A60194:2853
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 21
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.
And be oft in holy conference with others. Conference if it be rightly 1used is a special means to stablish; that is most certain, which is certain after doubting and debate; because that which is doubted of at the first, we come to be resolved of at the last, comparing reason with reason; Remembering always that of S. Ambrose, That there must not be striving for victory, but for truth. And then when we have tried all, we must keep that which is good, and not be always as the Iron between two Lodestones, haled this way, and that way; always doubting, and never resolved; there must be a time of resolution: This the Apostle observes to be an excellent way of stablishing, oft to confer of things doubtful.
And be oft in holy conference with others. Conference if it be rightly 1used is a special means to stablish; that is most certain, which is certain after doubting and debate; because that which is doubted of at the first, we come to be resolved of at the last, comparing reason with reason; Remembring alwayes that of S. Ambrose, That there must not be striving for victory, but for truth. And then when we have tryed all, we must keep that which is good, and not be alwayes as the Iron between two Loadstones, haled this way, and that way; alwayes doubting, and never resolved; there must be a time of resolution: This the Apostle observes to be an excellent way of stablishing, oft to confer of things doubtful.
- 15. Be frequent in holy conference.
And labour to get experience of the truth in our selves: nothing stablisheth more then experience. Our Saviour Christ in Joh. 6. 68. when many left him out of dullness, not understanding the spiritual things that he taught (as many whose wits will serve for matters of the world, and to make them great amongst men, but when they come to heavenly things they have no understanding, they cannot apprehend them) he asks his Disciples, Will you go away also? Peter, who had his heart opened by the Spirit of God, saith he, Lord, whither shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life; insinuating, that the experience that he had of the power of that truth that Christ taught, did so establish him in the present truth, that with a holy kind of indignation at the question, he replies, Whither shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life: I have found thy words to have a spiritual life in them. So when we come once to have an experimental knowledge of the truths we learn, then our hearts are stablished; indeed, then it is an engrafted Word, as S. James saith: then the Word is true leaven, when it altereth and changeth the soul; in such a case there is no separating from fundamental truth, when it is one with our selves, and digested into us.