A34689:1109
A34689:1109
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.
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.
2 It is new in respect of us Believers.
1 In regard of the outward hearing of the ear it is new, never so plainly spoken before, Follow me, in all the Old Testament there is not such an express letter as follow Christ, imitate Christ, walk as Christ hath walked.
1 In regard of the outward hearing of the ear it is new, never so plainly spoken before, Follow me, in all the Old Testament there is not such an expresse letter as follow Christ, imitate Christ, walk as Christ hath walked.
2 In regard of that new work wrought in the hearts of Christians, Ephes. 4.24. that is, but on such a frame of holiness and righteousness, wherein you may lively resemble the new Adam, the new man Christ.
2 In regard of that new work wrought in the hearts of Christians, Ephes. 4.24. that is, but on such a frame of holinesse and righteousnesse, wherein you may lively resemble the new Adam, the new man Christ.
Use 1 As we ought not to affect new-fanglednesse, so we ought not to loathe and reject newness; before St. John carefully avoided new fanglednesse, now he commends newness.
Ʋse 1 As we ought not to affect new-fanglednesse, so we ought not to loathe and reject newnesse; before St. John carefully avoided new fanglednesse, now he commends newnesse.
The ground of this difference is;
1 Look whatever comes from God (the Ancient of days) is always new, and never waxeth old, and as it is new, so it is always old, yea old enough if it come from God, Eccles. 1.9.
2 If it come from God, the newer it is the better it is, because our old Natures, and Corruptions, and Courses should always be abhorred of us, but grace, and that new man, and new ways of holiness should be acceptable to us.
2 If it come from God, the newer it is the better it is, because our old Natures, and Corruptions, and Courses should alwayes be abhorred of us, but grace, and that new man, and new wayes of holinesse should be acceptable to us.
3 If it be new, and come from God, it is a greater manifestation of God, we may see a greater light in it than ever before.
Use 2 Never look to fulfil this Commandment of imitating Christ, until you become new men, for it is a new Commandment, and a new Commandment requires new obedience, and new obedience requires new spirits, and a new man, do not therefore think to follow Christ with old spirits; thus much of the quality; now follows the reason, For the darkness is past, &c.
Ʋse 2 Never look to fullfill this Commandment of imitating Christ, untill you become new men, for it is a new Commandment, and a new Commandment requires new obedience, and new obedience requires new spirits, and a new man, do not therefore think to follow Christ with old spirits; thus much of the quality; now follows the reason, For the darknesse is past, &c.
It is an excellent description of a godly mans Estate from his first Conversion forward, the word in the Original signifies passing, or a driving away [Greek or Hebrew], it is not so well translated, past, For the opening of the point consider, there is a threefold darkness, and a threefold light.
It is an excellent description of a godly mans Estate from his first Conversion forward, the word in the Original signifies passing, or a driving away 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, it is not so well translated, past, For the opening of the point consider, there is a threefold darknesse, and a threefold light.
1 Darkness of 1 Ignorance, Mat. 4.16. 2 Uncleanness, 2 Cor. 6.16. 3 Affliction or discomfort, Psal. 112.4.
1 Darknesse of 1 Ignorance, Mat. 4.16. 2 Uncleannesse, 2 Cor. 6.16. 3 Affliction or discomfort, Psal. 112.4.
2 Light of 1 Knowledge, Mat. 4.16. 2 Holiness, 2 Cor. 6.16. Ephes. 5 8. 3 Comfort, Psal. 92.11.
2 Light of 1 Knowledge, Mat. 4.16. 2 Holinesse, 2 Cor. 6.16. Ephes. 5 8. 3 Comfort, Psal. 92.11.
It may be spoken of all here, but chiefly of the two former, darkness of ignorance and uncleanness is passing away in a Christian, and light of Knowledge and Holiness is shining forth daily more and more in his heart, Rom. 13.12. the day is at hand, i. e. not yet come, yet near at hand, and the night far spent, i. e. almost gone and spent, yet not so spent as wholly gone, the shadows of the night still remain, but the day begins to dawn, 2 Pet. 1.19. the dawning of the day, is when the shadows of darkness are not yet clearly vanished; and he doth not say the Sun, but the day star, which riseth before the Sun a good while; he there describes the State of the Church till the day of resurrection, the light of the Gospel doth not yet clearly and fully shine, but is only dawning, Christ is in his Children, as a day Star, gives them comfortable light, but the Sun is not yet in his strength, Prov. 4.18. it is not yet perfect day with us, no, not with the best Christians under Heaven, but it grows by degrees, till it be perfect day with them, which is at the day of their dissolution, like to the earthen Pitchers of Gideons men, Judg. 7.16.20. when they brake their Pitchers, the Lamps gloriously shone forth, and dazzled their eyes, thus it is with a Christian when these earthen Pitchers, and carcasses are broken, his light will shine forth gloriously, in the mean time we have light, we have lamps, but they are in Pitchers, shining very dimly.
It may be spoken of all here, but chiefly of the two former, darknesse of ignorance and uncleannesse is passing away in a Christian, and light of Knowledge and Holinesse is shining forth daily more and more in his heart, Rom. 13.12. the day is at hand, i. e. not yet come, yet near at hand, and the night far spent, i. e. almost gone and spent, yet not so spent as wholly gone, the shadows of the night still remain, but the day begins to dawn, 2 Pet. 1.19. the dawning of the day, is when the shaddows of darknesse are not yet clearly vanished; and he doth not say the Sun, but the day star, which riseth efore the Sun a good while; he there describes the State of the Church till the day of resurrection, the light of the Gospel doth not yet clearly and fully shine, but is only dawning, Christ is in his Children, as a day Star, gives them comfortable light, but the Sun is not yet in his strength,