Fourthly, Then is carnal wisdom used to propagate Religion, When by it we propound carnal and selfish ends to our selves, not the glory of God, and 1advancing the power and purity of his Ordinances. This is that which Paul doth principally disclaim, I seek not you but yours, saith he in this Epistle, 2 Cor. 12. 14. And that they might be persuaded hereof, he would take no maintenance of them, but made use of other Churches, that he might spare them; yea sometimes working with his own hands. How far this is imitable by the Ministers of the Gospel now, as many do upbraid them with this example of Paul, will be clearly and fully evidenced (God assisting in its time) for we shall meet with this part of Paul expressly mentioned and insisted on by him in this Epistle. But it is worth the observation, that Paul by no way he took, could escape the slander of a self-seeker. For if in that case he had burdened the Church of Corinth, the false Apostles would have calumniated him, as using a cloak of covetousness, and seeking himself: But now because he will not do so, see how this is interpreted as a carnal design also; for so he bringeth in their objection, vers. 16, Be it so, I did not burden you, but being crafty, I took you with guile. This was suggested against Paul, they made this construction of ⟨p. 431⟩Paul's not burdening them, that he did this out of craft, that they should think themselves the more engaged unto him; and so by this means, he get the more dominion over them. Thus what shall Paul do, if he doth not take maintenance, it is his craft, and if he doth, it is his craft? By this instance we see, how much we are to avoid all fleshly wisdom, for do what we will, it shall be charged upon us. Only when we have this sincerity of conscience within to comfort and support us, this will be a means to make us bear the slanders of enemies with greater alacrity. Now as we said, then we may certainly conclude, we are guided by fleshly wisdom; when our aims in our ministerial way is either glory, and applause, which was the poison of the Pharisees duties; or earthly wealth and external pomp; which motives do easily creep in, unless grace be the porter to keep the door of the soul. We see even the Disciples themselves, and that twice contending about superiority;
Fourthly, Then is carnal wisdome used to propagate Religion, When by it we propound carnal and selfish ends to our selves, not the glory of God, and 1advancing the power and purity of his Ordinances. This is that which Paul doth principally disclaim, I seek not you but yours, saith he in this Epistle, 2 Cor. 12. 14. And that they might be perswaded hereof, he would take no maintenance of them, but made use of other Churches, that he might spare them; yea sometimes working with his own hands. How farre this is imitable by the Ministers of the Gospel now, as many do upbraid them with this example of Paul, will be clearly and fully evidenced (God assisting in its time) for we shall meet with this part of Paul expresly mentioned and insisted on by him in this Epistle. But it is worth the observation, that Paul by no way he took, could escape the slander of a selfseeker. For if in that case he had burdened the Church of Corinth, the false Apostles would have calumniated him, as using a cloak of covetousness, and seeking himself: But now because he will not do so, see how this is interpreted as a carnal designe also; for so he bringeth in their objection, vers. 16, Be it so, I did not burden you, but being crafty, I tooke you with guile. This was suggested against Paul, they made this construction of ⟨p. 431⟩Paul's not burdening them, that he did this out of craft, that they should think themselves the more ingaged unto him; and so by this means, he get the more dominion over them. Thus what shall Paul do, if he doth not take maintenance, it is his craft, and if he doth, it is his craft? By this instance we see, how much we are to avoid all fleshly wisdome, for do what we will, it shall be charged upon us. Only when we have this sincerity of conscience within to comfort and support us, this will be a means to make us bear the slanders of enemies with greater alacrity. Now as we said, then we may certainly conclude, we are guided by fleshly wisdome; when our aimes in our ministerial way is either glory, and applause, which was the poison of the Pharisees duties; or earthly wealth and external pomp; which motives do easily creep in, unlesse grace be the porter to keep the door of the soul. We see even the Disciples themselves, and that twice contending about superiority;
- 14. To propound fleshly ends.
