but whether it be Gold, Silver, or precious Stones, that are put therein, yet they are never the worse because of the Vessel into which they are put, nor will wise Men refuse or slight such Treasure for the Vessel's sake. | VII. Ministers of the Gospel, tho inwardly very rich and precious, yet they are but Men as others are, poor earthen Vessels, and some of them very mean and contemptible in the Eye of the World: You see your Calling, Brethren, &c.1 But the Treasure of Wisdom is not the worse, tho it be in such earthen Vessels; nor will wise Men refuse good Doctrine, and wholesome Counsel, because communicated by such Servants of Christ. But we have this Treasure in earthen Vessels, 2that the Excellency of the Power might be of God, and not of us. [See the Gospel compared to Treasure, in the third Book of the First Volume.
⟨p. 187⟩VIII. An earthen Vessel sometimes proves defective, and lets out choice Liquor that is put therein; nay, and sometimes the Liquor tastes of the Vessel, or loses much of its precious Relish, by reason an evil Person puts some unsavoury Matter into the Vessel; and by reason of this Mixture, the pure Savour is somewhat gone. | VIII. So some Men,3 like leaking Vessels, let out the precious Grace of God; they lose their Zeal, Faith, Love, Courage, &c. And also many times the Word of God, as it comes from the Preacher, savours of the earthen Vessel; for the best of Men have Flesh in them, as well as Spirit. Were there nothing but this precious Treasure of Grace and Divine Wisdom in them, it would not be so; but Satan like a cursed Enemy, stirs up the Remainders of the Old Man in the Soul, and through his subtle Temptations causes the Preacher to mix the Wine with Water, or the pure Doctrine of Christ, with Man's Wisdom, by which means he vaunts and prides it oftentimes in himself.
IX. When a Vessel proves very defective, the Owner perceiving he is like to come to loss, empties the choice Liquor from Vessel to Vessel. | IX. So God many times finding his Vessels defective, and that they contract Filth, or prove leaky, empties his choice Liquor from Vessel to Vessel, according to that of the Prophet,4 Moab hath been at ease from his Youth, and hath settled upon his Lees, and hath not been removed from Vessel to Vessel; which is meant of Afflictions.
but whether it be Gold, Silver, or precious Stones, that are put therein, yet they are never the worse because of the Vessel into which they are put, nor will wise Men refuse or slight such Treasure for the Vessel's sake. | VII. Ministers of the Gospel, tho inwardly very rich and precious, yet they are but Men as others are, poor earthen Vessels, and some of them very mean and contemptible in the Eye of the World: You see your Calling, Brethren, &c.1 But the Treasure of Wisdom is not the worse, tho it be in such earthen Vessels; nor will wise Men refuse good Doctrine, and wholesom Counsel, because communicated by such Servants of Christ. But we have this Treasure in earthen Vessels, 2that the Excellency of the Power might be of God, and not of us. [See the Gospel compared to Treasure, in the third Book of the First Volume.
⟨p. 187⟩VIII. An earthen Vessel sometimes proves defective, and lets out choice Liquor that is put therein; nay, and sometimes the Liquor tastes of the Vessel, or loses much of its precious Relish, by reason an evil Person puts some unsavoury Matter into the Vessel; and by reason of this Mixture, the pure Savour is somewhat gone. | VIII. So some Men,3 like leaking Vessels, let out the precious Grace of God; they lose their Zeal, Faith, Love, Courage, &c. And also many times the Word of God, as it comes from the Preacher, savours of the earthen Vessel; for the best of Men have Flesh in them, as well as Spirit. Were there nothing but this precious Treasure of Grace and Divine Wisdom in them, it would not be so; but Satan like a cursed Enemy, stirs up the Remainders of the Old Man in the Soul, and through his subtil Temptations causes the Preacher to mix the Wine with Water, or the pure Doctrine of Christ, with Man's Wisdom, by which means he vaunts and prides it oftentimes in himself.
IX. When a Vessel proves very defective, the Owner perceiving he is like to come to loss, empties the choice Liquor from Vessel to Vessel. | IX. So God many times finding his Vessels defective, and that they contract Filth, or prove leaky, empties his choice Liquor from Vessel to Vessel, according to that of the Prophet,4 Moab hath been at ease from his Youth, and hath setled upon his Lees, and hath not been removed from Vessel to Vessel; which is meant of Afflictions.
- 11 Cor. 1.26.
- 22 Cor. 4.7
- 3Heb. 2.1, 2 Rev. 2.4.
- 4Jer. 48 11.
