472 OF SPIRITUAL gifts. [book IX.
be tried, judged, and determined on. And this was the rule of the written word, according to that everlasting ordinance, " To the law and to the testimony : if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them," Isa. viii. 20. This, in all ages, was sufficient for the preservation of the church from all errors and heresies, or damnable doctrines; which it never fell into, nor shall do so, but in the sinful neglect and contempt here- of. Moreover, the apostle farther directs the application of this rule unto present occasions, by advising us to fix on some fun- damental principles "which are likely to be opposed, and if they are not owned and avowed, to avoid such teachers, whatever spiri- tual gift they pretend unto, 1 John iv. 2, 3; 2 John 9-11. But yet, because many in those days were weak in the faith, and might be surprised with such pretences, God had graciously provided and bestowed the gift here mentioned on some, it may be in every church, — namely, of discerning of spirits. They could, by virtue of the extraordinary gift and aid therein of the Holy Ghost, make a true judgment of the spirits that men pretended to act and to be acted by, whether they were of God or no. And this was of singular use and benefit unto the church in those days; for as spiritual gifts abounded, so did a pretence unto them, which was always accompa- nied with pernicious designs. Herein, therefore, did God grant relief for them who were either less skilful, or less wary, or less able on any account to make a right judgment between those who were really endowed with extraordinary gifts of the Spirit and those who falsely pretended thereunto; for these persons received this gift, and were placed in the church for this very end, that they might guide and help them in making a right judgment in this matter. And whereas the communication of these gifts is ceased, and consequently all pre- tences unto them, unless by some persons phrenetical and enthusi- astical, whose madness is manifest to all, there is no need of the continuance of this gift of " discerning of spirits;" that standing in- fallible rule of the word, and ordinary assistance of the Spirit, being every way sufficient for our preservation in the truth, unless we give up ourselves to the conduct of corrupt lusts, pride, self-conceit, carnal interest, passions, and temptations, which ruin the souls of men.
The two spiritual gifts here remaining are, speaking with tongues, and their interpretation. The first communication of this " gift of tongues" unto the apostles is particularly described, Actsii. 1-4, etc. And although they were at that time endued with all other gifts of the Holy Ghost, called " power from above," Acts i. 8, yet was this " gift of tongues" signalized by the visible pledge of it, the joint par- ticipation of the same gift by all, and the notoriety of the matter thereon, as in that place of the Acts is at large described. And God
CHAP. IV.] OF EXTRAORDINARY SPIRITUAL GIFTS. 473
seems to ha^e laid the foundation of preaching the gospel in this gift for two reasons: — 1. To signify that the grace and mercy of the covenant was now no longer to be confined unto one nation, language, or people, but to be extended unto all nations, tongues, and languages of people under heaven. 2. To testify by what means he would sub- due the souls and consciences of men unto the obedience of Christ and the gospel, and by what means he would maintain his kingdom in the world. Now, this was not by force and might, by external power or armies, but by the preaching of the word, whereof the tongue is the only instrument. And the outward sign of this gift, in tongues of fire, evidenced the light and efficacy wherewith the Holy Ghost designed to accompany the dispensation of the gospel. Wherefore, although this gift began with the apostles, yet was it afterward very much diffused unto the generality of them that did believe. See Acts x. 46, xix. 6; 1 Cor. xiv. 1-27. And some few things we may observe concerning this gift; as, — 1. The especial matter that was expressed by this gift seems to have been the praises of God for his wonderful works of grace by Christ. Although I doubt not but that the apostles were enabled, by virtue of this gift, to declare the gospel unto any people unto whom they came in their own language, yet, ordinarily, they did not preach nor instruct the people by virtue of this gift, but only spake forth the praises of God, to the admiration and astonishment of them who were yet strangers to the faith. So when they first received the gift, they were heard " speaking the wonderful works of God," Acts ii. 11; and the Gentiles who first believed " spake with tongues, and magnified God," Acts x. 46. 2. These tongues were so given " for a sign unto them that believed not," 1 Cor. xiv. 22, that sometimes those that spake with tongues understood not the sense and meaning of the words delivered by themselves, nor were they understood by the church itself wherein they were uttered, verses 2, 6-11, etc. But this, I suppose, was only sometimes, and that, it may be, mostly when this gift was un- necessarily used; for I doubt not but the apostles understood full well the things delivered by themselves in divers tongues. And all who had this gift, though they might not apprehend the meaning of what themselves spake and uttered, yet were so absolutely, in the exercise of it, under the conduct of the Holy Spirit, that they neither did nor could speak any thing by virtue thereof but what was ac- cording unto the mind of God, and tended unto his praise, verses 2, 14, 17. 3. Although this gift was excellent in itself, and singu- larly effectual in the propagation of the gospel unto unbelievers, yet in the assemblies of the church it was of little or no use, but only with respect unto the things themselves that were uttered; for as to the principal end of it, to be a sign unto unbelievers, it was finished