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

Where the Lord Christ gives no Gifts, he hath no Work to do. He will require of none any especial Duty where he doth not give an especial Ability. And for any to think themselves meet for this Work and Service, in the strength of their own Natural Parts and Endowments, however acquired, is to despise both his Authority and his Work. (3) For those who have received of these Talents, either not to Trade at all, or to pretend the managing of their Trade on another Stock, that is, either not sedulously and duly to Exercise their Ministerial Gifts, or to discharge ⟨p. 252⟩their Ministry by other helps and means, is to set up their own Wisdom in opposition unto his and his Authority. In brief, that which the whole Parable teacheth, is, that where-ever there is a Ministry in the Church that Christ owneth or regardeth as used and employed by him, there Persons are furnished with Spiritual Gifts from Christ by the Spirit, enabling them unto the discharge of that Ministry: and where there are no such Spiritual Gifts dispensed by him, there is no Ministry that he either accepteth or approveth.

Where the Lord Christ gives no Gifts, he hath no Work to do. He will require of none any especial Duty where he doth not give an especial Ability. And for any to think themselves meet for this Work and Service, in the strength of their own Natural Parts and Endowments, however acquired, is to despise both his Authority and his Work. (3) For those who have received of these Talents, either not to Trade at all, or to pretend the managing of their Trade on another Stock, that is, either not sedulously and duely to Exercise their Ministerial Gifts, or to discharge ⟨p. 252⟩their Ministry by other helps and means, is to set up their own Wisdom in opposition unto his and his Authority. In brief, that which the whole Parable teacheth, is, that where-ever there is a Ministry in the Church that Christ owneth or regardeth as used and employed by him, there Persons are furnished with Spiritual Gifts from Christ by the Spirit, enabling them unto the discharge of that Ministry: and where there are no such Spiritual Gifts dispensed by him, there is no Ministry that he either accepteth or approveth.