A30242:984
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.
5. Discontents and impatiences at some things which have fallen out in the Church, hath been a great cause to make divisions, and to sow tares amongst the wheat. Marcion, because he was censured by Church-Officers for his misdemeanours, he cried out, [Greek or Hebrew], I will throw fire into the Church, and divide it. Thus men by way of revenge, to grieve and vex others, have taught false ways. Paul complained of such, That thought to a•de afflictions to his bonds, Phil. 1. But this will not always be under the ground.
5. Discontents and impatiencies at some things which have fallen out in the Church, hath been a great cause to make divisions, and to sow tares amongst the wheat. Marcion, because he was censured by Church-Officers for his misdemeanours, he cried out, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, I will throw fire into the Church, and divide it. Thus men by way of revenge, to grieve and vex others, have taught false wayes. Paul complained of such, That thought to a•de afflictions to his bonds, Phil. 1. But this will not alwayes be under the ground.
6. Envy and sinful emulation to the gifts and abilities of others that have been above them. This hath made men bring in strange Doctrines.1 This worm is apt to breed in the finest spirits: You see John: Disciples were soured with it: Master (say they) Him to whom thou bearest witness baptizeth, and all go after him: That this was envy appeareth by the remedy John giveth, He must increase, and I must decrease, John 3.31. Thus among the Disciples, there was often emulation, Who should be greatest amongst them. Oh this hath eaten like a Gangrene in the body of the Church, and hath made the Church to have such a deformed face, as envy it self is said to have! Pallor in ore sedet macies in corpore toto. So then, as some sharp thorny bushes have pleasant blossoms on them; so many specious and fair opinions, that are set out with much glory, may yet grow upon such thorny and corrupt causes