1 Peter 4:10

As every man hath received, &c.— "And as all talents for public offices, as well as private capacities of usefulness in the church, are the free gift of God, let every one who is favoured with them, be careful to employ them, in proportion to what he has received, for the advantage and edification one of another, as persons entrusted with, and accountable to their great Lord and Master for the various gifts andendowmentswhichhehasgraciously bestowed upon them, that they may manage them with wisdom and faithfulness, like honorable stewards, (καλοι οικονομοι,) for the good of the church for which he gave them." By the manifold or various grace of God, we may understand, that great diversity, of gifts, which all proceeded from one and the same Spirit, and which were all of pure grace, or free favour; for none of the Christians could demand any of them by any claim of justice, or as a debt due to him. Now every one of those gifts was to be made use of, not merely for the private advantage of the persons upon whom they were bestowed, but for the glory of God, and the public good of mankind; and more particularly of the Christian church; that the Christiansmight promote divine knowledge, experience, and piety in each other. See Romans 12:6.