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

For if all Scripture given by Inspiration from God, so expounded and applied, be profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Instruction in Righteousness, the more the Church enjoyeth thereof, the more will its Faith, Love, Obedience and Consolation be increased. Lastly, the manner of the Exercise of this Gift in the Church unto Edification, is prescribed and limited by our Apostle, 1 Cor. 14. 29, 30, 31, 32, 33. And first, he would not have the Church burdened with the most profitable Gift or its exercise, and therefore determines that at one time, not above two or three be suffered to speak; that is, one after another, that the Church be neither wearied nor burdened, ver. 29. Secondly, Because it was possible that some of them who had this Gift might mix somewhat of their own Spirits in their Word and Ministry, and therein mistake and err from the Truth; he requires that the other who had the like Gift, and so were understanding in the Mind of God, should judge of what was spoken by them, so as the Church might not be led into any Error by them; let the other judge. Thirdly, That order he observed in their Exercise; and especially that way be given unto any immediate Revelation, and no Confusion be brought into the Church by many speaking at the same time. And ⟨p. 191⟩this Direction manifests that the Gift was extraordinary, and is now ceased; though there be a continuance of ordinary Gifts of the same kind, and to the same end in the Church, as we shall see afterwards, ver. 30. Fourthly, By the observation of this order, the Apostle shows, that all the Prophets might exercise their Gift unto the Instruction and Consolation of the Church in a proper Season; such as their frequent Assemblies would afford them, ver. 31. And whereas it may be objected, that these things coming in an extraordinary immediate manner from the Holy Ghost, it was not in the power of them who received them, to confine them unto the order prescribed, which would seem to limit the Holy Spirit in his operations, whereas they were all to speak as the Spirit gave them Ability and Utterance, let what would ensue, the Apostle assures them by a general Principle that no such thing would follow on a due use and exercise of this Gift. For God, saith he, is not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace, as in all Churches of the Saints, ver. 33. As if he should have said;

For if all Scripture given by Inspiration from God, so expounded and applyed, be profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Instruction in Righteousness, the more the Church enjoyeth thereof, the more will its Faith, Love, Obedience and Consolation be encreased. Lastly, the manner of the Exercise of this Gift in the Church unto Edification, is prescribed and limited by our Apostle,