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

so their Principal Duty is to become so wise and understanding in that Mystery, as that they may be able to declare it unto others, without which they have no Ministry committed unto them by Jesus Christ. See Ephes. 1. 9. Chap. 3. 3, 6, 19. Col. 4. 3. The sole Enquiry is, Whence we may have this Wisdom, seeing it is abundantly evident that we have it not of our selves? That in general it is from God, that it is to be asked of him, the Scripture every where declares. See Col. 1. 9. Chap. 2. 2. 2 Tim. 2. 7. Jam. 1. 5. 1 John 5. 20. And in particular it is plainly affirmed to be the especial Gift of the Holy Ghost. He gives the Word of Wisdom, 1 Cor. 12. 8. which place hath been opened before. And it is the first Ministerial Gift that he bestows on any. Where this is not in some measure, to look for a Ministry is to look for the Living among the Dead. And they will deceive their own Souls in the End, as they do those of others in the mean time, who on any other grounds do undertake to be Preachers of the Gospel. But I shall not here divert unto the full description of this Spiritual Gift, because I have discoursed concerning it elsewhere.

(§ 4) WITH respect unto the Doctrine of the Gospel, there is required unto the Ministry of the Church, skill to divide the word aright, which is […] a peculiar Gift of the Holy Ghost, 2 Tim. […] study to approve thy self unto God, a […] •hat needeth not to be ashamed, rightly […] Word of Truth. Both the former ⟨p. 261⟩Clauses depend on the latter. If a Minister […] be accepted with God in his Work, if he would […] found at the last day a Workman that needs […] to be ashamed, that is, such a Builder of the House of God, as whose Work is meet, proper and useful, he must take care to divide the word of Truth, which is committed unto his Dispensation, aright, or in a due manner. Ministers are Stewards in the House of God, and Dispensers of the Ministries thereof. And therefore it is required of them that they give unto all the Servants that are in the House, or do belong unto it, a meet Portion according unto their Wants, Occasions and Services suitable unto the Will and Wisdom of their Lord and Master,