Now though this be true, yet in the second place, you must not limit this so straightly, as that sanctifying gifts may not be serviceable gifts also. For, it's plain, that in all the people of God, their very graces as well as their gifts, are to be exercised for the good of others. Thy repentance, thy faith, thy joy, may be put forth to quicken and edify others. Therefore we say in the Doctrine, All the spiritual works of God upon the souls of his people, are not only for themselves, but for others. All, not only gifts, but graces: Not only their parts and their duties, but their holiness also. Hence (Prov. 15. 4.) an wholesome tongue, which is the gift only that a godly man hath, is said to be a tree of life, because it doth so much spiritual good to others. Think then, that God hath not given thee grace and comfort for thy self only, but for others who may stand in need of thee. As it was with Christ the Head, so it should be with his Members proportionably. Isa. 50. 4. To have the tongue of the learned given them from God, to be able to speak a word in season to him that is weary. As therefore God hath given thee fullness temporally, to feed the ⟨p. 180⟩hungry, and to clothe the naked, when such due objects of charity are presented to thee. Thus also God giveth thee faith, to help him that complaineth he cannot believe: He giveth thee comfort, to succour those that can find no joy. This is to be considered, that thou beest not a fountain sealed up, but opened, whereat many may occasionally refresh themselves.
Now though this be true, yet in the second place, you must not limit this so straightly, as that sanctifying gifts may not be serviceable gifts also. For, it's plain, that in all the people of God, their very graces as well as their gifts, are to be exercised for the good of others. Thy repentance, thy faith, thy joy, may be put forth to quicken and edifie others. Therefore we say in the Doctrine, All the spiritual works of God upon the souls of his people, are not only for themselves, but for others. All, not only gifts, but graces: Not only their parts and their duties, but their holinesse also. Hence (Prov. 15. 4.) an wholesome tongue, which is the gift only that a godly man hath, is said to be a tree of life, because it doth so much spiritual good to others. Think then, that God hath not given thee grace and comfort for thy self only, but for others who may stand in need of thee. As it was with Christ the Head, so it should be with his Members proportionably. Isa. 50. 4. To have the tongue of the learned given them from God, to be able to speak a word in season to him that is weary. As therefore God hath given thee fullnesse temporally, to feed the ⟨p. 180⟩hungry, and to cloathe the naked, when such due objects of charity are presented to thee. Thus also God giveth thee faith, to help him that complaineth he cannot believe: He giveth thee comfort, to succour those that can find no joy. This is to be considered, that thou beest not a fountain sealed up, but opened, whereat many may occasionally refresh themselves.
