500 OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. [BOOK IX.
name of a church, and an outward order that pleaseth and advan- tageth themselves. But outward order, be it what it will, is so far from being the only evidence of the presence of Christ in a church, that when it is alone, or when it is principally required, it is none at all ; and therefore, whereas preaching of the word and the right administration of the sacraments are assigned as the notes of a true church, if the outward acts and order of them only be regarded, there is nothing of evidence unto this purpose in them.
Secondly, This promised presence of Christ is by his Spirit This I have sufficiently proved formerly, so that here I shall be brief in its rehearsal, though it be the next foundation of what we have farther to offer in this case. We speak not of the essential presence of Christ with respect unto the immensity of his divine nature, whereby he is equally present in or equally indistant from all places, manifesting his glory when, where, and how he pleaseth. Nor doth it respect his human nature ; for when he promised this his presence, he told his disciples that therein he must leave and depart from them, John xvi. 5-8, whereon they were filled with sorrow and trouble, until they knew how he would make good the promise of his presence with them, and who or what it was that should unto their advantage supply his bodily absence. And this he did in his visible ascension, when " he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight," Acts i. 9 ; when also it was given in charge unto them not to expect his return until his coming unto judgment, verse 11. And, accordingly, Peter tells us that the " heaven must re- ceive him until the times of restitution of all things," Acts iii. 21, when he will appear again " in the glory of his Father," Matt. xvi. 27, even that glory which the Father gave him upon his exaltation, Phil, ii. 9-11, joined unto "that glory which he had with him before the world was," John xvii. 5. In and upon this his departure from them, he taught his disciples how they should understand his promise of being present and abiding " with them unto the end of the world ; " and this was by sending of his Holy Spirit in his name, place, and stead, to do all to them and for them which he had yet to do with them and for them. See John xiv. 16-18, 26-28, xv. 26, xvi. 7-15. And other vicar in the church Christ hath none, nor doth stand in need of any, nor can any mortal man supply that charge and office; nor was any such ever thought of in the world until men grew weary of the conduct and rule of the Holy Spirit, by various ways taking his work out of his hand, leaving him nothing to do in that which they called "theachurch." But I suppose I need not handle this prin- ciple as a thing in dispute or controversy. If I greatly mistake not, this presence of Christ in his church by his Spirit is an article of faith unto the catholic church, and such a fundamental truth as who-
CHAP. VII.] SPIRITUAL GIFTS NECESSARY FOR THE MINISTRY. 501
ever denies it overthrows the whole gospel; and I have so con- firmed it in our former discourses concerning the dispensation and operations of the Holy Ghost, as that I fear not nor expect any direct opposition thereunto. But yet I acknowledge that some begin to talk as if they owned no other presence of Christ but by the word and sacraments ; — whatever else remains to be done lies wholly in our- selves. It is acknowledged that the Lord Christ is present in and by his word and ordinances; but if he be no otherwise present, or be present only by their external administration, there will no more church-state among men ensue thereon than there is among the Jews, who enjoy the letter of the Old Testament and the institu- tions of Moses. But when men rise up in express contradiction unto the promises of Christ and the faith of the catholic church in all ages, we shall not contend with them. But, —
Thirdly, This presence of the Spirit is secured unto the church by an everlasting, unchangeable covenant: Isa. lix. 21, " As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever." This is God's covenant with the gospel church, to be erected then when " the Redeemer should come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob," verse 20. This is a part of the covenant that God hath made in Christ the Redeemer. And as the continuance of the word unto the church in all ages is by this promise secured, — without which it would cease and come to nothing, — seeing it is "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets," Eph. ii. 20, so is the presence of the Spirit in like manner secured unto it, and that on the same terms with the word, so as that if he be not present with it, all covenant-relation between God and it doth cease. Where this promise doth not take place, there is no church, no ordinances, no acceptable worship, because no covenant-relation. In brief, then, where there is no participation of the promise of Christ to send the Spirit to abide with us always, no interest in that covenant wherein God engageth that his Spirit shall not depart from us for ever, and so no presence of Christ to make the word and or- dinances of worship living, useful, effectual in their administration, unto their proper ends, there is no church-state, whatever outward order there may be. And hereon, —