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Bishop Sanderson observes—‘It was Simon Magus’ error to think, that the gifts of God might be purchased with money; and it has a spice of his sin, and so it may go for a kind of simony, to think that spiritual gifts may be purchased with labour. You may rise up early and go to bed late, and study hard, and read much, and devour the marrow of the best authors; and, when you have done all, unless God gives a blessing to your endeavours, be as lean and meagre in regard to true and useful learning, as Pharaoh’s lean kine were, after they had eaten the fat ones. It is God, that both ministers the seed to the sower, and multiplies the seed sown: the principle and the increase are both his.’ Sermon on 1Cor. 12.7.