A30242:656
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.
First, Ye are Gods Husbandry. Take notice, that he doth not here speak, of the invisible and mystical Church of Christ, but as they were a visible Church at Corinth; As there was a visible company of men, openly and publicly professing the Faith of Christ, and joining together in an external Communion in holy Ordinances. Here is much in this, for it showeth how all our particular Congregations should be; what manner of Societies, even such as are Gods Husbandry, Gods Tillage, Building and House. This is the great truth that people should hearken after, that they walk worthy of such glorious Titles and Relations.
First, Ye are Gods Husbandry. Take notice, that he doth not here speak, of the invisible and mystical Church of Christ, but as they were a visible Church at Corinth; As there was a visible company of men, openly and publiquely professing the Faith of Christ, and joyning together in an external Communion in holy Ordinances. Here is much in this, for it sheweth how all our particular Congregations should be; what manner of Societies, even such as are Gods Husbandry, Gods Tillage, Building and House. This is the great truth that people should hearken after, that they walk worthy of such glorious Titles and Relations.
This Relation of being Gods Husbandry, implieth something on his part, 1and many things on ours. On his part:
- 1What to be Gods Husbandry implies. 1. On Gods part.
First, That he finds all people of themselves like a barren wilderness, and fruitless desert. The Curse upon the ground, is fulfilled in them, to bring forth nothing but briers and thorns. All the things of grace and godliness, are not only above our natures, but contrary to them: Even as if a man should see a piece of ground like the very rocks, that no Husbandry could ever do any good on it: The same are all people, when the Word comes at first to them. In other expressions it's called raising up Children to Abraham out of stones. And as wild beasts delight to be in the wilderness, that is their habitation: Thus are all men till converted by the Word, so many wild beasts carried away with brutish lusts, in the wilderness of the world; which makes the Scripture compare them so often to such things. Oh then, bewail the roughness and obstinacy in thy heart to what is godly.