A Gospel Ministry, Sermon

A Gospel Ministry · Sermon

A Goſpel Miniſtry The rich GIFT of the Aſcended SAVIOUR Unto His CHURCH.

As it was Repreſented in a SERMON preached Auguſt 2. 1715. By Mr. BENIAMIN COLMAN, On a Day of Prayer kept by His Congregation, to implore the Divine Conduct and Bleſſing with them, in their Election of Another into the Paſtoral Office among them.

BOSTON: Printed by T. Fleet and T. Crump, for Samuel Gerriſh, on the North Side of the Town-Houſe. 1715.

Advertiſement.

IT ſeems to me but a piece of Juſtice to Acknowledge the free Ʋſe I have made of Mr. Henry's Expoſitions, thro' the following Diſcourſe.

p. 1The Goſpel Miniſtry The rich GIFT of the Aſcended SAVIOUR unto His Church.

EPH. IV. 8, 11.

Wherefore he ſaith, When he aſcended up on high, he led Captivity Captive, and gave Gifts unto Men.—

And he gave ſome Apoſtles: and ſome Prophets: and ſome Evangeliſts: and ſome Paſtors and Teachers.

THE Text ſpeaks of the Aſcention of our Lord JESUS CHRIST into Heaven, where He is ſet down at the right hand of the Majeſty on high; the Glory of which Aſcent is here meditated in the bleſſed Fruits and Effects of it to the ſinful Children of Men.

Three things here offer to our Conſideration.

p. 41. A Prophecy of our Saviour's Aſcenſion is referr'd to; and a very Illuſtrious one it is, in the 68. Pſal. 18. Thou haſt aſcended on high, thou haſt led Captivity captive; thou haſt received Gifts for Men, yea for the Rebellious alſo, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

THE Apoſtle in the Text quotes theſe words of David, who ſaw the day of our Lord's Aſcenſion, and ſpake of it in Spirit as a thing paſt, it was ſo ſure and certain to be in God's appointed time.

2. IN the Text the Accompliſhment of this Prophecy is ſuppoſed and taken for granted, which amounts to an Aſſertion of its. Fulfilment, in the perſon of Chriſt. To Him the Holy Ghoſt here applies it, as one of the Inſtances wherein the Spirit of Chriſt in the Prophets did teſtify before the Glory that ſhould follow his Sufferings.

THE Pſalmiſt had ſpoken of Chriſt Prophetically in the ſecond Perſon. Thou haſt aſcended, &c—. The Apoſtle applies it to him Hiſtorically in the third Perſon; when He aſcended up on high, He led &c—.

AND to ſatisfy us that the Prophecy of the Pſalmiſt was of Chriſt truly, and can bear no other Application ultimatly, the Apoſtle argues in a Parentheſis between the p. 5two Verſes of my Text; which I have preſum'd to omit in the reading them juſt now to you; Now that he aſcended, what is it but that he alſo deſcended firſt into the lower parts of the earth? He that deſcended is the ſame that aſcended up far above all Heavens, that he might fill all things. Which is as much as to ſay, that David in Spirit ſpake of Him who firſt came down from Heaven to our Earth, and here in our fleſh deſcended into the Grave, from whence he roſe and aſcended bodily far above all viſible Heavens; unto the preſence and Throne of God. Thus we ſee the Prophecy and its Accompliſhment; that David's words did indeed mean Chriſt's Aſcention, and were fulfilled in it.

3. LET us obſerve the glorious things which are ſpoken concerning the Aſcention of Chriſt:

1. That he led Captivity Captive.

2. That he received and gave Gifts to men. And

3. Theſe Gifts are ſpecify'd, He gave ſome Apoſtles, and ſome Prophets, and ſome Evangeliſts, &c.

THERE is doubtleſs and Alluſion in the words unto the Uſages and Cuſtom of Generals and Conquerors, who after great and illuſtrious Victories obtained by them were wont to Triumph; and in their triumphant Entries p. 6into the Capital City of the Empire to which they belong'd and for which they fought, they us'd to be follow'd by the Captives whom they had taken in the War; and to make ſhew of the Riches, the Spoils they had taken from the Enemy, and to add unto the pomp of the day they made public "Largitives and Donatives to their Souldiers, and ſcatter'd their Magnificence and Bounty among the Crouds.

IT may ſeem probable that theſe ſort of Triumphs were in uſe in David's time, and the moſt famous One of his Reign might be on that occaſion whereon the 68. Pſalm was compoſed, namely the Tranſlation of the Ark (the Type of Chriſt's Mediation) into the Tent which he had pitched for it in Sion. The Roman Triumphs were of a later Date, but anſwer'd ſo exactly to the Deſcription here given by David, of the leading the Captives in proceſſion, and the ſcattering Gifts among the Multitude that we may think the Nations received the Cuſtom from him; whoſe Victories in war well deſerv'd a Triumph; and were ſingled out by God to be the Types of the Spiritual Victory of Chriſt over the powers of Darkneſs. This ſeems to me more worthy to be ſaid, than p. 7that the Holy Ghoſt manifeſtly alludes unto the Roman Conquerors: which tho' it might have paſs'd had our Text been firſt delivered by the Apoſtle who liv'd under the Roman Empire; yet what Alluſion to their Triumphs cou'd David make who liv'd ſo long before them, unleſs you will allow too that he propheſied of them.

DAVID was a famous Type of Chriſt, and that Great Solemnity of his Reign, the carrying of the Ark in pomp to Sion, was an illuſtrious Type of our Lord's Aſcention into Heaven David on that triumphant Occaſion celebrated all the Victories that God had given him over His and his Church's Enemies, and aſcribed all the Glory of them to God and to the Ark of his ſtrength. This was now aſcending on High, even the Ark, from a humble and obſcure ſtate wherein it had long been, into a Royal Tent which he had pitch'd for it in that Hill of Sion which God had choſen, the Mount which he lov'd. Now to grace that Proceſſion and Aſcent of the Ark, we may ſuppoſe that the King bro't forth the train of Captives, even ſuch as before had often led many an Iſraelite into Captivity. Thus Captivity was led Captive, and the Spoils taken from them p. 8were carry'd to Sion, and there Dedicated to God, for the building of the Temple in after days, where the Lord God might dwell among them. Of Him David had receiv'd theſe Victories and theſe Spoils; and to Him he aſcribes the glory of the one, and to His ſervice and ſpicial honour he Conſecrates the other. Of which Spoils that David gathered and Dedicated, which were of Silver and Gold and Braſs, Solomon afterwards adorn'd the Temple, and made its holy Veſſels.

