A60194:1137
A learned commentary or exposition
A learned commentary or exposition: upon the first chapter of the second Epistle of S. Paul to the Corinthians Being the substance of many sermons formerly preached at Gray's-Inn, London, by that reverend and judicious divine, Richard Sibbs, D.D. Sometimes Master of Catherine-Hall in Cambridge, and preacher to that honourable society. Published for the public good and benefit of the Church of Christ. By Tho. Manton, B.D. and preacher of the Gospel at Stoke-Newington, near London.A learned commentary or exposition: upon the first chapter of the second Epistle of S. Paul to the Corinthians Being the substance of many sermons formerly preached at Grayes-Inne, London, by that reverend and judicious divine, Richard Sibbs, D.D. Sometimes Master of Catherine-Hall in Cambridge, and preacher to that honourable society. Published for the publick good and benefit of the Church of Christ. By Tho. Manton, B.D. and preacher of the Gospel at Stoake-Newington, near London.
London: printed by J.L. for N.B., 1655
A COMMENTARY upon the first CHAPTER of the second Epistle of S. PAU… › Commentary on verse 11
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.
God loves to hear the cries of his Children; the very broken cries of a Child are more pleasing then the eloquent speech of a Servant. Sometimes the Children of God have not the Spirit of prayer as at other times; and then they must do as Hezekiah did, they must mourn as a Dove, and chatter as a Swallow: and as Moses at the Red-sea, he cried, and the Lord heard his prayer, though he spake never a word: so in Romans 8. The Spirit teacheth us to sigh and groan.
God loves to hear the cries of his Children; the very broken cries of a Child are more pleasing then the eloquent speech of a Servant. Sometimes the Children of God have not the Spirit of prayer as at other times; and then they must do as Ezechias did, they must mourn as a Dove, and chatter as a Swallow: and as Moses at the Red-sea, he cried, and the Lord heard his prayer, though he spake never a word: so in Romans 8. The Spirit teacheth us to sigh and groane.
When we cannot pray, we must strive with our selves against unbelief, and deadness of heart, by all means possible. Sighs and groans are prayers to God, My groans and my sighs are not hid from thee, saith the Prophet David. And so in Lament. 3. 56. The Church being in distress, saith she, Thou hast heard my voice, hide not thine ear at my breathing. Sometime the Children of God can only sigh, and breath, and groan to God; for there is such a confusion in their thoughts, they are so amazed at their troubles, they are so surprised that they cannot utter a distinct prayer, and then they sigh, and breath, and groan, they help themselves one way or other. If thou be a Child of God, though thou be oppressed with grief, yet cry, and groan to God, strive against thy grief all thou canst: and though thou canst not cry distinctly, yet mourn as well as thou canst, and God knows the groans of his own Spirit, and those cries are eloquent in his ears, they pierce Heaven. But this being but supposed as a ground, The third Observation is, As God conveys all blessings by prayer, And Gods Children have a Spirit of prayer: