Two discourses concerning the Holy Spirit, and His work the one, Of the Spirit…

(3) God requires, that by the Exercise of ⟨p. 133⟩Grace the Doctrine of the Gospel be adorned and propagated. This Doctrine is from God; Our Profession is our avowing of it so to be: What it is the World knows not, but takes it's Measures of it from what it observes in them by whom it is professed. And it is the unprofitable flagitious Lives of Christians that have almost thrust the Gospel out of the World with Contempt. But the Care that it be adorned, that it be glorified, is committed of God unto every one on whom he bestows the least of Saving Grace. And this is to be done only by the Guidance of an Holy Conversation in Conformity thereunto. And many other such blessed Ends there are, wherein God hath respect unto the Good and Advantage of other Men in the Collation of Saving Grace upon any. And if gracious Persons are not more useful than others in all things that may have a real Benefit in them unto Mankind, it is their Sin and Shame. But yet after all, Grace is principally and in the first place given unto Men for themselves, their own Good and Spiritual Advantage, out of Love to their Souls, and in order unto their Eternal Blessedness; all other Effects are but Secondary Ends of it. But as unto these Spiritual Gifts it is quite otherwise. They are not in the first place bestowed on any for their own sakes, or their own Good, but for the Good and Benefit of others. So the Apostle expressly declares, 1 Cor. 12. 7. The Manifestation of the Spirit is given to every Man to profit withal. These Gifts whereby the Spirit evidenceth and manifesteth his Power, are bestowed on Men for this very End, that they may profit and benefit others in their Edification. And yet also where they are duly improved, they tend much to the Spiritual Advantage ⟨p. 134⟩of them on whom they are bestowed, as we shall see afterwards. Wherefore as Grace is primarily given unto us for our selves, and secondarily for the Good of others; so Gifts are bestowed in the first place for the Edification of others, and secondly for our own Spiritual Advantage also.

(3) God requires, that by the Exercise of ⟨p. 133⟩Grace the Doctrine of the Gospel be adorned and propagated. This Doctrine is from God; Our Profession is our avowing of it so to be: What it is the World knows not, but takes it's Measures of it from what it observes in them by whom it is professed. And it is the unprofitable flagitious Lives of Christians that have almost thrust the Gospel out of the World with Contempt. But the Care that it be adorned, that it be glorified, is committed of God unto every one on whom he bestows the least of Saving Grace. And this is to be done only by the Guidance of an Holy Conversation in Conformity thereunto. And many other such blessed Ends there are, wherein God hath respect unto the Good and Advantage of other Men in the Collation of Saving Grace upon any. And if gracious Persons are not more useful than others in all things that may have a real Benefit in them unto Mankind, it is their Sin and Shame. But yet after all, Grace is principally and in the first place given unto Men for themselves, their own Good and Spiritual Advantage, out of Love to their Souls, and in order unto their Eternal Blessedness; all other Effects are but Secondary Ends of it. But as unto these Spiritual Gifts it is quite otherwise. They are not in the first place bestowed on any for their own sakes, or their own Good, but for the Good and Benefit of others. So the Apostle expresly declares,