THESE things, tho' the Glories of the Kingdoms of this world were but a low figure and ſhadow of the Aſcention of the Meſſiah, the Son and Lord of David. When He aſcended on high, even to the right Hand of God, above all Heavens, He did as Conquerors us'd to do and more; He led Captivity Captive; He led thoſe Captive that had led us ſo, and if He had not interpos'd would have led us ſo for ever; He made openly a ſhew of Principalities and Powers, of Satan, Sin and Death ſpoiled of their power over His Subjects; utterly broken for ever and led in Chains: He appear'd then more than a Conqueror, for every Conqueror was not allow'd a Triumph, and all Believers too who follow. His Chariot with their Hoſanna's p. 9are more than Conquerors thro' Him, they too are Triumphers; for thanks be to God who cauſeth us always to Triumph in Chriſt.

THOU haſt received Gifts for men, yea for the Rebellious; ſays the Pſalmiſt; He gave Gifts unto men; ſays the Apoſtle. He received and and He gave; He gave that which He had received; for it was given Him to beſtow: Joh. 17.2, 22. As thou haſt given him,— that he ſhou'd give—: and the glory which thou gaveſt me I have given them.

GIFTS for Men, not for Angels: Henry. For Men in General, not for the Jews only, but for the Gentiles alſo. Gifts in Man, as the Margin reads it in the Pſalms; i. e. in the humane Nature, which the Son of God was pleas'd to cloath Himſelf in, in whom (as Mediator) all fulneſs dwells, that from His fulneſs we all might receive.

YEA for the Rebellious: for thoſe that had been Rebels, and now were in Rebellion; had forfeited any claim to the leaſt Favour, but had deſerv'd and incurr'd wrath to the uttermoſt; for Rebels of the Gentiles in particular who had been Enemies in their minds by wicked works; even theſe has He reconciled. So they ſay, the Generous Conquerors p. 10of old in the day of their Triumph, were wont not only to reward their Friends and faithful Souldiers with munificent Gifts, but to ſhow Acts of Grace alſo to their very Captives. The aſcending Saviour gave His Divine Gifts even for and to His Crucifiers.

THAT the Lord God might dwell among them; ſays the Pſalmiſt. That He might ſet up a Church in a rebellious world,Henry. in which He would dwell by His Word and Ordinances, as of old in the Sanctuary. So ſays the Apoſtle in the verſes after our Text; theſe Gifts from the Aſcended Saviour were given for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Miniſtry, for the Edifying the body of Chriſt; till we all come in the unity of the faith, &c—. That is in one word, for the building up a Church, and for the Edification of Souls in Knowledge Faith and Holineſs unto Salvation.

AND now we come more particularly to conſider what theſe Gifts of the Aſcended Saviour to His Church were, and thoſe the Apoſtle ſpecifies and enumerates: He gave ſome Apoſtles, ſome Prophets, &c—.

YOU obſerve that only Offices are named, but Qualifications are ſuppoſed; Chriſt never gave Offices without a ſuitable p. 11meaſure of Gifts for the diſcharge of them; which are here therefore repreſented in their variety and diverſity; ſome Ordinary, others Extraordinary.

1. Extraordinary Offices and divine Gifts agreeable to them: ſome Apoſtles, ſome Prophets, ſome Evangeliſts.

THE Apoſtles had an Immediate Call to their Office,Pool. a Univerſal Commiſſion, Infallibility in teaching, and the power of working Miracles; they were Prophets and more than Prophets, being commiſſioned and gifted in an excellent manner for the firſt founding of the Chriſtian Church in all parts of the World.

NEXTLY Prophets: Theſe alſo were Extraordinary Officers, whom God endowed to foretel things to come, and expound the writings of the old Prophets; they Interpreted Scripture by Immediate Revelation.

Thirdly Evangeliſts. Theſe likewiſe were Extraordinary Officers, ordained by the Apoſtles as their Companions and Aſſiſtants in preaching the word and planting Churches in the places where they had travelled. Such we eſteem Timothy and Titus and Apollos and others to have been.

p. 12THESE Extraordinary Gifts and Officers were neceſſary in the firſt planting of Chriſtianity, and ceaſed with that Extraordinary Occaſion for them.

2. THE Ordinary and ſtanding Officers of the Church of Chriſt follow: Paſtors and Teachers: Biſhops and Elders: who are ſet over the Churches as Guides and Inſtructers, to rule and teach. They are one and the ſame Office, and accordingly joyned by the Holy Ghoſt.

IN ſhort, The Inſtitution of a Goſpel Miniſtry is the thing here taught, and that it is the Gift of our Aſcended Saviour to His Church, and to continue in it to the End of the World.

I will only add, to carry on the Harmony between the Pſalmiſt and the Apoſtle, between the Prophecy and its Fulfilment; That this variety of Offices and Gifts; Superior and Inferior,Mollierus. Ordinary and Extraodinary, the one excelling ſo much the other in Glory, for the building of the Spiritual Temple of Chriſt; do well anſwer unto the Princely Gifts which David dedicated for the building of Solomon's Temple, and the Ark's. Aſcent thereinto and final Reſt therein. The Apoſtles, Prophets p. 13and Evangeliſts, and the Gifts of Inſpiration, Tongues, Prophecies, Miracles, &c. theſe ſhine like the Conſecrated Gold; and let it ſuffice Us the Ordinary Miniſters of Religion, and be accounted too great Riches committed to us, if we may but be uſed and ſerve as the Silver Veſſels in the houſe of God, and may but be able to bring our Offerings of Braſs or Hair.

BUT I haſten to the Doctrine, hoping you will forgive me that I have been ſo tedious in commenting upon ſuch a Copious Text.

DOCT. That the Inſtitution of a Goſpel Miniſtry, and Qualification of perſons ſmith are to be eſteemed among The Rich Gifts of our Aſcended Saviour to a ſinful World, and the glorious Fruits of His Aſcention. When he aſcended on high, He gave Gifts … ſome Apoſtles, &c.

WE may take the Doctrine into theſe following Propoſions.

1. That our Lord Jeſus Chriſt has Inſtituted and Ordained a Goſpel Miniſtry.

2. That He furniſhes and qualifies Men for it, with a variety of Divine and Heavenly Gifts.

3. That they are the rich Gift of Chriſt unto a ſinful World.

p. 144. That it is the glorious Fruit of His Aſcention.

I. OUR Lord Jeſus Chriſt has Inſtituted and Ordained a Goſpel Miniſtry, to continue in His Church, and for the Edification of it unto the End of the World.

