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

some have been puffed up with them; some have used them disorderly in Churches, and to their hurt; some have boasted of what they have not received; all which miscarriages also befell the Primitive Churches. And I had rather have the Order, Rule, Spirit and Practice of those Churches that were planted by the Apostles, with all their Troubles and Disadvantages, than the Carnal Peace of others in their open Degeneracy from all those things.

(§ 12.) IT remains only that we enquire how Men may come unto, or attain a participation of these Gifts, whether Ministerial or more Private. And unto this End we may observe, (1) That they are not Communicated unto any by a sudden Afflatus, or extraordinary Infusion, as were the Gifts of Miracles and Tongues, which were bestowed on the Apostles and many of the first Converts. That Dispensation of the Spirit is long since ceased, and where it is now pretended unto by any, it may justly be suspected as an Enthusiastic Delusion. For as the End of those Gifts which in their own Nature exceed the whole power of all our Faculties, is ceased, so is their Communication, and the manner of it also. Yet this I must say, that the Infusion of Spiritual Light into the Mind, which is the Foundation of all Gifts, as hath been proved, being wrought sometimes suddenly, or in a short season, the Concomitancy of Gifts in some good measure is oftentimes sudden, with an appearance of something ⟨p. 276⟩Extraordinary, as might be manifested in instances of several sorts. (2) These Gifts are not absolutely attainable by our own Diligence and Endeavours in the use of means, without respect unto the Sovereign Will and Pleasure of the Holy Ghost. Suppose there are such means of the Attainment and Improvement of them, and that several Persons do with the same measures of Natural Abilities and Diligence use those means for that end, yet it will not follow that all must be equally Partakers of them. They are not the immediate product of our own Endeavours, no not as under an ordinary Blessing upon them. For they are [Greek or Hebrew], Arbitrary Largesses or Gifts, which the Holy Spirit worketh in all Persons severally as he will. Hence we see the different Events that are among them who are exercised in the same Studies and Endeavours; some are endued with Eminent Gifts; some scarce attain unto any that are useful, and some despise them, Name and Thing. There is therefore an immediate Operation of the Spirit of God in the Collation of these Spiritual Abilities, which is unaccountable by the measures of Natural Parts and Industry. Yet I say, (4) That ordinarily they are both attained and increased by the due use of Means suited thereunto, as Grace is also, which none but Pelagians affirm to be absolutely in the power of our own Wills.