A30242:829
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, From God himself, his glory and honour is greatly concerned herein. For when we come in his Name, and pretend his Word, and indeed it is our own; What is this but an high offence to God? God doth severely threaten those Prophets that broached their own thoughts, and preached the lies of their own imaginations, yet said, Thus saith the Lord. It's no dallying matter; it's a matter wherein much prayer, much humility, and many graces are to be exercised, lest we should highly dishonour God. Oh if this were written in mens hearts, they would be more tender and fearful in delivering their opinions, in saying, This is the sense, or that is the sense. For when thou sayest, This is the meaning of the holy Ghost, This is the truth of God, it behoveth thee again and again to consider, lest thou put thy lie, thy falsehood, thy sinful imagination on God.
First, From God himself, his glory and honour is greatly concerned herein. For when we come in his Name, and pretend his Word, and indeed it is our own; What is this but an high offence to God? God doth severely threaten those Prophets that broached their own thoughts, and preached the lies of their own imaginations, yet said, Thus saith the Lord. It's no dallying matter; it's a matter wherein much prayer, much humility, and many graces are to be exercised, lest we should highly dishonour God. Oh if this were written in mens hearts, they would be more tender and fearfull in delivering their opinions, in saying, This is the sense, or that is the sense. For when thou sayest, This is the meaning of the holy Ghost, This is the truth of God, it behoveth thee again and again to consider, lest thou put thy lie, thy falshood, thy sinfull imagination on God.
Secondly, On Gods part, we are to take heed, Because he hath so severely threatened all those that add or detract to his Word. Any that shall alter these foundations, or change these bounds. If it be so heinous a matter among men to remove a land-mark, and to confound such bounds, how much more here? That command, not to add or take away, is set home with a terrible threatening, Revel. 22.18. If any shall add, God shall add unto him the plagues that are in this book. Oh see then, what thou deliverest out of Scripture, as Gods word, for the judgments of God are threatened to such as offend herein! And