(§ 13.) FIFTHLY, They differ as unto the Event even in this World they may come unto, and oft-times actually do so accordingly. For all Gifts, the best of them, and that in the highest Degree wherein they may be attained in this Life, may be utterly lost or taken away. The Law of their Communication is, that who improveth not that Talent or Measure of them which he hath received, it shall be taken from him. For whereas they are given for no other end, but to Trade withal according to the several Capacities and Opportunities that Men have in the Church, or their Families, or their own private Exercise, if that be utterly neglected, to what end should they be left unto rust and uselessness in the Minds of any? Accordingly we find it to come to pass. Some neglect them, some reject them, and from both sorts they are Judicially ⟨p. 130⟩taken away. Such we have amongst us. Some there are who had received Considerable Spiritual Abilities for Evangelical Administrations: But after a while they have fallen into an outward state of things, wherein, as they suppose, they shall have no Advantage by them; yea, that their Exercise would turn to their Disadvantage, and thereon do wholly neglect them: By this means they have insensibly decayed, until they become as devoid of Spiritual Abilities, as if they never had Experience of any Assistance in that kind. They can no more either pray, or speak, or evidence the Power of the Spirit of God in any thing unto the Edification of the Church. Their Arm is dried up, and their right Eye is utterly darkened, Zech. 11. 17. And this sometimes they come to be sensible of, yea, ashamed of, and yet cannot retrieve themselves. But for the most part they fall into such a state, as wherein the Profession and Use of them becomes as they suppose inconsistent with their present Interest, and so they openly renounce all concernment in them: Neither for the most part do they stay here, but after they have rejected them in themselves, and espoused lazy profitable outward Helps in their room, they blaspheme the Author of them in others, and declare them all to be Delusions, Fancies and Imaginations. And if any one hath the Confidence to own the Assistance of the Holy Spirit in the Discharge of the Duties of the Gospel unto the Edification of the Church, he becomes unto them a Scorn and Reproach. These are Branches cut off from the Vine, whom Men gather;
(§ 13.) FIFTHLY, They differ as unto the Event even in this World they may come unto, and oft-times actually do so accordingly. For all Gifts, the best of them, and that in the hignest Degree wherein they may be attained in this Life, may be utterly lost or taken away. The Law of their Communication is, that who improveth not that Talent or Measure of them which he hath received, it shall be taken from him. For whereas they are given for no other end, but to Trade withall according to the several Capacities and Opportunities that Men have in the Church, or their Families, or their own private Exercise, if that be utterly neglected, to what end should they be left unto rust and uselesness in the Minds of any? Accordingly we find it to come to pass. Some neglect them, some reject them, and from both sorts they are Judicially ⟨p. 130⟩taken away. Such we have amongst us. Some there are who had received Considerable Spiritual Abilities for Evangelical Administrations: But after a while they have fallen into an outward state of things, wherein, as they suppose, they shall have no Advantage by them; yea, that their Exercise would turn to their Disadvantage, and thereon do wholly neglect them: By this means they have insensibly decayed, until they become as devoid of Spiritual Abilities, as if they never had Experience of any Assistance in that kind. They can no more either pray, or speak, or evidence the Power of the Spirit of God in any thing unto the Edification of the Church. Their Arm is dried up, and their right Eye is utterly darkened, Zech. 11. 17. And this sometimes they come to be sensible of, yea, ashamed of, and yet cannot retrieve themselves. But for the most part they fall into such a state, as wherein the Profession and Use of them becomes as they suppose inconsistent with their present Interest, and so they openly renounce all concernment in them: Neither for the most part do they stay here, but after they have rejected them in themselves, and espoused lazy profitable outward Helps in their room, they blaspheme the Author of them in others, and declare them all to be Delusions, Fancies and Imaginations. And if any one hath the Confidence to own the Assistance of the Holy Spirit in the Discharge of the Duties of the Gospel unto the Edification of the Church, he becomes unto them a Scorn and Reproach. These are Branches cut off from the Vine, whom Men gather;