THE Saviour of Men has had, hath, and ever will have a Church in the World. This has exiſted the ſame, under the various Methods and Diſpenſations of Religion and of the Covenant of Grace, which have been from Adam to this day, and ſo will it be by the power and grace of God unto the End of Time. In this Church of the Living God there ever has been the Miniſtry of Men, and of ſome particular perſons whom God has called, endowed, and in diverſe manner authorized to Miniſter in holy things unto others, for their Souls Good. Of the Patriarchal Age we can ſay but little more than this, that the venerable Fathers of the ſeveral Religious Families and Tribes have been eſteemed both Princes and Prieſts to them; no doubt praying with and bleſſing their houſholds, inſtructing and charging them according to the will of God, receiving their Offerings and offering up Sacrifices, and leading in the Spiritual Sacrifices of praiſe unto p. 15God. No doubt too, but there were Extraordinary Prophets raiſed up and inſpired and ſent by God with His will in their mouths upon Occaſion; as well as more Ordinary Revelations of Heaven to the Holy Men that walked with God, as Enoch, Noah and Abraham did.

ENOCH prophecy'd in his day of the Judgment yet to come, the ſecond Coming of our Lord; as the Apoſtle Jude informs us. Noah was a Preacher of Righteouſneſs in his Generation, and the Longſuffering of God endured them for a great while under the Endeavours of his holy Miniſtry. Abraham we know was a faithful Father to his numerous Houſhold, to inſtruct them in and command them after him to keep the way of the Lord.

AND thus things continued untill the Deſcent of the Houſe of Iſrael into Egypt; where neither were their Poſterity left altogether we may think without Inſtruction; but when God viſited them by the Miſſion of Moſes, and had bro't them thence by an outſtretched Arm, He then came down on Sinai, and gave them the Law by the diſpoſition of Angels, in thunders and lightnings; which threw them into ſuch terrors p. 16that they humbly beſo't of God that He would no more ſpeak unto them immediately Himſelf, but by the Mouth and Miniſtry of Moſes; ſolemnly promiſing that they would obediently hearken unto all that he ſhould ſpeak to them in the Name of the LORD. GOD approv'd of this diſcreet and wiſe Motion which they made, and took up Moſes into the Mount, and there and thence forward inſtructed him in His whole Mind and Will for the Religion and Government of that His choſen People.

HE then Inſtituted among them, as His Ordinances of Worſhip and Sabbaths, ſo the Miniſtry of the Prieſts and Levites; who were to ſerve at His Altar, and to teach thro' the Land in their ſeveral Diſperſions the Statutes and Commandments of God. Their lips were to preſerve Knowledge, and the people were to ſeek the Law at their Mouth. God inſpired alſo His Holy Prophets; and ſent them with particular Revelations and Meſſages, as it pleaſed Him; and thus the Miniſtry of Religion continued in the Houſe of Aaron, even till the coming of Chriſt.

OUR LORD JESUS was that Great Prophet which God had promis'd to His people p. 17Iſrael that He would raiſe up of their Brethren, like unto Moſes, and put his words in his mouth, and require it of them that ſhould not hearken unto him.

NOW as ſoon as our LORD began His publick Miniſtry, He alſo called and Ordained the twelve Apoſtles, and ſent them forth to preach the Kingdom of God; and after them the Lord appointed other Seventy alſo, and ſent them two and two before His face, into every City and Place, whither He himſelf wou'd come. Thus they miniſtred under Chriſt all the time that the Lord went in and out among them, unto the day that they ſaw Him taken up into Heaven. Juſt before which, He renewed His Commiſſion unto them, and extended it unto all whom He ſhou'd call to miniſter in holy things even to the End of the World. Mat. ult. And Jeſus came and ſpake unto them ſaying; All power is given to me in Heaven and in Earth; go ye therefore and teach all nations, Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of—.

HERE our Lord firſt aſſerts His own Commiſſion and Authority, and then ſeals His to us. He did not go beyond His power, nor did He aſſume or uſurp any; but all power is given to Him in Heaven and Earth. p. 18He has a legal Title, and a full Poſſeſſion; He is Inveſted in it, Inaugurated and Enthroned for ever. And He gives Commiſſion not only to the Apoſtles, tho' to them primarily, as the chief Miniſters of His Kingdom; but to their ſucceſſors alſo, the Miniſters of the Goſpel from age to age, to the worlds End. He aſſures them of His Spiritual Preſence with them in their preaching His Word, and adminiſtring His Inſtitutions; and that it ſhall be conſtant and perpetual; lo, I am with you always even to the End, &c. His Spirit is with His ſervants to aſſiſt them, and in His Ordinances to give them Succeſs and Efficacy.

AGREEABLY to this Commiſſion the whole New Teſtament abounds with the Accounts of the Miniſtry of the Apoſtles & Evangeliſts, their Ordaining and Inſtructing and ſending others to preach the Goſpel; the Qualifications Duties and Labours incumbent upon Miniſters are laid down, and Exhortations and Charges given unto fidelity in this ſacred Office; many Titles and Names of honour and truſt are given them; they are called Miniſters of Chriſt, Stewards of the Myſteries of God, Ambaſſadors for Chriſt, Overſeers, Watchmen for Souls p. 19that muſt give an Account, and Labourers in the Word and Doctrine, and Angels of the Churches; And finally, Chriſtian people are upon all theſe Accounts required to Acknowledge them and highly Eſteem them in love, to count them worthy of double Honour, to Communicate for their Support, and to obey and ſubmit to them.

THUS our Lord Jeſus has Inſtituted a Goſpel Miniſtry in His Church.

II. He furniſhes and qualifies Men for it with a variety of Divine and Heavenly Gifts; He gifts them for His Church, and gives them to His Church.

HE is the True Light which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World: the Original and Fountain of every kind and degree of worthy Gifts, wherewith one Perſon and another are Adorned and Enriched. Whether they be common Gifts or ſaving Graoes, they are all derived and received from Jeſus Chriſt. The Endowments of Angels as well as thoſe of Men are ſo; In Him was life, and the life was the light of Men. "That life which is the light of Men comes "from Jeſus Chriſt: the life in Man is light, for he is made a living Soul. The light of Reaſon is common to Men and all reaſonable p. 20Creatures, and derived from the Eternal Logos or Word, by whom and for him, the Thrones and Dominions in Heaven were created as well as Man upon Earth. By the Publication of the Goſpel, and by the Operation of His Spirit, He lighteth all thoſe that are enlightned to Salvation. Our Lord Jeſus both in His Eternal God-head, and alſo as Mediator and Redeemer, is the giver of every good Gift to us, and of His fulneſs we all have received and Grace for Grace. All Apoſtles, and all Believers after them: both the favour of Apoſtleſhip, and fitneſs for it.

