An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

First, Let us consider the former Doctrine, viz. That those great and spiritual works which God vouchsafeth to his children, are not for their own god only, but for the good of others. If he said in a political sense, Nemo sibi vivit sed patriae, it is much more true of a Christian, Non sibi vivit sed Ecclesiae. He liveth not to himself, but to the Church of God. Hence is that frequent comparison in the Scripture, of the Church of God, and a body together; making all Christians so many several Members, that if one rejoice, all must rejoice with it.

First, Let us consider the former Doctrine, viz. That those great and spiriritual works which God vouchsafeth to his children, are not for their own god only, but for the good of others. If he said in a political sense, Nemo sibi vivit sed patriae, it is much more true of a Christian, Non sibi vivit sed Ecclesiae. He liveth not to himself, but to the Church of God. Hence is that frequent comparison in the Scripture, of the Church of God, and a body together; making all Christians so many several Members, that if one rejoyce, all must rejoyce with it.

To be throughly possessed of this truth, we are first to know, That there are ¹two kinds of Gifts of Gods Spirit unto those of the Church. The Ancient Schoolmen, which distinction is still retained with the Papists, is, that there are Gratiae gratis datae, Favours freely given; which are bestowed, not so much for the good of them that have them, as of the good of others. Such were those extraordinary gifts of Gods Spirit in the primitive times, to work Miracles, to speak with tongues, &c. And such are also those common gifts of Prayer and Preaching, which many may have, and yet they be never the more holy. But as water-pots, that conveys water to the Garden, making it fruitful, while it self beareth no flowers at all; so are they. And truly, this is sadly to be considered by all the Ministers of the Gospel, whether the gifts God giveth them, be not for the good of others more then their own. As the Nurses of young Princes live upon excellent food, not for their own sake, but to give more excellent nourishment to their young ones.