A60194:1916
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 12
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.
Let us acquaint our selves with him by prayer, and by hearing his Word, and then we shall have his grace to guide us. For grace is a fruit of his peculiar love; he gives grace to his own peculiar people. How do you think, shall he have a peculiar delight in us, if we labour not to be more and more acquainted with him? by often speaking to him, by often hearing of him, by coming into his presence, and attending as much as we can upon his holy Ordinances, by conversing as much as we can in the holy things of God. Those that will be warm, they come under the beams of the Sun: those that would have the Spirit work effectually, they must come where the Spirit is effectual, where the Spirit works. Now the Spirit is effectual in the Word preached: the Spirit fell upon Cornelius and the rest when they were hearing of S. Peter. And the Spirit is where there is conversing in good company; Where two or three are met together, I will be in the middest of them, saith Christ. If we walk with the wise, we shall be wiser.
It must be the heavenly wisdom of a Christian, if he would lead his life by grace, to attend upon all the means of grace: because the Spirit of God is effectual by his own means, he works by his own means; therefore use the means that the Spirit hath sanctified for the working of grace. I do wonder at a company of vain sottish creatures, that carry themselves according to their vain conceits, according to the whirling of their own brain, in toys and baubles that come into their heads; they care not for the hearing of ⟨p. 311⟩Gods blessed truth: either they abstain altogether, or else they hear it carelessly, as if it were a thing that concerned them not: Oh, but those that will lead their lives by grace, they come to it by the Spirit, and the Spirit is only effectual in holy Ordinances. It must be our wisdom therefore to bring our selves under some means or other, that the Spirit may be effectual.
It must be the heavenly wisdome of a Christian, if he would lead his life by grace, to attend upon all the meanes of grace: because the Spirit of God is effectual by his own means, he works by his own means; therefore use the meanes that the Spirit hath sanctified for the working of grace. I do wonder at a company of vain sottish creatures, that carry themselves according to their vain conceits, according to the whirling of their own brain, in toyes and baubles that come into their heads; they care not for the hearing of