Donor, Horton's Sermon Ily, By-way of improvement : Take notice of the ways of God, AS different frommans; God puts excellent treafure into Earthen ref& wekeep treafure in Wong holds, in the UrongeP Repofito- ries. God's ways are not as our ways, he goes another way than we do; he makes ufe of the Poore(}, meaneff, and aloft frail creatures fometimes; he layes afide many times men ofgreater abilities, parts and quality, andmakes ufe of weaker todo this great work. Chryfo- flame makes anexpoRulation, if it be excellent treafure, why in earth- en reffels ? Therefore it is a Veffel of Earth , becaufe an excellent treafure. Thus Gods ways are unfearchable. Thisis the improve- ment. Now betides this interpretation given of is , there is another that will not be impertinent. Some underaand by Earthen Veldt , the expreffions , words and phrafes of the Miniary, through which the do trines and truths of the Gofpel are conveyed; this is ag-eeable to what went before : Some falfe Teachers in Corinth pleafed them- raves with eloquent and enticing words of worldly wifdome, and fo endeavoured to render Pauls preaching defpicable in regard of the plainnefs of it; therefore ( faith the Apoftle ) we have this treafure in earthen veffels , h. e. familiar conveyances, that fo we may eafily underaand ir. Thus I have explained this Earthen Veffel, and fo have done with the fir(} confiderable part, viz, the difpenfation it felf, This Trea- forewe have inEarthenVeld: : I come now to the fecond, The account of this Di.scfienfation , That the excellency ofthe power may be of God, and not of 1. :4. Which words may be confidered two wayes. Fir(}, Either abfolutely, as lying in themfolves. Or, Secondly, Connexively; to the words beforegoing. a. Take them abfolutely as they lye in themfelves, and two things are exhibited, T. The excellency of the Gofpel and Miniary it felf, called Power. - 2. The Author and Original of it, laid-down twoways , politive- ly of Gad, and negatively, not ofP1S. a. The excellency of the Gofpel and Miniary thereof , called Power : There is agreat deal ofpower and efficacy in the Gofpel ,'tis in its naturepowerful and efficacious, fo the Minis ry of it, Rom, . Y 6, I amnot a(hamedsf the Go(pi ofChrifl , for it i4 thepower of Cod untofalvation to every one that believeth. See a Car. 2.4. Paul's preaching was in the demonftration of the Spirit and of Power, :Tis calla theArta aGod's Power The Sward ofthe Spirit, Ephef, 6
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