A30242:531
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.
Secondly, When the Apostle calls the Ministry nothing, the meaning is not, as if it were not sufficient in its kind, to work those things for which it is appointed, otherwise this would reflect upon the wisdom of God. For as in natural things, Frustra est illa potentia, quae nunquam reducitur actum. So in supernaturals also. As we say, the Sun is sufficiently able to enlighten the whole world, yet blind men would never get any good, if the Lord did not open their eyes. So it is here, The Ministry faithfully discharged, is sufficient to enlighten the minds, and convert the hearts of all that hear. No wickedness so powerful, no sin so rooted, but that is able to conquer and remove it; yet unless God mould the heart, and give understanding, they perish in their sins, and take no warning.
Secondly, When the Apostle cals the Ministry nothing, the meaning is not, as if it were not sufficient in its kind, to work those things for which it is appointed, otherwise this would reflect upon the wisdom of God. For as in natural things, Frustra est illa potentia, quae nunquam reducitur actum. So in supernaturals also. As we say, the Sunne is sufficiently able to enlighten the whole world, yet blind men would never get any good, if the Lord did not open their eyes. So it is here, The Ministry faithfully discharged, is sufficient to enlighten the minds, and convert the hearts of all that hear. No wickednesse so powerfull, no sinne so rooted, but that is able to conquer and remove it; yet unlesse God mould the heart, and give understanding, they perish in their sinnes, and take no warning.
Thirdly, When the Apostle saith, They are nothing, This is to be understood of the Ministers of the Gospel, and preaching of it, as well as the Ministers of the Law, and preaching that. For you might say, It is no wonder to hear Paul say, That the Law is a dead letter, that the ministration of the Law is killing, 2 Cor. 3.6. but to have this true also, that the Preachers of the Gospel are of themselves but dead and killing, this seemeth very hard. Now to answer this, know, That both the preaching of the Law and the Gospel, if Christ do not enliven the Word, are dead letters, or dead preaching. Hence those complaints, of Stretching out the hands in vain, and labouring in vain, are taken up in the New Testament,