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…

Let us not then, though we can and may prove our Church to be the Church of God, therefore sit down and take our rest, as if therefore reformation of corruptions were needless: No the Apostle doth far otherwise to this Church of Corinth, though he call it the Church of God, yet his Epistle is full of sharp reproof to them; he is very zealous and lively in putting of them upon this, that they became a new ⟨p. 75⟩lump, that they be made as it were a new Church, and a new Congregation. Far be it therefore from us to excuse or connive at our public impieties, because Corinth, though so polluted is a Church: No, we are to tremble and humble our selves under such disorders, they are great provocations of Gods anger. You see God did begin to judge and chasten this Church of Corinth; God takes notice, and is very angry with all these disorders, and great neglect. Therefore if you observe those Epistles of Christ from Heaven, to the seven Churches of Asia, where their works were not perfect, where there were any decays; yea, if Christ had any thing against them, though there were other things commendable, yet he will take notice and rebuke them therein; yea, to some he threatens to take away their Candlesticks, that is, their Ordinances, and to unchurch them. Oh then, let us humble our selves under Gods hand for all our Church-sins, all our Assembly-iniquities, lest the wrath of God break out upon us!

Let us not then, though we can and may prove our Church to be the Church of God, therefore sit down and take our rest, as if therefore reformation of corruptions were needless: No the Apostle doth farre otherwise to this Church of Corinth, though he call it the Church of God, yet his Epistle is full of sharp reproof to them; he is very zealous and lively in putting of them upon this, that they became a new ⟨p. 75⟩lump, that they be made as it were a new Church, and a new Congregation. Farre be it therefore from us to excuse or connive at our publick impieties, because Corinth, though so polluted is a Church: No, we are to tremble and humble our selves under such disorders, they are great provocations of Gods anger. You see God did begin to judge and chasten this Church of Corinth; God takes notice, and is very angry with all these disorders, and great neglect. Therefore if you observe those Epistles of Christ from Heaven, to the seven Churches of Asia, where their works were not perfect, where there were any decayes; yea, if Christ had any thing against them, though there were other things commendable, yet he will take notice and rebuke them therein; yea, to some he threatens to take away their Candlesticks, that is, their Ordinances, and to unchurch them. Oh then, let us humble our selves under Gods hand for all our Church-sins, all our Assembly-iniquities, lest the wrath of God break out upon us!