A34689:1565
A34689:1565
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.
Q. How shall I know whether I had all my blessings, as from my Father, my Wife or Children, or Riches, or Calling?
A. 1. Whatsoever you have obtained by Prayer, it is a good sign you have had it from God, as a Father hearing prayer, 1 Sam. 1.27. so whatsoever profit or pleasure, or credit you have, if you have obtained it by prayer, it is a sign you had it from God as your Father.
A. 1. Whatsoever you have obtained by Prayer, it is a good sign you have had it from God, as a Father hearing prayer, 1 Sam. 1.27. so whatsoever profit or pleasure, or credit you have, if you have obtained it by prayer, it is a signe you had it from God as your Father.
Obj. I have many things which I never prayed for, I have it may be Wife, and Friends, and Honour, and Calling, that I never prayed for, may I have comfort in them?
2. In the second place therefore a man may say, he hath a thing from the Father, when he hath it by fellowship with Christ, Ephes. 5.17. many times God gives us things out of his love in Christ, that we never thought of, for our hearts are shallow, and empty, and not able to comprehend what God is able to do, for he is able to do above all we can think, or ask, therefore let us get hold of Christ, and then we need fear no blessing.
2. In the second place therefore a man may say, he hath a thing from the Father, when he hath it by fellowship with Christ, Ephes. 5.17. many times God gives us things out of his love in Christ, that we never thought of, for our hearts are shallow, and empty, and not able to comprehend what God is able to doe, for he is able to doe above all we can think, or ask, therefore let us get hold of Christ, and then we need fear no blessing.
3. Whatsoever you receive by Faith, that is from the Father, Mat. 8.13. if you believe, God will do whatsoever he sees needful; and we believe he is able to do above what we are able to ask; now we receive it by faith, when either we reach it and bring it by faith, or if not so, yet we have it, and receive it by lawful means as a pledge of Gods love, and when we have it use it to his glory, for though we get it not by Faith yet we hold it by Faith, now Faith is adequate to our calling, the just lives by his Faith in every several calling, so that if we come by it in a lawful calling, any credit, or profit, or pleasure, ⟨p. 123⟩Faith gives us to see that it comes from Gods ordinance, so that we may comfort our selves in it; therefore be exhorted, whatsoever God gives not in his ordinance, let us not reach to it, so that we are to be weaned from all pleasures, and profits, and honours, if they come not from Gods providence by lawful means.
3. Whatsoever you receive by Faith, that is from the Father, Mat. 8.13. if you believe, God will doe whatsoever he sees needfull; and we believe he is able to doe above what we are able to ask; now we receive it by faith, when either we reach it and bring it by faith, or if not so, yet we have it, and receive it by lawfull means as a pledge of Gods love, and when we have it use it to his glory, for though we get it not by Faith yet we hold it by Faith, now Faith is adequate to our calling, the just lives by his Faith in every severall calling, so that if we come by it in a lawfull calling, any credit, or profit, or pleasure, ⟨p. 123⟩Faith gives us to see that it comes from Gods ordinance, so that we may comfort our selves in it; therefore be exhorted, whatsoever God gives not in his ordinance, let us not reach to it, so that we are to be weaned from all pleasures, and profits, and honours, if they come not from Gods providence by lawfull means.
2 You must be quiet and content without them; and Thirdly, whatsoever you receive from God in his ordinance, you may use it comfortably.
1 John 5 18. The whole World lies in these lusts, Gal. 1.4. that he might deliver us from this present evil World, James 3.15. this wisdom is not from above, but earthly.
1 John 5 18. The whole World lies in these lusts, Gal. 1.4. that he might deliver us from this present evill World, James 3.15. this wisdome is not from above, but earthly.
Object. But God made the World, and therefore that which comes from the World, comes from God.
Ans. The World is taken for the system of heaven and earth, Acts 17.24. secondly, for sinful men, Gal. 4.4. John 15.19. thirdly, corrupt customs and fashions of the World, Rom. 12.1. fourthly, for endowments of the World, as honour, riches, &c. the first and last, wisely used, are from the Father, but here he understands the second and the third, corrupt men, and corrupt customs, and the fourth ill used, 2 Pet. 1.4. having escaped the corruption that is in the World, through lust; these are from the World.
Ans. The World is taken for the systeme of heaven and earth, Acts 17.24. secondly, for sinfull men, Gal. 4.4. John 15.19. thirdly, corrupt customes and fashions of the World, Rom. 12.1. fourthly, for indowments of the World, as honour, riches, &c. the first and last, wisely used, are from the Father, but here he understands the second and the third, corrupt men, and corrupt customes, and the fourth ill used, 2 Pet. 1.4. having escaped the corruption that is in the World, through lust; these are from the World.
1. As a corrupt Principle or Fountain; the heart being empty of Gods image, and not able to attain it, it doth subsidere in outward things; If God doth vouchsafe his Grace, it attains above the World; being not thus assisted, it falls below it self; the soul we see contented with earthly things, is woefully corrupted.
1. As a corrupt Principle or Fountain; the heart being empty of Gods image, and not able to attain it, it doth subsidere in outward things; If God doth vouchsafe his Grace, it attains above the World; being not thus assisted, it falls below it selfe; the soul we see contented with earthly things, is wofully corrupted.
2. As a Pattern; when men accommodate themselves to the lusts of other men, some to this mans covetousness, others to that mans pride, this is the conformity to the World, which Paul forbids.
2. As a Pattern; when men accomodate themselves to the lusts of other men, some to this mans covetousnesse, others to that mans pride, this is the conformity to the World, which Paul forbids.
3. As an Object; the Object is often the cause of its adjunct, ex visu nascitur amor, so Achan saw a wedge of gold and coveted it, so these endowments of the World falling upon our corrupt hearts, work in us these lusts; these lawful honours, and pleasures, and profits, by accident effect lust in us, they abuse us, when we look at them as subsisting of themselves, not tending to Gods Glory; our desires must not be confined, or terminated in them.
3. As an Object; the Object is often the cause of its adjunct, ex visu nascitur amor, so Achan saw a wedge of gold and coveted it, so these endowments of the World falling upon our corrupt hearts, work in us these lusts; these lawfull honours, and pleasures, and profits, by accident effect lust in us, they abuse us, when we look at them as subsisting of themselves, not tending to Gods Glory; our desires must not be confined, or terminated in them.
Use 1. All Gods Children, old and young, are to be weaned from these lusts, they are of the World, and not of the Father; in the World, we must live above the World; the darkness is past, the light now shineth, when the Sun shines, men call one another to the heat of it, so let us; these lusts make us unholy, unmeet for this heavenly off-spring; the Holy Ghost lays a base imputation upon the dug of the World, to wean us from it; it would discourage a noble spirit, to match with a base-born Creature, let us not therefore strike matches with the World, which is so base and odious.
Ʋse 1. All Gods Children, old and young, are to be weaned from these lusts, they are of the World, and not of the Father; in the World, we must live above the World; the darknesse is past, the light now shineth, when the Sun shines, men call one another to the heat of it, so let us; these lusts make us unholy, unmeet for this heavenly off-spring; the Holy Ghost layes a base imputation upon the dug of the World, to wean us from it; it would discourage a noble spirit, to match with a base-born Creature, let us not therefore strike matches with the World, which is so base and odious.
This is the Major, the Minor was before, they must be weaned from all things that look not at God as the Fountain and end.