VIER 8. phefaahr, Chap.;. I. In regard ofthe perfon preaching. 2. Inregard ofthe perfon hearing. In us fpeaking, all our inward qualification, and the whole action ofit, is not without the almighty power ofGod. a Cor. ç. 6. God who commanded light tothine out of darkneffe, bath fhined in our hearts,&c. So for thinking, fpeaking, for it is no leffe power mutt makethe dumb to (peak, then that which muff make the blinde to fee : fo that if wee look at our owne death and inability, and at that enmity of the devill, it is not without the almighty power ofGod that ourwords arenot in- tercepted. Now all would be fruitleffewith the hearers, if Gods al- _ Cot =4 mighty power fhould notaccompany; for when we have done all wee can, it is nothing: therefore Paul doth teach the Corinthians not in per - fwa ive fpeeches, but in fuch amanner, that the fpirit of God did put forth ail power in ir. V E x S. 8. Even unto me the haft ofall Saints is this gracegiven, V a R s, g. that Ifhouldpreach among the Gentiles, the unfareheable riches ofchriß. Leaft of all Saints.] Becaufe for Chrift a fervant of all Saints ; as altobetau fe ofhis bale intreaty from men. Buthow can a fpirituall Saint fay, he is Iefle then a carnali The weft. Apofile hisfpeechesare thus reconciled: the one fpeakes what he was ei4nf. by thegrace ofGod, when there was juft occafion to confeffe it: the ocher what he had been, and what hewas in himfelfe confidered: and fo the diftinetionof men, it is by grace; therebeing place for the fpi- ritual in other confideration to humble themfelves before the meaneft. How could he fay that ofhimfelfe,that he was the feaft. Qxeff. Becaufe he did farther fee his own thenthe corruption oral! others, And,, the truefpeaking doth followthe true appreheilfion. Better to be lowly with the meek, thento(harewith the mighty ; boughes molt laden with fruit bowmore then the empty. Chrift an example. From the matter obferve, What the mofE excellent men muff thinke ofthemfelves, they muß thinke of thestsfelves ìnoft fxbmiffely : and by howmuch Godgivethan increafe oftruegrace, by fo much hee giveth in- Doll. t creaf of true humility ; fo chat they are in their owne eyes fo much The moltex- cellemmen more hrtmble,by how much timid eminent thenothers:and in this the mutt chink A oflle doth no more then he calleth us all unto. ROM. 1 a. In giving fubmilfely of p g themfelves. honour floe one before another, and Phil. 2. Let every manefleem others better thenhimfelfe; So Paul in molt abundant humility doth thinke himfelfe leffe then thé 'leaft of Saints: for it is humility to be fub jeIt to our betters, itis more humility to give place to our equals,but tobe underlings with our inferionts, this is exceeding. And as Paid doth fet himfelfe after Saints, fo t..4gur doth abafe himfelfe under Pror.;o.,. i mankind, I ammore fh then men, and havenot theunder/iandingofa man. And the Apoftlein two regards dóth thus abate himfelfe. 1. In refoeét'of that whichhe had been. a. In regardofthe remnants of finnewhich lace foinfd dwelling with him; not that there were more abundant in him then in oihers,but becaufe he did more briefly difcerne them. The
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