A34689:1337
A34689:1337
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.
A. It is a borrowed speech from the Victory of Soldiers in War, and Soldiers overcome either by killing their enemy, or spoiling, or captivating, or putting to flight their enemies, now Satan cannot be put to death, he is a Spirit, and so is not capable of death, only of the second death.
A. It is a borrowed speech from the Victory of Souldiers in War, and Souldiers overcome either by killing their enemy, or spoyling, or captivating, or putting to flight their enemies, now Satan cannot be put to death, he is a Spirit, and so is not capable of death, onely of the second death.
But for the two last, so young-men may overcome Satan, they may spoil him, and put him to flight, for spoiling, Christ hath done the worst, Col. 1.15. he hath spoiled Satan. But,
But for the two last, so young-men may overcome Satan, they may spoile him, and put him to flight, for spoyling, Christ hath done the worst, Col. 1.15. he hath spoyled Satan. But,
1. For putting him to flight, Young men may do this, James 4.7. which implies, that there is a possibility in young men, and a power to stand, and not to yield to his temptations; for though he hath a power to delude our Senses, and may hurry a mans body about, yet he cannot captivate our Wills, therefore stand, resist, give no place, and if you do so, he will fly from you for shame, he hath no power longer to hold out, when he sees a man stand out against him; God hath not given him liberty to pursue us unto death, but if we stand out against him, he will fly from us. So it was with our Saviour, first he tempted him about his Son-ship, If thou be the Son of God command that these stones be made bread; then he tempted him to presumption, to cast himself down from the Pinnacle of the Temple; and then he tempted him with the glory of the World, All these will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me; but because our Saviour still resisted his temptations, and Satan could not prevail, he departed; if a man stand out strongly, Satan flies indeed, if a man yield never so little, he makes use of the least advantage, and will press it; but if you stand fast, and yield not, he will be gone from you, his very pride and insolency makes him scorn to trouble himself with any Creature, he disdains to be overcome by him, therefore he will depart. Thus ⟨p. 99⟩Joseph was strongly assaulted, Gen. 39.9. but he resists and answers with much affection, How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? He had long resisted and stood out against the temptations of his Mistress, and therefore she no more solicits him with that thing, but takes another course, falsely to accuse him to his Master, and so caused him to be cast into prison.
1. For putting him to flight, Young men may doe this, James 4.7. which implies, that there is a possibility in young men, and a power to stand, and not to yield to his temptations; for though he hath a power to delude our Sences, and may hurry a mans body about, yet he cannot captivate our Wills, therefore stand, resist, give no place, and if you doe so, he will fly from you for shame, he hath no power longer to hold out, when he sees a man stand out against him; God hath not given him liberty to pursue us unto death, but if we stand out against him, he will fly from us. So it was with our Saviour, first he tempted him about his Son-ship, If thou be the Son of God command that these stones be made bread; then he tempted him to presumption, to cast himselfe down from the Pinacle of the Temple; and then he tempted him with the glory of the World, All these will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me; but because our Saviour still resisted his temptations, and Satan could not prevail, he departed; if a man stand out strongly, Satan flies indeed, if a man yield never so little, he makes use of the least advantage, and will presse it; but if you stand fast, and yield not, he will be gone from you, his very pride and insolency makes him scorne to trouble himselfe with any Creature, he disdains to be overcome by him, therefore he will depart. Thus
2. A Young-man may not only put him to flight, but he may also spoil Satan, that is, he may take advantage by his assaults, to grow more wary, more holy, more obedient, more fruitful, and so he spoils Satan; if a Christian enrich his spirit by the temptations he meets with, he makes a spoil of Satan; the riches of the Soldier is the spoil of the Enemy: when young men stand fast, and make a spoil of Satan, and grow more humble, and meek, and obedient, they shall so much the more overcome Satan; Job was strongly tempted by Satan to blaspheme God, but yet he stands fast, and not only so, but takes occasion to bless God, Job 1.21. so when Satan tempts him by his wife, see how he answers, Job 2.10. Michal tempts David by deriding him, when he danced before the Ark, but he grew more zealous by it, 2 Sam. 6.20, 21. so John 3.26. They would have stirred up John to emulate Christ, but that stirred him up to magnify him more than ever he did before, and give the most honourable Testimony of him.
