Speculum theologiæ in Christo, or, A view of some divine truths which are either…

The Divine Power will yet more appear, if we look upon the instruments in this Work. In making the World there were none at all, no Levers or Engines to rear up the great Fabric. An Almighty word absolved it: in converting it instruments were used; but such, that by the no-proportion between them and the great effect, it might appear that the Power was of God only. He sent not the glorious Angels to Preach up a crucified Christ, but Men. The treasure was in Earthen-vessels, in poor frail Mortals, who carried about bodies of Clay, That the excellency of the power might be of God, 2 Cor. 4.7; that it might be clearly seen, that the great Work was Gods. Among men he sent not the Anshe Shem, Persons of Renown for Learning or Wisdom, but mean illiterate men. Hence the Apostle saith, God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and the weak things of the world to confound the mighty, 1 Cor. 1.27, that the Divine Power might appear in the Work. These mean men preached, not with excellency of speech or wisdom, 1 Cor. 2.1, with the charms of Eloquence, or the pomp of humane Wisdom; but with plain words: their Preaching was looked upon as foolishness. That salvation should be by a crucified Christ seemed foolish; that it should be communicated by Preaching,¹ seemed more foolish; that it should be done by Preaching in a low, simple, plain manner, seemed most foolish of all. Yet in this way it was that Christ would ride conquering, and to conquer the World to himself. The great success of their ⟨p. 125⟩Preaching, was a signal proof that God was with them of a truth. At Peters first Sermon three thousand souls were converted unto God, Act. 2.41. and at his second they were increased to five thousand, Act. 4.4. multitudes of Believers came in to Christianity. In a little time the Gospel was propagated over a great part of the World; one Paul spread it from Jerusalem to Illyricum: And what did all the rest of the Apostles, who carried about this Evangelical light, do? What did the seventy Disciples do, who, as Ecclesiastical Writers say, had their several Provinces to Preach the Gospel in? The word did then run, and was glorified; it passed through many Countries with a Divine swiftness and success; at the sound of the Gospel the World was spiritually turned upside down, and of Pagan became Christian.