2. Sometimes an extraordinary gift without office is intended in this expression. So it is said that Philip the evangelist " had four
452 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX.
daughters, virgins, which did prophesy," Acts xxi. 9. It is not said that they were prophetesses, as there were some under the Old Tes- tament, only that "they did prophesy;" that is, they had revela- tions from the Holy Ghost occasionally for the use of the church : for to prophesy is nothing but to declare hidden and secret things by virtue of immediate revelation, be they of what nature they will; and so is the word commonly used, Matt. xxvi. 68 ; Luke xxii. 64 So an extraordinary gift without office is expressed Acts xix. 6, "When Paul had laid his bands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them ; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." Their prophe- sying, which was their declaration of spiritual things by immediate revelation, was of the same nature with their speaking with tongues; both were extraordinary gifts and operations of the Holy Ghost. And of this sort were those miracles, healings, and tongues, which God for a time set in the church, which did not constitute distinct officers in the church, but they were only sundry persons in each church which were endued with these extraordinary gifts for its edification; and therefore are they placed after teachers, comprising both, which Avere the principal sort of the ordinary continuing officers of the church, 1 Cor. xii. 28. And of this sort do I reckon those prophets to be who are treated of, 1 Cor. xiv. 29-33 ; for that they were neither stated officers in the churches nor yet the brethren of the church promiscuously, but such as had received an especial extraordinary gift, is evident from the context. See verses 30, 37.
3. Again, an ordinary office with ordinary gifts is intended by this expression : Rom. xii. 6, " Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith." Prophecy here can intend nothing but teaching or preaching, in the exposition and application of the word ; for an external rule is given unto it, in that it must be done according to the " proportion of faith," or the sound doctrine of faith revealed in the Scripture. And this ever was, and will ever continue to be, the work and duty of the ordinary teachers of the church, whereunto they are enabled by the gifts of Christ, which they receive by the Holy Ghost, Eph iv. 7. as we shall see more afterward. And hence also those who are not called unto office, who have yet received a gift enabling them to declare the mind of God in the Scripture unto the edification of others, may be said to " pro- phesy."
And these things I thought meet to interpose, with a brief descrip- tion of those officers which the Lord Jesus Christ granted unto his church for a season, at its first planting and establishment, with what belonged unto their office, and the necessity of their work ; for the collation of them on the church, and their whole furniture with
CHAP. IV.] OF EXTRAORDINARY SPIRITUAL GIFTS. 453
spiritual gifts, was the immediate work of the Holy Ghost, which we are in the declaration of. And withal it was my design to manifest how vain is the pretence of some unto a kind of succession unto these officers, who have neither an extraordinary call, nor extraordi- nary gifts, nor extraordinary employment, but only are pleased to assume an extraordinary power unto themselves over the churches and disciples of Christ, and that such as neither evangelists, nor prophets, nor apostles, did ever claim or make use of. But this matter of power is fuel in itself unto the proud, ambitious minds of Diotrephists, and as now circumstanced, with other advantages, is useful to the corrupt lusts of men; and, therefore, it is no wonder if it be pretended unto and greedily reached after, by such as really have neither call to the ministry, nor gifts for it, nor do employ themselves in it. And, therefore, as in these extraordinary officers and their gifts did consist the original glory and honour of the churches in an especial manner, and by them was their edification carried on and perfected ; so by an empty pretence unto their power, without their order and spirit, the churches have been stained, and deformed, and brought to destruction. But we must return unto the consideration of extraordinary spiritual gifts, which is the especial work before us.
CHAPTER IV.
Extraordinary spiritual gifts, 1 Cor. xii. 4-11.
Thirdly, Extraordinary spiritual gifts were of two sorts : — First, Such as absolutely exceed the whole power and faculties of our minds and souls. These, therefore, did not consist in an abiding principle or faculty always resident in them that received them, so as that they could exercise them by virtue of any inherent power and ability. They were so granted unto some persons, in the execution of their office, as that, so often as was needful, they could produce their effects by virtue of an immediate extraordinary influence of divine power, transiently affecting their minds. Such was the gift of mi- racles, healing, and the like. There were no extraordinary officers but they had these gifts. But yet they could work or operate by virtue of them only as the Holy Ghost gave them especial direction for the putting forth of his power in them. So it is said that Paul and Barnabas preaching at Iconium, " the Lord gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be clone by their hands," Acts xiv. 3. The working of signs and miracles is the immediate operation of the Spirit of God, nor can any power or faculty efficiently productive of such effects abide in the souls or