The Government of the Churches of Christ, Book 7 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
Of the end and design of the Ministry, and of the use and necessity of Ministers set apart to Preach, and Devoting, themselves wholy to that work.
Ephes. 4. 8.
Wherefore saith he, when he ascended up on High, he led Captivity Captive, and gave Gifts unto Men.
THE Apostle having mentioned in the 7th verse, the variety of Gifts given by Christ under the New Testament, enlargeth himself about them.
1. By shewing the Author of those Gifts, Christ, according as was Prophecyed, Psal. 68. 18. ver. 8, 9, 10.
2. By Enumerating the variety of those gifts, ver. 11.
3. The ends of those Gifts, ver. 12, 13, 14.
1. The Author of those gifts set forth, that his Person is God, Psal. 68. 17, 18, 19. Thou the Lord God; for none but God could have given them.
2. Then it is declared, what he did for the bestowing them. 1. He Descended. 2. He Ascended. He Descended and Ascended. The Apostle argues his Descending from that word Ascending: So ver. 9. Now that he Ascended, what is it but that he also Descended into the lower parts of the Earth? Psal. 139. 15. He improves that Scripture against the Jews to Demonstrate, that the Messiah must be humbled and laid low. He gathers a Doctrine from a word, as we use to do.
And from this observes. 1. That before God Exalts, he Humbleth. The Text says, first he Descended. Thus did God with his own Son, and so with us, as with David, Joseph, and any other whom he employs. And therefore humble your selves under the mighty Hand of God, that he may lift you up.
2. Observe, That Christ Descended to the lowest, and Ascended to the highest place, as those two Phrases import. foreign to the lower parts of the Earth: And his Ascension is an high, far above all Heavens, foreign, is Super Supra, above all beings above. The Descending was into the lower parts of the Earth, the ascending far above the Heavens. By his Descending, is meant that emptying himself spoken of, Phil. 2. For oppositely the fruit of it is made the filling all things, Christ was full of all, and God emptyed him He condescends to behold things here below, Psal. 113. but to come down below is more. And in that Phrase, the lower parts of the Earth, he Names the first and last step of his Descending: Not from Heaven to Earth only, nor to live on Earth only.
1. It imports to be enclosed in the dark Dungeon of the Womb, Psal. 139. 15. so the Womb is called, and there to be hid nine Months: 'Tis an Allusion to curious Workmen, that work within doors their most curious works.
2. It imports to be laid in the Grave, to be killed and buried, Matth. 12. 40. The Son of Man shall lie in the Heart of the Earth three days: Not in Hell, the place of the Damned, as the Papists would have it, but in the Grave which is called the Heart of the Earth. As Tyre is said to be in the Heart of the Sea, Ezek. 24. 27. which yet was a City near the Sea-side, from both these places, the Womb and Grave, Christ was raised, and the same Body that had lain in these two places and Dungegeons, the same, says the Text, ascends far above the Heavens, foreign is above, but foreign is added, that is, above above, above all Heavens; that is, Angels who are called Heavens (as the Devils are called the Gates of Hell, that is, the powers of Hell, for Magistrates Satin the Gates) so Heb. 7. 26. He is said to be made higher than the Heavens, that is in his Person excelling all Creatures, (so Ephes. 21. His Ascending is interpreted to be far above all principalities and powers, &c.) Tho' 'tis true also, he is above all Heavens for place; for tho' in Heaven, yet his Throne is Conspicuous there eminently.
Ʋse You see that to be much abased by God, is the way to greatest glory. Fear it not, the lower the Soul is laid in Distress, the more Comfort at last. The lower the Ebb, the greater the Flood.
3. His Descent was so low, as none would ever think, that had seen him in his Abasement, it were the same Man who is now exalted. He Descended so low into so mean a condition, that when you shall see him so glorious, you would never think that That Man should have been on the Cross. Therefore verse 10. the Apostle says, it is the same Person, and that he who Descended, is the same that Ascended. And so the same Bodies that were miserable here, shall Rise again and be glorified. 'Twill be such an infinite glory, that Men will hardly believe they are the same Men. Know, says Peter, That this same Jesus, whom ye have Crucified, God hath made both Lord and Christ.
