PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 4
John Owen · 278,582 words · 269 reading sections
Section 241
464 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX. own body on the tree," 1 Epist. ii. 24 ; is applied by Matthew unto the curing of diseases and sicknesses, Matt. viii. 16, 17. Now, this was for no other reason but because this healing of diseases was a sign and effect of his bearing our sins, the causes of them ; without a suppositi…
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Miracles ensue in the fifth place: ''Evepyfi/iura duvd/j,tuv, — "Effec- tual working of mighty powers," or " powerful works." For the signi- fication of this word, here rendered "miracles," the reader may con- sult our Exposition on Heb. ii. 4. I shall not thence transcribe what is already declared, nor is any thing ne…
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4. The use of this gift in the church at that time and season was manifold : for the principles which believers proceeded on, and the doctrines they professed, were new and strange to the world, and such as had mighty prejudices raised against them in the minds of men; the persons by whom they were maintained and asser…
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470 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX. therein mistake and err from the truth, he requires that the others who had the like gift, and so were understanding in the mind of God, should judge of what was spoken by them, so as that the church might not be led into any error by them: " Let the other judge." (3.) That order be o…
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472 OF SPIRITUAL gifts. [book IX. be tried, judged, and determined on. And this was the rule of the written word, according to that everlasting ordinance, " To the law and to the testimony : if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them," Isa. viii. 20. This, in all ages, was suffic…
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474 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX. and accomplished towards them, so as they had no farther need or use of it. But now, whereas many unbelievers came occasionally into the assemblies of the church, especially at some freer seasons, for whose conviction the Holy Ghost would for a season continue this gift among believer…
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476 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX. extraordinary cases, to part with the right and use of their temporal goods because they are so ministers of Christ ; though those who are so indeed will not deny but that they ought to use them in a pecu- liar manner unto the glory of Christ and honour of the gospel, be- yond other m…
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478 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX. a work, which until it be engaged in, let men talk what they please of reconciliation, the worst of men will be reviling and persecuting those who are better than themselves unto the end of the world; and this way is, that all churches should endeavour to reduce them- selves unto the …
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Seeing, therefore, this was the design of Christ, this was the nature and work of the gospel which was to be propagated, wherein carnal power and outward force could be of no use, yea, whose exercise was inconsistent with, dishonourable unto, and destructive of the whole design, and wherein the work to be accomplished …
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4S2 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX. unto them in their design. And hence also it was that those who, even after the resurrection of Christ, were inquiring after a temporal kingdom, — wherein, no doubt, a good part of its glory, power, and advantages would fall to their share, as most do who yet continue to dream of such…
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484 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX. accompanying its administration, by virtue of those spiritual gifts; and therefore our apostle shows that when men prophesied, or de- clared the mind of God from the word by the gift of prophecy, unbelievers did " fall down, and, worshipping God, reported that God was in them of a tru…
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4S6 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX. which God so openly avowed. And all these things made way to let in the word into the minds and consciences of men ; where, by its own efficacy, it gave them satisfying experience of its truth and power. From these few instances, whereunto many of an alike nature might be added, it i…
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First, It is declared to be a gift of Christ: Kai aOroc 'iduxs, — " And he himself gave," Eph. iv. 11. It is the great fundamental of all church order, power, and worship, that the gift and grant of Christ is the original of the ministry. If it had not been so given of Christ, it had not beeu lawful for any of the sons…
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490 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX. as that expression, " The lower parts of the earth," may be diversely understood : for the T« xartirspa /asm rrig <y%$, " The lower parts of the earth/' are either the whole earth, — that is, those lower parts of the creation, — or some part of it; for the word "lower" includes a comp…
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5. The eminency of this gift appears in the variety and diversity of the offices and officers which Christ gave in giving of the ministry. He knew there would, and had appointed there should, be a twofold estate of the church, Eph. iv. 11, — (1.) Of its first election and foun- dation; (2.) Of its building and edificat…
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(2.) The Lord Christ giveth and continueth this office by giving spiritual gifts and abilities unto men, to enable them to discharge the duties and perform the work of it. This is that which I principally 494 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX. design to confirm in its proper place, which will immediately ensue. All I shal…
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496 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX. others to act for them, and as it were in their stead, so as that the call to office should yet be valid, and provided the former rules be ob- served, I will not much dispute with any, though I approve only of what maketh the nearest approaches to the primitive pattern that the circum…
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Designing to treat of the spiritual gifts bestowed on the ministry of the church, I have thus far diverted unto the consideration of the ministry itself as it is a gift of Christ, and shall shut it up with a VOL. IV. 32 498 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX. few corollaries. As, — I. Where there is any office erected in …
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500 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX. name of a church, and an outward order that pleaseth and advan- tageth themselves. But outward order, be it what it will, is so far from being the only evidence of the presence of Christ in a church, that when it is alone, or when it is principally required, it is none at all ; and th…
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Fourthly, The gospel is called the ministration of the Spirit, and the ministers of it the ministers of the Spirit: 2 Cor. iii. 6, " Who hath also made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the Spirit ;" not of the " ministration of death," but of that of the " Spirit," which is " glorious,"…
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50i OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX. being of the church, as unto its internal form, depends on the Spirit in his dispensation of grace ; which if you suppose an intercision of, the church must cease. It hath the same dependence on him as to its outward form and profession, upon his communication of gifts; for "no man ca…
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506 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX. dared. 3. That these gifts give not only ability for duty, but rule and measure unto all works of service that are to be performed in the church. Every one is to act therein according to his gift, and no otherwise. To say that this state of the church is now ceased, and that another s…
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508 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [LOOK IX. the Lord Christ is so, and the Spirit himself is so, and all true edifica- tion of the church is so, and so are all the real concerns of the gospel. And so have we, as I hope, confirmed the second part of the work of the Holy Ghost with respect unto spiritual gifts, — namely, his cont…
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510 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX. unto them by Jesus Christ. See Eph. i. 8, 9, hi. 3-6, 18, 19 ; Col. iv. 3. The sole inquiry is, whence we may have this wisdom, seeing it is abundantly evident that we have it not of ourselves. That in gene- ral it is from God, that it is to be asked of him, the Scripture every- Avher…
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512 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX. divide the word aright, unto its proper ends, 2 Tirn. iii. 16, 17. And it is lamentable to consider what shameful work is made for want hereof in the preaching of some men ; yea, how the whole gift is lost, as to its power, use, and benefit. 3. The gift of utterance also belongeth un…
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vol. iv. 3'S 514 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX. of men, I understand not only what they are able of themselves in every instance to perform, but also whatever assistance they may make use of, either of their own finding out or of others'; and by the aids of the Holy Ghost, I intend an especial spiritual gift bestowed …
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From these things it may appear what is the nature, in general, of that skill in the rule of the church which we assert to be a pecu- liar gift of the Holy Ghost. If it were only an ability or skill in the canon or civil law, or rules of men ; if only an acquaintance with the nature and course of some courts, proceedin…
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518 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX. Head, as that through and by not only the "supply of every joint," (which may express either the officers or more eminent members of it,) but the " effectual working of every part," in the exercise of the graces and gifts which the Spirit doth impart to the whole, the body may "edify …
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Secondly, Prayer is a principal means for their attainment. This the apostle directs unto when he enjoins us earnestly to desire the best gifts; for this desire is to be acted by prayer, and no otherwise. Thirdly, Diligence in the things about which these gifts are con- versant. Study and meditation on the word of God…
242 wordsSource & rights
Public-domain historical edition (1850–1870); OCR text from Internet Archive. OCR may contain scanning/transcription errors. Verify quotations against page images when precision matters.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.