426 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX.
nent gifts, did yet all of thern come short of John the Baptist, be- cause they had not, by virtue of their gifts, that acquaintance with the person of Christ and insight into his work of mediation that he had; and yet also he came short of him that is " least in the king- dom of heaven," because his gifts were not purely evangelical Where- fore, those gifts whereof we treat are such as belong unto the king- dom of God erected in an especial manner by Jesus Christ after his ascension into heaven; for he was exalted that he might fill all things, r& iravra, that is, the whole church, with these effects of his power and grace. The power, therefore, of communicating these gifts was granted unto the Lord Christ as mediator, by the Father, for the foundation and edification of his church, as it is expressed, Acts ii. 33 ; and by them was his kingdom both set up and propagated, and is preserved in the world. These were the weapons of warfare which he furnished his disciples withal when he gave them commis- sion to go forth and subdue the world unto the obedience of the gospel, Acts i. 4, 8; and mighty were they through God unto that purpose, 2 Cor. x. 3-6. In the use and exercise of them did the gospel " run, and was glorified/' to the ruin of the kingdom of Satan and darkness in the world. And that he was ever able to erect it again, under another form than that of Gentilism, as he hath done in the anti- christian apostasy of the church visible, it was from a neglect and contempt of these gifts, with their due use and improvement. When men began to neglect the attaining of these spiritual gifts, and the exercise of them, in praying, in preaching, in interpretation of the Scripture, in all the administrations and whole worship of the church, betaking themselves wholly to their own abilities and inventions, accommodated unto their ease and secular interest, it was an easy thing for Satan to erect again his kingdom, though not in the old manner, because of the light of the Scripture, which had made an im- pression on the minds of men which he could not obliterate. Where- fore he never attempted openly any more to set up Heathenism or Paganism, with the gods of the old world and their worship; but he insensibly raised another kingdom, which pretended some likeness unto and compliance with the letter of the ivord, though it came at last to be in all things expressly contrary thereunto. This was his kingdom of apostasy and darkness, under the papal antichristi- anism and woful degeneracy of other Christians in the world; for when men who pretend themselves intrusted with the preservation of the kingdom of Christ did wilfully cast away those weapons of their warfare whereby the world was subdued unto him, and ought to have been kept in subjection by them, what else could ensue?
By these gifts, I say, doth the Lord Christ demonstrate his power and exercise his rule. External force and carnal weapons were far
CHAP. II.] SPIRITUAL GIFTS DISTINGUISHED FROM SAVING GRACE. 427
from his thoughts, as unbecoming his absolute sovereignty over the souls of men, his infinite power and holiness. Neither did any ever betake themselves unto them in the affairs of Christ's kingdom, but either when they had utterly lost and abandoned these spiritual weapons, or did not believe that they are sufficient to maintain the interest of the gospel, though originally they were so to introduce and fix it in the world, — that is, that although the gifts of the Holy Ghost were sufficient and effectual to bring in the truth and doctrine of the gospel against all opposition, yet are they not so to maintain it; which they may do well once more to consider. Herein, there- fore, they agree with saving graces; for that they are peculiarly from Jesus Christ the mediator is confessed by all, unless it be by such as by whom all real internal grace is denied. But the sancti- fying operations of the Holy Spirit, with their respect unto the Lord Christ as mediator, have been sufficiently before confirmed.
2. There is an agreement between saving graces and spiritual gifts with respect unto their immediate efficient cause. They are, both sorts of them, wrought by the power of the Holy Ghost. As to what concerneth the former, or saving grace, I have already treated of that argument at large ; nor will any deny that the Holy Ghost is the author of these graces but those that deny that there are any such. That these gifts are so wrought by him is expressly declared wherever there is mention of them, in general or particular. Where- fore, when they acknowledge that there were such gifts, all confess him to be their author. By wThom he is denied so to be, it is only because they deny the continuance of any such gifts in the church of God. But this is that which we shall disprove.
3. Herein also they agree, that both sorts of them are designed unto the good, benefit, ornament, and glory of the church. The church is the proper seat and subject of them, to it are they granted, and in it do they reside ; for Christ is given to be the " head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all," Eph. i. 22, 23. But this " church" falls under a double consideration : — first, as it is believing; secondly, as it is pro- fessing. In the first respect absolutely it is invisible, and as such is the peculiar subject of saving grace. This is that church which " Christ loved and gave himself for, that he might sanctify and cleanse it, and present it unto himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish," Eph. v. 26, 27. This is the work of saving grace, and by a participation thereof do men become members of this church, and not otherwise. And hereby is the professing church quickened and enabled unto profession in an acceptable manner; for the elect receive grace unto this end in this world, that they may