A30242:373
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.
Lastly, Consider the manner of Paul's expression, Who is Paul? and who is Apollo? This Rhetorical interrogation is spoken to take them off from instruments, and to look up to Christ. Now in this observe the modesty and godly uprightness of Paul, though he himself be one of the men that is thus admired, yet he takes them off from himself, as well as others; he doth not take advantage of them by this their praise, and admiration of him. Observe
That faithful Ministers seek not to win or gain a people to themselves;1 but to Christ.
That faithfull Ministers seek not to win or gain a people to themselves;1 but to Christ.
- 1The end of faithful Ministers is not to win people to themselves, but to Christ.The end of faithfull Ministers is not to win people to themselves, but to Christ.
They preach not that their gifts and abilities may be exalted, but that the people might be brought out of their sins to Christ. Admire their preaching, praise their Doctrine never so much; yet if thou art in thy lusts still, if thy life be not reformed from thy impieties, they have no true joy concerning thee. See how excellently Paul expresseth this, 2 Cor. 11.2. I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you a chaste Virgin to Christ. He doth not espouse the people to himself, but to Christ; he wooeth and entreateth them for Christ: it is not your good to us, but your obedience unto Christ, that we aim at. Thus John Baptist calls himself the friend of the Bridegroom,