4. Observe the manner of his Ascending, 'tis in a way of Triumph: He leads Captivity Captive. Enemies being conquered. Princes use to go in their Chariots Triumphantly, when from a great Journey they come again to their own City or Country, Psal. 7. 6, 7, 8. Awake (says he) in thine anger, so shall the Congregation encompass thee about (that as a Conqueror, for he alludes to the manner of Soldiers in the Field, that encompass their Lord General) for their sake return then on High, as a Conqueror: Ascend gloriously. And the leading Captivity Captive is but to lead the Enemies Captive, for the Abstract is put for the Concrete; for so 'tis used, Jud. c. 5. v. 12. Numb. 21. 1.
Now then, 5. His end in ascending, as in descending was, 1. General, 2. Special.
1. General: That he might fill all things: 1. All places, Heaven and Earth, and therefore he comes into both; as a King that takes possession of all his Dominions. 2. That he might fill all Persons he hath ascended, as the Sun to fill all with Light to the top of Honour. 3. This is made the fruit of Christ's descending, as well as his ascending. He became poor, that we might be Rich, he became empty, that we might be filled.
2. The Second end of his Ascension is special, viz. the bestowing Gifts. To this end both this Ascending and Descending is here brought in, for both these were necessary for the bestowing these Gifts on Men; he must both Descend and Ascend. 'Ere Christ could give Gifts to Men, he must purchase them. Your Church Officers cost Christ his Death, and Christ gave away himself first, to give these to you, and emptyed himself to fill you. And to answer to both these, the Phrase the Psalmist useth concerning the Gifts bestowed, signifies both his buying of them, and giving of them; and it is besides Translated there by our Translators, Received Gifts. 1. It signifies to buy or purchase Emere, so foreign signifies, and is so used. Prov. 31. 16. And 2. It signifies to give or bestow: So usually in the Hebrew, (Gen. 32. 13. Gen. 25. 2.) It is meant to take and bring an Offering. So then Christ's Descending was to buy these Gifts, his Ascending to receive and give them.
2. We may consider the variety of these Gifts. 1. Extraordinary. 2. Ordinary; they are here jumbled together, (also 1 Cor. 12. 28. and ver. 8, 9, 10.) And the Reason is, because the Ministry in respect of the essential things, is the same now that it was then, (2 Tim. 2. 2.) Therefore Christ blessed them, (Matth. 28. 20.) as God blessed all Men at first in Adam and Eve. Now if we know which Gifts are extraordinary, and which are not; by this we shall know.
1. What ordinary Gifts remain, what ordinary necessities are still in the Church. We find Gifts of Teaching, &c. and Governing, and Bowels of Mercy still: But no Gifts of Apostles, Evangelists, &c. remain. Miracles, Infallibility, and foretelling things as Prophets, (so as Agabus was) are ceased; but Gifts of Teaching and Feeding remain. Now God continues no Gifts in vain.
1. The power of Apostles ceaseth, Acts 12. 2. When James was Slain, there was none appointed in his room, but Elders were appointed in each Church, Acts 14. 23. The Election of one in Judas his place, was in conformity to the Patriarchs.
2. Prophets are Extraordinary, for so they are Ranked, Acts 13. 1. Paul and Barnabas were separated. So 1 Cor. 12. 28. Agabus, Acts 11. 28, 29. and Acts 21. 9, 10, 11.
3. Evangelists they had their Calling not immediate, but from the Apostles, as they from Christ, by laying on of Hands. These were to perfect the work that was begun, and to settle the Churches, Tit. 1. 5. 1 Tim. 1. 3. nor were they confined to any place, Titus 1. 5. In every City, &c.
3. The ends of these Gifts are two. 1. General, Ephes. 4. 12. For the perfecting of the Saints. For the work of the Ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ.
