A34689:1630
A34689:1630
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.
First, Either in unseasonable objects; or secondly, In excessive measure; or thirdly, when we use them not to a right end.
1 When we sleep at such times as are unseasonable to sleep and be drowsy.
1 When we sleep at such times as are unseasonable to sleep and be drowzy.
1 In holy duties, when we are so drowsy that we cannot attend to them, the very inclination to sleep is now a sinful lust; this lust fell heavily on Eutiches, Acts 20.29. an heavy sleep fell on him, and an heavy hand of God followed it, which showed his judgement, though he restored him, because he ⟨p. 128⟩would not have such assemblies scandalized, but always some hand of God or other falls on them, either in body or soul; however the spirit gets such a cold by such sleepiness and drowsiness, that a man finds it lustful.
1 In holy duties, when we are so drowzy that we cannot attend to them, the very inclination to sleep is now a sinfull lust; this lust fell heavily on Eutiches, Acts 20.29. an heavy sleep fell on him, and an heavy hand of God followed it, which shewed his judgement, though he restored him, because he ⟨p. 128⟩would not have such assemblies scandalized, but alwayes some hand of God or other falls on them, either in body or soul; however the spirit gets such a cold by such sleepinesse and drowsinesse, that a man findes it lustfull.
2 So in the duties of a mans calling, if a man be drowsy, this is a lust of the flesh, Prov. 10.15. He that sleeps in harvest is a shameful Son, he shames himself and his Master, and indeed the fitness of his work implies, that in harvest he should be at it early and late, not but that a man may take a little sleep to fit him for his work, but when the Sun is risen and calls him to his business, he loves his bed, this is a lust of the fl sh, and this is called deceitful working; Cursed is he that doth his work deceitfully, that is, with such deceit as comes from slackness, for so it is interpreted, Prov. 10.14. and the Metaphor is taken from a bow that is slack bent, which deceives, Psal. 68.57. a man never reaches the mark he aims at, because it is not strongly bent, so when a mans heart is not strongly bent to his business, he will never reach to his business throughly to purpose, and so it is a deceitful work; cursed is he that aims at any business with a slack bent hand, Prov. 29.9. He that is slothful in his business, is Brother to a great waster; a slothful man and a prodigal, are both of one womb, bred of the same lust of the flesh, and so wastes that which he might have increased, Eccl. 4.5, 6. Better is an handful with ease, &c. saith the sluggard, but such a one shall come to beggary, Prov. 26.21. Idleness will clothe a man with rags, rags will be their raiment, Prov. 19.15. he doth not only mean that an Idle person shall want outward means, but were he of better means yet he shall find his body shall be so distempered, that he shall have no stomach to his meat, so that an idle person, shall either want meat, or a stomach to eat it, when as a diligent shall have both, but that is not all, for it may be extended to the soul; by rising late, and being drowsy, he is so distempered, that he either omits good duties, or else he finds no favour, nor life, nor strength in them.
In Gods ordinances we complain of sluggishness, but is not the fault in our selves? better fares a sluggish soul with an handful with ease, &c. so a sluggish man roasteth not that which he catcheth in hunting, it hath no warmth, no spirit in it; our bodies and souls should be as a burnt sacrifice, therefore must not be cold; and to this end, he exhorts us not to be sluggish in business, Eccl. 9.7. whatsoever thou doest, do it with all thy might; therefore when we have any work to do that requires diligence, yea though it were to slaughter the enemy, as he understands it, Jer. 48.10. Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord deceitfully, that keeps back his sword from blood.
In Gods ordinances we complain of sluggishnesse, but is not the fault in our selves? better fares a sluggish soul with an handfull with ease, &c. so a sluggish man rosteth not that which he catcheth in hunting, it hath no warmth, no spirit in it; our bodies and souls should be as a burnt sacrifice, therefore must not be cold; and to this end, he exhorts us not to be sluggish in businesse, Eccl. 9.7. whatsoever thou doest, doe it with all thy might; therefore when we have any work to doe that requires diligence, yea though it were to slaughter the enemy, as he understands it, Jer. 48.10. Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord deceitfully, that keeps back his sword from blood.
