A60194:1917
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.
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 ⟨p. 311⟩Gods blessed truth: either they abstain altogether, or else they hear it carelesly, 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 onely effectual in holy Ordinances. It must be our wisdome therefore to bring our selves under some meanes or other, that the Spirit may be effectual.
The wisest, and the best men in the world are no longer gracious then they are wise this way: if they neglect good company, good acquaintance, if they neglect the hearing of the Word, if they neglect prayer, they will grow dead, and dull, and carnal-minded; they will be possessed with base thoughts. How do men differ one from another? not so much by any habitual grace that is in them, as by avoiding all that might prejudice them in a Christian course, and by using all means whereby the Spirit of God may be effectual.