The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

Use 3. If the relics of corruption be thus to be bewailed, as an heavy burden, how then should they howl and roar out, that are under the whole power of sin? That are not comparatively, but absolutely carnal: That have not weak grace, but no grace. Sin is not only present with them, but they with willingness and delight subject themselves thereunto. If he speaks of strifes and factions, when you do these things, Are ye not carnal? How much rather of Revelling, Wantonness, beastly lusts, cursed oaths; Are ye not carnal? Oh, remember all this is in a mortal body, here to day, to morrow it may be in Hell.

Ʋse 3. If the reliques of corruption be thus to be bewailed, as an heavy burden, how then should they howl and roar out, that are under the whole power of sinne? That are not comparatively, but absolutely carnal: That have not weak grace, but no grace. Sinne is not only present with them, but they with willingness and delight subject themselves thereunto. If he speaks of strifes and factions, when you do these things, Are ye not carnall? How much rather of Revelling, Wantonness, beastly lusts, cursed oathes; Are ye not carnall? Oh, remember all this is in a mortal body, here to day, to morrow it may be in Hell.

For whereas there is among you Envying, Strife, and Divisions, are ye not Carnal?

The Apostle generally declared the ground of their Indisposition, and Incapacity of heavenly, sublime Truths. Now he enumerates the Particulars, whereof Envy stands in the front. Some make a Gradation; Envy breeds strife, and strife breeds Divisions, or Factions. If we regard the general state of the Church in all Ages, especially in our days; there is no Subject more necessary to treat upon, then these Distempers: Especially to show the Sinfulness and Cures of them. The being divided into so many crumbs, and atoms, that unless Democritus his Opinion should prove true, All things are composed of atoms: Or rather, unless God show his power, to make dry bones, that lie here one, and there another, as in Ezekiel's Vision, to come every one to his proper place, and have flesh and life bestowed on them; I know not how we can escape total destruction. It being such a known Maxim of state, which Christ himself hath confirmed: A Kingdom divided against it self, cannot stand. And so, Churches against Churches, godly man against godly man, they cannot stand Although I say this be necessary to the public, (yet because I know not how necessary for this particular Auditory, though I shall not pass by these Particulars) yet I shall not handle them to the exactness of the Subject and latitude thereof.