A30242:41
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.
Secondly, As those sublime mysteries cannot be often preached on, (though sometimes we must, because we are debtors to the wise, as well as the foolish, and there are spiritual as well as carnal in our Congregations) so likewise, That growth in knowledge, and increase more and more in heavenly light and knowledge, cannot be pressed where gross ignorance is. You shall see this much pressed in Scripture, not to rest in foundations, to grow in knowledge: Yea one main end of the Ministry, is to carry us unto a full stature in Christ, Ephes. 4 13. Now (alas) how can our Ministry be for growth to such, who are not so much as babes, who are not yet begotten anew by the Word? Can we expect any increase or fruit, when men are not so much as plants planted by God? Many Congregations being like Golgotha, places not of dead skulls, but of dead hearts, Oh how short do our people come of the primitive Christians! These very Corinthians, see how Paul commends them, 1 Cor. 1.5, 7. Ye are enriched in all utterance and knowledge, and yet he finds faults with them. Alas, the Ministers of God have far higher and larger degrees of knowledge and grace to press you to, if once the foundation were laid.
Secondly, As those sublime mysteries cannot be often preached on, (though sometimes we must, because we are debtors to the wise, as well as the foolish, and there are spiritual as well as carnal in our Congregations) so likewise, That growth in knowledge, and increase more and more in heavenly light and knowledge, cannot be pressed where grosse ignorance is. You shall see this much pressed in Scripture, not to rest in foundations, to grow in knowledge: Yea one main end of the Ministry, is to carry us unto a full stature in Christ, Ephes. 4 13. Now (alas) how can our Ministry be for growth to such, who are not so much as babes, who are not yet begotten anew by the Word? Can we expect any increase or fruit, when men are not so much as plants planted by God? Many Congregations being like Golgotha, places not of dead skuls, but of dead hearts, Oh how short do our people come of the primitive Christians! These very Corinthians, see how Paul commends them, 1 Cor. 1.5, 7. Ye are inriched in all utterance and knowledge, and yet he finds faults with them. Alas, the Ministers of God have farre higher and larger degrees of knowledge and grace to press you to, if once the foundation were laid.