A60194:2387
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 18
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.
There is a subordination of truths, whereof one is the cause of all the rest. Now all depends upon this grand truth, God is; it is the first truth that ever was of all truths in the world, in heaven and earth, that there is a God, that there is such a thing, such an excellency as God, the Author of all things in nature, the Author of all things in grace, and glory. I shall not need to prove this fundamental truth, this Truth of truths, that God is: It infers all other truths. For grant this, that God is, and a man must needs grant that that follows upon it, that God is as a God should be, that is, unchangeable, eternal, immutable, almighty, all-sufficient, and all the blessed attributes, that he is the author of all good in the creature, that must needs follow, God is the first truth: and then God is so and so as becomes a God. And then this must follow in the next place, that he is a God immutable, and unchangeable, he must be so in all the manifestations that come from him, in his free decrees, and in the outward manifestations by promises, and threatenings, and whatsoever; and therefore God is true immutably, and unchangeably true, or else he were not God; he cannot be otherwise and be God. A man may say of a man, he is a liar, and yet he may be a man: a man may be a man, and a good man, and yet be unconstant, and changeable, because he is a creature: but to say a God, and not ⟨p. 380⟩to be true, is to say a God, and not a God: of the necessity of his nature he 1must be true. It is not of the necessity of the nature of man to be true, he may be a man, and be a liar: Every man is a liar; because it is not of the essence of man to be true: but God is true out of the necessity of nature, he cannot be God if he be not true; because God cannot deny himself. Man is changeable, because he is a creature, as Damascene's speech is, All things created are mutable, and man as a creature is changeable: a man therefore may be alterable, and false, and be a man; but God cannot be so, and be God.
There is a subordination of truths, whereof one is the cause of all the rest. Now all depends upon this grand truth, God is; it is the first truth that ever was of all truths in the world, in heaven and earth, that there is a God, that there is such a thing, such an excellency as God, the Authour of all things in nature, the Authour of all things in grace, and glory. I shall not need to prove this fundamental truth, this Truth of truths, that God is: It infers all other truths. For grant this, that God is, and a man must needs grant that that followes upon it, that God is as a God should be, that is, unchangeable, eternal, immutable, almighty, al-sufficient, and all the blessed attributes, that he is the authour of all good in the creature, that must needs follow, God is the first truth: and then God is so and so as becomes a God. And then this must follow in the next place, that he is a God immutable, and unchangeable, he must be so in all the manifestations that come from him, in his free decrees, and in the outward manifestations by promises, and threatnings, and whatsoever; and therefore God is true immutably, and unchangeably true, or else he were not God; he cannot be otherwise and be God. A man may say of a man, he is a liar, and yet he may be a man: a man may be a man, and a good man, and yet be unconstant, and changeable, because he is a creature: but to say a God, and not