A34689:1749
A34689:1749
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.
Obj. But was not Davids inward frame s metimes very uneven? he that had sometimes showed much kindness to Mephibosheth, after took away his Lands; he that sometimes was smitten for cutting off Sauls skirt, after sticks not to commit Adultery, and slay Uriah, and after that to number the people.
Obj. But was not Davids inward frame s metimes very uneven? he that had sometimes shewed much kindnesse to Mephibosheth, after took away his Lands; he that sometimes was smitten for cutting off Sauls skirt, after sticks not to commit Adultery, and slay Uriah, and after that to number the people.
Ans. He may err through infirmity, as a man in a Journey, he propounds no other end but to go on, but yet he goes out of the way sometimes through ignorance, and carelessness, but then when he knows it, he makes the more hast to get in again; so a Christian, he aims at a good course, even ways, but sometimes through heedlessness, or ignorance, he falls into by ways, but when he knows it, he makes hast to recover himself, and the cause why he goes aside, is because he doth not the Will of God, but his own will.
Ans. He may erre through infirmity, as a man in a Journey, he propounds no other end but to goe on, but yet he goes out of the way sometimes through ignorance, and carelesnesse, but then when he knows it, he makes the more hast to get in again; so a Christian, he aims at a good course, even wayes, but sometimes through heedlesness, or ignorance, he falls into by wayes, but when he knows it, he makes hast to recover himselfe, and the cause why he goes aside, is because he doth not the Will of God, but his own will.
Use 1 Justify the Doctrine of the perseverance of the Saints, and confutes the contrary opinion of their Apostasy, for every Christian doth the Will of God, now he that doth the Will of God abides for ever, such make Gods Will their meat and drink, and so they lead an everlasting life, they feed on everlasting food, Joh. 6.26. they have near union with Christ, they are such as fulfil Gods Will, and therefore he will fulfil their desire.
Ʋse 1 Justifie the Doctrine of the perseverance of the Saints, and confutes the contrary opinion of their Apostacy, for every Christian doth the Will of God, now he that doth the Will of God abides for ever, such make Gods Will their meat and drink, and so they lead an everlasting life, they feed on everlasting food, Joh. 6.26. they have neer union with Christ, they are such as fulfill Gods Will, and therefore he will fulfil their desire.
Use 2. A ground of direction to all such as would find comfort in Life and Death, if you follow the lusts of the World, they will not last always, Conscience accuseth, God will judge you, Eccles. 11.9. Rejoice O young man in thy youth, &c. so Riches endure not always, nor Honour, therefore though a man now pride himself in his youth, or riches, or lusts, why these will not hold, time will come when you shall be weary of all these, but would you abide for ever? why this is the way, do Gods will, and then thou choosest that part which shall never be taken from thee, Luke 10. two last verses Psal. 125.1, 2. let a man be doing Gods Will, he shall never dye, there is no man but would have his Estate confirmed to perpetuity, from age to age; why all the lusts of the World continue but for a while, but would you turn all to perpetuity? be doing Gods Will, and then you shall abide for ever; so, would you heal all the fleeting unstableness of our spirits? sometimes you are much enlarged, sometimes as much straitened; sometimes you have vigour of Spirit, and sometimes you are dull, and quite out of frame, what is the reason? all this is because thou art out of the way, and therefore the Star hath left thee as it did the Wise men, when they went out of the way to Bethlehem to go to Jerusalem; even so when thou art in the way to Bethlehem to seek Christ, and give up thy self to such courses as leads to him, why all this while the comfortable power of the Spirit shall go with thee, but when thou consultest with flesh and blood, to satisfy any lust of the World, the Star will leave thee, till thou come into the way again; so if you walk in the even ways of God, you shall find your selves always enlarged, though sometimes more, sometimes less, yet always so much as is sufficient for your present condition.
Ʋse 2. A ground of direction to all such as would find comfort in Life and Death, if you follow the lusts of the World, they will not last alwayes, Conscience accuseth, God will judge you,
Use 3 Of consolation to every obedient Christian that breaks off from his own will, and sets himself with all his power to do Gods Will, and is grieved when he doth any thing against it; why this is your comfort, that is an everlasting way which leads to eternity, He that doth the Will of God, shall never see Death; that is, with fear or danger; nay he shall stand as a Mountain that shall not be shaken, which is a great blessing for a poor Christian.
Ʋse 3 Of consolation to every obedient Christian that breaks off from his own will, and sets himself with all his power to doe Gods Will, and is grieved when he doth any thing against it; why this is your comfort, that is an everlasting way which leads to eternity, He that doth the Will of God, shall never see Death; that is, with fear or danger; nay he shall stand as a Mountaine that shall not be shaken, which is a great blessing for a poor Christian.