2. More Special, ver. 13, 14.
The General Ends are three,
1. Conversion, foreign, for joynting in the Members. He had compared, (ver. 4.) the whole Church to a Body, (as also ver. 16.) and every Saint that belongs to that Body unto a Member. The Members of which Body are loosened, cut off, scattered one from another, and from the Head, whilst they remain unconverted to God, and separated from Christ. And the Fruit and Success of Ministers labour, is to bring all these scattered Members into the right place in the Body, fore-ordained to them by God. By Saints, here he means the Elect uncalled: For he speaks of Conversion, as in distinction from growth. Joynting in, is bringing in the Members to the Body, Edification is building them up. Who because they are chosen to be holy before him in love, afore the World was, (Ephes. 1. 4.) they are by Anticipation called Saints, and aforehand entituled by what they shall be, as young, great H…rs are Stiled Lords of the places they shall have. They are called also Christ's Sheep, John 10. 16. Sheep, not yet brought into the Fold, are Tearmed Sheep. So the Corinthians, not yet Converted, and so not God's People, (1 Pet. 2. 10.) are tearmed by Election and Anticipation, the People of God, Acts 18. 10. I have much People in this City, yet to be called. Thus the Elect of God in an Age afterwards to come unborn, are called our Brethren, and Fellow-Servants, Rev. 6. 11. And white Robes were given unto every one of them, and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little Season, untill their Fellow-Servants also, and their Brethren that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. He speaks to the Saints in Heaven in one Age, and of a persecution to come in an after Age, viz: Of the Saints to be killed by the Arrian or Anti-Christian persecution, that was long after to come. Thus also Christ calls his whole Body of Elect, to whom the benefit of his Death should extend, whether Converted, or yet to be Converted: He calls them the Saints on Earth, Psal. 16. 2, 3. John 12. 19, 20. I pray not for these Apostles alone (says Christ) but for them that shall believe through their word, namely in all Ages. And the thing prayed for, was Sanctifie them through thy Truth. So then since the Elect though unconverted, yet by Conversion are made Saints; he therefore Tearms their Conversion here, the joynting in of the Saints. Take it thus.
1. God had given from everlasting to Jesus Christ as an Head, a Company of Persons of Mankind ordained to make a Body to him, and such are their Names and Persons Represented to him. They were, and are in God's and Christ's account viewed, as set all together in one, as they shall be at the last day. But by the fall of Man into sin, the Members of all this Body are actually and in themselves loosened and dissolved from Christ; and every Joynt and Member of that Body, that by fore-ordination was set in its proper Place, Seat, and Socket in the Body, is now rent and torn from the Body, and one from another. Even as the Bones of Men dead are in a charnel House. Now then Ministers are appointed by God to be in their Ministry, the means of Converting Men, and to gather them into one, and to set each Elect Saint in his Right Seat and Socket of this Body. Which, (Acts 2. 47.) is called adding to the Church, such as should be saved. Even as the Angels Ministry at the Resurrection, shall be to gather the Elect from all the four winds, such is the work of Ministers now. Neither is this spoken of gathering Members to a particular Church, but is meant of the Church Universal, ver. 4. 16.
Ʋse. Hence then learn, that Ministers are to employ their Gifts and Ministry for Conversion of them without, as well as to build up the Saints of their particular charge, even Pastors and Teachers are to mind this; for you see, they are thereunto appointed. Neither can, or should any particular Church engross the Gifts of their Ministers to their own use only, Acts 5. 19. The Angel of the Lord that set them at liberty, said to them; Go and stand, and speak in the Temple to the People, all the words of this Life. To the People, i. e. The common sort unconverted, and chose out the most publick place wherein to do it, viz. That of the Temple, the place where the Jews met. And Christ used to Preach there, John 18. 20. And they were bidden to Preach to them, not such Truths only, that may serve to build up the Converted; but all the words of this Life, that tend to Conversion, as well as Edification. And they practised accordingly, ver. 42. And therefore Saints Converted and gathered into a Church, should not think those Truths dead and dry that tend to Convert, to discover to Men their natural Estate, &c. For they tend to quicken Men dead, to enlighten the Elect ordained to be Saints, and to joynt them into Christ.
