He undertakes to speak very particularly concerning these gifts. "Now, concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant... There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same LORD. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same GoD which worketh all in all. But the ministration of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gift of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to anoth er prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another diverse kinds of tongues; to another the ins terpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that ●ne and the self same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."

"This" (as the Apostle Peter informs us) " is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; and it shall come to pass in the last days (saith GOD) I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on my servants, and on my hand-maidens, I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy." These spiritual

gifts were, by no means, confined to the ministry. In many instances, they appear to have been bestowed upon private brethren, or sisters in the church. To the ministry as well as others they were given in great variety, and in different propor

1 Cor. xii, 1, 4-11 Acts ii, 16-18.

ttons, according to the good pleasure of the same Holy Spirit. But as these supernatural gifts were so common in the first age of the Church, those, who were endowed with them, appear to have been classed according to the number or nature of their gifts. The variety of the gifts and the classification of the persons, the Apostle proceeds to illustrate by the members of the human body.* He then enters upon a distinct specification of several of these classes. "And God hath set some in the church, first, apostles; secondarily, prophets; thirdly, teachers; after that, miracles; then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers! are all workers of miracles? have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?"+ He then makes his transition to the next subject, in a manner to fix his meaning beyond the possibility of doubt. "But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing." If then a professed discussion of this subject, if the appropriate signifi. cation of the language used, and the contrast so pointedly marked in the transition to the succeeding topic, are sufficient to ascertain the meaning of

*1 Cor. xii. 12-27. 41 Cor. xii. 28-30. †Verse 31, & xiii. 1, 2.

the Apostle, there is not a shadow of reason to question, that he founds his classification solely upon spiritual or supernatural gifts.*

"Such were the supernatural gifts, with which the first preachers and ministers of the gospel were endowed; and by which they effectually and speedily established the gospel, in the most populous and most civilized provinces of the Roman Empire. But these gifts were equally necessary," in the first age, "for the upholding of the church. For the greatest part of the first believers, having been originally heathens, were utterly destitute of all spiritual ideas, and had but very imperfect notions of morality. To remedy that defect, the converts from idolatry were formed into churches, and appointed to assemble together for their mutual instruction, and the joint worship of GOD. And lest through ignorance or prejudice they might have misled one another, the spiritual gifts were bestowed on a number of them, to fit them for presiding in the public worship."+

In this manner were various classes of religious instructors provided, in the infancy of the church,

*St. Paul sometimes calls these extraordinary endowments "spiritual gifts" or "gift." 1 Cor. xii. 1. xiv. 1, 12. Rom. i. 11. In one instance he calls them "gifts of the Holy Ghost." Eeb. ii. 4. He frequently contents himself with the simple denomination "gift" or "gifts." 1 Cor. i. 7, xii. 4, 31. Eph iii. 7. iv. 8. Rom. xii. 6.

+Macknight in loc.

For the propagation of the faith or the edification of the converts.

This was agreeable to the prediction of the Psalmist, concerning the fruits of the triumphant ascension of the Messiah into heaven. "Thou hast as

Bended 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."* In reference to this event, the Apostle Peter, in giving an account of the miraculous gifts, conferred upon the disciples by the ascended Saviour, on the day of Pentecost, declares to the Jews and proselytes; "Therefore, being by the right hand of GOD exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the HOLY GHOST, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." In the magnificent description of the Psalmist, "it is supposed, there is an allusion to the custom of kings, who, after victories, and on other great occasions, distributed gifts among their subjects.‡ MESSIAH, after his triumphal entry into Heaven, distributed to his subjects the gifts of his Spirit," to usher his kingdom into the world with becoming glory, and to furnish a sufficient number of his disciples with those supernatural gifts,

"Thus, when David brought up the ark, he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flaggon of wine. 1 Chron. xvi. 3. In like manner, at the dedication of the temple, Solomon feasted all who came to that solemnity during seven days.” 1 Kings viii. 65. Macknight.

E

which were necessary for the diffusion of the gospel and the edification of the rising church. "W here. fore 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." For, extraordinary or supernatural instructors were indis pensable, at the commencement of the gospel dis pensation," for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of CHRIST." They were indispensable, till the church should be fully established upon the plan of the gos pel, and completely instructed in the mysteries of the faith by divine revelation; till it had passed the critical and dangerous period of childhood, and arrived at a maturity of strength and knowledge; or, as the Apostle happily expressed the sentiment, "till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of GOD, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of CHRIST.'

Now, it cannot be pretended, with the least appearance of reason, that the classification, which the Apostle founded upon supernatural gifts, forms any precedent for a distinction of orders in the permanent or ordinary ministry. The advocates for prelacy do not claim more than three orders for their ministry. If then, they should be disposed to con tend that the classification of spiritual men or extraordinary ministers, in the Apostolic age, authorizes distinctions of order in the ordinary ministry, it is

*Ephes. iv. 8, 11-13.