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…

And then in a second respect, Gods Wisdom is seen, Because such fire-brands ¹plucked out of the fire, are fittest to kindle a fire in the hearts of others: When we shall be able to say, Lo, here is a man as profane, as bitter and cruel a scoffer, and enemy of all godliness, as ever you were: He was one of your company; you took wicked counsel together, you were often drunk or unclean together; and now behold what a change is made upon him? He prayeth, he humbleth himself, he crieth out of his former conversation; if he had the whole world given him, he would not be such an one as once! Certainly, when God doth thus, it doth wonderfully shame and confound all wicked men. What a conviction was this to all other Pharisees, when it could be said, Behold here Paul a Pharisee, one of your own Sect, as desperately cruel and malicious, as any of you! Oh, but behold how he is changed, he builds up that way he once destroyed! Now he counts all those things you dote on so much, but dung and dross in comparison of the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

And then in a second respect, Gods Wisdome is seen, Because such fire-brands ¹pluckt out of the fire, are fittest to kindle a fire in the hearts of others: When we shall be able to say, Lo, here is a man as prophane, as bitter and cruel a scoffer, and enemy of all godliness, as ever you were: He was one of your company; you took wicked counsel together, you were often drunk or unclean together; and now behold what a change is made upon him? He prayeth, he humbleth himself, he cryeth out of his former conversation; if he had the whole world given him, he would not be such an one as once! Certainly, when God doth thus, it doth wonderfully shame and confound all wicked men. What a conviction was this to all other Pharisees, when it could be said, Behold here Paul a Pharisee, one of your own Sect, as desperately cruel and malicious, as any of you! Oh, but behold how he is changed, he builds up that way he once destroyed! Now he counts all those things you dote on so much, but dung and dross in comparison of the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

1. 12. Because such fire-brands plucked out of the fire, are the fittest to enkindle a fire in the hearts of others.