Manton - BS2785 M35 1651

4 V.E.RS.r. .AnExpo/itio•. withNottJ CH.A.P.r.' andwhoare 'my Brethren r Andhe ftretched forth hu handto hu • Di(cipla~ andfaid, Behold, my Mother and 111) Brethren; For whofocver foall ao the wi/!6[ m; Father which is in .heaven, the fame is my Brother, Sifter '!nd Mother. The trueft relation to Chrifi is founded in grace, and we are far happier in receiving him hy faith, then in touching him by Mood; and he chatendeavors to do his Will, may be as fure of Chri.fis love and efieem, as ifhe were linked to him by the nearefi outw:trd relations, Obfervat, 2. 2· 'Tu no dijhonour to the higheft to be Chrifts Servant: 'jame.r~ whomPaul calleth aPillar, calleth himfelf a Servant o{Chrift; and Dav;da King [aith,Pfalm 48.1o. I had rather In a docr-k_tep- – er in the houfe ofmy God,then dwell in the tents ofWickfdnefs. The office of the Net hinims, or door-keepers in- the Temple, was the lowefi; and therefore when thequdl:ion waspropofed, whlt thry lhould do with the .Levites that had warped from God to Idols, God faith, Thq [hall bear their iniquity, that is, they !halt be de– graded, an~ employed in the lowefl: Offices and Minifl:ries of the Temple,wh1ch was to beporters anddoor-k.feperJ, fee E~e~4+ to, JI ,I 2,q. Yet faith David, I had rather be ll dr;or~k.§cper; car– nal honour and greatnefs is nothing to this. Paul was an Hebrew o(the Hebrews, Phil. 3. 5. that is, ofan ancient Hebrew Race and Extraction ; there being,to tbe memory ofman,noTrofelite in his Family, or among his Ancefl:ors; which was accounted a very great honour by that Nacio'n:yet faithP.ud,I count all a-"o/jd.Mdung and dogs-meat in cotnparifon of an interefi in Chrift, Phi!. 3. 8. · Ohflr7.Mt. 3· 3• The highdl: in repute and office in the Church yet,are fiill but fervants. James aj(rvant. I Cor.4. I. Let aman account ofus, M of Miniflers ofChrijl-. The fin of Corinth was man-worlhip, in giving an excefs of honour and refpect to -thofeTeachers whom.they admtred, fetting them up as heads qf Factions, and giving up their Faith to their dictates: The Apofile feeketh to reclaim them from that error, by lhewing th:H they are not Maflers, but Miniflers; Give them the honour ofa Mimfl:cr and Steward : But not that de– pendance which is due to the Mafier onely. See z Cor. I. 24. We h.::~ve not dominion over your faith, but are he/pert ofyour joy: Wcarc not eo prefcribe articles of Faith , but explain them. So the Apofl:le Peter bi·ds the Elders not to behave themfdves M lords. over Guds herita,e;e, I Pet. 5. ~. not to rnafrer it over their Con– fdences. Our work is meer fervice,and we canbut per[w11de, Chrifl: mufl:

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