A30242:938
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. The truths of Christ are profitable to sanctification and holiness. Sanctify them by thy truth, John 17. By the Word we come to take heed of sin, Psal. 19. to order our lives; whereas error that is wholly instrumental to wickedness and impiety: A corrupt mind, and a corrupt life go together: Faith and a good conscience are kept together, and lost together. When a man falls off from the truth, he will also fall off from that power of godliness, and degree of holiness •e once seemed to have. Truth is the eye, and if the eye be dark, the whole body will be dark. Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, 2 Pet. 3.18 these go together. If therefore thou wouldst keep ⟨p. 164⟩up the whole way of godliness; all that accurateness and strictness thou hast been exercised in; take heed of erroneous Doctrines, they loosen the reins, they corrupt good manners: Though some Heretics have been of a seeming religious life, 1yet even they were but as glistering Serpents, full of inward poison, for all their fair out-side, viz. of inward pride and hypocrisy. And indeed it is commonly Gods judgement to punish the abuse of knowledge with an ungodly life. The Heathens did not glorify God according to their knowledge; and therefore God gave them up to strong delusions and vil• affections, Rom. 1. It's good to have the heart established with grace, and not with meats, Heb. 13 9. Looseness of opinions is apt to beget looseness of l•fe, as ill distillations from the head breed the consumption of the vitals.
2. The truths of Christ are profitable to sanctification and holinesse. Sanctifie them by thy truth,