Ʋse 2. And 2. Learn that Ministers are in a true and proper Sense, and for some ends Ministers to them without, as well as to them within. You see here Pastors and Teachers are as such, as well as foreign, as for edifying: The Apostles when they Preacht to Cities unconverted, as Athens, Corinth, &c. were they not Apostles to them, tho' the People owned them not as such, nor knew of it? Yet in the Tendency and Ordination of their Office, they were such to them, whenever and where-ever they Preached; and if they Converted them, they were much more so to them. Yea, and when they Preacht, the power and presence of God went with them as such, as well to those that were to be Converted, as to those that were Unconverted to turn them, 1 Cor. 9. 2. If I be not an Apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: For the Seal of mine Apostleship are ye in the Lord. And God owned me, and lookt at me as your Apostle, when his power accompanied me as such, in turning you to God. Now what is there said of an Apostle (who was sent to Preach in several places) is true of Pastors and Teachers in their Circle, Sphere and place where they are called to Preach. They Preach as Ministers to them without (whether they acknowledge them or not) as well as to their own Flock. And God looking upon them as Men set apart to the Gospel, he accompanies them with the blessing of a Minister, and useth them rather than others, to Convert more generally and more frequently. And tho' they have not that obligation for watching, or power to Censure, Admonish, &c. yet as to Preaching, which is an Ordinance of Conversion, they have. Paul as an Apostle, had not power of Censure over those that were without, 1 Cor. 5. 12. What have I to do to judge them that are without? No, not as an Apostle, had he such a power, yet to Preach to them he had, and that as an Apostle. And therefore it is neither on the one hand a right Assertion to say, that Ministers, when they Preach to others than their own Church; are therein, and as to them to be considered, but as private Men, Gifted Brethren, for God considers them as more, and blesseth them as Ministers; and hath as well ordained them as Pastors, to joynt in the Elect Saints, as to build up. Neither is it on the other side a true Assertion; That because they are Ministers in Preaching to other Congregations that hear them; that therefore they may challenge power of Censure and Excommunication over many Congregations. The Truth lies in the midst.
2. The other end of the Ministry is, as to joynt in the Persons Elect, and to make the number compleat Extensive: So to build up, and to be a means of growth unto them that are within; and so Intensive to increase their Graces, Acts 20. 32. When Men are Converted, they yet want building up to an appointed measure (which yet they know not, but God) without which they should not be saved, no more than if not Converted they should not. Except ye be Converted, (says Christ) and become as little Children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, Matth. 18. 3. He speaks to Men Converted. Now he hath appointed the Word of his Grace to bring them to that measure, as well as to Convert; it is for building up of the Body. That word is added, as in Distinction from that former; First, Men must be brought into the Body by a foreign, then built up. The Natural Body after it hath all its Members formed, then 'tis nursed. The Ministry serves for both, the 13 verses tells us, that the Members are to grow up to a measure of Stature, which is Christ's fulness, Ephes. 1. 23. Now unto a perfection, a fulness of Body.
1. There must be a fulness, a compleatness of all Members or Parts; so as none may be wanting; and to this serves Conversion to joynt in the Members, and for this the Ministry is appointed.
2. There must be a fulness of Degrees, and proportionable growth. There must be no Writhen Member; and tho' one be smaller than the other, as the little finger is to the rest; yet it must arrive to it's Stature; and the Stature of each is appointed by God. And when the whole Workmanship appears, and all is set together, there is an infinite Beauty. And to cause them each to grow up, thereto the Ministry serves. Or if you will take the other Metaphor of building, as an Allusion to an House supposed to be made up of Living Stones, as those are, 1 Pet. 2. 5. Ye also as lively Stones, are built up a Spiritual House, an Holy Priesthood to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. As suppose there were an House built of such Stones, having life and growth as the Body of Man hath, which being laid on a Foundation, did of themselves grow up into an House, there would be in such a case; 1. The plaining of the Stone in the Foundation, as in it's proper place, and 2. The growth of the Stones to such a proportion, as should make a comely building. Now such an House are the Saints, Ephes. 2. 20, 21. And are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner Stone. In whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth unto an Holy Temple in the Lord. Now then, Conversion is a building us on the Foundation, a laying us in the building: And growth in Grace is our growing up together into that comely Structure of the whole, and both are accomplisht by the Ministry.
