A34689:1440
A34689:1440
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 If a man do give up his heart to God and will set on a good course, yet ⟨p. 108⟩he will make him live in pensiveness, and fears, and doubts; now against this the Word is powerful, there are Commands to believe, 1 Joh. 3.23. 1 Joh. 5.1. Mat. 11.28. there are Threatenings if a man believes not, Joh. 3. ult. and there are notable Promises to him that believes, Joh. 3. ult. many Examples, Paul believed on God, and he was pardoned, so Mary Magdalen, and others.
2 If a man do give up his heart to God and will set on a good course, yet ⟨p. 108⟩he will make him live in pensivenesse, and fears, and doubts; now against this the Word is powerful, there are Commands to believe, 1 Joh. 3.23. 1 Joh. 5.1. Mat. 11.28. there are Threatnings if a man believes not, Joh. 3. ult. and there are notable Promises to him that believes, Joh. 3. ult. many Examples, Paul believed on God, and he was pardoned, so Mary Magdalen, and others.
3 If a mans heart be satisfied in the pardon of sin, then Satan will tempt him with some base Lusts that may defile and wound his Conscience, now against this the Word hath.
3 If a mans heart be satified in the pardon of sin, then Satan will tempt him with some base Lusts that may defile and wound his Conscience, now against this the Word hath.
First, Commands, 1 Thes. 4.3. 1 Pet. 1. Be ye holy as I am holy, Mat. 5. ult.
Secondly, Promises, Rom. 2.6, to 8. and Threatenings to discourage him, and Examples to encourage him, as Paul, Act. 24.16. I exercise my self to keep a good Conscience.
Secondly, Promises, Rom. 2.6, to 8. and Threatnings to discourage him, and Examples to encourage him, as Paul, Act. 24.16. I exercise my self to keep a good Conscience.
Q But how comes the Word to be thus powerful, to overcome all the enemies of Salvation?
A. 1 Because it is the sword of the Spirit, to cut asunder all lusts and temptations, Ephes. 6.17. No man hath more need of a sword to defend himself, or offend his enemy, than young men have of the Word to defend themselves, and resist Satan, and it is not so much the Letter of the Word, as the Spirit of the Word that doth this, the Word cuts off all temptations, there is no place for invasion.
Use 1 To teach us, as we desire to walk in the World as Masters of the Field, so as not to be beaten out, and kept off either from Repentance, or Faith, or Sanctification, let this be our care, to have the Word of God ingrafted in us, this is all our strength against temptations.
Ʋse 1 To teach us, as we desire to walk in the World as Masters of the Field, so as not to be beaten out, and kept off either from Repentance, or Faith, or Sanctification, let this be our care, to have the Word of God ingrafted in us, this is all our strength against temptations.
Q. But how shall I get the Word of God to abide in me?
A. 1. Be sure you keep your hearts broken and clean, and if it be broken and clean, the Word will abide there, and will have the rule and dominion, for the Word of God dwells in a trembling heart, Isa. 66.2. if we receive it with fear and reverence, this very reverence will over-rule us; Psal 119.161. what is the reason why Princes could not prevail against him? because his heart stood in awe of Gods Word; so that is an antidote against all temptations, and persecutions; What if Princes rise against you, that Prince of Darkness, Satan, and his Angels? if the Word dwell in you, it will help you to resist them; what if evil company come against you? if the Word dwell in you it will help you; How shall I do this great wickedness, &c. the Word of God dwells in broken vessels; and withal keep the Vessel clean, keep your hearts pure, come to the Word resolved not to keep any Lust, that is the reason why Herod came not on, because he clave to his Lusts, to his Herodias, wherefore lay aside all filthiness and superfluity, and receive with meekness the ingrafted Word of God, Jam. 2.1. if you come to the Word with a broken and clean heart, it will abide you.
A. 1. Be sure you keep your hearts broken and clean, and if it be broken and clean, the Word will abide there, and will have the rule and dominion, for the Word of God dwells in a trembling heart, Isa. 66.2. if we receive it with fear and reverence, this very reverence will over-rule us; Psal 119.161. what is the reason why Princes could not prevaile against him? because his heart stood in awe of Gods Word; so that is an antidote against all temptations, and persecutions; What if Princes rise against you, that Prince of Darknesse, Satan, and his Angels? if the Word dwell in you, it will help you to resist them; what if evil company come against you? if the Word dwell in you it will help you; How shall I do this great wickednesse, &c. the Word of God dwells in broken vessels; and withall keep the Vessel clean, keep your hearts pure, come to the Word resolved not to keep any Lust, that is the reason why Herod came not on, because he clave to his Lusts, to his Herodias, wherefore lay aside all filthinesse and superfluity, and receive with meeknesse the ingrafted Word of God, Jam. 2.1. if you come to the Word with a broken and clean heart, it will abide you.