CHRIST calls none to any Truſt and Office in His Kingdom whom He does not gift and qualify for their place in it. If Qualifications be wanting, we may be ſure they have no Divine Call and Separation of God thereunto. I mean here ſome competent meaſure of Gifts, for whoſe are equal to this high and holy Service? When God has called men to Extraordinary Offices and Service, He has gifted them in extraordinary manner; as He did the Prophets and Apoſtles. But a more common and ordinary Meaſure of ſuitable Gifts may ſuffice for more common and ordinary Truſts and Services; which therefore are to be p. 21acquired in the uſe of ordinary Means, by diligent ſtudy and prayer, under the common gracious Influences of the Holy Spirit. Inſpiration is not to be look'd for on any ordinary Occaſion, nor the gift of Tongues, nor the working of Miracles.

CHRIST will give that which is requiſite where He calls any one to His Miniſtry; but He requires and expects too Diligence and Labour with many Prayers and humble Dependance on Him on our part; and that we have an awful ſenſe of the great Knowledge and Learning neceſſary, eſpecially in the Holy Scriptures; and greater meaſures yet of Sanctity and Holineſs, and the continual Divine Influence to Incline, Spirit and Animate us, and alſo to ſucceed and proſper us; that our ſtudies and labours may not be in vain in the Lord.

HE the Head of all glorious Influence to the Church chuſes whom He will ſend and imploy in it, He makes men to differ in Gifts, which in various Manner and Meaſures He beſtows as pleaſes Him, on whom He will; and then by whom He will He worketh.

THE Holy Spirit of Grace is pour'd out on the Church for that End; to furniſh ſome p. 22for the Edification of others, and by their Miniſtry to bring in the Elect to believe and be ſaved. The Holy Ghoſt is ſubſtituted and given forth by our Lord Jeſus Perſonally to promote and effectuate His Mediation for God with Men.Dr. Scot. He is now the other Advocate to inforce the Miniſtry of Men on Chriſt's behalf: even the Spirit of Truth, which abides with His Church for ever to this End. He qualify'd and furniſh d the Apoſtles for their ſervice, and ſo He does Ordinary Miniſters for theirs till the worlds End. As long as Chriſt ſhall have a Church upon the Earth, the Holy Ghoſt is vitally united to it, as One ſpeaks well, even as the Soul to the Body; for as there is one Body, the Church, ſo there is one Spirit; as our Context has it: and this one bleſſed Spirit of Grace works every ſaving and gracious Effect that is produced by the Miniſtry of Men; Enlightning, Sanctifying, Quickning and Comforting the Souls of His choſen and called, and being in them the Spirit of Supplication. He is the Spirit of the Son ſent forth into the hearts of the Elect.

BUT He works in and by the Miniſtry of Men. Not that He needs them or their p. 23Miniſtries to him, but this is the Reaſonable and Gracious way which He Himſelf has ordained and ſanctify'd unto our Uſe. We muſt look and wait for Him in His own way, and therein expect His free and efficacious Operations. He will work by whom He will work, and whom He will uſe He prepares for the uſe which He pleaſes to make of him.

AS the Father ſanctify'd and ſent Chriſt into the world, and gave Him the Spirit without Meaſure; ſo Chriſt hath ſent His Miniſters, and furniſh'd them with meaſures of Gifts and Graces from His Holy Spirit.

HEAR how graciouſly and with what Solemnity our Saviour ſpeaks of it in His Prayer for His Apoſtles, and in them for all that ſhould believe in him thro' their word: Joh. 17.17, 18, 19. Sanctify them thro' thy truth, thy word is truth. As thou haſt ſent me into the world, even ſo have I ſent them into the world; and for their ſakes I ſanctify my ſelf, that they alſo might be ſanctify'd thro' the truth.

THE bleſſed Prayer is, Sanctify them as Miniſters to thy Service; qualify them with Chriſtian Graces and Miniſterial Gifts; own them in the Office and let thy Hand go with them: For this cauſe I Sanctify, i. e. p. 24devote my ſelf an Offering that they may be qualified from above and accepted with God both as Saints and Miniſters. Thus Chriſt gave Himſelf for His Church to ſanctify it. And for the Sanctification of Believers He ſanctifies His Miniſters: Joh. 21, 22. Jeſus ſaid again to them, Peace be unto you; as my Father hath ſent me, even ſo have I ſent you (Qualify'd and Furniſh'd as well as Authoriz'd and Commiſſion'd;) and when he had ſaid this, he breathed on them, and ſaid unto them, receive the Holy Ghoſt.

III. THE Miniſters of Chriſt, whom He qualifies and furniſhes with Miniſterial Gifts and Graces are a very rich Gift of Chriſt to a ſinful World. Manifold is the Riches of His Grace unto them whom He qualifies, and when He has ſo Inriched them Great is the Richneſs of His Gift in them unto the Souls of Men. All His Gifts to them is ſo much Grace to His Church, and to render them a Gift worthy of Himſelf, and of His love unto Souls.

LET me lay before you two Texts here; for I cannot pretend to enter into a proper Method or Enlargement on this head, on which a great many worthy things might be copiouſly ſaid: The firſt Text ſhall ſpeak p. 25the greatneſs of the thing for God to furniſh a Miniſtry, the ſecond to give it to His Church. The firſt is in the 2 Cor. 3.5, 6. Not that we are ſufficient of our ſelves to think any thing, as of our ſelves; but our ſufficiency is of God; Who alſo hath made us able Miniſters of the New Teſtament. The other is in the 1 Cor. 3. ult. Therefore let no man glory in man, for all things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas—, all are yours, and ye are Chriſts, and Chriſt is Gods. Thus God forms a glorious Miniſtry in the world, to be His glorious Gift to it.

AND do but conſider the End to which He forms it, and the glorious Effect which under His Bleſſing it produces, and it will appear to be an Illuſtrious and Magnificent Gift of Heaven. It is inſtituted in the hand of the Holy Ghoſt, and under that Revelation which God has made of Himſelf and of His Will and Grace to men, to be the means of the Illumination, Converſion and Salvation of the World. And what can be more Noble or Important than this End? at leaſt what more glorious in our Eyes, to whom is the word of this Salvation ſent, and the Miniſtry of Reconciliation committed? One Soul is of an Invaluable Price; but what then is p. 26the Salvation of Millions of Immortal Spirits, that were periſhing in Ignorance, Corruption and Spiritual Bondage and Death!

