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

Use of Admonition. To the children of God to prize the Ministry, and means of grace. Be you as the thirsty land, and the Ordinances, like streams of water; fruitfulness and flourishing in godliness is expressed for this end. We preach, and you are to hear: Let the things that are dying be strengthened: Let thy decaying love be revived. Oh how will formality and deadness trouble thee at thy last hour; the barrenness of thy life will be terrible to thee.

Ʋse of Admonition. To the children of God to prize the Ministery, and means of grace. Be you as the thirsty land, and the Ordinances, like streames of water; fruitfulness and flourishing in godliness is expressed for this end. We preach, and you are to hear: Let the things that are dying be strengthened: Let thy decaying love be revived. Oh how will formality and deadness trouble thee at thy last hour; the barrenness of thy life will be terrible to thee.

But God gave the increase.

But God gave the encrease.

The Apostle (as you heard) doth excellently join these two things togeher, which the world is so apt to sever, The Ministry, and Gods efficacy thereby: We may not rest upon the Ministry, so as not to depend on Gods efficacy; we may not expect Gods efficacy, but in the Ministry. Here may be a sweet subordination, mans corruption makes the opposition; so that this Text, as it doth divide the whole Ministerial employment in two parts, planting and watering, so it attributeth the chiefest and noblest of all to God, without whom the other abilities are in vain: The fat in the offerings was to be given to God, and God gives the fat to us in spiritual services; the soul and life of all is expressed in this word [Greek or Hebrew], it is one word in the Greek, but our English Translators, and so the Latin