A34689:1061
A34689:1061
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.
Use 2 This must teach both Ministers and People to maintain brotherly love and affection, if you be Brethren, Let brotherly love continue, Heb. 13.1. 1 Pet. 2.17. therefore what kind of desire and comfort there is in brotherly Communion, what mutual joy when they meet, the same should be in Christian Ministers and People.
Ʋse 2 This must teach both Ministers and People to maintain brotherly love and affection, if you be Brethren, Let brotherly love continue, Heb. 13.1. 1 Pet. 2.17. therefore what kinde of desire and comfort there is in brotherly Communion, what mutual joy when they meet, the same should be in Christian Ministers and People.
Now the fruits of Brotherly love are chiefly three;
1 Unity, that they should keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, Col. 3.14. Ephes. 4.3.
2 Equality, (not to take away different respects) but to make our selves equal to others in affection, to conceive that though we have more gifts, yet they may have less corruption, they may not have so much grace, but they may make better use of it, Phil. 3.13. we should always conceive of others as equal, or better than our selves.
2 Equality, (not to take away different respects) but to make our selves equal to others in affection, to conceive that though we have more gifts, yet they may have lesse corruption, they may not have so much grace, but they may make better use of it, Phil. 3.13. we should always conceive of others as equal, or better than our selves.
3 Spiritual Communion, that is, mutual dispensing of help one to another, of Exhortation, Admonition, Consolation, and Reproof, Levit. 19.17. 1 Thes. 5.14. and for temporal things we should be helpful one to another, take up quarrels, 1 Cor. 6.5, 6. pardon one another's failings, be helpful to the poor brethren, Rom. 15.15. we must not neglect, or despise one another, or carry our selves as strangers one to another, is this brotherly love, to carry our selves strangely towards them, or not care for their communion or company, never to help them? this is not brotherly love. And indeed the Sacrament invites us to brotherly love, for we are moulded as it were up into one Loaf, and drink of the same Cup, 1 Cor. 10.17. therefore if there be any strangeness, or quarrelling, or contempt between us, it is to sin against this Ordinance; if God be the God of peace, then Satan is the author of discord; how comely a thing is it for brethren to live together in unity? Psal. 133.1, 2, 3. he compares ⟨p. 76⟩it to the most precious Ointment that was poured on the head, and ran down upon Aaron's beard, and the skirts of his garments; and so what grace is poured on the eminentest Christian, must run down to the lowest, and as the Mountains let the drops of Dew which fall upon them to fall down upon the Valleys, so where God hath mounted any blessing, where God hath bestowed eminent Gifts, every one should so use his Gifts, as the lower Valleys may be the more fruitful, they the more helpful.
3 Spiritual Communion, that is, mutual dispensing of help one to another, of Exhortation, Admonition, Consolation, and Reproof, Levit. 19.17.
Use 3. It reproves Ministers that dishearten, and make sad those that God would not have made sad, many times Ministers are most bitter against their best Hearers, Ezek. 13.22. nor let people make sad the hearts of their Ministers, brethren should not thus carry themselves, but rather comfort one another.
Ʋse 3. It reproves Ministers that dishearten, and make sad those that God would not have made sad, many times Ministers are most bitter against their best Hearers, Ezek. 13.22. nor let people make sad the hearts of their Ministers, brethren should not thus carry themselves, but rather comfort one another.
It also reproves the aptness of many to affect natural carnal men, their only delight is in them, and they only hate the Seed of the Woman, that is contrary to St. Johns precept.
It also reproves the aptnesse of many to affect natural carnal men, their only delight is in them, and they only hate the Seed of the Woman, that is contrary to St. Johns precept.
I write no new Commandment, &c.
Thus St. John, he seeing that it might seem a new Commandment, to walk as Christ hath walked, he tells them; It is no new Commandment that I write unto you, Jer. 6.16. Job 8.8, 9, 10. and Moses sharply reproved the Israelites for serving new gods, Deut. 32.17. Act. 26.22. he continued witnessing no other truth but what Moses and the Prophets had delivered before him.
Obj. Is it not said, Mat. 13.52. is it not the part of a good Scribe to bring forth things both new and old?
Ans. True, he is to bring forth new things; but,
1. Such as may be new to the people, not new to the Word, such as they never heard of, yet not new to the Word, for it is their duty to bring their sheep to new fresh green Pastures, Psal. 23.2. but it must not be new in it self, but anciently delivered by the Prophets and Apostles.
2 A Minister that delivers an old Doctrine, and known to the people, yet he must bring it in in a new manner, that it may affect them the more, being dressed after a new manner; the appetite desires new dishes more, as for our Saviour, he taught no new Doctrine, but he spake it in such a manner, in such Parables, that it seemed strange to them.
2 A Minister that delivers an old Doctrin, and known to the people, yet he must bring it in in a new manner, that it may affect them the more, being drest after a new manner; the appetite desires new dishes more, as for our Saviour, he taught no new Doctrin, but he spake it in such a manner, in such Parables, that it seemd strange to them.
3 He should have so much respect to newness, as to bring out all old Doctrine with a new vigour of Spirit, not with the old Spirit, but with a new affection and vigour, that so the people may be more affected therewith, he must deliver the same matter with a new Spirit, he must drink a new draught of the Wine of the Sanctuary, but a Minister must not teach any thing that is new to the Scripture.
3 He should have so much respect to newnesse, as to bring out all old Doctrin with a new vigour of Spirit, not with the old Spirit, but with a new affection and vigour, that so the people may be more affected therewith, hee must deliver the same matter with a new Spirt, he must drink a new draught of the Wine of the Sanctuary, but a Minister must not teach any thing that is new to the Scripture.
Reas. From the perfection of the Scripture, Psal. 19.7. Gods perfection is more seen in this than in any other works, the World is perfect in its kind, vers. 6. but vers. 7. How perfect is the Law of God? Now, as it were a Frantic thing to go about to create new Creatures, so to come with Nova dogmata, and new Opinions; it is as if a man should come with new Creatures, there is not any new Creature in the World, so let a man survey all Doctrines, he shall find them to be the same which were from the Creation.
Reas. From the perfection of the Scripture, Psal. 19.7. Gods perfection is more seen in this than in any other works, the World is perfect in its kinde, vers. 6. but vers. 7. How perfect is the Law of God? Now, as it were a Frantique thing to go about to create new Creatures, so to come with Nova dogmata, and new Opinions; it is as if a man should come with new Creatures, there is not any new Creature in the World, so let a man survey all Doctrins, he shall finde them to be the same which were from the Creation.