MEN and Brethren, if your Souls are of any worth in your own Eyes, ſo muſt you value and ſet a price on the means of your Inſtruction unto the Kingdom of God, the means of their Sanctification, and Perſeverance in Grace unto Glory.

THESE are the Servants of the moſt High God, which ſhew you the way of Salvation: God has Endowed, Commiſſioned and ſent them on that ſervice to you; at the urgent neceſſity and on the account of the periſhing Condition of your Souls, and their own too, and a Million Millions of others beſides you: and will you not reverence this Gift of Chriſt to you? how ſhould you believe in Chriſt and be ſaved, if theſe were not ſent to preach Him to you, and as Ambaſſadors from Chriſt to beſeech and pray you in Chriſts ſtead to be reconciled to God?

WE then as workers together with God beſeech you not to receive His Grace in vain: not to make light of it, not to treat it with Contempt. Look not upon Us nor our Office as a mean or inſignificant thing, but ſuffer p. 27me to ſpeak in God's behalf and to magnify my Office, this Miniſtry which we have receiv'd of the Lord Jeſus.

SAY not,— this fooliſhneſs of Preaching, ſeeing iſ pleaſes God by it to ſave them that believe. Weak as it is, by it God has confounded the pride of the world, for the world by wiſdom knew not God. But in the preached Goſpel, God and the way of your Recovery from Sin and Hell, to Holineſs and Heaven, is revealed; and the glory both of His Grace and Juſtice is ſeen in the face of Jeſus Chriſt. Let a man therefore ſo account of us as of the Miniſters of Chriſt, and Stewards of the Myſteries of God; if ſo be that we may but be found Faithful; which we are while we ſtand to and act up to our Commiſſion. And I will juſt read to you how the Apoſtle teaches us to ſtand by it, and triumph in it, and therein commends our Miniſtry to the Conſciences of our People: It is in the Cloſe of the 2 Chap. of the 2 Epiſtle to the Corinthians, and the beginning of the 3. Chap. Now thanks be to God which always cauſeth us to triumph in Chriſt, and maketh manifeſt the ſavour of his Knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto GOD a ſweet ſavour of Christ, in them that are ſaved, and in them that periſh: To the one we p. 28are the ſavour of Death unto Death, and to the other the ſavour of Liſe unto Life: and who is ſufficient for theſe things? For we are not as many which corrupt the word of GOD; but as of Sincerity, but as of God, in the ſight of God ſpeak we in Chriſt.

DO we begin again to commend our ſelves? or need we as ſome others Epiſtles of Commendation to you, or Letters of Commendation from you? Ye are our Epiſtle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: for as much as ye are manifeſtly declared to be the Epiſtle of Chriſt, miniſtred by us, written not with Ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in Tables of Stone, but in fleſhly Tables of the Heart. And ſuch Truſt have we thro' Chriſt to God-ward.

O might We beſpeak You after this manner, who are our reſpective Charges, and had we this proof of our Miſſion to you from God in your Conſciences; we ſhould need no more to convince you, we ſhould deſire nothing more to ſatisfy you of the greatneſs of the Gift of Chriſt to His Church in the Miniſtry which He has Ordained in it.

IT only remains now in the fourth and laſt place to Obſerve,

IV. THAT this bleſſed Gift of God to His Church, an Inſtituted Goſpel Miniſtry, and Perſons p. 29qualify'd by Him for the Miniſterial Office, are the glorious Fruit of the Aſcention of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. When he aſcended on high, He gave &c. He purchas'd them by His Death, He received them at His Aſcention, and being ſet down at the right hand of God He ſhed forth of His Holy Spirit. So while He was here on Earth He inform'd His Diſciples that it was to be, and ſo He fulfilled His glorious Promiſe after He was taken from them. I will only lay before you the Prophecy and Promiſe, and the Event.

FOR the firſt let us look into the parting gracious Diſcourſes of our Lord to His Diſciples, juſt before His Apprehenſion and Crucifixion, and His Divine Prayer with and for them, as it is recorded by the Evangeliſt John. There our Lord tells His Diſciples, that He would pray the Father, and He ſhould give them another Comforter to abide with them for ever; even the Spirit of Truth. Joh. 14.15. This "was the Great New Teſtament promiſe, as that of the Meſſiah was of the Old Teſtament. Chriſt was the Conſolation of Iſrael which the faithful were waiting for before He came into the world, and now that He was leaving the world and going to the Father He promis'd His Church another Comforter to p. 30ſupply His Bodily Preſence, and to abide with them in His Abſence. Another Paraclete, another Advocate, another Maſter and Teacher, or Exhorter; another Patron as ſome render it; This bleſſed Gift He promis'd upon His leaving them; the Spirit of Truth in all His ſaving Gifts and Operations. v. 18. I will not leave you Comfortleſs, I will come unto you. Not only viſit and comfort them once and again after His Reſurrection; but after His Aſcention be coming daily to them in His bleſſed Spirit, the viſits of His Grace. Again, v. 25. Theſe things have I ſpoken to you, being yet preſent with you; but the Comforter which is the Holy Ghoſt, whom the Father will ſend in my name, He ſhall teach you all things. Here He bids them expect another Teacher on His Departure: one that ſhould come in His name; as His Subſtitute, Agent, Repreſentative; for He is the Spirit of Chriſt, to carry on his undertaking: He was to teach them all things, and be in them the Spirit of Wiſdom and Revelation; to accompliſh them for, aſſiſt them in, and carry them thro' their Miniſtry.

