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

18, 19, 20, 21. Wherefore, because the Authority from whence this Gift proceeded, was granted unto Christ upon his descending into the lower parts of the Earth, and the end of the Gift is to declare and preach the Peace which he made between God and Man by his so doing, this Gift relates thereunto also. Hereon doth the Honour and Excellency of the Ministry depend, with respect hereunto is it to be esteemed and valued, namely, it's Relation unto the Spiritual Humiliation of Christ, and not from the carnal or secular Exaltation of those that take it upon them.

(§ 6.) 3ly. IT appears to be an eminent and signal Gift from the immediate Cause of it's actual Communication, or the present Qualification of the Lord Christ for the bestowing of it; and this was his glorious Exaltation upon his Ascension. A Right unto it was acquired by him in his Death, but his actual Investiture with all glorious Power, was to precede it's Communication, ver. 8, 10. He was first to ascend up on high, to triumph over all his and our Adversaries, put now under him into absolute and eternal Captivity, before he gave out this ⟨p. 227⟩Gift. And he is said here to ascend far above all Heavens, that is, these visible and aspectable Heavens, which he passed through when he went into the glorious Presence of God, or unto the Right Hand of the Majesty on high. See Heb. 4. 14. with our Exposition thereon. It is also added, why he was thus gloriously exalted; and this was, that he might fill up all things, not [Greek or Hebrew] but [Greek or Hebrew]; not in the Essence of his Nature, but in the Exercise of his Power. He had laid the Foundation of his Church on himself in his Death and Resurrection; but now the whole Fabric of it was to be filled with it's Utensils, and beautified with it's Ornaments. This he ascended to accomplish, and did it principally in the Collation of this Gift of the Ministry upon it. This was the first Exercise of that glorious Power, which the Lord Christ was vested withal upon his Exaltation; the first Effect of his Wisdom and Love, in filling all things unto the Glory of God, and the Salvation of his Elect. And these things are mentioned, that in the Contemplation of their Greatness and Order we may learn and judge how excellent this Donation of Christ is. And it will also appear from hence, how contemptible a thing the most pompous Ministry in the World is, which doth not proceed from this Original.