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

Wherefore, the substance of what we have to declare and confirm is, that there is an especial Dispensation and Work of the Holy Ghost in providing able Ministers of the New Testament for the Edification of the Church, wherein the Continuance of the Ministry, and Being of the Church, as to its outward Order, doth depend; and that herein he doth exert his Power, and exercise his Authority in the Communication of Spiritual Gifts unto Men, without a participation whereof no Man hath de jure, any Lot or Portion in this Ministration. Herein consists no small part of that Work of the Spirit which belongs unto his promised Dispensation in all Ages, which to deny is to renounce all Faith in the Promise of Christ, all regard unto his continued Love and Care towards the Church in the World, or at ⟨p. 242⟩least the principal pleadable Testimony given thereunto, and under pretence of exalting and preserving the Church, totally to overthrow it. Now the Evidence which we shall give unto this Truth, is contained in the ensuing Assertions with their Confirmation.

§ 2. THE Lord Jesus Christ hath faithfully promised to be present with his Church unto the end of the World. It is his Temple and his Tabernacle, wherein he will dwell and walk continually. And this presence of Christ is that which makes the Church to be what it is, a Congregation Essentially distinct from all other Societies and Assemblies of Men. Let Men be formed into what Order you please, according unto any outward Rules and Measures that are either given in the Scripture, or found out by themselves, let them derive Power and Authority by what Claim soever they shall think fit, yet if Christ be not present with them, they are no Church, nor can all the Powers under Heaven make them so to be. And where any Church loseth the especial presence of Christ, it ceaseth so to be. It is, I suppose, confessed with and among whom Christ is thus present, or it may be easily proved. See his Promises to this purpose, Mat. 18. 20. Revel. 21. 3. And those Churches do exceedingly mistake their Interest who are solicitous about other things, but make little Enquiry after the Evidences of the presence of Christ among them. Some walk as if they supposed they had him sure enough, as it were immured in their Walls, whilst they keep up the Name of a Church, and an outward Order that pleaseth and advantageth themselves. But outward Order be it what it will, is so far from being the only Evidence of