[3.] There is a diversity as to the measure and degrees. Every barque that saileth to heaven doth not draw a like depth : there is ' the measure of the gift of Christ,' Eph. iv. 7 ; and ' the measure of every part,' ver. 16. To some it may be said, ' Great is thy faith ;' to others, ' 0 ye of little faith ! ' Some are fathers, some young men, some babes in Christ, 1 John ii. ]3, 14; and in heaven there are degrees of glory suitable.
[4.] That this diversity cometh from the same free love of God, and therefore not to be used contrary to the mind of the giver. This is the free gift of God, flowing from his undeserved grace, there being nothing foreseen in any that can merit the least good at God's hand : 1 Cor. iv. 7, ' Who made thee to differ ?' Kom. xii. 35, ' For of him, and through him, and to him are all things.' The sun oweth nothing to the stars, nor the fountain to the streams.
[5.] Our account must be answerable to our receipts ; there is a proportion of return expected : Hezekiah rendered not according to what he received. They that have received much shall account for much ; and they that have received little shall account for little : he that received five talents must look to reckon for five : as he com- forted his friend that had but one eye, that he should account but for the sins of one eye.
Now for the reasons of this diversity.
1. To show the liberty of his counsels. Christ may do with his own as he pleaseth ; he will be known to be the sovereign Lord in the distribution of his gifts, and giving out his grace to his creatures as he shall see good : Mat. xi. 26, ' Even so, Father ; for so it seemeth good in thy sight ; ' 1 Cor. xii. 11, ' For all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, distributing to every man severally as he will' Not as you will, but as he will. The Spirit is compared to wind, not only
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for its force, but its liberty, John iii. 8 ; when and how he pleaseth. To some he giveth riches, to some gifts, common knowledge and utterance ; some have this gift, some that ; some in a lower measure, some in a higher ; some have a peculiar excellency in gifts and graces, others only the common sincerity.
2. That all may know that all fulness is only in himself, Col. i. 19. The greatest degree of gifts and graces that God bestoweth upon any is far below that fulness that is in Christ ; they have a measure, but Christ without measure, John iii. 34. He giveth to none so much but there is always something wanting ; and they that have received most are capable of receiving more.
3. God will have this difference for the beauty and order of the whole : variety is more grateful. Hills and valleys make the world beautiful ; so do distinct orders, ranks, and degrees of men. All eye or all belly is monstrous ; difference with proportion maketh beauty ; therefore one excelleth another, and several gifts and ranks there are for the service of the whole.
4. That every one in the sight of his own wants may be kept humble. When we are singular for any excellency, we are apt to grow proud and unsociable ; the eye is apt to say to the hand or foot, ' I have no need of thee,' 1 Cor. xii. 21. Every man hath something to commend him to the respect of others ; therefore God hath so scattered his gifts that every one should need another, that we may have the use of that gift which we have not the possession of.
[1.] To maintain love and mutual respect, and that there might be no schism in the body. The apostle saith, Eph. iv. 16, ' The whole body compacted and joined together by that which every part supplieth.'
[2.] Diversity of gifts was most intended, not to dissolve the bonds of union, but to strengthen them rather ; and therefore the apostle, when he had reckoned up the bonds of union, he presently addeth, ' But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ/ Eph. iv. 7. First he speaketh of what is one in all, and then of those things which are not one in all, but diverse in every one. Every one hath his distinct excellency to endear him to the respects of others. Diversity of gifts are an ordinary occasion of division and strife ; contempt, envy, pride, discouragement ariseth from hence, but in itself one of the strongest bonds of union ; whilst all in their way contribute to the good of the whole, and make use of that excellency in another which themselves want, and we mutually communicate to one another our benefits. As divers countries have divers commodities, and one needeth another ; one aboundeth with wines, some have spices, others have skins, and commodities in other kinds, that by commerce and traffic there might be society maintained among mankind ; so God in his church hath given to one gifts, to another grace, to maintain a holy society and spiritual commerce among themselves.