A60194:842
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 8, 9
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.
The reason of it is clear; for in a succession of contraries, there must be a removing of one contrary, before another can be brought in. If a vessel be to be filled with a contrary liquor, the first must have a vent, it must be emptied of the worse that the better may come. So it is with us, 1we are full of self-confidence, as a vessel of naughty liquor, out must that go, that better things may come in. So it is in ploughing and in every thing else, this is taken as a principle in nature; the order generally is this: that we should not trust in our selves, that we might be brought to trust in God; he brings us low, to receive the sentence of death, to drive us out of our selves, that he may bring us to rely on him
The reason of it is cleare; for in a succession of contraries, there must be a removing of one contrary, before another can be brought in. If a vessel be to be filled with a contrary liquor, the first must have a vent, it must be emptied of the worse that the better may come. So it is with us, 1we are full of self-confidence, as a vessel of naughty liquor, out must that go, that better things may come in. So it is in plowing and in every thing else, this is taken as a principle in nature; the order generally is this: that we should not trust in our selves, that we might be brought to trust in God; he brings us low, to receive the sentence of death, to drive us out of our selves, that he may bring us to relie on him
- 1Reas. One contrary must be removed to make way for another.
The Use we should make of it, among many others is this, That we should not take offence at God, when he is about his strange work (as we think) when he is making us sick with Physic, with afflictions, and troubles. Let 1us not think that he hates us; doth the Physician hate the Patient when he makes him sick? perhaps he stays a good while from him, till his Physic have wrought throughly, but he doth not hate him, but gives it time, and suffers it to have its work, that so he may recover himself. Doth the gold-smith hate his precious metal, when he puts it into the fire, and suffers the fire to work upon it? what is lost? nothing but the dross: What is lost in the body by sickness? the ill humours that load the body, and distemper the actions, and functions of it, that it cannot work as it should, there is nothing lost, but that that may well be spared: so when God goes about his work, he afflicts thee, and follows thee with losses and crosses, he takes away friends and credit, this outward thing, and that: all this is to give thee a purge, he works a strange work, that he may work his own work, that he may bring thee to himself.