A34689:1095
A34689:1095
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.
He tells them, this was no new Doctrine, but such as they had from the beginning, for in the time of innocency Adam was made after the Image of God, and Christ is the Image of God, Col. 1.15. After he fell, the first Sermon that he had was, That the Seed of the Woman should break the Serpents head, Gen. 3.15. and this Promise was renewed to Abraham, Gen. 22.18.
He tells them, this was no new Doctrin, but such as they had from the beginning, for in the time of innocencie Adam was made after the Image of God, and Christ is the Image of God, Col. 1.15. After he fell, the first Sermon that he had was, That the Seed of the Woman should break the Serpents head, Gen. 3.15. and this Promise was renewed to Abraham, Gen. 22.18.
In after times, when the Lord led Israel out of Egypt, he sent the Angel of the Covenant to go before them, Exod. 23.20, 21. Deut. 18.18. from the beginning it was thus dispensed, to walk after the Lord, and whatever Pattern they had from God, it was from Christ, the second Person in the Trinity; so Joh. 1.18. Levit. 19.17. and he charged them to be holy as he was, that is the same with this of St. John here, to walk as Christ hath walked, Heb. 13.8. the same before and under the Law, to day in the time of the Gospel, and the same for ever, 1 Corinth. 10.1. to 5. Acts 15.10, 11. they held to be saved by faith, and by faith lived all the Saints of old, Hebr. 11. Hebr. 12.1, 2, 3.
In after times, when the Lord led Israel out of Egypt, he sent the Angel of the Covenant to go before them, Exod. 23.20, 21. Deut. 18.18. from the beginning it was thus dispenced, to walk after the Lord, and whatever Pattern they had from God, it was from Christ, the second Person in the Trinity; so Joh. 1.18. Levit. 19.17. and he charged them to be holy as he was, that is the same with this of St. John here, to walk as Christ hath walked, Heb. 13.8
Use 1 To justify the antiquity of Christian Religion, there is nothing in Christian Religion but we have it either from Commandment, or Promise, or Pattern of Christ, the death of Christ that was shadowed in the Sacrifices in the Old Law, and promised in Paradise, and when Christ would convince them, he doth it from hence, Luke 24.26, 27. all our fore-fathers believed, and dyed in the same Religion that we do.
Ʋse 1 To justifie the antiquity of Christian Religion, there is nothing in Christian Religion but we have it either from Commandment, or Promise, or Pattern of Christ, the death of Christ that was shadowed in the Sacrifices in the Old Law, and promised in Paradice, and when Christ would convince them, he doth it from hence, Luke 24.26, 27. all our fore-fathers believed, and dyed in the same Religion that we do.
Use 2 If the imitation of Christ be of so great antiquity, then it convinces them that blame Christian Religion of new-fanglednesse▪ why there is no Christian that walks as Christ did, but he walks as Abel, and Noah, and Abraham did, therefore it is not a novelty, but from the Ancient of days, even from the beginning.
Ʋse 2 If the imitation of Christ be of so great antiquity, then it convinces them that blame Christian Religion of new-fanglednesse▪ why there is no Christian that walks as Christ did, but he walks as Abel, and Noah, and Abraham did, therefore it is not a novelty, but from the Ancient of days, even from the beginning.
Use 3 It may encourage every Christian to walk as Christ did, when they consider all the Patriarchs, and Prophets, and Apostles since the world began, have gone before them in the same steps, and in the same faith; if we cannot show an higher ground, and longer antiquity for our Doctrine, than the Papists for any Popish tradition, we will renounce it, but we take up no other Religion but that which came from the Ancient of days, and was from the first institution. The care that any Christian takes to prepare himself for the receiving of the Sacrament hath been of old, the Apostle reproved the want thereof in his time, 1 Cor. 11. and they set the Lamb aside three days before the Passover, to prepare themselves, Exod. 12.3.14. so that this kind of preparation hath been of old, 2 Chron. 35.5. therefore let every one of us examine our failings, humble our selves, entreat for pardon and cleansing, for strength of grace to walk as Christ walked.
Ʋse 3 It may encourage every Christian to walk as Christ did, when they consider all the Patriarks, and Prophets, and Apostles since the world began, have gone before them in the same steps, and in the same faith; if we cannot shew an higher ground, and longer antiquity for our Doctrin, than the Papists for any Popish tradition, we will renounce it, but we take up no other Religion but that which came from the Ancient of days, and was from the first institution. The care that any Christian takes to prepare himself for the receiving of the Sacrament hath been of old, the Apostle reproved the want thereof in his time, 1 Cor. 11. and they set the Lamb aside three days before the Passeover, to prepare themselves, Exod. 12.3.14. so that this kinde of preparation hath been of old, 2 Chron. 35.5. therefore let every one of us examine our failings, humble our selves, entreat for pa•don and cleansing, for strength of grace to walk as Christ walked.
1 JOHN 2.8. Again, a new Commandment I write unto you, that which is true in him, and also in you, for the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
1 JOHN 2.8. Again, a new Commandment I write unto you, that which is true in him, and also in you, for the darknesse is past, and the true light now shineth.
IN this Verse he amplifies his Doctrine by a contrary Argument of newness.
IN this Verse he amplifies his Doctrin by a contrary Argument of newnesse.
1 He describes the Old Commandment by another adjunct of newness.
1 He describes the Old Commandment by another adjunct of newnesse.
2 He sets down in what respect it is new, and in a double respect the Old Commandment may be called new: 1 In respect of Christ. 2 In respect of them. 3 He propounds the reason of it, because Christ hath scattered Light among them, and Darkness [Greek or Hebrew], abigitur, is a driving away.
2 He sets down in what respect it is new, and in a double respect the Old Commandment may be called new: 1 In respect of Christ. 2 In respect of them. 3 He propounds the reason of it, because Christ hath scattered Light among them, and Darknesse 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, abigitur, is a driving away.
1 It is new in respect of Christ.
2 Christ hath expressly commanded it: Whenever Christ converted any to Grace, this was his common speech, Follow me, Matth. 4.19. (which if it were not a word of Conversion, yet at least of new Conversion, Mat. 9.9.) and it is a general rule, Luke 9.23. where by following of Christ in the last place is meant imitating Christ, thus it is new in respect of Christs Commandment.
2 Christ hath expresly commanded it: Whenever Christ converted any to Grace, this was his common speech, Follow me, Matth. 4.19. (which if it were not a word of Conversion, yet at least of new Conversion, Mat. 9.9.) and it is a general rule, Luke 9.23. where by following of Christ in the last place is meant imitating Christ, thus it is new in respect of Christs Commandment.
2 In respect of Christs efficacy and power working in our hearts, vers. 9. it is wrought and stamped in us by a new work of Christ, in the spirits of his followers, that they do indeed set their hearts to follow Christ.
2 In respect of Christs efficacy and power working in our hearts, vers. 9. it is wrought and stampt in us by a new work of Christ, in the spirits of his followers, that they do indeed set their hearts to follow Christ.