There is another testimony given to this (to name one or two among many), in Rom. xii. 4-8, " For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office ; so we, being- many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts, differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he that teach-
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eth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation," etc. It is not to my present concern whether offices or duties are intended in this place; but three things are plain to me in this text: — 1. That this discourse and direction doth concern the ordinary state of the church in all ages. I profess to you I had rather a thousand times be of their opinion, bad as it is, who say that all church-state is ceased, than that there may be a church-state when these gifts and graces are not. If I did not see these graces and gifts continued to some, to keep up the ordinances of the church in some measure, I should believe it had ceased. 2. That gifts are the foundation of all church work, whether it be in office or out of office. " Having there- fore gifts, let us," saith the apostle, do so and so. If there be no spi- ritual gifts, there is no spiritual work. Spiritual gifts are the founda- tion of office, which is the foundation of work in the church, and of all gospel administrations in a special manner, according to the gifts received. Truly, it may be you may think it lost labour to prove this ; but there is nothing more despised or reproached in this world than this one apprehension, that there are spiritual gifts given unto per- sons, to enable them to perform all gospel administrations. 3. That not only the discharge of duty and work depends on the administra- tion of gifts, but the measure of work depends upon the measure of gifts ; it is according to the measure every one hath received : and there are many measures. As long as there is any measure of spi- ritual gifts, let it not be despised among you. The gifts of the Holy Ghost are not only for work, but, I say, for the measure of work, Eph. iv. 8-13. All these spiritual gifts the Holy Ghost doth bestow, to enable persons to perform their work.
Seventhly. As spiritual gifts are bestowed unto this end, so they are necessary for it. There can be no gospel administration without spiritual gifts ; the ministration of the gospel being the ministration of the Spirit, and all gospel ministrations are spiritual ministrations. The truth is, one reason why they are called so, and are so, is, because they are no way to be administered to the glory of Christ but by the aid and help of these spiritual gifts. If the Lord Jesus Christ had appointed carnal ordinances, such as are suited to the reason and strength of a man, there had been no need for him to promise the assistance of the Spirit. The spirit of a man knows the things of a man, 1 Cor. ii. 11. All the things within the compass of a man, the spirit of a man will find them out, and give strength for the performance of them. Saith Christ, John vi. 63, " ' My words, they are spirit,' and all my offices and ordinances are spiritual;'" — and thus there is a necessity of spiritual gifts for their administration : so that spiritual gifts and spiritual administrations live and die to- gether. And the way whereby the world lost the spiritual ministrations
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of the gospel, was by the neglect and contempt of spiritual gifts; whereby alone they can he performed. This was the ground of the apostasy of the primitive church ; — they grew weary of spiritual ministrations. It is the most difficult and laborious ministry. Men's hearts waxing carnal, they grew weary of spiritual things; the}' did not care to wait upon Christ for supplies of grace and the gifts of the Spirit ; for these gifts are not grace, and in truth will flourish long in no other soil but where there is grace. As we should not have such a product of sin were it not for original corruption, whence it grows; so flourishing gifts will not long grow but in the soil of the Spirit. How many persons with gifts have flourished for a while, and then have withered, because they were planted in no good soil ! It will be drudgery, for any man to keep up spiritual gifts where they have not a spiritual soil to grow in. The world grew weary of gospel ministra- tions, and would not keep up that way. What then? They found out imaginations suited to their inclinations; they will have prayer- books to read, ceremonies to perform, and a number of inventions to keep up a form of worship without those spiritual gifts. We have an instance in the church of Rome. What various extravagant things they have done to make an outward show, when they had lost spi- ritual gifts ! All forms of worship are nothing but to keep an outward appearance. They did not like to retain these gifts in their minds, whereby alone spiritual worship is to be administered. The principle of the apostasy of all churches in the world is, from a weariness of serving God by the aid and assistance of the Spirit.