1 Corinthians 12:28

God hath set some, &c.— "As God hath placed some members in more eminent stations in the body, so also some Christians in the church. He hath placed in the first rank Apostles, who are honoured with an office of the higher distinction, and furnished with endowments peculiar to themselves. In the 2nd place are ranked prophets, whose business it is to foretel future events, or to speak by immediate interpretation, for the edification of the church. In the 3rd, teachers of a more ordinary kind; afterwards those who are endued, upon some particular occasion, with miraculous powers; then the gifts of healing diseases, by anointing the sick with oil, and praying for their recovery. Besides these, he has endowed some with such extraordinaryactivity and sagacity, as may fit them to be helpers in the management of charities: others are qualified by their prudence to be appointed to governments, that by their advice the affairs of societies may be steered and conducted in the safest and happiest manner. There are also wonderful operations, whereby men are taught different kinds of tongues, which they had never learned by any human methods." Monsieur Amyraut is of opinion, that the persons might possess manyof these gifts, and sustain several of these characters, who did not fill stated distinct offices; and might be called helpers, in reference to their great dexterity and readiness to help those who were in distress; and governments, in regard to that genius for business, sagacityin judging the circumstances of affairs, and natural authority in the councils and resolutions of societies, which rendered them fit to preside on such occasions. See Doddridge, Barrington, Benson, and Markland.