A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…

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;

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.

Doct. The state of the Children of God in this Life, is as darkness passing, and true light now shining.

Doct. The state of the Children of God in this Life, is as darknesse passing, and true light now shining.

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,

Q. If we had been perfected the first day, and the light had shined gloriously forth at the first, had it not been better?

A. Yes, if God had been pleased so to have done, but God would not have it so, and therefore it were not better, God rather sees it fit that we should carry our light in earthen Vessels, wherein there is partly darkness, and partly light, 2 Cor. 4.7. and that for these reasons.

A. Yes, if God had been pleased so to have done, but God would not have it so, and therefore it were not better, God rather sees it fit that we should carry our light in earthen Vessels, wherein there is partly darknesse, and partly light, 2 Cor. 4.7. and that for these reasons.

Reas. 1 That God might show his power in our weakness, 2 Cor. 12 9, 10. we should never have known Christs vetrue, the power of Grace, or the depth of our corruptions, if we had been perfected the first day of our conversion, as God made the world by degrees, and described it so, because he would have us discern his power, so God doth display the power of his grace, by perfecting us by degrees and not all at once.

Reas. 1 That God might shew his power in our weaknesse, 2 Cor. 12 9, 10. we should never have known Christs vetrue, the power of Grace, or the depth of our corruptions, if wee had been perfected the first day of our conversion, as God made the world by degrees, and described it so, because he would have us discern his power, so God doth display the power of his grace, by perfecting us by degrees and not all at once.

Reas. 2 That God might teach us to war with spiritual enemies, as God left Canaanites among those Israelites, that had not known, and were untaught in the wars of Canaan, to prove them, and to know, if they would hearken to Gods Commandments, Judg. 3.3. so God leaves his Children some inbred enemies still in their souls, to humble us, and to prove us, and try if we will cleave to him; besides Jesus Christ loves and takes delight in ruling especially at home, in the midst of his enemies (Psal. 110.2.) in the midst of our corruptions; in the midst of unbelief; Faith rules in the midst of pride; Humility rules; in the midst of anger; Meekness rules; &c. Grace gets ground in the midst of corruptions, which is to the glory of Jesus Christ.

Reas. 2 That God might teach us to war with spirituall enemies, as God left Canaanites among those Isralites, that had not known, and were untaught in the wars of Canaan, to prove them, and to know, if they would hearken to Gods Commandements, Judg. 3.3. so God leaves his Children some imbred enemies still in their soules, to humble us, and to prove us, and try if wee will cleave to him; besides Jesus Christ loves and takes delight in ruling especially at home, in the midst of his enemies (Psal. 110.2.) in the midst of our corruptions; in the midst of unbelief; Faith rules in the midst of pride; Humility rules; in the midst of anger; Meeknesse rules; &c. Grace gets ground in the midst of corruptions, which is to the glory of Jesus Christ.