AGREEABLY we read again, Joh. 15.26, 27. When the Comforter is come, whom I will ſend unto you from the Father, even the Spirit p. 31of Truth which proceedeth from the Father, He ſhall teſtify of me; and ye alſo ſhall bear witneſs—&c. Mr. Henry ſays, That we have more in this Verſe concerning the HOLY GHOST, than in any one Verſe beſides in the Bible. Here is an account of him in his Eſſence or Subſiſtence rather, He the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father: The Emanation of Divine Light, the Energy of Divine Power: as Heat and Influence are of the Sun and yet are one with it. Again here is an account of this bleſſed Spirit in his Miſſion, Office and Operations. He was ſpeedily then to come in a more plentiful Effuſion of his Gifts, Graces and Powers, than had ever yet been. Chriſt had been long the O Ercomenos, He that ſhould come, but now the Holy Spirit was He. I will ſend him, ſaid Chriſt, ſcil: upon my Aſcention. I will pray the Father and he ſhall give him. It was to be the fruit of his Dominion, and Interceſſion within the vail. The Spirit was promis'd to come from Chriſt the Mediator, upon the Apoſtles, to inſtruct them in their preaching, to enable them for working, and to carry them thro' their Sufferings and Teſtimony. He teſtifies of Chriſt to this day in the preached Goſpel, and by the mouth of his Miniſters.

p. 32BUT there is yet a farther paſſage of our Saviours, wherein he told his Diſciples that his own Departure was neceſſary unto the Coming of the Comforter, and that the Coming of the Spirit was abſolutely neceſſary to the carrying on his Intereſt on Earth; for that he was to receive of him and to ſhew it unto them. Joh. 16.7, 14. Nevertheleſs, I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not a way, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart I will ſend him unto you. And when he is come, he will convince the world &c. He ſhall not ſpeak of himſelf—but he ſhall glorify me, for he ſhall receive of mine and ſhew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine, therefore ſaid I, that he ſhall take of mine and ſhew it unto you.

THUS the Spirit of Grace was to come from the glorify'd Redeemer, to glorify him on Earth, by converting the world to him, by the Miniſtry of Men. The Gifts and Graces of the Spirit in the Apoſtles, and their preaching and writing under his bleſſed Influence, were to diſplay the power and glory of the Aſcended Saviour; for in Operation as well as Eſſence He derives from the Son; He communicates and applies what Chriſt purchas'd; as Chriſt therefore has purchas'd p. 33all Spiritual Bleſſings and they are delivered to him by the Father, ſo they are delivered by him to the Holy Spirit to be conveyed to us, and conferred according to the Divine Eternal Purpoſe and Council, both as to perſons, and as to ways and means; both foreknown; the one Choſen in Chriſt, the other Ordained by him.

TO have done, the laſt Order that our Saviour left with his Apoſtles juſt before his Aſcention was that, Luk. 24.49. Behold I ſend the promiſe of my Father upon you; but tarry you at Jeruſalem till ye be endued with power from on high. And Act. 1.4. He commanded them to wait for the promiſe of the Father, which ſaid he ye have heard of me.

AND thus you ſee that this was the Promiſe and Prediction of our LORD while he continued here on Earth with his Diſciples, that after his Aſcention the Holy Spirit ſhould be poured out to qualify his Miniſters for, and carry them through, and ſucceed them in their Miniſtry.

AND now let us ſee the Event, the Illuſtrious Event, wherein this glorious Promiſe was fulfilled; which was upon this famous day of Pentecoſt, ten days after our Lord's Aſcention: when the Diſciples being met p. 34together in one place, aſſembled on the firſt Day of the Week for Worſhip, (as no doubt they had continued in Supplications and Prayers night and day, waiting obediently for the Deſcent and Supply of the Holy Spirit) ſuddenly there came a ſound from Heaven, as of a ruſhing mighty wind, and it filled all the houſe where they were ſitting; and there appeared cloven Tongues like as of fire and ſat upon them; and they were filled with the Holy Ghoſt, and began to ſpeak with Tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. This miraculous Event made a great Noiſe inſtantly in the City, upon ſo great a Feſtival, and the multitude gathered together, diſperſed Jews out of every Nation under Heaven, who were amazed and confounded to hear theſe unlearned Galileans ſpeak to them the wonderful works of God, in the ſeveral Languages of the Nations where they were diſperſed. But Peter ſtood up, inſpired and filled with the Deſcended Spirit of Truth and Grace, and explain'd the amazing Occurrence to them: He told them in ſhort, That God had raiſed up the Crucified Jeſus from the Dead, and had exalted him to his own right hand in the higheſt Heavens; for they had often ſeen and convers'd with Him after his Reſurrection, and at laſt they ſaw p. 35him aſcend bodily into Heaven; and that now having receiv'd of the Father the promiſe of the Holy Ghoſt, he ſhed Him down upon them in what they now ſaw and heard.

THUS the Holy Ghoſt was given when Jeſus was glorified, i. e. after his Aſcention, and not till then; i. e. in the fulleſt Effuſion of his Heavenly Gifts and Graces. And therefore we are to eſteem the inſtituted, qualify'd and proſperous Miniſtry of the Goſpel, to be the Gift of Chriſt as Aſcended, reigning and Interceding for us at the right hand of God, and made the Head and fountain of all divine Influence and ſaving Bleſſings to the Church: as we read, Eph. 1.22, 23. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things unto his Church; Which is his body, the fulneſs of Him that filleth all in all.

AND thus I have in the plaineſt manner I could, but I fear too tedious, opened and prov'd the Doctrine; That the Inſtitution of a Goſpel Miniſtry, and the Qualification of Perſons for it are to be eſteemed among the rich Gifts of the Aſcended Saviour. And now I ſhould proceed to apply the Doctrine.

BUT ſuch a world of awful and juſt Reflections offer themſelves upon the great Truths p. 36that have been ſet before you, that I am afraid to venture even upon the hinting at them after this length which I have already allow'd my ſelf. And yet I needs muſt.

1. We ſee (my Brethren) the Glory of the Lord Jeſus, and his Grace to us: 1. His Glory: in the verity of his Reſurrection and Aſcention, the perfection of his Sacrifice, the height of his Exaltation, the dignity of his State, his high Dominion, Supremacy, and Exerciſe of Rule and Government, both in the Kingdom of Providence and Grace. Let us look to Him where he is, and where we hope e're long to be, and behold his Glory.

2. WE ſee his gracious care of, and love and mercy to a miſerable ſinful world, that He has inſtituted a Miniſtry of Religion in it, that he has given forth his Holy Spirit to ſanctify Perſons thereunto, gift and qualify them for it; incline and ſpirit, ſucceed and proſper them in it. He is the Rock, his work is perfect. To Him we muſt aſcribe all the Glory that there is to be ſeen in Men or Means. They that are qualify'd and call'd and us'd by him, muſt put it far from themſelves; and people muſt turn off their Eyes from their Miniſters, to their Aſcended Saviour, for who is Paul or who is Apollos, ſave p. 37Miniſters by whom ye believed. If Peter and John were here to preach to you by Inſpiration, to work Miracles, and which is more to convert Thouſands at a time to Chriſt; yet would they not ſuffer you to look earneſtly at them, as if by their power or holineſs any thing were done; no, they would tell us, but God has glorified His Son Jeſus, and to his Name, thro' Faith in his Name, muſt every Divine Effect be ſolely attributed.

