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…

For God doth many times make use of the wickedness of one ungodly man, to torment another. Yea Luther's first stirrings against the abuses of Popery, were not so pure and sincere, as afterwards when the light and grace of God came more upon him. It is therefore a great duty incumbent upon the Ministers of the Gospel, to walk sincerely by Christs rule in their pastoral exercises, avoiding this fleshly wisdom, which though it may seem sometimes to prevent a mischief, yet as it did to David, doth afterwards plunge in a greater calamity. And indeed going to carnal policy in Church-administrations, is but like going to witches and wizards, forsaking Gods way, which never bringeth a perfect cure.

For God doth many times make use of the wickednesse of one ungodly man, to torment another. Yea Luther's first stirrings against the abuses of Popery, were not so pure and sincere, as afterwards when the light and grace of God came more upon him. It is therefore a great duty incumbent upon the Ministers of the Gospel, to walk sincerely by Christs rule in their pastoral exercises, avoiding this fleshly wisdome, which though it may seeme sometimes to prevent a mischiefe, yet as it did to David, doth afterwards plunge in a greater calamity. And indeed going to carnal policy in Church-administrations, is but like going to witches and wizards, forsaking Gods way, which never bringeth a perfect cure.

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