2 Look at the Word as wonderful, as very effectual to do great things, and that will make thee keep the Word in thee; thus saith David, Psalm 119.129. the sense of the great efficacy of the Word, to humble you, and cleanse you, &c. will make you keep the Word.
2 Look at the Word as wonderful, as very effectual to do great things, and that will make thee keep the Word in thee; thus saith David, Psalm 119.129. the sence of the great efficacy of the Word, to humble you, and cleanse you, &c. will make you keep the Word.
3 Another means is, to look up to God to send his Spirit, that may bring to mind those things which you have need of, and fasten them to your hearts; though you forget the Word for the present, yet when you are tempered to any Lust, the Spirit will bring it to your remembrance, Isa. 30.21. You shall hear a voice behind you, saying, This is the way walk in it.
3 Another means is, to look up to God to send his Spirit, that may bring to minde those things which you have need of, and fasten them to your hearts; though you forget the Word for the present, yet when you are tempred to any Lust, the Spirit will bring it to your remembrance, Isa. 30.21. You shall hear a voyce behind you, saying, This is the way walk in it.
5 Confer of the Word, it is a great help to make it abide in you, teaching it to others, searching the Scripture, Act. 17.11, 12.
6 If you would have the Word abide in you, give up your souls to a conscionable obedience of whatsoever you hear, if you resolve to keep it, it ⟨p. 109⟩will mightily keep you against the World, against Satan, against your Lusts; he that would keep his heart in a good frame, let his heart stick close to the Word, and the Word to it, let them be riveted together, that you may love the Word, and rejoice in it, this is the very way to have the Word abide in you; as therefore you desire to be Conquerors, Let the Word dwell richly in you, Col. 3.16. Isa. 11.9. that so you may grow up to abundance of knowledge; look at it as a wonderful Word, and submit your souls to it; ponder on it, confer about it, and this will help you against all Temptations.
6 If you would have the Word abide in you, give up your souls to a conscionable obedience of whatsoever you hear, if you resolve to keep it, it ⟨p. 109⟩will mightily keep you against the World, against Satan, against your Lusts; he that would keep his heart in a good frame, let his heart stick close to the Word, and the Word to it, let them be riveted together, that you may love the Word, and rejoyce in it, this is the very way to have the Word abide in you; as therefore you desire to be Conquerors, Let the Word dwell richly in you, Col. 3.16. Isa. 11.9. that so you may grow up to abundance of knowledge; look at it as a wonderfull Word, and submit your souls to it; ponder on it, conferre about it, and this will help you against all Temptations.
1 JOH. 2.15. Love not the world, nor the things of the world, &c.
The Apostle having exhorted to many Duties, as keeping the Commandments, and walking as Christ walked; here he removes an impediment which might hinder all, and that is, Love of the world; and he writes here to young men, and old men chiefly, to little Babes he writes, verse 18. In this verse we have a prohibition of Love in respect of a double Object; 1 The world. 2 The things of the world. This prohibition is grounded on a three-fold reason; 1 From the removal of the love of the Father from such. 2 Love not the things of the world; because whosoever is in the world, is either the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life, and is not of the Father, vers. 16. 3 From the transitoriness of the World, and the contrary permanency of the love of God, v. 17.
THe Apostle having exhorted to many Duties, as keeping the Commandments, and walking as Christ walked; here hee removes an impediment which might hinder all, and that is, Love of the world; and he writes here to young men, and old men chiefly, to little Babes he writes, verse 18. In this verse we have a prohibition of Love in respect of a double Object; 1 The world. 2 The things of the world. This prohibition is grounded on a three-fold reason; 1 From the removal of the love of the Father from such. 2 Love not the things of the world; because whosoever is in the world, is either the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life, and is not of the Father, vers. 16. 3 From the transitoriness of the World, and the contrary permanency of the love of God, v. 17.