A Little Cabinet, Section 28
Of the gifts of the Spirit, and what thoſe beſt gifts are that Chriſt gives to his beſt beloved ones.
HAving written before of the graces of the Spirit, it now follows in order to write ſomething of the gifts of the Spirit, for there are many gifts and vertues of the Spirit: for every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, another after that, Jam. 1. 17. Rom. 12. 6. having then gifts differing, &c. 1 Cor. 12. 8. there are diverſities of gifts, but the ſame Spirit; To one is given a word of wiſdom, to another a word of knowledge, by the ſame Spirit, to another Faith, by the ſame Spirit, to another the gift of healing, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecying, to another diſcerning of Spirits, to another divers kind of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues; hence it comes to paſs that every man is eminent in his gift above others, viz. Abraham exceeded Moſes in faith; Moſes exceeded Abraham in meekneſs; and Job exceeded both in patience: and Joſhua exceeded all three in valour; So the Church of the Romans exceeded the Church of the Theſſalonians in wiſdom and knowledge; and the Church of the Theſſalonians exceeded the Church of the Romans in Faith and Patience. So again, Paul he had the gift of utterance, and freedom of ſpeech, he was accoun…ed the chief Speaker, he was a moſt eloquent man. Now Barnabas did exceed Paul in another gift, viz. in comforting thoſe who were in trouble, Acts 11. 23, 24. and Peter did excell both Paul and Barnabas in another gift, viz. in feeding the Lambs, Iohn 21. 15, 16. Again it is ſaid of Iames and Iohn, that they were ſons of thunder, as having a more powerful gift from God to terrifie and awaken ſinners. So then every good and perfect gift is from above, as we find Iames 1. 17. And as every man hath received the gift, ſo he is to adminiſter the ſame, 1 Pet. 4. 10. For to that end every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, another after that, as we read 1 Cor. 7. 7. And no man is to neglect the gift that is in him, 1 Tim. 4. 14. But it is the duty of all to ſtir up the gift that is in them▪ 2 Tim. 1. 6. Every man hath a gift given him according to the meaſure of the gift of Chriſt, Eph. 4. 7. and ſo having gifts differing according to the meaſure that is given to us: whether propheſie, let us propheſie according to the proportion of Faith, Rom. 12. 6, &c.
Again we read in 1 Cor. 12. 1, 4, 8, 9, 28. concerning ſpiritual gifts, I would not have you ignorant, for there are diverſities of gifts, but the ſame Spirit; for to one is given by the ſame Spirit the Word of wiſdom, to another the Word of knowledge, to another faith, to another the gifts of healing by the ſame Spirit, to another propheſie, to another diſcerning of ſpirits, to another divers kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues, and all this worketh that one and the ſelf-ſame ſpirit: Dividing to every man ſever…ly as he will. Eph. 4. 11, 12. And he gave ſome Apoſtles, and ſome Prophets, and ſome Evangeliſts, and ſome Paſtors and Teachers, Elders and Deacons, ver. 12. for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Miniſtry, for the edifying of the body of Chriſt, till we all come in the unity of the Faith unto a perfect man, unto the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulneſs of Chriſt.
More particularly, let us enquire into this, what thoſe beſt gifts are that Chriſt gives unto his beſt beloved ones.
THere are common gifts that all in common have, one as well as another; but▪ under this head I ſhall ſpeak only of thoſe moſt choice ſpecial gifts that he beſtows upon his ſons and daughters.
1. He giveth light to his beloved ones, yea he giveth ſpiritual light, which is a mercy of mercies, Eph. 5. 14. He gives that light whereby his people, not only awake and riſe from the dead, but he enables them to ſee ſin to be the greateſt evil; he gives that light that melts the ſoul, that humbles the heart, that warms and quickens the ſoul, and quiets the ſoul, and glads the ſoul. A man is not born with heavenly light in his heart, as he is born with a tongue in his mouth, for till Chriſt comes and ſets up a light in the ſoul, the ſoul liveth in darkneſs, and lies in darkneſs, yea is darkneſs in the very abſtract. Eph. 5. 8. Ye were ſometimes darkneſs, but now are ye light in the Lord.
2. He gives repentance, which is a flower that grows not in natures garden. Jer. 13. 23. The Ethiopian cannot change his skin, nor the Leopard his ſpots; and that he doth give repentance as a gift to his, doth appear by theſe Scriptures, Acts 5. 31. 2 Tim. 2. 25.
3. He gives his Spirit, Rom. 5. 5. 1. John 3. See Iohn 14. 26. & 4. 13.
4. He gives a ſoul skill to lay hold upon, and ſweetly to apply the precious promiſes to himſelf.
5. He gives peace. Iohn 14. 27. My peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.
6. He doth give pardon of ſins, and that pardon of ſins is a gift, will appear Acts 5. 31. Acts 26. 18. compared with Pſal. 32. 1, 2.
7. He doth give grace. Iohn 1. 16. of his fulneſs we ſhall receive grace for grace.
8. And laſtly, He gives himſelf. Rom. 8. 32. he that hath given us his ſon, how ſhall he not with him alſo give us all things?
In a word, the Lord doth give his people ſpiritual and heavenly gifts, pure gifts, wine without water, light without darkneſs, gold without droſs. See Rev. 22. 1. James 3. 17. He gives ſoul-ſatisfying gifts, moſt permanent and laſting, and moſt uſeful gifts. I had intended to have written ſomething of the difference between Common and Special gifts, and of the vaſt difference between the gifts that Chriſt gives, and thoſe the world gives; But my Book I ſee would then ſwell too big, &c.
I ſhall to this add but this word, Chriſt doth voluntarily and freely give theſe gifts and graces; never did a mother more willingly give her child ſuck, then Jeſus Chriſt beſtows grace upon his people. Iſa. 55. 1. Rev. 22. 17.
So much of the graces, gifts and vertues of the Spirit; we ſhall now come to ſpeak of the Ordinances of the Goſpel, in which theſe gifts and graces muſt and ought to be exerciſed. I ſhall ſpeak of ten or eleven of them which are ſtanding Ordinances remaining to this day in full force and vertue.