" that one and the self-same Spirit," the Third Person in the ever-blessed Trinity. And here we wish it to be distinctly- noticed, how repeatedly that adorable Person is mentioned as the author of all the gifts : "To one is given, by the Spirit, the word of wisdom ; to another, the word of knowledge, by the same Spirit; to another, faith, by the same Spirit ; to another, the gifts of healing, by the same Spirit ;" and then, after the mention of many other gifts, " All these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit:' This shews what a holy jealousy the Apostle felt for the honour of that Divine Agent; and how anxious he was that the people might not for a single moment forget, to whom, and to whom alone, they were in- debted for every gift that they enjoyed.]
By him also all the gifts were bestowed according to his own sovereign will and pleasure —
[Doubtless whatever God does is founded, not in a mere arbitrary will, but in the inscrutable counsels of his own wis- dom : still however, as far as we are concerned, the effect is the same as if his will alone were the ground of his actions ; because the counsels by which they are regulated are known to himself alone. He has no respect to any thing in us as the ground of his preference : he is not influenced either by our merits, or our attainments ; but dispenses his gifts to whomsoever he will, and in the measure that he sees fit : bestowing on some the higher gifts ; on others, the lower ; and on others, none at all. This is beautifully illustrated by a reference to the natural body^ The body consists of different members, to each of which is assigned some peculiar ofRce, together with appropriate powers for the discharge of it. The eye, the ear, the hands, the feet, have all their own peculiar structure, fitted for the uses for which they were designed by God himself. The different powers were not given to any one of them on account of its own superior goodness, or for its own use alone : but all were given for the use of the whole ; " God having set every one of them in the body as it hath pleased him^" In relation CO these, every one sees plainly, that God alone determined what powers to create, and where to place them in the body, and what measure of influence every member should possess : and, in the whole of it, nothing is for a moment contemplated but the wisdom, the power, and the goodness of the Creator. Never does any one entertain a thought that any one member has the least reason to glory over another, since all owe their respective powers to the same Divine Author; and all are mu- tually dependent on each other for such aid as they are severally fitted to impart. A more apt illustration could not
a ver. 12 — 27. *> ver. 18.