A30242:1220
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.
The former way the Church of Corinth was admirable, you may read 1 Cor, 14. & alibi, of the plenty of gifts, and divers operations amongst them; so that they seemed herein to excel all other Churches, yet in respect of the sanctifying graces, they seemed to be very defective; for the Apostle calls them babes, and complaineth he could not speak unto them, as unto spiritual, so that this later way of Gods Spirit (as formerly you heard) dwelling in us, is most comfortable, and most to be regarded, though the other be more admired. The former did especially belong to the Church in its first plantation. Hence Acts 2. we read of the accomplishment of that glorious Prophecy, Joel 2. To pour out his Spirit, &c. but now these miraculous operations are ceased.
The former way the Church of Corinth was admirable, you may reade 1 Cor, 14. & alibi, of the plenty of gifts, and divers operations amongst them; so that they seemed herein to excell all other Churches, yet in respect of the sanctifying graces, they seemed to be very defective; for the Apostle cals them babes, and complaineth he could not speak unto them, as unto spiritual, so that this later way of Gods Spirit (as formerly you heard) dwelling in us, is most comfortable, and most to be regarded, though the other be more admired. The former did especially belong to the Church in its first plantation. Hence Acts 2. we reade of the accomplishment of that glorious Prophecy, Joel 2. To pour out his Spirit, &c. but now these miraculous operations are ceased.
Use of Instruction. What Congregations, and what manner of persons we ought to be. To be mere men cometh far short of being spiritual men; we ought to be above sense, and all humane principles. Take the most refined men for morality and civility, the choicest for all humane abilities, yet without the Spirit of God, they are no more than Adams body, till life was breathed into him, no more than those bones in Ezekiel, till the Spirit of God gathered them together. Oh that our Congregations consisted of spiritual men! Paul complained, He could not preach to them, but as carnal. The Spirit of God would lift thee up to other affections, other desires. As the Spirit took some mens bodies, and lifted them up into the air; so would it do to the souls of men; they had the Spirit of God, who said, Our conversation is in Heaven. They had the Spirit of God, that did look for the coming of Christ: They had the Spirit of God, who had prayed with groans unutterable, and who had joy unspeakable: But oh we poor worms, and not spiritual men, cold clods of earth, destitute of Gods Spirit!