2. OUR Doctrine does great Honour to the Miniſterial Office, and to them that are in it, or are deſigned for it. Who would not deſire to be a part of this precious Gift to a periſhing world for the Salvation of Souls! I thank Chriſt Jeſus our Lord, ſaid Holy Paul, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the Miniſtry! O the glorious Goſpel of the bleſſed God (ſays he) committed to my truſt. Miniſters are Angels, and Stars in the Church; high and awful is their Station; they muſt ſerve with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

3. THE means of Education are a bleſſed Gift of Heaven to a Land: Our Schools, our Colleges and the Sons of the Prophets there that excell in Diligence, in Science and in early Piety. The Schools had Elijahs laſt Viſitation before his Aſcention, and ever ſince our Lord's p. 38Aſcention they have His. There he ſelects the happy favourite Youth, adorns him with Gifts and Graces, inclines and devotes him to ſacred Services, deſigns him his eminent Uſe and Services in the World, and calls him forth from thence into his Church and Kingdom among Men, makes him a burning and a ſhining Light and ſets him up in his Candleſtic, to give light in the world. How many ſuch rich Gifts of Chriſt have the Churches receiv'd from our College? how ſingular a Bleſſing has it herein been made unto the Land?

4. OUR Doctrine would put perſons on dedicating themſelves to the Holy Work of the Miniſtry, and Parents on devoting their goodlieſt Sons thereunto: Give them, O give your ſelves, unto the ſervice of your Aſcended Lord, that he may make you worthy Gifts unto his Church. And O what Diligence ſhould Candidates for the Miniſtry be put upon in the uſe of proper means, ſtudy, prayer, humility, with purity of Aim and Intention at the glory of God, uſefulneſs in the world, the benefit of others, and the ſaving your own Souls? Yea how thankful ſhould they be for the Gifts of God to them, natural and acquired Parts, the love of Study, an Inclination p. 39to his Service, a hearty and fervent deſire to do good in the world, and eſpecially to labour in the Salvation of Souls. Again, how careful ſhould they be to do nothing which may provoke God to deny unto them his Gifts, or to take them away from 'em? but to do every thing whereby they may keep themſelves in the love of God, and come behind in no Gift.

5. THE Doctrine would direct people in chuſing a Miniſter or Paſtor, to be over them in the Lord: which as it is their undoubted right, ſo they are accountable to Chriſt how they improve it for the good of their own Souls and their Families. They ought ſurely to covet earneſtly the beſt Gift of Heaven they can find prepared for them and offer'd to them. Chuſe One who may be indeed a Gift of Heaven to you: One whom Chriſt has gifted and accompliſht for his work, One that moſt viſibly ſhines in the Spirit of Chriſt and of Grace, One whom you may hope Chriſt will own, One that has a zeal for Chriſt and Holineſs, and for the Souls of Men.

TOO many there are that are ready to intrude without either Gifts or Graces into the ſacred Work of the Miniſtry; and too many p. 40ſeem careleſs whether the Perſon whom they chuſe have either, if ſo be they may but have him cheap. Such a Perſon may be ſeparated to the Miniſtry of the Goſpel by the hands of Men, and I may add by the profane will of a People, but Chriſt never gave nor ſent him. Great care ſhould be taken that unqualify'd perſons be not received into this Holy Office, for Chriſt will diſown and diſclaim their being his Gifts to men.

6. OUR Doctrine would comfort and encourage thoſe that are in the Miniſtry, and deſire to be found Faithful in the wighty Truſt: You have (my Reverend Brethren and Fathers) the glorious LORD and SAVIOUR in the Heavens to be looking to and relying on, to ſupply you with Gifts and Graces, to ſupport and comfort you in all your Difficulties, to protect and defend you in his Service, and to ſucceed you in his Work. He reigns above, and has ſaid to you, All power is given to me in Heaven and Earth, go ye therefore. In this his Might and Name go forth therefore and go on. You and your work are his ſpecial Care, and while he governs the World, his gracious Eye is upon the little Flock his Church therein. This Man at the right hand of God ſtands alſo among p. 41the Myrtle trees in the bottom; and Angels receive their Orders and make their Motions as the Needs of his humble and feeble Remnant do require. He walks in the midſt of his golden Candleſtics, and he holds the Stars in his right hand. Rev. 2.1. In his hand which ſpeaks his tender Care of them, his right hand which ſpeaks his power.

7. HOW Diligently ſhould Miniſters improve all their Gifts for Chriſt; labouring to approve themſelves as the Gifts of ſo glorious a Lord unto His Church: For Men do not light a Candle to put it under a Buſhel. How lamentable was it that the Shield of Saul was at laſt vilely thrown away as tho' He had not been Anointed with Oyl! Having therefore gifts differing according to the Grace of God which is given to us, let us wait on our Miniſtring, on Teaching, on Exhortation, and on the Rule committed to us, with Diligence. Let us, as becomes our Relation to God and Souls, follow after Righteouſneſs, Godlineſs, Faith, Love, Patience, Meekneſs; fight the good Fight and lay hold on Eternal Life. Let us ſtudy to be Examples to the flock, in Word, in Converſation, in Spirit, in Faith, in Purity. Let us preach the word, be inſtant, in p. 42ſeaſon &c. reprove, rebuke &c. Let us hold faſt the faithful word, and feed the flock of God that is among us, his Lambs and his Sheep, willingly and of a ready mind.

LET us ſtudy how to behave our ſelves in the houſe of God, and to ſhew our ſelves approved workmen that need not be aſhamed &c. Let us be ſound in the Faith, always ſpeaking the things which become ſound Doctrine; with meekneſs inſtructing thoſe that oppoſe themſelves; being gentle unto all men, apt to teach. Let us labour to become mighty in the Scriptures; and to preach not our ſelves but Chriſt Jeſus the Lord, and our ſelves the ſervants of Souls for Jeſus ſake. Let us give attention to Reading, to Exhortation, to Doctrine; ſhewing Uncoruptneſs, Gravity, Sincerity, and ſound Speech which &c. Let us open our mouths boldly, to make known the Myſtery of the Goſpel; that thereof we may ſpeak ſo as we ought to ſpeak; as able Miniſters of the New Teſtament, not of the Letter, but of the Spirit. Let us meditate therefore on divine things, and give our ſelves to Prayer and to the Miniſtry of the word; let us give our p. 43ſelves wholly to them and continue in them, that we may both ſave our ſelves and thoſe that hear us.

