3. That which those who pretend unto moderation in this matter plead is, that "prayer itself is a commanded duty; but praying by or with a prescribed form is only an outward manner and circumstance of it, which is indifferent, and may or may not be used, as we see occasion ; " — and might a general rule to this purpose be duly estab- lished, it would be of huge importance. But, (1.) It is an easy thing to invent and prescribe such outward forms and manner of outward worship as shall leave nothing of the duty prescribed but the empty name. (2.) Praying before an image, or worshipping God or Christ by an image, is but an outward mode of worship, yet such as renders the whole idolatrous. (3.) Any outward mode of worship, the at- tendance whereunto or the observance whereof is prejudicial unto the due performance of the duty whereunto it is annexed, is inex- pedient; and what there is hereof in the present instance must be judged from the preceding discourse.
TWO DISCOURSES
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THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS WORK:
THE ONE,
OF THE SPIRIT AS A COMFORTER;
THE OTHEE,
AS HE TS THE AUTHOR OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS.
PREFATORY NOTE.
The two following discourses appeared posthumously in 1693. According to a statement of the author at the beginning of them, they complete his design in this exposition of the work of the Holy Spirit. The discourse on his office as a Comforter is valuable, from the exposition of several interesting texts ; but the author gives us to understand that it is to be taken in connection with what he has written elsewhere on this office of the Spirit, and he refers especially to his works on Communion with God, and on the Per- severance of the Saints. See vols. n. and xi. The discourse on Spiritual Gifts, though comparatively short, is the second part of the main body of the whole work on the Spirit ; and, from various allusions to it in other works of the author, he seems to have attached considerable importance to it. See vol. xv. p. 249.
ANALYSIS OF THE FIRST TREATISE.
In the work of the Spirit as a Comforter, there fall to be considered, — I. His especi.il office as such; II. His discharge of it ; and, III. The effects of it towards believers.
I. In his office, there are implied an especial trust, mission, name, and work, chap. i.
II. The general properties of this office, as discharged by the Holy Spirit, are unfolded : — 1. Infinite condescension ; 2. Unspeakable love ; 3. Infinite power ; and, 4. Unchangeable continuance with the church, n.
III. In regard to his effects on believers, it is first proved that his effectual consolations are the privilege of believers exclusively, in. And some of his operations in them as such, and of the benefits which they in consequence enjoy, are specified. His operations in them generally are unfolded under the head of the " inhabitation of the Spirit ;" which is first discriminated from erroneous views respecting it, and then proved from Scrip- ture, iv. Among the special benefits indicated are, — 1. The unction of the Spirit, v.; 2 The sealing of the Spirit, expounded in a brief comment onEph. i 13, iv. 30, vi.; and, 3. The Spirit as an earnest, considered in reference to 2 Cor. i. 22, v. 5, Eph. i. 14. An applica- tion of the preceding truths concludes the treatise, vir.
ANALYSIS OF THE SECOND TREATISE.
The dispensation of the Spirit for the edification of the church is twofold; including, first, the bestowal of saving grace ; and, secondly, the communication of spiritual gifts. The former has already been considered in books in.-vm. of this work on the dispen- sation of the Spirit. The latter, spiritual gifts, as distinguished from saving graces, it is proposed to discuss in reference to the following points : — 1. Their name ; 2. Their nature in general ; 3. Their distribution ; 4. Their particular nature ; and, 5. Their use in the church of God. Some remarks are made on their name, chap. i. Their nature gene- rally is considered with reference, — 1. To their points of agreement with saving graces, (1.) They are both the purchase of Christ ; (2.) They agree in their immediate efficient cause — the Holy Spirit; (3.) In the end contemplated, — the good of the church ; and, (4.) In the bounty of Christ, as their source. 2. The points of difference are, — (1.) Saving graces are the fruit, gifts are but the effects of the Spirit ; (2.) Saving graces are the fruit of electing love ; (3.) The result of the covenant ; and, (4.) Have respect unto the priestly office of Christ ; (5.) Gifts and graces differ as to their ultimate issue, the former being sometimes lost, the latter never ; (6.) Saving graces are imparted directly for the benefit of those who receive them, and gifts for the benefit of others ; and, (7. ) They differ, finally and chiefly, in their subjects, operations, and effects, ii. Gifts are distributed into, — 1. Gilts implying powers and duties conjoined ; and, 2. Gifts qualifying for duties simply. 1. Of the former, a subdivision is made into gifts extraordinary and ordinary : — (1.) Extraor- dinary gifts constituted extraordinary officers — apostles, evangelists, and prophets, m. The gifts themselves, in virtue of which they exercised these extraordinary offices, are, first, powers exceeding the natural faculties of their minds; and, secondly, the special enlargement and adaptation of their natural faculties for their work : these are consi- dered in an exposition of 1 Cor. xii. 7-11, iv. The origin, cluration,_use, and end, of ex- traordinary gifts are considered, v. (2.) The ordinary gifts are viewed in relation to the Christian ministry, the eminent value of which is seen from the grandeur of its in- troduction, from its original acquisition, from the immediate cause of its actual com- munication, from its own nature, from the variety of offices in it, and from the end designed by it, vi. The reality of the spiritual gifts requisite for the discharge of the ministerial office is proved, from the promise of Christ, Matt, xxviii. 20; the presence of Christ by the Spirit; the covenant promise of the Spirit, Isa. lix. 21; the inane given to the gospel, "The ministration of the Spirit ;" the end for which the Spirit is pro- mised, administered, and continued; the plain assertions of Scripture; the indispens- able necessity for them: and from the actual enjoyment and experience of them, vn. These gifts are enumerated : first, as respects doctrine,— wisdom, skill in the division of the word, and utterance ; secondly, as respects the worship of God ; and, thirdly, as re- spects the rule of the church. 2. The ordinary gifts of the Spirit, qualifying for duties only, are alluded to ; but the previous discussions are held to supersede the necessity r f any full consideration of them. A brief inquiry ensues into the manner in which v,e may come to participate iu these gifts, ministerial or more private, viii.— Ed.