A30242:1228
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.
Now to answer this,1 even those natural abilities and humane endowments that men obtain by study, are a gift of God; they are a blessing which we see God giveth to some, and not to other: It's Gods mercy thou art not a natural fool, ⟨p. 210⟩a mad man; but when thou hast more understanding, and better intellectual abilities than other, thou hast a greater gift from God than others. Hence in our very ordinary phrase, we say, such an one hath an excellent gift in his memory, in his elocution, &c. And the Scripture is clear, James 1.17. Every good and perfect gift cometh from the Father of lights, which is to be understood universally both of naturals and supernaturals; And what hast thou, thou hast not received? 1 Cor. 4. Hence in the Parable, all abilities, whether gracious or natural are called Talents, and are given by one Master. That is the first thing; even those excellent abilities which the greatest Heretics and enemies to the Christian Religion had, were of God, though the sinful use of them came from the Devil, and their own corrupt hearts; They were talents of gold, and they made Idols of them.
Now to answer this,1 even those natural abilities and humane indowments that men obtain by study, are a gift of God; they are a blessing which we see God giveth to some, and not to other: It's Gods mercy thou art not a natural fool, ⟨p. 210⟩a mad man; but when thou hast more understanding, and better intellectual abilities than other, thou hast a greater gift from God than others. Hence in our very ordinary phrase, we say, such an one hath an excellent gift in his memory, in his elocution, &c. And the Scripture is clear, James 1.17. Every good and perfect gift cometh from the Father of lights, which is to be understood universally both of naturals and supernaturals; And what hast thou, thou hast not received?