A34689:1561
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.
Ans. It is one thing when God gives us a blessing in his Providence, another, when he gives us a blessing in his Ordinances, we may have many things by way of Gods providence, and yet have little comfort in them; it was his providence to give them up to their lusts, it was Gods providence that sent Monarchs against Nations that they had no right to; so Gods providence you will say, sends a Bribe, I never fought after it, but we must not reason thus, for these are but trials of our obedience, and not for seduction; so if a Bribe comes, God tries whether you will shake your hands against it; so if an Harlot press on you, God tries your chastity by this, this is Gods providence; but if God offer us a thing in an Ordinance, that is either by his Command, or our Calling, that we may safely take, Heb. 5.4. so that Gods Command, and our Calling are Gods Ordinances: whatsoever he calls us to receive, he ordains, and whatsoever he calls us not to receive, he ordains not: so that whatsoever is ordained by God in his Ordinance, that we may take, but ⟨p. 122⟩what comes not thus, let us shake it off.
Ans. It is one thing when God gives us a blessing in his Providence, another, when he gives us a blessing in his Ordinances, we may have many things by way of Gods providence, and yet have little comfort in them; it was his providence to give them up to their lusts, it was Gods providence that sent Monarchs against Nations that they had no right to; so Gods providence you will say, sends a Bribe, I never fought after it, but we must not reason thus, for these are but tryalls of our obedience, and not for seduction; so if a Bribe comes, God tries whether you will shake your hands against it; so if an Harlot presse on you, God tries your chastity by this, this is Gods providence; but if God offer us a thing in an Ordinance, that is either by his Command, or our Calling, that we may safely take, Heb. 5.4. so that Gods Command, and our Calling are Gods Ordinances: whatsoever he calls us to receive, he ordains, and whatsoever he calls us not to receive, he ordains not: so that whatsoever is ordained by God in his Ordinance, that we may take, but ⟨p. 122⟩what comes not thus, let us shake it off.