A30242:432
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.
To open this Doctrine, you may consider, That the Gifts of God to the Church, 1are (as to our purpose) of two sorts.
- 11. The Office it self is a Gift to the Church.
Sometimes the very Office and Function it self is called a Gift. To be an Apostle; to be a Pastor; to be a Teacher; is a Gift. Thus Ephes. 3. Yea, ⟨p. 75⟩Christs Ascension. He gave Gifts to men. As Kings at their Coronations distribute large and plentiful gifts. And what are these Gifts? Apostles, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. Thus the very Office is a Gift, and that a great one too: More then all temporal mercies, though the ungrateful world cannot think so. Thus, the Psalmist speaking of the Word of God, and the Ministry given to the Jews, he addeth; He hath not done so to every Nation, Psal. 147.20. Alas, for temporal mercies he had, he gave them peace, quietness, and plenty; all abundance; and filled them with good things: but this was nothing to the Ministry of the Word. And certainly, no plenty, no quietness, no abundance, is a mercy equal to the Gospel. Therefore Amos threatened the famine of the Word, as more terrible then that of Bread, Amos 8.11. But when will swine prize a Pearl, or carnal men the things that are spiritual. But then
Sometimes the very Office and Function it self is called a Gift. To be an Apostle; to be a Pastour; to be a Teacher; is a Gift. Thus Ephes. 3. Yea, ⟨p. 75⟩