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

Use 2. Of Exhortation to you the people. Hath the Ministry been useful to bring you effectually to Christ himself? This is that Paul desired. You may hear much, you may pray much, you may be much affected with the matter preached, and yet all this while not close with Christ; to receive him as a Saviour, and to obey him as a Lord. A woman may have many Letters and Tokens of love from him whom she loveth, and be much affected to him, yet not married to him, nor enjoy him as her Husband: And so, thou mayest have some affections and good desires, but thou art not yet united to Christ. The work of the Ministry is not done, till we can leave you in the arms of Christ: Till we have prepared the way for Christ to lodge in your fouls.

Ʋse 2. Of Exhortation to you the people. Hath the Ministry been usefull to bring you effectually to Christ himself? This is that Paul desired. You may hear much, you may pray much, you may be much affected with the matter preached, and yet all this while not close with Christ; to receive him as a Saviour, and to obey him as a Lord. A woman may have many Letters and Tokens of love from him whom she loveth, and be much affected to him, yet not married to him, nor enjoy him as her Husband: And so, thou maist have some affections and good desires, but thou art not yet united to Christ. The work of the Ministry is not done, till we can leave you in the arms of Christ: Till we have prepared the way for Christ to lodg in your fouls.

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollo, but Ministers by whom ye believed?

The former part of this Text hath been considered, viz. Paul's modesty and sincerity in gaining people to Christ, and not to himself. Now let's consider in what order, or rank of Causes the Apostle puts the Officers of the Church; and that is, in the Instrumental Causes. Wherein you may Observe, the Effect, viz. Faith. 2. The Manner of working it, it is by Ministry. They are not principal Agents. They are Ministers by whom you believed. The Greek word is, [Greek or Hebrew], Deacons: And this is sometimes used for a special Office in the Church, for those who had the care of the poor. Thus the Elder and the Deacon, are sometimes used for the settled Officers in the Church: but in this place and many others, the word is used largely for any Ministry or service: And so the Apostles, and Elders, and Pastors, may be called Deacons in this large sense: viz. Such who by their labours and pains, serve the Church and its good. Observe, that this word [Greek or Hebrew], as almost all the rest of the Greek words that denote the duty and quality of Church-Officers, signify no dignity or honour, but care, diligence, and all solicitude. Thus the most glorious creatures have Names, signifying their Ministry and service. The Hebrew word for the Sun, comes from a root that signifieth to serve; as also, for an Angel to be sent by way of ministration. So the simple word [Greek or Hebrew], Hesychius makes to signify, to make haste, to run to the marks end; also as a man by this much striving stirreth up dust ([Greek or Hebrew] is dust) like that of Virgil: Pulverulenta fugâ Rutuli dant signa per agros.