442 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX.
receive; but there yet remained the communication of extraordinary gifts unto them, to enable them unto the discharge of their office. And this was that which, after the ascension of Christ, they received on the day of Pentecost, as it is related, Acts ii. And this was so essentially necessary unto their office that the Lord Christ is said therein to give some to be apostles ; for without these gifts they were not so, nor could discharge that office unto his honour and glory. And these things all concurred to the constitution of this office, with the call of any persons to the discharge of it. The office itself was instituted by Christ, the designation and call of the persons unto this office was an immediate act of Christ; so also was their com- mission and power, and the extraordinary gifts which he endowed them withal. And whereas the Lord Christ is said to give this office and these officers after his ascension, — namely, in the communica- tion of the gifts of the Holy Ghost unto those officers for the dis- charge of that office, — it is evident that all office-power depends on the communication of gifts, whether extraordinary or ordinary. But where any of these is wanting, there is no apostle, nor any successor of one apostle. Therefore, when Paul was afterward added unto the twelve in the same power and office, he was careful to declare how he received both call, commission, and power immediately from Jesus Christ : " Paul an apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead," Gal. i. 1 ; whereas those who pretend to be their successors, if they will speak the truth, must say that they are what they are neither of Jesus Christ nor God the Father, but of men and by man. How- ever, they neither dare nor will pretend so to be of God and Christ as not to be called by the ministry of man, which evacuates the pre- tence of succession in this office.
Secondly, Furthermore; unto the office described there belong the measure and extent of its power objectively, and the power itself intensively or subjectively. For the first, the object of apostolical power was twofold: — 1. The world to be converted; 2. The churches gathered of those that were converted, whether Jews or Gentiles.
1. For the first, their commission extended to all the world; and every apostle had right, power, and authority to " preach the gospel to every creature under heaven/' as he had opportunity so to do, Matt, xxviii. 18-20; Mark xvi. 15; Rom. x. 14-18. Now, whereas it was impossible that any one person should pass through the whole world in the pursuit of this right and power; and whereas, for that cause, our Lord had ordained twelve to that purpose, that the work might the more effectually be carried on by their endeavours, it is highly probable that they did by agreement distribute the nations into certain lots and portions, which they singly took upon them to in-
CHAP. III.] OF EXTRAORDINARY OFFICES. 443
struct. So there was an agreement between Paul on the one hand with Barnabas, and Peter, James, and John, on the other, that they should go to the Gentiles, and the other take more especial care of the Jews, Gal. ii. 7-9. And the same apostle afterward designed, to avoid the line or allotment of others, to preach the gospel where the people were not allotted unto the especial charge of any other, 2 Cor. x. 16. But yet this was not so appointed as if their power was limited thereby, or that any of them came short in his apostolical power in any other place in the world, as well as that wherein for conveniency he particularly exercised his ministry ; for the power of every one still equally extended unto all nations, although they could not always exercise it in all places alike. Nor did that express agree- ment that was between Peter and Paul, about the Gentiles and the Circumcision, discharge them of their duty, that the one should have more regard unto the Circumcision or the other unto the Gen- tiles, nor did it limit their power or bound their apostolical authority, but only directed the exercise of it as unto the principal intention and design. Wherefore, as to the right and authority of preaching the gospel and converting persons unto the faith, the whole ivorld fell equally under the care, and was in the commission of every apostle, although they applied themselves unto the discharge of this work in particular according to their own wisdom and choice, under the guidance and disposal of the providence of God. And, as I will not deny but that it is the duty of every Christian, and much more of every minister of the gospel, to promote the knowledge of Christ unto all mankind, as they have opportunities and advantages so to do ; yet I must say, if there be any who pretend to be successors of the apostles as to the extent of their office-power unto all nations, notwithstanding whatever they may pretend of such an agreement to take up with a portion accommodated unto their ease and interest, whilst so many nations of the earth lie unattempted as to the preach- ing of the gospel, they will one day be found transgressors of their own profession, and will be dealt withal accordingly.