A30242:453
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.
If you consider all the Countries and Kingdoms, wheresoever the Gospel hath taken effect since Christs time, you shall find that they were thrones of Satan, places where Idolatry reigned. They were like those desolate places the Prophet speaks of, where the Satyr and screech-Owl, even all black and Heathenish confusion did exalt it self. So that where God doth out of stones raise up children to Abraham, turn a Paganish, Heathenish people into a Church, there is wisdom, power and goodness no less; yea more wonderful than when he did out of that deformed confusion and chaos, make a [Greek or Hebrew], a beautiful, adorned world. Even this England, this ancient Britain, was once a place of horrible Idolatry, Paganism, no knowledge of Christ, nor his Gospel, But served dumb Idols, and walked according to the course of this world, having the Prince of darkness ruling over us, as in other places. So that the Gospel that is like the glorious Sun, and every Kingdom or Nation is like a dolesome black dungeon, yea like an hell, where Legion of Devils are, till the beams of this light do enlighten them.
If you consider all the Countreys and Kingdomes, wheresoever the Gospel hath taken effect since Christs time, you shall find that they were thrones of Satan, places where Idolatry reigned. They were like those desolate places the Prophet speaks of, where the Satyr and screech-Owl, even all black and Heathenish confusion did exalt it self. So that where God doth out of stones raise up children to Abraham, turn a Paganish, Heathenish people into a Church, there is wisdome, power and goodnesse no lesse; yea more wonderfull than when he did out of that deformed confusion and chaos, make a 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, a beautifull, adorned world. Even this England, this ancient Britain, was once a place of horrible Idolatry, Paganism, no knowledge of Christ, nor his Gospel, But served dumb Idols, and walked according to the course of this world, having the Prince of darknesse ruling over us, as in other places. So that the Gospel that is like the glorious Sunne, and every Kingdome or Nation is like a do•esome black dungeon, yea like an hell, where Legion of Devils are, till the beams of this light do enlighten them.