A30242:582
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.
1. It's profitable working, when the persons are first made the Lords, when they are justified and sanctified. Make the tree good, and then the fruit will be good. The person must be first sanctified, ere any work can be acceptable: He is an unclean person till then, and all things are unclean; To the defiled all things become defiled, Tit. 1.15. Oh that people would attend to this! They only look to the good matter of the work; they pray, they give alms, they live soberly, but they have no knowledge about the root thereof. Are their persons justified, their natures sanctified, without which no work of God can be done acceptably.
2. A Reward is due to that work only, which is done for Gods sake, out of love to him. The Pharisees praying, and other acts of Religion, have a terrible verdict by Christ upon them, Verily I say unto you, they have their reward, Mat. 6.2. O words of terror and horror! They did all those acts to be seen of men, to be applauded by men, and they have their reward, this is all they shall have; our Saviour useth that affirmation, Verily I say unto you, when he speaks earnestly, and would have men diligently mind what he saith, Verily they have their reward. Oh what will the praise and glory of men avail thee, when thou and thy duties shall be cast away! Know then this worm will devour thy gourd, vain glory, car•al ends and designs upon Gods works, will make all to be thrown away. When the Devil cannot keep thee in the works of darkness and of wickedness, that thou wilt do them; then he endeavours to mar thy good works, by throwing some dead fly in this box of ointment, vain-glory, and self-advantage.
2. A Reward is due to that work only, which is done for Gods sake, out of love to him. The Pharisees praying, and other acts of Religion, have a terrible verdict by Christ upon them, Verily I say unto you, they have their reward,