A30242:482
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.
God that at first said to the earth, which had no more natural power of it self, then a stick or piece of wood, Increase and bring forth fruit; doth also speak to such exhortations, instructions, to convince and convert, when there is no inward strength in them; and therefore howsoever the preaching of the Word be compared often to rain that falls on the ground, and makes the grass to grow; yet there is this difference: The rain works by a natural power, as a natural cause; but the Word of God only as an instituted and appointed cause by him. Did it work naturally, all that hear would be converted, every Sermon would work like those of the Apostles, that brought home so many.
God that at first said to the earth, which had no more natural power of it self, then a stick or peice of wood, Increase and bring forth fruit; doth also speak to such exhortations, instructions, to convince and convert, when there is no inward strength in them; and therefore howsoever the preaching of the Word be compared often to rain that falls on the ground, and makes the grass to grow; yet there is this difference: The rain workes by a natural power, as a natural cause; but the Word of God only as an instituted and appointed cause by him. Did it work naturally, all that hear would be converted, every Sermon would work like those of the Apostles, that brought home so many.
To open this. Consider
First,1 That though God only gives the increase, yet it is only in and through the Ministry. We must not make such cavils: What use is there of Preaching? What need of the Ministry? Men will be as profane, and as ungodly as ever, till God change the heart; for you may as well urge, What needs the Husbandman plough, or sow, or prepare the ground, it's God only that blesseth it? No, God hath instituted means, to which he hath bound us; and those that will not hear Paul planting, or Apollo watering, may justly expect God will give no increase: Therefore the Apostle foresaw that great evil, of forsaking the Assemblies, the Ordinances, and bids them take heed, as the forerunner of Apostasy,