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

He had before appointed the Office, designed the Persons, gave them their Commission with the visible pledge of the Power they should afterwards receive. But there yet remained the Communication of extraordinary Gifts unto them to enable them unto the discharge of their Office. And this was that which after the Ascension of Christ they received on the day of Pentecost, as it is related, Acts 2. And this was so essentially necessary ⟨p. 143⟩unto their Office, that the Lord Christ is said therein to give some to be Apostles. For without these Gifts they were not so, nor could discharge that Office unto his Honour and Glory. And these things all concurred to the Constitution of this Office, with the Call of any Persons to the discharge of it. The Office it self was instituted by Christ, the Designation and Call of the Persons unto this Office was an immediate Act of Christ. So also was their Commission and Power, and the Extraordinary Gifts which he endowed them withal. And whereas the Lord Christ is said to give this Office and these Officers after his Ascension, namely in the Communication of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost unto those Officers for the Discharge of that Office, it is evident that all Office-Power depends on the Communication of Gifts whether Extraordinary or Ordinary. But where any of these is wanting, there is no Apostle, nor any Successor of one Apostle. Therefore when Paul was afterwards added unto the Twelve in the same Power and Office, he was careful to declare how he received both Call, Commission and Power immediately from Jesus Christ. Paul an Apostle, not of Men, neither by Men, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father who raised him from the Dead, Gal. 1. 1. Whereas those who pretend to be their Successors, if they will speak the Truth must say, that they are what they are, neither of Jesus Christ, nor God the Father, but or Men and by Men. However they neither dare nor will pretend so to be of God and Christ, as not to be called by the Ministry of Man, which evacuates the pretence of Succession in this Office.

He had before appointed the Office, designed the Persons, gave them their Commission with the visible pledge of the Power they should afterwards receive. But there yet remained the Communication of extraordinary Gifts unto them to enable them unto the discharge of their Office. And this was that which after the Ascention of Christ they received on the day of Pentecost, as it is related,