2 It is a lust of the flesh, when a man is carried to sleep above due measure, Prov. 5.9, 10, 11. poverty comes on such a one suddenly and strongly, most mens natures require seven hours sleep, some eight, and that is the most; and if we observe it; we shall find the same distempers arise from too much sleep, that arise from want of sleep, it makes the body drowsy, and the brain dull, and makes a man unfit for any thing.
2 It is a lust of the flesh, when a man is carried to sleep above due measure, Prov. 5.9, 10, 11. poverty comes on such a one suddenly and strongly, most mens natures require seven hours sleep, some eight, and that is the most; and if we observe it; we shall finde the same distempers arise from too much sleep, that arise from want of sleep, it makes the body drowzy, and the brain dull, and makes a man unfit for any thing.
3 This love of Sleep and Rest is a lust of the flesh, when we use it not to a right end; now the end of all Sleep and Rest, is to refresh the Spirit and strengthen the body, and help digestion, like the unbending of a Bow to make it stronger, if a Bow stand always bent it weakens it; therefore so much Sleep as may help digestion and comfort and refresh a mans body and spirit, God allows; God knows all the Comforts of this life are little enough to uphold us against vexations and discouragements, but when a man is grown to love Sleep and Ease, a little more Sleep, a little more Slumber, one ease after another, and never looks how to employ it to Gods service, now he propounds no right end, but we ease our selves that we may be eased, and never look further than Ease and Sleep, and so we rest in the Creature, and never look up to God, to whom all our Ease and refreshment should tend, otherwise its a Lust of the Flesh, because we look no further, but to satisfy the Flesh, Prov. 26.14. As a door sometimes turns this way and that way, but ⟨p. 129⟩is never off the Hinges; so a sluggard would toss himself from one side to another; the door hath some end in turning upon the Hinges, to open and shut, but a Sluggard doth no good by it, but rolls himself from one side to another, after he is satisfied with Sleep, but cannot get up, and then when he is up, he doth nothing but roll himself from one thing to another, he hath no settled business to employ himself about, but takes care what to do, he goes from one Company to another, from one Game to another, till he shuts out the day, and then he returns to his Rest and Ease and sleep again, as it was with Peter, James, and John, Mat. 26.41. when Christ called on them to watch and pray, he comes and finds them sleeping, what saith he, the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak; even then when he had most need, and themselves also, of watchfulness, they fell into drowsiness, and so fell into Temptation, that they all left Christ, and Peter especially; Simon sleepest thou, whom Satan desires to winnow? For thee now to Sleep is a Lust of the Flesh. Let us therefore so look at Sleep and Ease as that we must give account of;
3 This love of Sleep and Rest is a lust of the flesh, when we use it not to a right end; now the end of all Sleep and Rest, is to refresh the Spirit and strengthen the body, and help digestion, like the unbending of a Bow to make it stronger, if a Bow stand always bent it weakens it; therefore so much Sleep as may help digestion and comfort and refresh a mans body and spirit, God allows; God knows all the Comforts of this life are little enough to uphold us against vexations and discouragements, but when a man is grown to love Sleep and Ease, a little more Sleep, a little more Slumber, one ease after another, and never looks how to imploy it to Gods service, now he propounds no right end, but we ease our selves that we may be eased, and never look further than Ease and Sleep, and so we rest in the Creature, and never look up to God, to whom all our Ease and refreshment should tend, otherwise its a Lust of the Flesh, because we look no further, but to satisfie the Flesh,
Its a common fault of Gentlemen that live of their own Means, they may Live at Ease and rest they think, what is a Gentleman but his Ease and Pleasure, God forbid that we should be like that Fool in the Gospel, Soul take thine Ease, thou hast Goods laid up for many years, you must not think that God hath given great means and estate to live at ease, the glorious Angels are ministering Spirits, doing their duties with all agility and cheerfulness; Adam who was Lord of the world, yet was set to till the ground, from the highest creature to the lowest, all have employments appointed them by God.
Its a common fault of Gentlemen that live of their own Means, they may Live at Ease and rest they think, what is a Gentleman but his Ease and Pleasure, God forbid that we should be like that Fool in the Gospel, Soul take thine Ease, thou hast Goods laid up for many years, you must not think that God hath given great means and estate to live at ease, the glorious Angells are ministring Spirits, doing their duties with all agility and chearfullnesse; Adam who was Lord of the world, yet was set to till the ground, from the highest creature to the lowest, all have employments appointed them by God.
