A34689:1494
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.
Reas. 2. From the enmity they have against our souls, 1 Pet. 2.11. Dearly beloved, as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which fight against your souls; they fight against your souls, and so fight, that either you must kill them, or they will kill your souls; either mortify them, or they will mortify your souls; either captivate them, or they will captivate your souls. Therefore seeing they are so contrary to God, and any Spiritual life, and our own souls, as we would not have our lusts hinder our peace with God, and eat out our grace, as we would maintain our communion with God, and the life of our souls, Love not the world, nor the lusts of the world.
Reas. 2. From the enmity they have against our souls, 1 Pet. 2.11. Dearly beloved, as strangers and pilgrimes abstain from fleshly lusts which fight against your souls; they fight against your souls, and so fight, that either you must kill them, or they will kill your souls; either mortifie them, or they will mortifie your souls; either captivate them, or they will captivate your souls. Therefore seeing they are so contrary to God, and any Spiritual life, and our own souls, as we would not have our lusts hinder our peace with God, and eat out our grace, as we would maintain our communion with God, and the life of our souls, Love not the world, nor the lusts of the world.
Use 1. To teach us, it is not enough for us to abstain from outward gross sins, but love not your lusts: thou mayest refrain from the outward acts of sin, but yet thy heart may be strongly affected towards sin, and thou mayest delight therein; if thou dost, thou lovest the world, and the things of the world; therefore labour to cleanse your selves from secret lusts. Circumcision was the cutting off the fore-skin of a secret member, and yet God would have another Circumcision more secret, and that is of the heart, we must not content our selves with outward reformation, but circumcise our hearts: