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

that is, whilst they were needful. And unto this Office, though expressly affirmed to be set in the Church and placed between the Apostles and the Evangelists, none that I know of do pretend a Succession. All grant that they were extraordinary, because their Gift and Work was so; but so were those of Evangelists also. But there is no mention of the Power and Rule of these Prophets, or else undoubtedly we should have had on one pretence or other Successors provided for them.

that is, whilst they were needful. And unto this Office, though expresly affirmed to be set in the Church and placed between the Apostles and the Evangelists, none that I know of do pretend a Succession. All grant that they were extraordinary, because their Gift and Work was so; but so were those of Evangelists also. But there is no mention of the Power and Rule of these Prophets, or else undoubtedly we should have had on one pretence or other Successors provided for them.

(§ 23.) 2dly, Sometimes an Extraordinary Gift without Office is intended in this Expression. So it is said that Philip the Evangelist had four Daughters, Virgins, which did Prophesy, Acts 21. 9. It is not ⟨p. 160⟩said that they were Prophetesses, as there were some under the Old Testament; only that they did Prophesy; that is, they had Revelations from the Holy Ghost occasionally for the use of the Church. For to Prophesy is nothing but to declare hidden and secret things by virtue of immediate Revelation, be they of what Nature they will; and so is the word commonly used, Mat. 26. 68. Luke 22. 64. So an Extraordinary Gift without Office is expressed, Acts 19. 6. And when Paul had laid his Hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came, and they spake with Tongues and Prophesied. Their Prophesying, which was their Declaration of Spiritual things by immediate Revelation, was of the same Nature with their speaking with Tongues; both Extraordinary Gifts and Operations of the Holy Ghost. And of this sort were those Miracles, Healings and Tongues which God for a time set in the Church, which did not constitute distinct Officers in the Church, but they were only sundry Persons in each Church which were endued with these Extraordinary Gifts for its Edification. And therefore are they placed after Teachers, comprising both, which were the principal sort of the ordinary continuing Officers of the Church,