A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

Here then we are carefully to observe, that a man may have in him many good things; and yet by living in one sin, we be quite cut off from all true fellowship with Christ. Judas had many excellent gifts: he forsook all and followed Christ, he preached the Gospel, and administered the Sacraments; and yet by covetousness the door of his heart was quite barred against Christ. So Herod reverenced John, and heard him gladly, and did many things at his instruction; Mark. 6.20. yet by the sin of Incest, his heart was so closed, that he had no fellowship with Christ. And so it is with us; It is good that we know the will of God and approve the same, and profess the Gospel, and also receive the Seals of the Covenant: But yet for all these, our case may be such, as we shall have no true fellowship with Christ. For if we nourish, though but one sin, and live therein; that will make a separation between Christ and us, be the sin what it will; as covetousness, adultery, profaneness, or such like. Hereby then, all that desire to have true fellowship with Christ, are to be warned to purge their lives from all sin, so as their hearts be not tainted with nourishing any one sin: for even one sin w••••soever it be, is a strong bar […] will keep Christ from coming into us.

Here then we are carefully to obserue, that a man may haue in him many good things; and yet by liuing in one sin, we be quite cut off from all true fellowship with Christ. Iudas had many excellent gifts: he forsooke all and folowed Christ, he preached the Gospel, and administred the Sacraments; and yet by couetousnes the doore of his heart was quite barred against Christ. So Herode reuerenced Iohn, and heard him gladly, and did many things at his instruction; Mark. 6.20. yet by the sinne of Incest, his heart was so closed, that he had no fellowship with Christ. And so it is with vs; It is good that wee know the will of God and approue the same, and professe the Gospel, and also receiue the Seales of the Couenant: But yet for all these, our case may be such, as wee shall haue no true fellowshippe with Christ. For if wee nourish, though but one sinne, and liue therein; that will make a separation betweene Christ and vs, bee the sinne what it will; as couetousnesse, adulterie, prophanenesse, or such like. Heereby then, all that desire to haue true fellowshippe with Christ, are to be warned to purge their liues from all sinne, so as their hearts bee not taynted with nourishing any one sinne: for euen one sinne wsoeuer it bee, is a strong barre will keepe Christ from comming into vs.