A30242:487
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.
1First, God only can give the increase, because he only hath a sovereignty and power over the heart. Others may speak to the ear, propound Arguments to persuade; but to change the heart, to persuade the heart indeed, that God only ⟨p. 87⟩can who made the heart. Thus Noah prayeth or prophesieth, God persuade Shem to dwell in the tents of Japheth; God persuade him, or God will persuade him, we translate it enlarge; as if he should say, all the men of the world, all Arguments cannot, till God overpower his heart, Gen. 9.27. So Ezek. 36.36. I will take away the heart of stone, and give an heart of flesh. No Potentate, no Emperor, can say, I will give a man another heart. He may force the body, but not change the heart. Hence it is, that the Scripture attributes all the work of grace; to Believe, to Repent, only to God. Oh then! lift up your hearts on high, in every Sermon! Look up to those Hills to Heaven, from whence comes Conversion! When the Apostles wrought Miracles, they looked up to God, and the people, they glorified God; They were convinced none could do such things, but God. And so, we Ministers are to look up to God, and you people, that God may be glorified.
1First, God only can give the encrease, because he only hath a soveraignty and power over the heart. Others may speak to the ear, propound Arguments to perswade; but to change the heart, to perswade the heart indeed, that God only ⟨p. 87⟩can who made the heart. Thus Noah prayeth or prophesieth, God perswade Shem to dwell in the tents of Japhet; God perswade him, or God will perswade him, we translate it enlarge; as if he should say, all the men of the world, all Arguments cannot, till God overpower his heart, Gen. 9.27. So Ezek. 36.36. I will take away the heart of stone, and give an heart of flesh. No Potentate, no Emperour, can say, I will give a man another heart. He may force the body, but not change the heart. Hence it is, that the Scripture atttributes all the work of grace; to Believe, to Repent, only to God. Oh then! lift up your hearts on high, in every Sermon! Look up to those Hils to Heaven, from whence comes Conversion! When the Apostles wrought Miracles, they looked up to God, and the people, they glorified God; They were convinced none could do such things, but God. And so, we Ministers are to look up to God, and you people, that God may be glorified.