A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

2. Secondly, If you take this to be the meaning of it, that we are fellow-workers with God; you must understand, that what is the main and principal in this work, which is the bestowing of spiritual life and growth, must be looked upon as only the work of God, and to come from him; and that therein man had no share at all, nor is a co-worker with God in it. And as Beza well notes on 1 Cor. 3.9. we must always observe carefully a difference between causes Subordinate, and causes Co-ordinate. Ministers are to be considered as purely in subordination to God, and as those whom God is pleased to make use of in the way of his appointment: not in the way of effectual concurrence with God, as if they could communicate any power or strength to the working of Grace by the preaching of the word. Subordinate causes Ministers are to, not Co-ordinate causes with, God in the great work of producing of our Salvation, which God only hath in his own hand, both as to the internal working of grace in the Soul, and the Eternal bestowing of glory upon us ⟨p. 91⟩in the life to come. There is the first reason opened; that is, the reason why the Apostle doth here give them his exhortation, namely, We are workers together with God.

2. Secondly, If you take this to be the meaning of it, that we are fellow-workers with God; you must understand, that what is the main and principal in this work, which is the bestowing of spiritual life and growth, must be lookt upon as only the work of God, and to come from him; and that therein man had no share at all, nor is a co-worker with God in it. And as Beza well notes on 1 Cor. 3.9. we must alwaies observe carefully a difference between causes Subordinate, and causes Co-ordinate. Ministers are to be considered as purely in subordination to God, and as those whom God is pleased to make use of in the way of his appointment: not in the way of effectual concurrence with God, as if they could communicate any power or strength to the working of Grace by the preaching of the word. Subordinate causes Ministers are to, not Co-ordinate causes with, God in the great work of producing of our Salvation, which God only hath in his own hand, both as to the internal working of grace in the Soul, and the Eternal bestowing of glory upon us