458 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX.
of the gospel. And hereunto a worldly ministry is no less averse than unto a sense of their own insufficiency. The fruits do sufi% ciently manifest how much this duty is contemned by them. But the neglect of it, — I say, the neglect of praying for wisdom to be enabled unto the discharge of the work of the ministry, and the due manage- ment of the truths of the gospel, according as occasions do require, — in them who pretend thereunto, is a fruit of unbelief, yea, of atheism and contempt of God.
3. Due meditation on our great pattern, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the apostles, being followers of them as they were of him, is also required hereunto. As in all other things, so, in especial, in his ministry for the revelation of the truth, and giving testimony there- unto, the Lord Jesus was the great pattern and example, God in him representing unto us that perfection in wisdom which we ought to aim at. I shall not here in particular look into this heavenly treasury, but only say, that he who would be really and truly wise in spiritual tilings, who would either rightly receive or duly im- prove this gift of the Holy Ghost, he ought continually to bear in his heart, his mind and affections, this great exemplar and idea of it, even the Lord Jesus Christ in his ministry, — namely, what he did, what he spake, how on all occasions his condescension, meek- ness, and authority did manifest themselves, — until he be changed into the same image and likeness by the Spirit of the Lord. The same is to be done, in their place and sphere, towards the apostles, as the principal followers of Christ, and who do most lively represent his graces and wisdom unto us. Their writings, and what is written of them, are to be searched and studied unto this very end, that, considering how they behaved themselves in all instances, on all oc- casions, in their testimony, and all administrations of the truth, we may endeavour after a conformity unto them, in the participa- tion of the same Spirit with them. It would be no small stay and guidance unto us, if on all occasions we would diligently search and consider what the apostles did in such circumstances, or what they would have done, in answer to what is recorded of their spirit and actings; for although this wisdom be a gift of the Holy Spirit, yet as we now consider it as it is continued in the church, it may be in part obtained and greatly improved in the due use of the means which are subservient thereunto, provided that in all we depend solely on God for the giving of it, who hath also prescribed these means unto us for the same end.
4. Let them who design a participation of this gift take heed it be not stifled with such vicious habits of mind as are expressly con- trary unto it and destructive of it: such are self-fulness or confidence, hastiness of spirit, promptness to speak and slowness to hear ; which
CHAP. IV.] OF EXTRAORDINARY SPIRITUAL GIFTS. 459
are the great means which make many abound in their own sense and folly, to be wise in their own conceits, and contemptible in the judgment of all that are truly so. Ability of speech in time and season is an especial gift of God, and that eminently with respect unto the spiritual things of the gospel; but a profluency of speech, venting itself on all occasions and on no occasions, making men open their mouths wide when indeed they should shut them and open their ears, and to pour out all that they know and what they do not know, making them angry if they are not heard and im- patient if they are contradicted, is an unconquerable fortification against all true spiritual wisdom.
5. Let those who would be sharers herein follow after those gifts and graces which do accompany it, promote it, and are inseparable from it: such are humility, meekness, patience, constancy, with boldness and confidence in profession; without which we shall be fools in every trial. Wisdom, indeed, is none of all these, but it is that which cannot be without them, nor will it thrive in any mind that is not cultivated by them. And he who thinks it is not worth his pains and travail, nor that it will quit cost, to seek after this spi- ritual wisdom, by a constant watchfulness against the opposite vices mentioned, and attendance unto those concomitant duties and graces, must be content to go without it.
This is the first instance given by our apostle of the spiritual gifi.s of the primitive times: "To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom."
" To another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit," — X6y($ yvustug. I showed before that Xoyog may denote th© thing itself, the " word of knowledge/' that is knowledge ; but if any shall suppose that because this knowledge was to be expressed unto the church for its edification, it is therefore called a "word of knowledge," as a "word of exhortation/' or a " word of consolation," — that is, exhortation or consolation administered by words, — I shall not contend to the contrary. It is knowledge that is the gift peculiarly intended in this second place. And we must inquire both how it is an especial gift, and of what sort it is. And it should seem that it cannot have the nature of an especial gift, seeing it is that which was common to all ; for so saith the apostle, speaking unto the whole church of the Co- rinthians, "We know that we all have knowledge," 1 Cor. viii. 1; — and not only so, but he also adds that this knowledge is a thing which either in its own nature tends unto an ill issue or is very apt to be abused thereunto; for saith he, "Knowledge puffeth up," for which cause he frequently reflects upon it in other places. But yet we shall find that it is a peculiar gift, and in itself singularly useful, how- ever it may be abused, as the best things may be, yea, are most