1 COR. 6. 11.
WE are now to consider a second kinde of Argument, the Apostle useth to dehort them from all gross wickedness, and that is the admirable and wonderful change that is now made upon them by converting Grace: They are not Swine any more, but sheep, and therefore must not wallow in the mire and filth of sin as formerly: So that the scope of the Apostle is, to compare their former black and foul life, with the present glorious light they are now translated into. And such were some of you. He had reckoned up beasts rather then men, monsters rather then men of reason; and yet, Such were some of you. He saith […], Some of you, to shew, that every one of them had not all those filthy sores: Every one was not guilty of all the enumerated sins (except idolatry, which all were guilty of) unless in the seed and root, which is original corruption; but it is to be understood distributively, some were fornicators, some effeminate, some drunkards, some extortioners. Corinth was wicked, even to a proverbial speech, It seemed an hospital of diseased sick men, in respect of their moralities. And further, the Apostle saith in the neuter gender, […], not […], not such persons, but such sins, emphatically demonstrating their wickedness, that they were not so much Peccatores, as ipsa peccata, sinners, as the very sins themselves: We may then stand and behold the wonderful work of Grace, that raiseth children up to Abraham out of stones; that maketh Blackamores to change their skins. The Corinthians, while Idolaters, changed the image of God, into the likeness of an Ox, or any other beast; but now God changeth these who were become like bruit beasts, into the image of the holy and pure God.
Observ. 3. That the grace of God converting, is sometimes vouchsafed even to the worst and vilest of men. God many times takes the most crooked trees, and makes them pillars in his Temple; the most rugged and unpolished stones, and pollisheth them for his building; even as Christ while he was upon the earth, for the most part cured those diseases which were desperate, that no art, nor no Physicians could cure: So many times, the grace of God changeth those who are hopeless men, upon whom no art can do any good, upon whom spiritual Physicians for a great while have lost all their labor. This is much prophesied of as the fruit of the Gospel, that the savage, cruel and poysonous natures of wicked men, shall be strangely taken away, Isa. 35. 5, 6, 7. The eyes of the blinde shall be opened, &c. No Lyon shall be there, &c. Isa. 55. 11. 13. Instead of the bryar shall come up the mirt le tree.
Let us observe the grounds, why the grade of Conversion is sometimes vouchsafed to these incurable men, in all humane apprehensions, such as Manasseth, Paul, Mary Magdalen, with many others: And
Reas 1. First, It is to demanstrate the power of the word of God, animated and inlivened by the spirit, above all Humane Eloquence, or Moral Philosophy; wherein men have much labored to make men better; but those endeavors did prove like the washing of a brick, which did not cleanse, but more defile. The Scripture doth often take notice of this peculiar effect of Gods word, that by it We are forewarned from sin, Psal. 19. the simple receive understanding, Psal 119. By it we are be go[…] again, 1 Pet: 1. That is the sword which entereth into the secret thoughts and imaginations of mens hearts, That captivateth and beateth down all the strong holds of sin and Satan, and dispossesseth Satan out of his strongest Castles: Now this fiery vertue of the word preached, is never more manifested, then when it meets with such moyst, green wood, such indisposed materials, as gross, prophane men are. The Apostle calls the word preached, The power of God to salvation, 1 Cor. 1. when the Grecians, men of parts and learning, judged it foolishness; and the same Apostle saith, He came not in the intising words of humane eloquence, lest the power of Christ should be obsoured, 1. Corinthians 2. 4. When therefore by the simple, plain and pure demonstration of Divine truths, and of Gods Word, you see the hearts and consciences of flagitious men awakened; you see them changed into holy, godly, heavenly men, of prophane, foul and ungodly. What glorious praite doth hereby redound to the word preached? This is like Davids little stone, slung into the head of great Goliah. If men of wisdom, eloquence, ingenuity, and excellent Morality, if these onely were the men converted? it would quickly be thought that it was some excellency in them, rather then the power of Gods word without; but in these gross livers it cannot be attributed to any thing in the world, but the word preached: Despise not therefore the plain and powerful preaching of Gods word; for that is the mustard seed, which though little in quantity, is in operation mighty: You see twelve men indued with ability to preach this, did quickly leaven this whole world.