A30242:939
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.
3. They are unprofitable for any sound comfort and joy. That we through the comfort of the Scriptures might have hope, Rom. 15.4. The truths of Christ will only be owned by him, and to such as suffer for it, he administers much consolation and comfort: As the Martyrs felt unspeakable joy and assurance. It cannot be denied but Heretics and erroneous persons may find much sensible comfort in their false way. Therefore no man must conclude the truth of a Doctrine from comfort, but he must try his comfort by his Doctrine; yet even that comfort men have in a false way, is not like the true joy, God• truth brings. To give differences between them is not here my purpose, no more than between the patience of a true Martyr, and the quietness of an Heretic in their sufferings.
3. They are unprofitable for any sound comfort and joy. That we through the comfort of the Scriptures might have hope, Rom. 15.4. The truths of Christ will only be owned by him, and to such as suffer for it, he administers much consolation and comfort: As the Martyrs felt unspeakable joy and assurance. It cannot be denied but Heretiques and erroneous persons may find much sensible comfort in their false way. Th•refore no man must conclude the truth of a Doctrine from comfort, but he must try his comfort by his Doctrine; yet even that comfo•t men have in a false way, is not like the true joy, God• truth brings. To give differences between them is not here my purpose, no more than between the patience of a true Martyr, and the quietnesse of an Heretique in their sufferings.
4. They are not profitable for duration or continuance. This straw will not keep off the rain of Gods tempests. Hence God will purge his people from this dross. The Disciples were many times in great errors, but Christ did recover them: And truly such is the goodness of God to his elect people, that they shall never totally and finally be deceived; you see here, they shall be saved by fire, and the fire will try it. God will by some severe affliction, or other means bring his people back again. The sheep that wandered will come home again, acknowledging their folly, and that they did only lose their wool in the briars of needless disputes.