Dangers of Idleness.
Dangers of Idlenesse.
1 It will bring you to poverty, that you shall be suddenly Beggars, and that without remedy.
2 It distempers your Bodies and Stomachs.
3 It will make your Souls naked and ragged; that is plain, the field of the sluggard is over-grown with Thorns and Thistles, all your impatience, vanity, idleness, all your dullness, unprofitableness in your life, it springs from your sluggishness of heart, you have not stirred up your spirits.
3 It will make your Souls naked and ragged; that is plain, the field of the sluggard is over-grown with Thorns and Thistles, all your impatience, vanity, idlenesse, all your dullnesse, unprofitablenesse in your life, it springs from your sluggishnesse of heart, you have not stirred up your spirits.
4 It will make you a Brother to a great waster, you waste your outward patrimony, and your patrimony of Grace; when Peter was once fallen into drowsiness, how woefully was he bankrupt, how poor and naked? Simon sleepest thou? and we see Temptation came on him suddenly, and strongly.
4 It will make you a Brother to a great waster, you waste your outward patrimony, and your patrimony of Grace; when Peter was once fallen into drowsinesse, how wofully was he bankrout, how poor and naked? Simon sleepest thou? and we see Temptation came on him suddenly, and strongly.
5 Such as do their business with a slack unbent hand, cursed be that man; if you see a sluggish hand, God leaves him to himself, he curses both himself and his business; therefore be diligent and fruitful and strengthen your selves, you shall find the blessing of God going along with you, prospering your estates and Souls.
5 Such as do their businesse with a slack unbent hand, cursed be that man; if you see a sluggish hand, God leaves him to himself, he curses both himselfe and his businesse; therefore be diligent and fruitful and strengthen your selves, you shall finde the blessing of God going along with you, prospering your estates and Souls.
Thus we see what are the Lusts of the flesh; they are such as the body affects and is satisfied with, as intemperancy, incontinency, love of pastime, and love of idleness and sleep, these are the lusts of the flesh.
Thus we see what are the Lusts of the flesh; they are such as the body affects and is satisfied with, as intemperancy, incontinency, love of pastime, and love of idlenesse and sleep, these are the lusts of the flesh.
Now for the Reasons why we should wean our selves from these Lusts, which may be as so many motives to dissuade us from them.
Now for the Reasons why we should wean our selves from these Lusts, which may be as so many motives to disswade us from them.
2 So in the duties of a mans calling, if a man be drowzy, this is a lust of the flesh, Prov. 10.15. He that sleeps in harvest is a shamefull Son, he shames himselfe and his Master, and indeed the fitnesse of his work implies, that in harvest he should be at it early and late, not but that a man may take a little sleep to fit him for his work, but when the Sun is risen and calls him to his businesse, he loves his bed, this is a lust of the fl sh, and this is called deceitfull working; Cursed is he that doth his work deceitfully, that is, with such deceit as comes from slacknesse, for so it is interpreted, Prov. 10.14. and the Metaphor is taken from a bow that is slack bent, which deceives, Psal. 68.57. a man never reaches the mark he aimes at, because it is not strongly bent, so when a mans heart is not strongly bent to his businesse, he will never reach to his businesse throughly to purpose, and so it is a deceitfull work; cursed is he that aimes at any businesse with a slack bent hand, Prov. 29.9. He that is sloathfull in his businesse, is Brother to a great waster; a sloathfull man and a prodigal, are both of one womb, bred of the same lust of the flesh, and so wasts that which he might have increased, Eccl. 4.5, 6. Better is an handfull with ease, &c. saith the sluggard, but such a one shall come to beggery, Prov. 26.21. Idlenesse will cloath a man with rags, rags will be their rayment, Prov. 19.15. he doth not onely mean that an Idle person shall want outward means, but were he of better means yet he shall finde his body shall be so distempered, that he shall have no stomach to his meat, so that an idle person, shall either want meat, or a stomach to eat it, when as a diligent shall have both, but that is not all, for it may be extended to the soule; by rising late, and being drowzy, he is so distempered, that he either omits good duties, or else he findes no favour, nor life, nor strength in them.