A30242:525
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.
2. The Predicate, Is not any thing. Any thing here, as in other places, signifieth no great thing; it's not able to do those things which the credulous Disciples are many times apt to believe: And therefore when he saith, They are nothing, it is to be understood comparatively or relatively. It is not any thing without God. The Ministers of God are like Trumpets, they make no sound, if breath be not breathed into them. They are like Ezekiels wheels, they move not, unless the Spirit move them. They are like Elisha's servant, whose presence doth no good, except Elisha his spirit be there also. Now although this verse and the former seem to contain no new matter, yet as we must not think the holy Ghost hath vain repetitions or battalogies; so neither will the enlarging of the same matter prove a needless repetition to you, but I shall still amplify it in new considerations. Observe,
2. The Predicate, Is not any thing. Any thing here, as in other places, signifieth no great thing; it's not able to do those things which the credulous Disciples are many times apt to believe: And therefore when he saith, They are nothing, it is to be understood comparatively or relatively. It is not any thing without God. The Ministers of God are like Trumpets, they make no sound, if breath be not breathed into them. They are like Ezekiels wheels, they move not, unlesse the Spirit move them. They are like Elisha's servant, whose presence doth no good, except Elisha his spirit be there also. Now although this verse and the former seem to contain no new matter, yet as we must not think the holy Ghost hath vain repetitions or battalogies; so neither will the enlarging of the same matter prove a needlesse repetition to you, but I shall still amplifie it in new considerations. Observe,
1That the best and most able Ministry is nothing without Gods power giving the increase.
- 1Observa.