3. The Third general end or use of Pastors and Teachers, is the work of the Ministry: This is usually taken, as brought in between both to shew; 1. That it is a work or calling of Labour foreign, as 1 Tim. 3. 13. And 2. Of Service, not Lordship. But I take it rather as noting out the whole work of their Calling, and the whole work of their Ministration, which is the immediate end of their Office, as their Duty, and which tends to those two other ends that follow thereon, through God's blessing thereupon, viz. that Men are Converted and Edified. And so all particulars of it, as Preaching, Administration of Sacraments, Prayer, are included, Acts 6. 4. And thus it imports certain works to be performed by them, that make up the proper special calling of a Man set apart to it. It is foreign, 'tis the work of Service, as the word signifies. When James, Paul, and other Apostles, stile themselves Servants of Christ, they intend it not in that Sense, wherein all Christans are Servants, but they intend their being, as Menial Houshold-Servants, that have a proper constant work every day assigned them. As Officers and Courtiers write themselves Servants to the King in a special manner; and not as other Subjects. Therefore a Minister is stiled by this, as a Name more proper to him, The Servant of God, 2 Tim. 2. 24. Set apart to this work, Gal. 1. 16. Rom. 1. 1, 2. An Apostle separated, and therefore, 1 Tim. 3. 2. He calls the very Office a work, because it should be his whole work. He that desires the Office of a Bishop, desires a worthy work; and Chap. 4. 15. Give thy self wholy to them. It requires the whole Man, let him that Exhorts, be in Exhortation, &c. Rom. 12. 8. Totus in illo, Let him make it his calling, and Meditate on these things, and make them his Study. He must be a Scribe instructed, (Matth. 13. 52.) that by long use and exercise, and experience of himself and others, hath a Treasure of old Coin and of new, a Stock of Coin laid up, and an importation of new Bullion, Ezra 7. 6. He was a ready Scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given; and the King granted him all his Requests, according to the Hand of the Lord his God upon him. He was a ready Scribe verst in't; and ver. 10. Ezra had prepared his Heart, to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it; and to Teach in Israel, Statutes and Judgments. He prepared his Heart to study it; and to seek out the meaning, and to Teach it, and he did nothing else in comparison. And (ver. 9.) The good Hand of God was with him. You will e're long, come to find that blessing in Men set apart to it, as to a Calling; that is not in all the Gifts of Brethren, that occasionally perform it.
2. The more especial ends of the Ministry are;
1. Positive. 2. Preventive.
1. Positive, the preserving them in, and growing up to the unity of the Faith, &c. 2. Preventive, ver. 14.
1. Positive growth in Knowledge and Faith, which is the cause of all other growth, and which Pastors and Teachers should take care of, Jer. 3. 15. And I will give you Pastors according to mine Heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding; that is, Wisdom Practical and Spiritual. God hath taken care, and made provision for the Instruction of his People in the Faith and Knowledge, and set apart Men, whose Callings should be to perfect them therein; for which private Prophecying is not sufficient. As in Universities and Colledges; 'tis an ample provision, that young Students have not only publick Acts which themselves perform, and what by private Study and Conference they get; but they have Tutors, and Professors set apart to make it their Employment to Read to them. God hath taken the same care, he would not have his Children Read to ex tempore; but they have Men that are as Scribes instructed in the Law; and in a Church, Pastors and Teachers are as Tutors to their Understanding and Affections, to Read constantly, and on purpose to both these ends, and to improve them in knowledge specially; which is therefore alone mentioned; because if it be Spiritual, it works upon the Affections. For if you grow in true Spiritual Knowledge, you will grow in Grace, 2 Pet. 3. 18. But grow in Grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to him be Glory, &c. The Church is under Age, Children, as ver. 13. not yet come to Stature. And as Great Men have Tutors for their Children in their Travel to perfect their understandings, and observe their Manners: So hath God betrusted his Church in their Pilgrimage with Ministers, whose work and calling it is to Read to you. God accounts the Training up of his Children, as great a matter as you do yours; and therefore hath not left them to the common care one of another.
