An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

What careful performances of holy duties in thy family, concerning which thou hast heard so much? Oh that we had cause to say of such persons, of such families, though once we feared for them, though once we mourned and grieved for them, yet now we rejoice, and our hope of them is very steadfast. But may we not cry, woe, woe, and again woe to our Congregations, that are like Golgothas, places not of dead mens skulls, but dead hearts; yea dead men, according to that of our Saviour, Let the dead bury the dead. Have not the Ministers of God been many years laying the Axe of the Word to the root of profaneness and ignorance, which is in most families, in most Congregations? Yet how greatly doth it abound? Surely of such families, of such Congregations, we may with grief of heart say, As yet we have no hope.

What carefull performances of holy duties in thy family, concerning which thou hast heard so much? Oh that we had cause to say of such persons, of such families, though once we fear'd for them, though once we mourned and grieved for them, yet now we rejoyce, and our hope of them is very stedfast. But may we not cry, woe, woe, and again woe to our Congregations, that are like Golgothaes, places not of dead mens skuls, but dead hearts; yea dead men, according to that of our Saviour, Let the dead bury the dead. Have not the Ministers of God been many yeares laying the Axe of the Word to the root of prophanenesse and ignorance, which is in most families, in most Congregations? Yet how greatly doth it abound? Surely of such families, of such Congregations, we may with grief of heart say, As yet we have no hope.

Secondly, This is more particularly observable in the Corinthians repentance, ¹that they repair and set up that good and holy order, which was collapsed amongst them. And therefore as Paul said to the Colossians, Chap. 2. 5. He did rejoice to behold their order: So might he here. In his former Epistle he severely taxeth them for want of Church-Discipline, that they neglected good order; there was a scandalous sinner suffered amongst them, and they did not mourn and humble themselves, because of it; they did not cast him out, and free the Church from that contagion; therefore with many arguments he presseth them to gather together, and to execute Church-Discipline, to cast out this wicked person from amongst them,