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…

1. Converting Paul at that very time, when he was in the height of his spirit, acting with the greatest violence against Christ. This season was most admirable; for hereby it did plainly appear, That it was not of Paul that willed, or runned, but of Gods good pleasure. Hence Ephes. 1. Paul speaking of Gods predestination, doth over and over again resolve all into his good pleasure, and that he doth all things according to the goodness of his will. What then will become of that vocatio congrua, so much boasted of by some, as if men were converted, because God did fore-see, that if they were put into such a condition with such circumstances, then they would readily consent to Gods Call? But was Paul's conversion accompanied with a vocatio congrua? Did God stay till he had a fit bait or snare to catch Paul in? Now all was here the clean contrary, Paul was never in higher opposition against God; never were the doors of his heart more fastened up with iron-bars than at this time; and then, and never till then doth God convert him. That as it is with Gods Church, he never helps till all things be desperate; therefore he is called, The God that raiseth the dead, 2 Cor. 1. and he that calleth things that are not, as if they were. Thus many times it falleth out, when men are more treasuring up their sin, and adding higher degree of opposition, even then God takes off their hearts, and thereby the Wisdom of God is the more seen, of such crooked ⟨p. 5⟩timber to make so excellent a building. To raise up Lazarus, when he is not only dead, but buried and rotting in the grave; this makes us astonished at Gods Wisdom.

1. Converting Paul at that very time, when he was in the height of his spirit, acting with the greatest violence against Christ. This season was most admirable; for hereby it did plainly appear, That it was not of Paul that willed, or runned, but of Gods good pleasure. Hence Ephes. 1. Paul speaking of Gods predestination, doth over and over again resolve all into his good pleasure, and that he doth all things according to the goodnesse of his will. What then will become of that vocatio congrua, so much boasted of by some, as if men were converted, because God did fore-see, that if they were put into such a condition with such circumstances, then they would readily consent to Gods Call? But was Paul's conversion accompanied with a vocatio congrua? Did God stay till he had a fit bait or snare to catch Paul in? Now all was here the clean contrary, Paul was never in higher opposition against God; never were the doors of his heart more fastened up with iron-barres than at this time; and then, and never till then doth God convert him. That as it is with Gods Church, he never helps till all things be desperate; therefore he is called, The God that raiseth the dead,