A34689:1413
A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first…
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.
Means to help a young man to this Spiritual strength, and grow in it.
1 Truth of grace; no man by any outward performance only can be strong; a shadow of a man may be like a man, but it hath no strength; truth of grace and power go together, but where there is no truth there is no power, 2 Tim. 3.5. therefore as we would be powerful in godliness, let us do duties with hearty affection, do all things in obedience to God, and to do him service, and this very truth and sincerity will grow up to such strength, as you may go further conquering and to conquer.
1 Truth of grace; no man by any outward performance only can be strong; a shadow of a man may be like a man, but it hath no strength; truth of grace and power go together, but where there is no truth there is no power, 2 Tim. 3.5. therefore as we would be powerful in godlinesse, let us do duties with hearty affection, do all things in obedience to God, and to do him service, and this very truth and sincerity will grow up to such strength, as you may go further conquering and to conquer.
2 To get strength, we must get wholesome and good diet, and feed heartily on it; so if we would get Spiritual strength, we must feed on the Ordinances of God, the Word of God, 1 Pet. 2.1, 2. no man that receives the Word and Sacrament with a good heart, but he grows strong thereby, they are meat and drink indeed, and it is not enough to hear, but especially attend to it, and apply that which belongs to you; this is a means whereby you may grow strong, and put forth your strength to it: water it with Prayer, and look up to God for a Blessing: thus if a young man feed on these wholesome meats he will grow strong; indeed if a man feed on windy meats he will never grow strong: so if men affect tricks of Elegance, and Wit, and Speech, such will be filled only with vain empty Notions, but he that feeds on wholesome food, on the purity and simplicity of Gods own Ordinances, will grow in strength.