A30242:375
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.
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, Joh. 3.29. which is the duty of every Minister; the friend of the Bridegroom, which standeth and heareth, rejoiceth greatly because of the Bridegrooms voice. It's an allusion to the custom in those days; the Bridegroom he had his friend and spokesman to bring him into the Brides presence, and he heard their conference; if there were a willing agreement between them concluded, then the friend rejoiced greatly. Thus it was with John, and also with every Minister: We are Christs spokesmen, we woo you, we entreat you, we bring you and Christ together every Sabbath day. Now if any soul will receive him, and be married to him, forsaking his former lusts, and all by-past sins, then is the friend of the Bridegrooms joy greatly fulfilled; it would therefore be horrible unfaithfulness in us, if we should do as Sampson's friend did to him, who got Sampson's wife for himself.
They preach not that their gifts and abilities may be exalted, but that the people might be brought out of their sinnes 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 chast 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 aime at. Thus John Baptist calls himself the friend of the Bridegroom,