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

(§ 3.) FIRST, it is declared to be a Gift of Christ. [Greek or Hebrew], And he himself gave, ver. 11. It is the great Fundamental of all Church-Order, Power and Worship, that the Gift and Grant of Christ is the Original of the Ministry. If it had not been so given of Christ, it had not been lawful for any ⟨p. 222⟩of the Sons of Men to institute such an Office, or appoint such Officers. If any had attempted so to do, as there would have been a Nullity in what they did, so their Attempt would have been expressly against the Headship of Christ, or his Supreme Authority over the Church. Wherefore, that he would thus give Ministers of the Church was promised of old, Jer. 3. 15. as well as signally foretold in the Psalm from whence these Words are taken. And as his doing of it is an Act of his Mediatory Power, as it is declared in this place, and Matth. 28. 18. so it was a Fruit of his Care, Love and Bounty, 1 Cor. 2. 21, 22. And it will hence follow not only that Offices in the Church, which are not of Christ's giving by Institution, and Officers that are not of Gift, Grant, by Provision and Furnishment, have indeed no place therein, but also that they are set up in Opposition unto his Authority and in Contempt of his Care and Bounty. For the doing so ariseth out of an Apprehension, that both Men have a Power in the Church which is not derived from Christ, and that to impose Servants upon him in his House without his Consent, as also that they have more Care of the Church than he had, who made not such Provision for them. And if an Examination might be admitted by this Rule, as it will one Day come on whether Men will or no, some great Names now in the Church would scarce be able to preserve their Station; Popes, Cardinals, Metropolitans, Diocesan Prelates, Arch-Deacons, Commissaries, Officials, and I know not what other monstrous Products of an incestuous Conjunction between Secular Pride and Ecclesiastical Degeneracy, would think themselves severely treated to be tried by this Rule: But so it must be ⟨p. 223⟩at last, and that unavoidably. Yea, and that no Man shall be so hardy, as once to dare attempt the setting up of Officers in the Church without the Authority of Christ;