474 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX.
and accomplished towards them, so as they had no farther need or use of it. But now, whereas many unbelievers came occasionally into the assemblies of the church, especially at some freer seasons, for whose conviction the Holy Ghost would for a season continue this gift among believers, that the church might not be disadvan- taged thereby, he added the other gift here mentioned, — namely, " the interpretation of tongues." He endowed either those persons themselves who spake with tongues, or some others in the same as- sembly, with an ability to interpret and declare to the church the things that were spoken and uttered in that miraculous manner; which is the last gift here mentioned. But the nature, use, and abuse of these gifts is so largely and distinctly spoken unto by the apostle, 1 Cor. xiv. 1-27, that as I need not insist on them, so I can- not fully do it without an entire exposition of that whole chapter, which the nature of my design will not permit.
CHAPTER V.
The original, duration, use, and end, of extraordinary spiritual gifts.
This summary account doth the apostle give of these extraordi- nary gifts of the Holy Ghost which then flourished in the church, and were the life of its extraordinary ministry. It may be mention may occur of some such gifts under other names, but they are such as may be reduced unto some one of those here expressed. Where- fore this may be admitted as a perfect catalogue of them, and com- prehensive of that power from above which the Lord Christ pro- mised unto his apostles and disciples upon his ascension into heaven, Acts i. 8; for he "ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things/' Eph. iv. 10, that is, the church with officers and gifts, unto the perfection of the saints, by the work of the ministry, and the edification of his body, verse 12: for being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he shed forth, or abundantly poured out, those things whereof we speak, Acts ii. 33. And as they were the great evidences of his acceptation with God, and exaltation, seeing in them the Spirit "convinced the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judg- ment," so they were the great means whereby he carried on his work amongst men, as shall afterward be declared.
There was no certain limited time for the cessation of these gifts. Those peculiar unto the apostles were commensurate unto their lives. None after their decease had either apostolical office, power, or gifts. The like may be said of the evangelists. Nor have we any
CHAP. V.] ORIGIN, DURATION, ETC., OF EXTRAORDINARY GIFTS. 475
undoubted testimony that any of those gifts which were truly mira- culous, and every way above the faculties of men, were communi- cated unto any after the expiration of the generation of them who conversed with Christ in the flesh, or those who received the Holy Ghost by their ministry. It is not unlikely but that God might on some occasions, for a longer season, put forth his power in some mi- raculous operations; and so he yet may do, and perhaps doth some- times. But the superstition and folly of some ensuing ages, invent- ing and divulging innumerable miracles false and foolish, proved a most disadvantageous prejudice unto the gospel, and a means to open a way unto Satan to impose endless delusions upon Christians; for as true and real miracles, with becoming circumstances, were the great means that won and reconciled a regard and honour unto Christian religion in the world, so the pretence of such as either were absolutely false, or such as whose occasions, ends, matter, or manner, were unbecoming the greatness and holiness of Him who is the true author of all miraculous operations, is the greatest dis- honour unto religion that any one can invent. But although all these gifts and operations ceased in some respect, some of them ab- solutely, and some of them as to the immediate manner of commu- nication and degree of excellency ; yet so far as the edification of the church was concerned in them, something that is analogous unto them was and is continued. He who gave " some apostles, and some pro- phets, and some evangelists/' gave also " some pastors and teachers." And as he furnished the former with extraordinary gifts, so as far as any thing of the like kind is needful for the continual edification of the church, he bestows it on the latter also, as shall be declared.
And these gifts of the Spirit, added unto his grace in real holi- ness, were the glory, honour, and beauty of the church of old. Men have but deceived themselves and others when they have feigned a glory and beauty of the church in other things. And whatever any think or say, where these gifts of the Holy Ghost, which are the ornaments of the church, her "clothing of wrought gold," and her "raiment of needlework," are neglected and lost, and they think to adorn her with the meretricious paint of pompous ceremonies, with outward grandeur, wealth, and power, she is utterly fallen from her chastity, purity, and integrity. But it is evident that this is the state of many churches in the world ; which are therefore worldly and carnal, not spiritual or evangelical. Power, and force, and wealth, — the gifts, in this case, of another spirit, — under various pretences and names, are their life and glory; indeed their death and shame. I deny not but that it is lawful for ministers of the gospel to enjoy earthly possessions, which they do attain by any commend- able way among other men. Neither are they required, unless in