Let us remember how we have been charged awfully unto all this, and have obliged our ſelves, before God and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; who ſhall judge the quick and the dead, at his Appearing and Kingdom: And when the chief Shepherd ſhall appear, ye ſhall receive a Crown of Glory which fadeth not away.

8. WITH what Thankfulneſs and Eſteem ought perſons to entertain the Miniſtry of Chriſt? and reverence their faithful Paſtors, as the precious Gift of the Aſcended Saviour to them? People and places ſhould carefully ſeek the ſettlement of the Goſpel among them, honourably ſupport the Miniſtry thereof, give a hearty welcome and receive gladly the Salvation bro't to their Houſes; and every way encourage and comfort the Hearts of their Miniſters in the work of the Lord; eſpecially by eſteeming them highly in love for the Words ſake, and yielding a willing ſubjection to their Inſtructions, Admonitions, Counſels, and profiting under the ſame.

LET it not be that Heaven caſts its Pearls before Swine, that do but turn and rend inſtead p. 44of reverencing the feet of them that bring the glad Tydings of Peace. Too many are the places that put far from them the Miniſtry of Chriſt, and count themſelves unworthy of Eternal Life; they ignorantly and profanely deſpiſe the Goſpel, for they do not know the Gift of God: they abuſe, revile and vilify him that wears the name of a Miniſter. But this is as Chriſt himſelf was rejected of Men, and if they have called the maſter of the Houſe Beelzebub, what ſhall they not call them of his Houſhold? But Chriſt reſents highly the Contempt done unto his Heavenly Gift: Luk. 10.10, 11. Into whatſoever City ye enter and they receive you not, go out into the ſtreets of the ſame and ſay, Even the very duſt of your City which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off againſt you: notwithſtanding be you ſure of this, that the Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

VERILY there are too many that do not ſeem to eſteem their Miniſters, however furniſh'd and faithful they be, as the rich Gift of Chriſt to them: in ſome places they ſtarve them, rating them and their Labours at a vile and cheap price; in ſome places they grieve and break the hearts of their Miniſters by perſonal diſreſpects, in others by Contentions and Quarrels among themſelves; and p. 45let me add, that if it be only by Unprofitableneſs under the Labours of your Miniſters you ſhow the little regard you have, and the ſmall account you make of them and of Him that ſends them. But beyond all, How evil is it to revile, diſparage and expoſe to contempt, to bely and ſlander the Miniſtry of a Land; and thro' the Grace of God too a Body of Miniſters ſecond but to few places of like numbers, for Miniſterial Gifts and Graces, Diligence and Labours both as to Study and Preaching, and other Inſtances of a Paſtoral Fidelity and Watch; to repreſent them in Satyr to their Churches thro' the Land as Traitors to Chriſt and to the Churches, ignorantly or knowingly betraying them in their beſt Intereſts which they ought to defend and maintain; to repreſent them as a part of the Army of Gog and Magog compaſſing about the Camp of the Saints of God and the beloved Gity; to make the Churches believe (if they can indeed be made to believe it) that their Miniſters are dangerous Perſons, not to be truſted by reaſon of their corrupt Principles or Deſigns: how Evil muſt this be? For indeed were this true, it muſt then be confeſſed that the preſent Miniſtry of this Land is no Gift of Chriſt p. 46unto theſe Churches, but a ſore and heavy Judgment on them. The word of God unto his Miniſters under this preſent trial is that, 2 Cor. 6. …, 8. Approving your ſelves as the Miniſters of Chriſt in much Patience;— by honour and diſhonour, by evil report and good report, as deceivers and yet true, as unknown and yet well known.

9. AND laſtly, We learn from our Doctrine the Reaſonableneſs of our preſent Prayers to God this day. We are come together to ask a great and bleſſed Gift from our Aſcended Saviour to this ſinful Flock of His; even the Union of our hearts in the Election of ſome Perſon into the Paſtoral Office among us, whom He ſhall pleaſe to qualify and accompliſh herefor, encline and ſpirit unto fidelity herein, and make a rich and ſingular Bleſſing to us and our Children after us: to the Town alſo together with us, and to the Land. Such Gifts are with our Lord Jeſus to beſtow, and he diſpenſes them from Heaven freely even to the Rebellious. He himſelf has bid us pray the Lord of the Harveſt that he will thruſt forth Labourers into His Harveſt: and he has promis'd to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him, and to give his people (and his repenting backſliding people too) Paſtors after his own Heart. Jer. 3.15.

p. 47WE come this day to pray for all our Holy Brethren, both Miniſters and People together, that the Lords Miniſters may be cloathed with Righteouſneſs and Salvation, and his Saints be made to ſhout for joy: to pray for the Candidates for the Miniſtry in particular, that our Colleges may be repleniſhed with every good and perfect Gift from God the Father of Lights, and that the Spirit of Grace may reſt in double Portions on the Sons of the Prophets.

WE are here this day to confeſs our utter unworthineſs to receive any ſuch Gift from God, which yet he has bid us moſt earneſtly to covet and to ſeek. We are here to bewail all the forfeitures we have made of ſuch a Mercy. We therefore ſeek it only in the Name of our Aſcended Saviour, and from his gracious Hands, of his fulneſs, and the riches of his glorious Grace. If we do not ask amiſs, ſurely we may receive; for it is a Petition every way agreeable to his Holy Will. Why has Chriſt received ſuch Gifts for Men but to beſtow them? Why has he gifted Men but to give them to his Church? or why elſe has he inclined them whom he has gifted to give themſelves to the Service of the Church? Ask then with Humiliation, p. 48Faith and true Deſire, and receive, that your Joy may be full. Such a Gift was always meant to be ſought and obtain'd by Prayer; and the Gift is greatned to us when it is thus obtained.

THE united Prayers of our Brethren with us this day ſhould ſtrengthen our Faith and fervency in the Prayers of the day. For has not our Lord ſaid unto us concerning the Acceptableneſs and Efficacy of joynt Prayer with God, with which words I will Conclude, Mar. 18.19. I ſay unto you, that if two of you ſhall agree on Earth, as touching any thing that ye ſhall ask, it ſhall be done for you of my Father which is in Heaven.

IF two agree it ſhall be done, how much more if many agree in the Petition. Let us Agree my Brethren. God unite our hearts to make one Voice in Prayer; and God unite our hearts to his own Glory in the Choice propoſed by us.

FINIS.

End of the text · Benjamin Colman, A Gospel Ministry (1715)