A discourse concerning liturgies, and their imposition

Yea, all the Gifts that are bestowed by the Spirit of Christ on men, are given them to profit withal, 1 Cor. 12. 7. and they are required with them to act for God in the edification of the Body of Christ, every one according to his measure, 1 Pet. 4. 10, 11. This I suppose will be granted. Moreover, that the Gifts bestowed by Christ on the guides of his Church, the Ministers of the Gospel are proportioned and suited to the end which he aimeth to accomplish by them, as we have in part before declared, so it is evident from the infinite Wisdom of him that bestows them. From both which it will undeniably follow, that on the due and regular use and employment of those Gifts which men receive from Christ, depends and that solely the edification of his Church, I suppose this will not be denied, where the Gifts bestowed by the Spirit of Christ upon the Ministers of his Church, are used and exercised in the Work of the Ministry, according to his Mind and Will, there by his blessing the edification which he doth intend will ensue. Let us then proceed. These Gifts as the Scripture witnesseth, and experience convinceth are bestowed in great variety and in several degrees. The greater and more excellent they are in any entrusted with them, the more excellent is the means of edification which the Lord affords unto his Disciples by them. Edification then as in its general nature it depends on the gifts of Christ which he bestows on the Officers of his Church, so as to the degrees of it, and its special furtherance, it depends on the degrees and special improvement of those Gifts. For this cause all those to whom the work of the Ministry is committed, as they ought to desire spiritual gifts, 1 Cor. 14. 1. that the Church may be edified by them, so to covet earnestly the best gifts, 1 Cor. 12. 31. that they may singularly edify the Church, and also seek to excel in those gifts, 1 Cor. 14. 20. that the same word of Edification may be carried on to the utmost. It may then be enquired how these spiritual ⟨p. 63⟩gifts which we must suppose all Ministers of the Gospel in some measure to have received, may be improved, so that they may excel to the edifying of the Church, which is expressly required of them: We say then, that the improvement and increase of spiritual gifts doth ordinarily and regularly depend on their due and holy exercise.