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…

The Apostle having reckoned up, 1 Cor. 6. 11. monsters of men, rather than men, whereof some are said to be effeminate, and abusers of themselves with mankind, he addeth [Greek or Hebrew], and these things, as if they were peccata, not peccatores, were some of you, but now ye are justified, now ye are washed. God then doth sometimes make Blackmoors to become white; and though man cannot, yet he sometimes doth make figs to grow of thorns, and grapes of thistles.

The Apostle having reckoned up, 1 Cor. 6. 11. monsters of men, rather than men, whereof some are said to be effeminat•, and abusers of themselves with mankind, he addeth 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, and these things, as if they were peccata, not peccatores, were some of you, but now ye are justified, now ye are washed. God then doth sometimes make Blackmoors to become white; and though man cannot, yet he sometimes doth make figs to grow of thorns, and grapes of thistles.

I have spoken to this truth in Paul's case, and therefore shall be brief. Only the reason why God may build his house of such crooked timber, and make his Temple of such rough stones, may be to show the freeness of his grace, and the efficacy of it. Both which are opposed by Arminians and Papists, but gladly acknowledged by the godly man, who hath had experience of it. For the freeness of Gods grace, that is seen two ways, Absolutely and Comparatively. Absolutely; For when God shall call such to himself, who are so utter unworthy, that deserve all the vengeance and wrath God can inflict upon them, this must discover grace to be exceeding free, and gracious. In stead therefore of the curses of the Law, thou meetest with the promises of the Gospel. In stead of hell and damnation, God vouchsafeth Heaven and salvation. What can be freer then Gods love, and his gift herein? Thou art so far from being in a state of congruity or fitness that thou art in direct opposition and contrariety.