A30241:2296
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
I shall not trouble you with the Conjectures of Interpreters, but pitch on that which is easily acknowledged to be very genuine and plain.
And first, Whereas Sanctification by the Truth is desired for the Apostles, because they were to be Officers in the Church, and Ministers of the Gospel: Whence Observe,
1That Truth and Holiness are requisite in the Ministers of the Gospel; Sanctify them by thy Truth; Why? because they are sent to preach the Gospel, and they have thy Authority; This is the reason why Christ though he called his Apostles immediately from their worldly calling, yet it was two years, as Chemnitius in his Harmony computeth, ere he sent them out to preach, but kept them in his Family, and under his Instruction, that so they might attain both to true Doctrine and an holy Life; This was represented Exod. 28.30. by the Urim and Thummim, which were to be on the Breastplate, Light and Perfection, sound Doctrine and Integrity of Life; Hence the Apostle in the Qualification ⟨p. 483⟩of Ministers requireth doctrinal abilities, that he be apt to teach, and can divide the Word of God aright, as also many practical Qualifications for holy and unblamable life, 1 Tim. 3.2. The Scripture compareth the Ministers of God to Stars, and that both for their light and purity, differing (as Philosophers say) from the substance of sublunary things.