2. Those words, until, &c. Eph. 4. 13. Which notes out the Duration, have a double Sense: 1. It means, Age after Age. The Church is instructed more and more in Truths, and their Judgments by the Ministry of all Ages are so cleared, that in the end, through the help of their Ministers, all differences will be ended; and they will have one Faith, &c. and be one Man of one Mind. 2. Or it signifies there, being one Foundation of Faith necessary to Salvation, even as one Body (as ver. 4.) And these Saints being to come forth in several Ages Successively, which Ages are to last till the day of Judgment; the use and duration of the Ministry, is to last and continue until all those Saints in every Age, come and arrive at this unity of the Fundamentals of Faith, and in the true knowledge of the Son of God, which as necessary to Salvation, God hath ordained; so as it shall be found true of all the Saints at the latter Day, that they all had the same unity of Faith. And the Ministry is to last therefore, until this be performed. And truly, if we look over all Stories, we find down all along, that God hath performed this promise in Rome it self, which is still Truth enough to save Men, though the light indeed in these latter days in other things is so cleared, that in denying and gainsaying, sin against light, and so are lost, though otherwise they had Truth enough to save them. So that this word until, doth not simply note out that one full Terminus or Period of perfection, that shall be at the latter Day, and not until then be accomplisht. (For it cannot well be judged, how at the Day of Judgment and in Heaven, there is the unity of the Faith, where Faith ceaseth) but it serves to note out what was to be a-doing all the time along in every Age. The Emphasis being put upon the word [all] who coming in a Succession into the World, the Ministry must, as a means hereof, continue until [all] come to the same unity. And so the meaning is, that the Ministry is needful, that they all might Arrive and be found to have the same Faith, and to have arrived to that Stature here, who appearing together at the latter day, make up Christ's fulness. There are common principles and foundations of all Saints in all Ages; as to instance in that one, 1 Pet. 1. 1. Simon Peter a Servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like pretious Faith with us, through the Righteousness of God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ. There is an unity in the Faith, and that would we have made the Standard for Liberty and Conscience, not to dispense therein. And we may acknowledge this to the Honour of Counsels and Synods, that this we should have lost, if it had not been for Ministers and Counsels.
2. The Ministry is necessary to prevent Errors and Mischiess, to that purpose.
1. He shews the danger of Saints without Officers. 1. They are as Children, the ordinary sort of them, who are easie to be deceived, to take Counters for Gold.
2. They are as Ships at Sea, either riding at Anchor, or such whose Anchor is apt to be broken, and they exposed to be tost in both cases.
1. If they lye at Anchor in the main Sea; yet if a Storm come, they are exposed to the fury of the Waves, and to be tost this way and that way, and to a being unsteady, not knowing what to hold. This the word foreign imports, to be carried round about.
Or 2. If their Anchor break, then they are liable to float, and be driven any way on Rocks, Heresies and the like, and so to make Shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience. Do you use to commit your Ships you have but Merchandize in, unto ordinary Saylors? No, but to Men specially Skilled, to Pilot them, to direct them in a Storm?
2. He shews the advantage which evil Teachers have to do mischief.
1. Many of them are Men, which is spoken oppositely to the generality of Saints, who are but Children, and these as Men, can wind and cheat Children as they please. There had need therefore be those that are Men too, and Men of God to encounter them, that have their Senses exercised to discern good and evil, as Heb. 6. 13, 14▪ For every one that useth Milk, is unskilful in the word of Righteousness; for he is a Babe. But strong Meat belongeth to them that are of full Age, even those who by reason of use, have their Senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Such are necessary, who are able to convince Gain-sayers, that have depths of knowledge to answer the depths of Satan.
2. He says, they are Masters of their Art, which is Jugling, and casting false Dice, who can cheat, as Men at Dice and Cards. They can pack Scriptures, so as they shall appear for their cause; they have that slight of Hand, as to deceive your Eye; and you have need of them that should discover them, and their Jugling Tricks, which being once discovered, are the most plain and easie to be avoided.
