A34689:1014
A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first…
A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first Epistle general of John by ... John Cotton ...A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first Epistle generall of John by ... John Cotton ...
London: printed by M.S. for Thomas Parkhurst, 1658
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Obj. 3. If men may discern they are in darkness, when they are in darkness; much more may we know we are in light, when we are in light, of the two, it is the easier: now he that is in the state of darkness, knows it, Ephes. 5.13. Gal. 5.19. the works of the flesh are manifest.
Obj. 3. If men may discern they are in darknesse, when they are in darknesse; much more may we know we are in light, when we are in light, of the two, it is the easier: now he that is in the state of darknesse, knows it, Ephes. 5.13. Gal. 5.19. the works of the flesh are manifest.
4 He saith those things which are in a man essentially, he knows they are in him: now Graces are essential in a regenerate man, that is, the essence of them is there, therefore he may know that Repentance and Faith, &c. is there: if they be there, what is in a man, is known to be in him: if he have a judgment, he knows he hath it: if he hath a will, he knows he wills: so if a man hath Graces in him, he may know that he hath them, as a Woman with child, doth know that she is with child, Gal. 4.1. and takes it not upon others report, but upon her own sure Knowledge: so if Christ be conceived in us, the stirring motions of Gods Graces be in us, we may know it, thus Aquinas confutes himself.
Use 2 Refutation of an unjust complaint they do make against us, they say that we discourage men from good works, this complaint is unjust, for though we do not say they justify us, yet thereby we know that we are justified, and that is no small encouragement; my good works do not justify me, but yet they justify my justification, nay further, we say to them that they discourage men from good works, who say, when a man hath done what he can, and fulfilled the whole law, yet he cannot certainly know that he is in Christ; and so what profit will it be for a man to take pains, and do much, and suffer much, and yet knows not whether God loves him or not? but we on the contrary say, if a man walk in a constant course of obedience to Gods Commandments, he may thereby know that he is in Christ, and this must needs be an encouragement to good works.