430 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX.
but so, and where they are solitary or alone, are only the effects of a temporary election. Thus God chooseth some men unto some office in the church, or unto some work in the world. As this includeth a preferring them before or above others, or the using them when others are not used, we call it election ; and in itself it is their fitting for and separation unto their office or work. And this temporary election is the cause and rule of the dispensation of gifts. So he chose Saul to be king over his people, and gave him thereon "another heart," or gifts fitting him for rule and government. So our Lord Jesus Christ chose and called at the first twelve to be his apostles, and gave unto them all alike miraculous gifts. His temporary choice of them was the ground of his communication of gifts unto them. By virtue hereof no saving graces were communicated unto them, for one of them never arrived unto a participation of them. " Have not I," saith our Saviour unto them, " chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?" John vi. 70. He had chosen them unto their office, and endowed them with extraordinary gifts for the dis- charge thereof; but one of them being not "chosen unto salvation be- fore the foundation of the world," being not " ordained unto eternal life," but, on the other side, being the " son of perdition," or one certainly appointed unto destruction, or " before of old ordained unto that condemnation," he continued void of all sanctifying graces, so as, unto any acceptation with God, he was in no better condition than the devil himself, whose work he was to do. Yet was he, by virtue of this choice unto the office of apostleship for a season, endowed with the same spiritual gifts that the others were. And this distinction our Saviour himself doth plainly lay down; for whereas he says, John vi. 70, "Have not I chosen you twelve," — that is, with a tempo- rary choice unto office, — chap. xiii. 18, he saith, "I speak not of you all; I know whom I have chosen," so excepting Judas from that number, as is afterward expressly declared : for the election which here he intends is that which is accompanied with an infallible ordination unto abiding fir ait-bearing, chap. xv. 16, that is, eternal election, wherein Judas had no interest.
And thus it is in general, and in other instances. When God chooseth any one to eternal life, he will, in pursuit of that purpose of his, communicate saving grace unto him. And although all be- lievers have gifts also sufficient to enable them unto the discharge of their duty in their station or condition in the church, yet they do not depend on the decree of election. And where God calleth any, or chooseth any, unto an office, charge, or work in the church, he always furnisheth him with gifts suited unto the end of them. He doth not so, indeed, unto all that will take any office unto themselves; but he doth so unto all whom he calls thereunto. Yea, his call is
CHAP. II.] SPIRITUAL GIFTS DISTINGUISHED FROM SAVING GRACE. 431
no otherwise known but by the gifts which he communicates for the discharge of the work or office whereunto any are called. In common use, I confess, all things run contrary hereunto. Most men greatly in- sist on the necessity of an outward call unto the office of the minis- try; and so far, no doubt, they do well, for "God is the God of order," — that is, of his own : but whereas they limit this outward call of theirs unto certain persons, ways, modes, and ceremonies of their own, with- out which they will not allow that any man is rightly called unto the ministry, they do but contend to oppress the consciences of others by their power and with their inventions. But their most pernicious mistake is yet remaining. So that persons have, or do receive, an outward call in their mode and way, — which what it hath of a call in it I know not, — they are not solicitous whether they are called of God or no : for they continually admit them unto their outivard call on whom God hath bestowed no spiritual gifts to fit them for their office ; whence it is as evident as if written with the beams of the sun, that he never called them thereunto. They are as watchful as they are able that God himself shall impose none on them besides their way and order, or their call; for let a man be furnished with ministerial gifts never so excellent, yet if he will not come up to their call, they will do what lies in them for ever to shut him out of the ministry. But they will impose upon God without his call every day; for if they ordain any one in their way unto an office, though he have no more of spiritual gifts than Balaam's ass, yet (if you will believe them) Christ must accept of him for a minister of his, whether he will or no. But let men dispose of things as they please, and as it seemeth good unto them, Christ hath no other order in this matter, but " As every one hath received the gift, so let them minister, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God," 1 Pet. iv. 10, Horn. xii. 6-8. It is true that no man ought to take upon him the office of the ministry but he that is, and until he be, solemnly called and set apart thereunto by the church ; but it is no less true that no church hath either ride or right so to call or set apart any one to the mi- nistry whom Christ hath not previously called by the communication of spiritual gifts necessary to the discharge of his office. And these things must be largely insisted on afterward.