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…

First, That which is always willing to be last is Humility, and a spirit of meekness and moderation. You never heard of an humble man, that he was a disturber of the Church, or broacher of heresies. Heretics have always been proud, haughty and ambitious men, as Marcion, Nestorius, and others, especially ⟨p. 48⟩the Pope of Rome, who exalteth himself above all that is called God. Were then men of more humble and lowly spirits, having low apprehensions of their gifts and abilities, this would wonderfully make to consent and agreement.

First, That which is alwayes willing to be last is Humility, and a spirit of meekness and moderation. You never heard of an humble man, that he was a disturber of the Church, or broacher of heresies. Hereticks have alwayes been proud, haughty and ambitious men, as Marcion, Nestorius, and others, especially ⟨p. 48⟩the Pope of Rome, who exalteth himself above all that is called God. Were then men of more humble and lowly spirits, having low apprehensions of their gifts and abilities, this would wonderfully make to consent and agreement.

Secondly, Earnest and fervent prayer unto God for the holy Spirit. For seeing it's the Spirit of God that is promised to lead us into the truth; And Officers of the Church have a more peculiar promise for it above ordinary believers, as being in a more peculiar Office, and receiving a proper Commission from Christ: It is therefore necessary to implore this assistance of Gods Spirit. For whereas the Papist doth scornfully, and with derision ask, How comes it about, that seeing every Sect in the Protestants, doth lay claim to the Spirit of God, all owning it to be their guider in their several ways? How comes it about, that yet these spirits are so contrary to one another? Can the holy Spirit of God be opposite to it self? To this calumny it is easily answered, That all Officers and Teachers, do not equally, and in the same measure partake of Gods Spirit. For besides that, there is not now any such measure of it given to any Officers in the Church, that makes them infallible; There is an inequality and difference in the degrees of partaking of this holy Spirit of God, so far as it is communicable. Some have it more in the gift of illumination; some more in the gift of sanctification; and withal some are more negligent and faulty than others. And therefore the holy Ghost is not communicated to all alike. For pride, negligence, want of fervent and earnest prayer, makes the Spirit of God to keep off from us. Oh then, that all who have inspection in the Church of Christ, were more earnest for Gods Spirit, that he would enlighten us, and direct us; howsoever that he would so sanctify us, that if we did err, yet we shall not be obstinate and pertinacious in it.