A30242:841
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. Prayer is not enough, There must be a holy and godly life. Thou wilt never understand Pauls sense, if thou hast not Pauls spirit, nor Davids Psalms, if there be not such a spirit in thee, as was in David. He that doth my will, shall know whether the Doctrine be of God, or no, John 7.17.
3. Neglect not those external means which are requisite to understand the sense of the author, as knowledge of the tongues, observation of the peculiar phrases. For whereas the matter is sometimes wholly new, and supernatural; so the words are not always used in the same sense, as humane Authors do. Comparing also the Context, is very useful, and parallel places, consulting also with the gifts and abilities of others. When Philip asked the Ethiopian, Understandest thou what thou readest? How can I (said he) unless I have a guide? Act. 8.31.
3. Neglect not those external means which are requisite to understand the sense of the author, as knowledge of the tongues, observation of the peculiar phrases. For whereas the matter is sometimes wholly new, and supernatural; so the words are not alwayes used in the same sense, as humane Authours do. Comparing also the Context, is very usefull, and parallel places, consulting also with the gifts and abilities of others. When Philip asked the Ethiopian, Ʋnderstandest thou what thou readest? How can I (said he) unless I have a guide? Act. 8.31.
Use of Admonition, to all who take upon them to give the sense and meaning of the word of God; let this Text be as a pillar of salt to season thee; it's a dangerous thing to wrest Scripture: Thou that puttest it upon the rack, God will put thy conscience upon the rack. Why dost thou so proudly, so arrogantly, so boldly meddle in this matter? The people of God are not to be kept in ignorance, that is a Popish principle; but yet they must learn with humility and self-denial, with the use of all means necessary. He must not be his own master, he that is so, ath a fool to his scholar, say the Rabbins, and yet this must not be so interpreted, but that he who brings truth may resist the whole world, as one Paphnutius did an whole Council.