3. They are High-way-side-Men, that come stealing on you by degrees; and then with Violence Surprise (as having Judgment in an Ambushment) one Opinion shall draw on another cunningly, till being wound in, and encompassed about, you must needs yield. Now if the use and end of the Ministry is to be as a preservative from a Bank and Wall of opposition against these: Then whilst you see such as these Deceivers to continue in the Church (as in these times you do, and they have abounded) and perceive the Saints still as apt to be deceived; there must needs be acknowledged, the remaining and continuance of this Ministry, and the necessity thereof, as there will be to the end of the World.
Ʋse 1. See and consider the greatness of the Benefit and Favour of God, vouchsafed in these Donations of Ministers and Officers to his Church. Which is discovered out of the Text in three things.
1. It is a Gift, and pretious Gift every way. A Gift not for Jehovah only, or his Worship, (although in that respect, they are said to be a Gift for the Lord, Numb. 18. 6.) But it is withal added, To you they are given as a Gift; so here says the Apostle, they are Gifts to Men; and consider the particulars. 1. The Gifts or inward abilities the Men have: How Rich and Pretious are they? It is a Rich Treasure, tho' in Earthen Vessels. 2. To ordain the Officers suited to these Gifts, the Administrations as well as the Gifts; these are from the Lord, 1 Cor. 12. As Numb. 18. 7. I have given the Priests Office, as a Service of Gift. God looks upon the Ordination of the Office it self, as a Gift. 3. That he should in his providence to our days, through the vertue of his Ascension raise up Men thus Gifted, to supply his Church withal; this is more than that Covenant made to Noah of, that Harvest and Spring shall not cease for ever. And 4. God gives them his Holy Spirit, inclining their Spirits to undertake this Service (so contemned in the World) so willingly.
2. They are the Gifts bequeathed us at Christ's Ascension. And so they his last Gifts, whereby he would express his love; as Eliah at his Ascending, let fall his Mantle; which with a double portion of his Spirit went. Yea, they are the Fruits, not only of Christ's Ascension, but of his Descending also; and that must be a matter of infinite Moment; for the effecting which, Christ must take such a Journey backward and forward, from Heaven to Earth, and then to Heaven again.
3. The Donative is great, in respect of the Blessing which God follows all these with. Indeed the Apostle mentions it not; but in citing it, referreth to all that the Psalm speaks of it. Now (Psal. 68. 19.) It is there added, he Ascended to give or receive Gifts for Men, that he might dwell among them. It fills up the Allusion to an House, when Christ Ascended, he became absent, going into a far Country; but to the end he might visit them with his Spirit, and Spiritual Presence. He first builds himself an House on Earth. (I will build my Church, says Christ) and then he furnisheth it with all sorts of Officers and Furniture; and when 'tis thus compleated, he comes down into it, and dwells in it, and delights to do so; and he there keeps open House for all comers. That Exhortation (Colos. 3. 16.) Let the word of God dwell richly in you, is spoken to them as a Church, (ver. 15.) 'Tis an Allusion to God's keeping House among his Saints, and he loves they should fare richly and deliciously, and feast all that would come in among them, which is done by Gifts of Officers specially. This invites him to come and Sup and dwell with them. For so it runs, He gave or received Gifts, that he might dwell. Not but that he dwelt in these Saints afore: But much more now, when he finds all his Houshold-Servants about him to attend him.
4. The Donative appears to be great from the ends thereof, which are every way full; for both extensively they serve to bring into him all his Members, and to make his Body compleat; and to add to his Church, such as shall be saved; and so to bring in Honour to God, which consists as a King's, in the multitude of his Subjects. And it is the Church's Honour to Encrease and Multiply, and the means of each Person's growth, is by what every one supplies. And intensively, these Officers and Ministers do also serve to build up, and cause to grow to a full Stature (as here) every Member also, Acts 20. 32. Paul committed to the word of God's Grace, to build them up, &c. And it is as if he he had said, now you have Ministers among you, I make account you are setled; you want nothing but building up, until you come to Heaven, and for that I have seen you provided; And so I leave and commit you to the word of Grace.