Obj. May not mountains be shaken and removed, are they not shaken by Earthquakes? so may not Christians be shaken and removed; are they not tossed up and down in the World, and never in a settled condition?
Obj. May not mountains be shaken and removed, are they not shaken by Earthquakes? so may not Christians be shaken and removed; are they not tossed up and down in the World, and never in a setled condition?
Ans. Mountains may be shaken and removed, Isa. 54.10.11. and Christians may be tossed in their outward Estate, but yet though Mountains remove, and hills be shaken, yet Gods loving kindness shall never depart from them.
Ans. Mountains may be shaken and removed, Isa. 54.10.11. and Christians may be tossed in their outward Estate, but yet though Mountains remove, and hills be shaken, yet Gods loving kindnesse shall never depart from them.
Now from the scope the Apostle aims at, observe thus much.
John 6.27. Labour not for the meat that perisheth, as who should say, this meat is corruptible, and you corruptible, but that meat I give you is eternal, and will nourish eternal life in you.
John 6.27. Labour not for the meat that perisheth, as who should say, this meat is corruptible, and you corruptible, but that meat I give you is eternall, and will nourish eternall life in you.
Quest. Wherein stands the disproportion between the World, and the lusts thereof, and those that do Gods Will?
Quest. Wherein stands the disproportion between the World, and the lusts thereof, and those that doe Gods Will?
1 The World and the lusts thereof are transitory and fading, neither continue at a stay, nor last long, but all perish, But he that doth Gods Will, the more he doth it, the more he is strengthened, and confirmed, and supported to everlasting life.
1 The World and the lusts thereof are transitory and fading, neither continue at a stay, nor last long, but all perish, But he that doth Gods Will, the more he doth it, the more he is strengthned, and confirmed, and supported to everlasting life.
2 The World it self and all the things thereof, are ordinarily bodily, and sensual, and not heavenly; take all the frame of the Creatures, they are bodily things, and all the comforts of them, tends to sensual life, What will it profit a man to win the whole World, and loose his own soul? implying, a man may have all the World, and yet loose his own soul; it never feeds a spiritual heavenly life, but there is a spiritual eternal bread, that feeds to everlasting life, it is not for a body to nourish a spirit, nor earthly things heavenly, not can a transitory thing feed everlasting life.
2 The World it selfe and all the things thereof, are ordinarily bodily, and sensuall, and not heavenly; take all the frame of the Creatures, they are bodily things, and all the comforts of them, tends to sensuall life, What will it profit a man to win the whole World, and loose his own soul? implying, a man may have all the World, and yet loose his own soul; it never feeds a spirituall heavenly life, but there is a spirituall eternall bread, that feeds to everlasting life, it is not for a body to nourish a spirit, nor earthly things heavenly, not can a transitory thing feed everlasting life.
Q. 1. Why should this disproportion wean us from the love of the World, and the lusts thereof? what is the ground?
1 From the vanity that is found in all these things, they are bodily and transitory, it is impossible they should nourish heavenly and permanent life; therefore godly men should withdraw their affections from them inordinately, Isa. 55.2. why do you lay out your money for that which satisfieth not? and for that which is not bread? why do you spend cost and pains about that which is not bread? which will never satisfy your souls, but your souls in the midst of them may be as Pharaohs lean Kine, hungry, and empty of grace, void of good things.
1 From the vanity that is found in all these things, they are bodily and transitory, it is impossible they should nourish heavenly and permanent life; therefore godly men should withdraw their affections from them inordinately, Isa. 55.2. why doe you lay out your money for that which satisfieth not? and for that which is not bread? why doe you spend cost and pains about that which is not bread? which will never satisfie your souls, but your souls in the midst of them may be as Pharaohs lean Kine, hungry, and empty of grace, void of good things.
Reas. 2. From the corruption these things will put upon our spirits, if we set our love and lust on them; it will be as a running Issue which will empty us of all goodness, either they will draw us from coming to the Ordinances; I have married a wife and cannot come; or secondly, they will fill our hearts with cares when we come, Ezek. 33. ult. or else after we are gone, they will choke the Word of God, so that they draw away our hearts from spiritual food.
Reas. 2. From the corruption these things will put upon our spirits, if we set our love and lust on them; it will be as a running Issue which will empty us of all goodnesse, either they will draw us from comming to the Ordinances; I have married a wife and cannot come; or secondly, they will fill our hearts with cares when we come, Ezek. 33. ult. or else after we are gone, they will choak the Word of God, so that they draw away our hearts from spirituall food.