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

(§ 4.) THUS was it with the Apostles, Prophets and Evangelists at the first, which were all Extraordinary Teaching Officers in the Church, and all that ever were so, 1 Cor. 12. 28. Ephes. 4. 11. Besides these, there were at the first planting of the Church, Persons endued with Extraordinary Gifts, as of Miracles, Healing and Tongues, which did not of themselves constitute them Officers, but do belong to the second Head of Gifts which concern Duties only. Howbeit these Gifts were always most eminently bestowed on them who were called unto the Extraordinary Offices mentioned, 1 Cor. 14. 18. I thank my God I speak with Tongues more than you all. They had the same Gift some of them, ⟨p. 139⟩but the Apostle had it in a more Eminent Degree. See Mat. 10. 8. And we may treat briefly in our passage of these several sorts of Extraordinary Officers.

(§ 5.) First, For the Apostles, they had a double Call, Mission and Commission, or a Twofold Apostleship. Their first Call was unto a subserviency unto the Personal Ministry of Jesus Christ. For he was a Minister of the Circumcision for the Truth of God, to confirm the Promises made unto the Fathers, Rom. 15. 8. In the discharge of this his Personal Ministry it was necessary that he should have peculiar Servants and Officers under him to prepare his Way and Work, and to attend him therein. So he Ordained Twelve that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to Preach, Mark 3. 14. This was the substance of their first Call and Work, namely to attend the presence of Christ, and to go forth to Preach as he gave them order. Hence because he was in his own Person as to his Prophetical Office the Minister only of the Circumcision, being therein according to all the Promises sent only to the lost Sheep of the House of Israel, he confined those who were to be thus assistant unto him in that his especial Work and Ministry, and whilst they were so, unto the same Persons and People, expressly prohibiting them to extend their Line or Measure any further. Go not, saith he, into the way of the Gentiles, and into any City of the Samaritans enter you not; but go rather unto the lost Sheep of the House of Israel,