470 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX.
therein mistake and err from the truth, he requires that the others who had the like gift, and so were understanding in the mind of God, should judge of what was spoken by them, so as that the church might not be led into any error by them: " Let the other judge." (3.) That order be observed in their exercise, and especially that way be given unto any immediate revelation, and no confusion be brought into the church by many speaking at the same time. And this direction manifests that the gift was extraordinary, and is now ceased ; though there be a continuance of ordinary gifts of the same kind, and to the same end, in the church, as we shall see afterward, verse SO. (4.) By the observation of this order, the apostle shows that all the prophets might exercise their gift unto the instruction and consolation of the church in a proper season, such as their frequent assemblies would afford them, verse 31. And whereas it may be objected that these things coming in an extra- ordinary immediate manner from the Holy Ghost, it was not in the power ot them who received them to confine them unto the order prescribed, which would seem to limit the Holy Spirit in his operations, whereas they were all to speak as the Spirit gave them ability and utterance, let what would ensue, the apostle assures them by a general principle that no such thing would follow on a due use and exercise of this gift: "For God," saith he, "is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints," verse 33. As if he should have said, "If such a course should be taken, that any one should speak and prophesy as he pretended himself to be moved by the Spirit, and to have none to judge of what he said, all confusion, tumult, and disorder, would ensue thereon. But God is the author of no such thing; gives no such gifts, appoints no such exercise of them, as would tend thereunto." But how shall this be prevented, seeing these things are extraordinary, and not in our own power? Yea, saith he, "The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets," verse 32. By "the spirits of the prophets," that their spiritual gift and ability for its exercise are intended, none doth ques- tion. And whereas the apostle had taught two things concerning the exercise of this gift, — (1.) That it ought to be orderly, to avoid confusion; (2.) That what proceedeth from it ought to be judged by others; — he manifests that both these may be observed, "because the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets;" that is, both their spiritual gift is so in their own power as that they might dis- pose themselves unto its exercise with choice and judgment, so as to preserve order and peace, not being acted as with an enthusiastical qfftation, and carried out of their own power. This gift in its ex- ercise was subject unto their own judgment, choice, and understand- ing; so what they expressed by virtue of their spiritual gift was sub-
CHAP. IV.] OF EXTRAORDINARY SPIRITUAL GIFTS. 471
ject to he judged of by the other prophets that were in the church. Thus were the peace and order of the church to be preserved, and the edification of it to be promoted.
Discerning of spirits is the next gift of the Spirit here enume- rated : "AXXw ds diaKpIasig wsv/Aaruv, — " To another discerning of spirits," the ability and faculty of judging of spirits, the dijudication of spirits. This gift I have, upon another occasion, formerly given an account of, and therefore shall here but briefly touch upon it. All gospel administrations were in those days avowedly executed by virtue of spiritual gifts. No man then durst set his hand unto this work but such as either really had or highly pretended unto a partici- pation of the Holy Ghost; for the administration of the gospel is the dispensation of the Spirit. This, therefore, was pleaded by all in the preaching of the word, whether in private assemblies or pub- licly to the world. But it came also then to pass, as it did in all ages of the church, that where God gave unto any the extraordinary gifts of his Spirit, for the reformation or edification of the church, there Satan suborned some to make a pretence thereunto, unto its trouble and destruction. So was it under the old testament, and so was it foretold that it should be under the new. So the apostle Peter, having declared the nature and excellency, use and certainty, of that prophecy which was of old, 2 Pet. i. 19-21, adds thereunto, " But there were false prophets also among the people," chap. ii. 1 ; that is, when God granted that signal privilege unto the church of the immediate revelation of his will unto them by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, which constituted men true prophets of the Lord, Satan stirred up others to pretend unto the same spirit of prophecy for his own malicious ends, whereby "there were false prophets also among the people." But it may be it will be other- wise now, under the gospel church-state. "No," saith he; "there shall be false teachers among you," — that is, persons pretending to the same spiritual gift that the apostles and evangelists had, yet bringing in thereby " damnable heresies." Now, all their damnable opinions they fathered upon immediate revelations of the Spirit. This gave occasion to the holy apostle John to give that caution, with his reason of it, which is expressed, 1 Epist. iv. 1-3; which words we have opened before. And this false pretence unto extraordinary spiritual gifts the church was tried and pestered withal so long as there was any occasion to give it countenance, — namely, whilst such gifts were really continued unto any therein. What way, then, had God ordained for the preservation and safety of the church, that it should not be imposed upon by any of these delusions? I answer, There was a standing ride in the church, whereby whatsoever was or could be offered doctrinally unto it might certainly and infallibly