A53734:200
Two discourses concerning the Holy Spirit, and His work the one, Of the Spirit…
Two discourses concerning the Holy Spirit, and His work the one, Of the Spirit as a comforter, the other, As He is the author of spiritual gifts ... / by ... John Owen.
London: printed for William Marshall, 1693
OF Spiritual Gifts. PART II. › Chapter 1: Spiritual Gifts, their Names and Significations.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
They will do those things in the Church by their own Abilities, which can never be acceptably discharged but by Virtue of those Free Gifts which they despise; whereof we must speak more afterwards. Now the full Signification of these Words in our Sense is peculiar unto the New Testament. For although in other Authors they are used for a Gift or Free Grant, yet they never denote the Endowments or Abilities of the Minds of Men who do receive them, which is their principal Sense in the Scripture.
They will do those things in the Church by their own Abilities, which can never be acceptably discharged but by Vertue of those Free Gifts which they despise; whereof we must speak more afterwards. Now the full Signification of these Words in our Sence is peculiar unto the New Testament. For although in other Authors they are used for a Gift or Free Grant, yet they never denote the Endowments or Abilities of the Minds of Men who do receive them, which is their principal Sence in the Scripture.
(§ 8.) WITH respect unto their especial Nature, they are called [Greek or Hebrew]: Sometimes absolutely, 1 Cor. 12. 1. [Greek or Hebrew], but concerning Spirituals; that is, Spiritual Gifts. And so again, Chap. 14. 1. [Greek or Hebrew], Desire Spirituals; that is, Gifts; for so it is explained, Chap. 12. 31. [Greek or Hebrew], Covet Earnestly the best Gifts. Whenever therefore they are called [Greek or Hebrew], there [Greek or Hebrew], denoting their general Nature is to be supplied: And where they are called [Greek or Hebrew] only, [Greek or Hebrew] is to be understood, as expressing their especial Difference from all others. ⟨p. 112⟩They are neither Natural, nor Moral, but Spiritual Endowments. For both their Author, Nature and Object are respected herein. Their Author is the Holy Spirit; their Nature is Spiritual; and the Object about which they are exercised, are Spiritual Things.
(§ 8.) WITH respect unto their especial Nature, they are called : Sometimes absolutely,