2. A Young-man may not onely put him to flight, but he may also spoyl Satan, that is, he may take advantage by his assaults, to grow more wary, more holy, more obedient, more fruitfull, and so he spoils Satan; if a Christian enrich his spirit by the temptations he meets with, he makes a spoile of Satan; the riches of the Souldier is the spoil of the Enemy: when young men stand fast, and make a spoil of Satan, and grow more humble, and meek, and obedient, they shall so much the more overcome Satan; Job was strongly tempted by Satan to blaspheme God, but yet he stands fast, and not onely so, but takes occasion to blesse God, Job 1.21. so when Satan tempts him by his wife, see how he answers, Job 2.10. Michal tempts David by deriding him, when he danced before the Ark, but he grew more zealous by it, 2 Sam. 6.20, 21. so
Q. How come young men to overcome Satan?
1. By the blood of the Lamb, his power is quelled by the death of Christ.
1. By the bloud of the Lamb, his power is queld by the death of Christ.
2. By the power of the Word that dwells in them, v. 14.
3. By the power of the Spirit, that is stronger in them, than he that is in the world, 1 John 4.3, 4.
Use 1. Since young men may, and do so overcome the World, it must teach young men to make this their glory, to be fighting this spiritual battle; there is no gifts they should so much please themselves in, as in this, Prov. 20.29. What a shame is it for young men to show their strength in pouring down strong drink, and spend their strength upon women? what a pitiful thing is it, for young men to strive to overcome one another in drinking and gaming? &c. nay, were they valiant in war, yet how much more honourable is it to fight the Lords battles, to over-wrestle our lusts? when a young man shall single out that grand Captain the Devil, and foil him in war, that is truly honourable; if Satan in a special manner strive to overcome you, then strive you most against him, stand out against him, resist him, and yield not to him; and examine what spiritual battles you have had with Satan, if none, then your case is not good.
Ʋse 1. Since young men may, and doe so overcome the World, it must teach young men to make this their glory, to be fighting this spiritual battell; there is no gifts they should so much please themselves in, as in this, Prov. 20.29. What a shame is it for young men to shew their strength in powring down strong drink, and spend their strength upon women? what a pittifull thing is it, for young men to strive to overcome one another in drinking and gaming? &c. nay, were they valiant in war, yet how much more honourable is it to fight the Lords battells, to over-wrestle our lusts? when a young man shall single out that grand Captain the Devill, and foil him in war, that is truly honourable; if Satan in a speciall manner strive to overcome you, then strive you most against him, stand out against him, resist him, and yield not to him; and examine what spirituall battells you have had with Satan, if none, then your case is not good.
Use 2. May hearten the feeblest Christians not to be discouraged with conflicts; many a soul saith, my corruptions are so strong, and my lusts so powerful, I shall never be able to stand out against them, and overcome them, why St. John writes here to young men, whose corruptions were strong and violent, and yet he saith, You have overcome the wicked one.
Ʋse 2. May hearten the feeblest Christians not to be discouraged with conflicts; many a soul saith, my corruptions are so strong, and my lusts so powerfull, I shall never be able to stand out against them, and overcome them, why St. John writes here to young men, whose corruptions were strong and violent, and yet he saith, You have overcome the wicked one.
Use 3. Of reproof to old men and children, if they do not overcome; children are not come to, and old men are past the dints of lusts; therefore they may be the more ashamed, if they be given to voluptuousness, and gluttony, and gaming, and lying, and company-keeping; Children and old men, their bodies are dead to such lusts.
Ʋse 3. Of reproof to old men and children, if they doe not overcome; children are not come to, and old men are past the dints of lusts; therefore they may be the more ashamed, if they be given to voluptuousnesse, and gluttony, and gaming, and lying, and company-keeping; Children and old men, their bodies are dead to such lusts.
Use 4. It exhorts all, though we cannot put Satan to death, or captivate him, yet what we may do, let us do; in every temptation, let us stand fast, and put him to flight, and labour by temptations to spoil him, let his temptations make you more humble, and fruitful, and obedient: this is the greatest honour of a Christian, thus to put Satan to flight and spoil him.
Ʋse 4. It exhorts all, though we cannot put Satan to death, or captivate him, yet what we may doe, let us doe; in every temptation, let us stand fast, and put him to flight, and labour by temptations to spoil him, let his temptations make you more humble, and fruitfull, and obedient: this is the greatest honour of a Christian, thus to put Satan to flight and spoil him.
1 JOHN 2.13. The latter end. I write unto you Babes, because you have known the Father.
WE have heard of old men, and young men, now we come to his Apostolical writing to Babes.