A30242:1067
The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…
The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole third chapter of the first Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians to which is annexed The godly and the natural mans choice, upon Psal. 4, vers. 6, 7, 8 / by Anthony Burgess ...The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole third chapter of the first Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians to which is annexed The godly and the natural mans choice, upon Psal. 4, vers. 6, 7, 8 / by Anthony Burgesse ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for T.U., 1659
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.
1Now to this Doctrine, there is an obvious and palpable Objection: How can we say, that the true and Orthodox building in Christs Church, will abide all storms? Do we not read frequently, that in the Church truth hath been condemned, error owned? All those Martyrs, that lost their lives for the truths of God, were they not condemned as heretics? Hath not error always found more upholders then the truth? Was not the Lord Christ condemned, and that by a Council of the Priests and Elders of Jerusalem? Was not the whole world turned Arian? And in our forefathers days, was not the Egyptian darkness of Popery, covering the whole world? Was not the Mass, Transubstantiation and Image worship, set up as the principal truths of God? And are there not men that write, the time will come, when the Word, Trinity, Co-essential, or Consubstantial, shall be as much hated as Mass and Transubstantiation?
1Now to this Doctrine, there is an obvious and palpable Objection: How can we say, that the true and Orthodox building in Christs Church, will abide all stormes? Do we not read frequently, that in the Church truth hath been condemned, errour owned? All those Martyrs, that lost their lives for the truths of God, were they not condemned as heretiques? Hath not errour alwaies found more upholders then the truth? Was not the Lord Christ condemned, and that by a Council of the Priests and Elders of Jerusalem? Was not the whole world turned Arrian? And in our forefathers daies, was not the Aegyptian darknesse of Popery, covering the whole world? Was not the Masse, Transubstantiation and Image worship, set up as the principal truths of God? And are there not men that write, the time will come, when the Word, Trinity, Co-essential, or Consubstantial, shall be as much hated as Masse and Transubstantiation?
- 1Object.
To this Objection, we Answer: That those matters of fact cannot be denied, and yet the Doctrine is true; for, those oppressions and overwhelmings of the truth, were but for a while. The truth of God did abide the fire, even then, and afterwards prevailed more then ever. The Sun for a while, may be in an Eclipse, and hidden by black clouds, but at last it's light doth prevail. We do not say, that in every place, and at every time, truth always is extolled, and error condemned, but in time it will be. It's with the truths of Christ, as it was with Christ himself; he seemed to be overcome by his adversaries, he was dead and buried, yet he had a glorious Resurrection and Ascension. So that as God would not suffer his holy one to see corruption, so neither will he let his holy Truths. But as in Christ, his bones (by Gods providence) were not to be broken, the seat of strength, so neither can the bones of Truth be. The Apostle saith, The Day shall declare it; that is, the time appointed by God.