2. Because to this end are all the gifts of God committed unto us, as stewards of the grace of God, as it is in the text.
3. Because this very thing doth the communion of Saints require, to the believing and exercising whereof are all Christians called.
Use 1. This may serve to comfort us, in that there is no faithfull Christian, but hath some gift, whereby he may minister something unto others.
2. To exhort us, every one to use that gift which he hath, to the good of others.
Doctrine 8. In exercising those gifts, which belong to the preaching or declaration of Gods word, our chiefe care should be, so to carry our selves as becomes the word of God.
This is gathered from verse 11 at the beginning.
Reason 1. Because every action rightly ordered should have a just proportion to its object.
2. Because so great is the dignity of Gods word, that without such a care it cannot be kept safe, without wronging of it.
3. Because all the power of our speech concerning Gods word is lost, if it take not its whole strength from the word it selfe.
Vse. This may serve to admonish, not only the Preachers, that they handle the word of God holily, faithfully, and gravely, but also all hearers, that they judge aright of the Sermon, and make distinction betwixt those Preachers, which speake as the Oracles of God, and others, which speake as a humane speech or oration; and that they themselves also, if upon occasion they should treat of the word of God in private, should doe it holily, gravely, and reverently, as it becomes the word of God to be handled.