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

(§ 9.) FROM these things it may appear what is the Nature in general of that Skill in the Rule of the Church, which we assert to be a peculiar Gift of the Holy Ghost. If it were only an Ability or Skill in the Canon or Civil Law, or Rules of Men; if only an Acquaintance with the Nature and Course of some Courts proceeding litigiously by Citations, Processes, Legal Pleadings, issuing in Pecuniary Mulcts, outward Coercions or Imprisonments, I should willingly acknowledge that there is no peculiar Gift of the Spirit of God required thereunto. But the Nature of it being as we have declared, it is impossible it should be exercised aright without the especial Assistance of the Holy Ghost. Is any Man of himself sufficient for these things? Will any Man undertake of himself ⟨p. 271⟩to know the mind of Christ in all the occasions of the Church, and to administer the Power of Christ in them and about them? Wherefore the Apostle in many places teacheth that Wisdom, Skill and Understanding to administer the Authority of Christ in the Church unto its Edification with Faithfulness and Diligence, are an especial Gift of the Holy Ghost, Rom. 12. 6, 8. 1 Cor. 12. 28. It is the Holy Ghost which makes the Elders of the Church it's Bishops or Overseers, by calling them to their Office, Acts 20. 28. And what he calls any Man unto, that he furnisheth him with Abilities for the Discharge of. And so have we given a brief Account of these Ordinary Gifts which the Holy Ghost communicates unto the constant Ministry of the Church, and will do so unto the Consummation of all things; having moreover in our Passage manifested the Dependence of the Ministry on this Work of his; so that we need no Addition of Pains to demonstrate, that where he goeth not before in the Communication of them, no outward Order, Call or Constitution is sufficient to make any one a Minister of the Gospel.

(§ 9.) FROM these things it may appear what is the Nature in general of that Skill in the Rule of the Church, which we assert to be a peculiar Gift of the Holy Ghost. If it were only an Ability or Skill in the Canon or Civil Law, or Rules of Men; if only an Acquaintance with the Nature and Course of some Courts proceeding litigiously by Citations, Processes, Legal Pleadings, issuing in Pecuniary Mulcts, outward Coercions or Imprisonments, I should willingly acknowledge that there is no peculiar Gift of the Spirit of God required thereunto. But the Nature of it being as we have declared, it is impossible it should be exercised aright without the especial Assistance of the Holy Ghost. Is any Man of himself sufficient for these things? Will any Man undertake of himself