ministry which hath not this object and end, is not of the giving or grant of Christ.

(2.) The end of the ministry is expressed negatively, or with respect unto the evils which it is ordained for our deliverance from, ver. 14. [1.] The evil which we are hereby delivered from, is the danger of being perniciously and destructively deceived by false doctrines, errors, and heresies, which then began, and have ever since in all ages continued to infest the churches of God. These the apostle describes, 1st. From the design of their authors, which is to deceive.' 2dly. Their diligence in that design, 'They lay in wait to accomplish it.' 3dly. The means they use to compass their end, which are, sleights and cunning craftiness,' managed sometimes with impetuous violence, and thence called a 'wind of doctrine;' and, [2.] The means hereof is our deliverance out of a child-like state, accompanied with, 1st. Weakness; 2dly. Instability; and, 3dly. Wilfulness. And sad is the condition of those churches which either have such ministers as will themselves toss them up and down by false and pernicious doctrines, or are not able by sound instructions to deliver them from such a condition of weakness and instability, as wherein they are not able to preserve themselves from being in these things imposed on by the 'cunning sleights of men that lie in wait to deceive.' And as this ministry is

always to continue in the church, ver. 13. so it is the great means of influencing the whole body, and every member of it into a due discharge of their duty, unto their edification in love; ver. 15, 16.

Designing to treat of the spiritual gifts bestowed on the ministry of the church, I have thus far diverted into the consideration of the ministry itself, as it is a gift of Christ, and shall shut it up with a few corollaries. As, 1. Where there is any office erected in the church, that is not in particular of the gift and institution of Christ, there is a nullity in the whole office, and in all administrations by virtue of it. 2. Where the office is appointed, but gifts are not communicated unto the person called unto it, there is a nullity as to his person, and a disorder in the church. 3. It is the duty of the church to look on the ministry as an eminent grant of Christ, with valuation, thankfulness, and improvement. 4. Those who are called unto this office in due order, labour to approve themselves as a gift of Christ; which it is a shameless impudence for some to own who go under that name. 5. This they may do in labouring to be furnished, [1.] with gracious qualifications. [2.] Useful endowments. [3.] Diligence and laborious travail in this work. [4.] By an exemplary conversation; in, [1.] Love. [2.] Meekness. [3.] Selfdenial. [4.] Readiness for the cross, &c.

CHAP. VII.

Of spiritual gifts enabling the ministry to the exercise and discharge
of their trust and office.

UNTO the ministry so given unto the church, as hath been declared, the Holy Ghost gives spiritual gifts enabling them unto the exercise and discharge of the power, trust, and office committed unto them. Now, although I am not thoroughly satisfied what men will grant or allow in these days, such uncouth and bold principles are continually advanced among us, yet I suppose it will not, in words at least, be denied by many, but that ministers have, or ought to have, gifts for the due discharge of their office. To some, indeed, the very name and word is a derision, because it is a name and notion peculiar to the Scripture. Nothing is more contemptible unto them than the very mention of the gifts of the Holy Ghost; at present I deal not with such directly, though what we shall prove will be sufficient for their rebuke, though not for their conviction. Wherefore, our inquiry is, whether the Spirit of God doth effectually collate on the ministers of the gospel, spiritual gifts, enabling them to perform and effect evangelical administrations, according to the power committed unto them, and duly required of them, unto the glory of Christ and edification of the church. It is moreover inquired whether the endowment of men with these spiritual gifts in a degree and measure suited unto public edification, be not that which doth materially constitute them ministers of the gospel, as being antecedently necessary unto their call unto their office. These things, I say, are to be inquired into, because in opposition unto the first it is affirmed, that these supposed gifts are nothing but mere natural abilities attained by diligence, and improved by exercise, without any especial respect unto the working of the Holy Ghost, at least otherwise than what is necessary unto the attaining of skill and ability in any human art or science, which is the ordinary blessing of God on man's honest endeavours. And to the other it is opposed, that a lawful ordinary outward call is sufficient to constitute any man a lawful minister, whether he have re'ceived any such gifts as those inquired after or no. Where