A34165:1202
A Complete collection of farewell sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl…A Compleat collection of farewel sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl…
A Complete collection of farewell sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl ... [et al.] ; together with Mr. Ash his funeral sermon, Mr. Nalton's funeral sermon, Mr. Lye's rehearsal ... with their several prayers.A Compleat collection of farewel sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl ... [et al.] ; together with Mr. Ash his funeral sermon, Mr. Nalton's funeral sermon, Mr. Lye's rehearsal ... with their several prayers.
London : s.n., 1663
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Lastly, By way of Improvement: Take notice of the ways of God, as different from mans; God puts excellent Treasure into Earthen Vessels: we keep treasure in Strong Holds, in the strongest Repositories. Gods ways are not as our ways, he goes another way than we do; he makes use of the poorest, meanest, and most frail Creatures sometimes; he lays aside many times men of greater abilities, parts, and quality, and makes use of weaker to do this great work. Chrysostom makes an Expostulation, If it be excellent Treasure, why in Earthen Vessels? therefore it is a Vessel of Earth, because an excellent Treasure. Thus Gods ways are unsearchable; this is the Improvement.
Lastly, By way of Improvement: Take notice of the wayes of God, as different from mans; God puts excellent Treasure into Earthen Vessels: we keep treasure in Strong Holds, in the strongest Repositories. Gods wayes are not as our wayes, he goes another way than we do; he makes use of the poorest, meanest, and most frail Creatures sometimes; he layes aside many times men of greater abilities, parts, and quality, and makes use of weaker to do this great work. Chrysostome makes an Expostulation, If it be excellent Treasure, why in Earthen Vessels? therefore it is a Vessel of Earth, because an excellent Treasure. Thus Gods wayes are unsearchable; this is the Improvement.
Now besides this interpretation given of it, there is another that will not be impertinent. Some understand by Earthen Vessels, the Expressions, Words, and Phrases of the Ministry, through which the Doctrines and Truths of the Gospel are conveyed; this is agreeable to what went before: Some false Teachers in Corinth pleased themselves with eloquent and enticing words of worldly Wisdom, and so endeavoured to render Pauls preaching despicable, in regard of the plainness of it: Therefore (saith the Apostle) we have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels, i. e. familiar conveyances, that so we may easily understand it.