and there are diversities of administrations, but the same Lord: and there are diversities of operations ; but it is the same God who worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal : for 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 ; to another, the working of miracles ; to another, pro- phecy ; to another, discerning of spirits ; to another, divers kinds of tongues ; to another, the interpretation of tongues : but all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he willa." This is exactly what the Apostle affirms in the passage before us : whatever differences there be amongst us, we should " forbear one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace :" for, amidst all those differences, " there is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling ; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in allV Whatever differences are made, either in respect of gifts or graces, they are all made by the Lord Jesus Christ himself, agreeably to what had been foretold con- cerning him ; as the Apostle says in our text : " Unto every one of us is given grace according to the mea- sure of the gift of Christ : wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men."
In discoursing on these words, we shall be led to consider,
1. The obligations we owe to Christ —
On the primitive Church there were many special and miraculous gifts bestowed : in reference to which, the Apostle says of Christ, " He gave some, Apostles ; and some, prophets ; and some, evangelists ; and some, pastors and teachers0." But, whilst a distinc- tion was made amongst the members of the Church
a 1 Cor. xii. 4 — 11. b ver. 2 — G. -c ver. 11.