Eighthly. That there is a communication of spiritual gifts in all gospel ordinances, we plead experience. We know how this is de- rided by profane scoffers; but we plead the experience of those who are humble and holy, and have a spiritual acquaintance with these things. I hope I may plead against the world the experience of this congregation. Have you had no experience of those ministrations? Have you never found in the administrations of those whom God hath called to go before you, evidences of the presence of Christ by his Spirit, in the communication of gifts to them, to make them effec- tual to your edification and consolation? Have you not had a proof of the Spirit of Christ speaking in them ? 2 Cor. xiii. 3.
It is intolerable presumption, for men to think of carrying on gos- pel administrations without the supplies of the Spirit; as you who are God's people can testify. And there is no congregation of Christ but can bear testimony to it, that " the Spirit divides to every man as he will;" — gives out as he pleases of his assistance. Let men, therefore, pretend never so much that they are able to be ministers of the New Testament, without any of those aids and assistances whereof we have been discoursing; let them please themselves with
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the applause they may receive from persons unacquainted with the mystery and glory of these things; let them despise and condemn whatever is testified to the contrary ; — it is certain, where the gifts of the Spirit of God, as to the gospel ministrations of the church, are lost or neglected, Christ is so also, the Spirit of God is so also, and all the benefits of the gospel will be so too.
I have but one word to add, and that is of exhortation, unto those whom Christ hath called unto the work of the ministry, and whom you have called this day. I told you, at the beginning, I would not give them instruction, — but I may give them a word of exhortation; and that is, to attend unto the ministry whereunto God hath called them upon this foundation. And there are three motives I shall give them unto the work : —
First. It is the most difficult ministration of any that a person can be called unto ; — as it is great, so it is difficult. Any way of ad- ministration is easy in comparison of this of spiritual gifts; easy to flesh and blood. What an easy ministration, with all their altars and services, hath the church of Rome provided for their ministers ! so to read, and so to sing, come as they will, prepared or not pre- pared, having hetirts and minds filled with what they will ; — this is a ministry for them easier than any trade ; and in this their natural en- dowments and abilities are employed. But if we intend the ministers by the gifts received from the Holy Ghost, the matter and root wherein alone they will grow must be carefully preserved. If grace decays in our hearts, a ministry in gifts will grow burdensome and unpleasing to ourselves, as well as useless to the congregation. We must look well unto the soil, or it will be of no advantage that we have this ministry committed to us. It is required there be no unuseful minis- ters. Hand and heart must be always filled with the work: " Medi- tate on these things," 1 Tim. iv. 15. If you have undertaken the work of the ministry, you must be meditating on it. Unless you are in these things continually, you will not make faithful dispensers of the word. A man may preach a very good sermon, who is otherwise himself; but he will never make a good minister of Jesus Ch?'ist, whose heart and mind is not always in the work. Spiritual gifts will require continual ruminating on the things of the gospel in our minds; which makes it a difficult ministry, that our hearts and minds may be cast into the mould and form of those things which we are to deliver to others. And it is surprising how a little necessary diversion will unfit the mind for this work.
Secondly. As it is a very difficult work to carry on to a right im- provement of it, so it is a glorious work, let the world deride it as they will. The great design of the apostle, in 2 Cor. hi., is to show it is much more glorious than the old ministration was. Really, that
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was a very glorious ministration ; but this ministry that is committed to us hath more glory in it, being " the ministration of the Spirit," whereby souls are converted by the power of grace, and holy converse with God kept up. It is much more glorious than beholding the high priest in Solomon's temple; being under the eye of the holy God, who is judge of these ministerial gifts: therefore do not divert from them by any means.
Thirdly. It is the only ministry that is indeed effectual unto the edification and building up of the church, Eph. iv. 8, etc. This is the great end for which gospel ministers are appointed, — " Till all are brought," by their ministry, " to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." The Lord prosper it in your hands !