A34689:1819
A34689:1819
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.
A. In ecclesiastical Histories, we shall find that St. John lived about an hundred years after Christ, and was born about the same time with Christ, now about the year 26 after Christ, Histories report there was Simon Magus, who seemed to be the great power of God, and to be he that gave the Law in Mount Sinai.
2 He gave out that it was he that was crucified under Tiberius Cesar, here was an Antichristian spirit, and I was, saith he, that Holy Ghost, that descended on the Apostles, so that he denied both the Father and the Son: after him sprang up Menander, that affirmed that it was he that died for the World, and that all that believed on him should be saved. In those times Ebion taught that Christ was but a mere man, and held circumcision necessary, and in his time lived Cerinthus, who retained all the Judicial Law, and denied Christ to be God, Act. 15.1. and he is held to be one of those that held the World to be made by Angels, and he was the root of the error of the Chiliasts, all these lived in Johns time.
2 He gave out that it was he that was crucified under Tiberius Cesar, here was an Antichristian spirit, and I was, saith he, that Holy Ghost, that descended on the Apostles, so that he denyed both the Father and the Son: after him sprang up Menander, that affirmed that it was he that died for the World, and that all that believed on him should be saved. In those times Ebion taught that Christ was but a meer man, and held circumcision necessary, and in his time lived Cerinthus, who retained all the Judicall Law, and denyed Christ to be God, Act. 15.1. and he is held to be one of those that held the World to be made by Angells, and he was the root of the error of the Chiliasts, all these lived in Johns time.
Use 1 It shows us the marvellous enmity of that wicked one, that as soon as ever Christ had sowed good seed, that evil one sowed tares, this was the subtlety of that old Serpent to sow errors, before the truth could take firm rooting.
Ʋse 1 It shews us the marvelous enmity of that wicked one, that as soon as ever Christ had sowed good seed, that evil one sowed tares, this was the subtilty of that old Serpent to sow errors, before the truth could take firm rooting.
Use 2. Hence we see the impudency of Heresy, especially, when opposition is set on fire of Hell, that such monstrous opinions should be broached in St. Johns time that envied against them, and wrote against them; and therefore we must not wonder if Heresies sine pudore, broach themselves in the Church, for even in St. Johns time a s•n of thunder that shook them down mightily, yet even against him were these Darts shot; it must therefore stir up Christians to ground themselves in the whole Counsel of God; do you think if such Heretics did not blush before St. John, they will blush before us?
Ʋse 2. Hence we see the impudency of Heresie, especially, when opposition is set on fire of Hell, that such monstrous opinions should be broached in St. Johns time that envied against them, and wrote against them; and therefore we must not wonder if Heresies sine pudore, broach themselves in the Church, for even in St. Johns time a s•n of thunder that shook them down mightily, yet even against him were these Darts shot; it must therefore stir up Christians to ground themselves in the whole Counsel of God; do you think if such Heretiques did not blush before St. John, they will blush before us?
Hence we see the truth of God, is of more power than the spirit of Error, for though there were so many heads of Error, yet they all fell down before the Doctrine of St. John, so that this writing remained, when all they were lost, magna est veritas & prevalebit, therefore such is the power of truth, that it dispels all Errors.
Hence wee see the truth of God, is of more power than the spirit of Error, for though there were so many heads of Error, yet they all fell down before the Doctrine of St. John, so that this writing remained, when all they were lost, magna est veritas & prevalebit, therefore such is the power of truth, that it dispells all Errors.
3 It confutes boasting of Antiquity; every ancient thing is not true, for then these false Heresies had been true, but yet there is Antiquity, which springs from the first institution, and that is prevalent; there is a secondary ⟨p. 146⟩antiquity, that is, Tares that are presently sown after the good Seed, yet though they were sown the very same day, yet secondary antiquity will not justify their Doctrine, but that which comes from the institution by God.
3 It confutes boasting of Antiquity; every ancient thing is not true, for then these false Heresies had been true, but yet there is Antiquity, which springs from the first institution, and that is prevalent; there is a secondary ⟨p. 146⟩antiquity, that is, Tares that are presently sowen after the good Seed, yet though they were sowen the very same day, yet secondary antiquity will not justifie their Doctrin, but that which comes from the institution by God.
For otherwise St. Johns discourse would be somewhat impertinent, to what end doth he say, Ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, and that Antichrists are come already? And again, he doth argue from the last times to Antichrist, and from Antichrist to the last times, reciprocally, which reason were not of strength, unless it were grounded upon this point.
For otherwise St. Johns discourse would be somewhat impertinent, to what end doth he say, Ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, and that Antichrists are come already? And again, he doth argue from the last times to Antichrist, and from Antichrist to the last times, reciprocally, which reason were not of strength, unlesse it were grounded upon this point.
For proof, see 1 Joh. 4.3. 1 Tim. 4.1, 2.
Obj. Doth not the Apostle say, that Antichrist shall not come until there be a general Apostasy, and until that which with-holds him be taken away? 2 Thes. 2.3. what is that [Greek or Hebrew] which hindered him?
Obj. Doth not the Apostle say, that Antichrist shall not come untill there be a general Apostacy, and untill that which with-holds him be taken away? 2 Thes. 2.3. what is that 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 which hindred him?
A. That [Greek or Hebrew] was not the Roman Empire, for that was not taken fully away many hundred years after, and it is still not wholly taken away, but stands upon its two Legs, the Emperor of Turkey and Germany, but the things which with-held him was indeed the Emperor himself, when the Emperor Constantine, removed from Rome to Constantinople, then the [Greek or Hebrew] was taken away, the lustre of the Emperor, that Monarch of the World, and that Antichrist could not stand together, but so soon as the Emperor was departed from Rome, Antichrist began to be revealed, when as all the Bishops of the Christian World did meet together at the Council of Nice, the Bishop of Rome (requested by Letter) came not, pretending indeed the weakness of his body, and Old Age, but Bellarmin plainly tells us the reason: It was not meet, saith he, the Head should follow the Members, the Members were rather to follow the Head, and if the Emperor were present, it was likely he would take his place above the Pope, which was not meet, the Pope being the Spiritual Head, therefore because of this, and some other inconveniences, the Pope in his discretion thought it meet to absent himself. At this time Antichrist began to be revealed to the full, for though after that time some godly men were in that Seat, as Gregory the Great, and some others, yet the question is not of the Person, but of the place.
A. That 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 was not the Roman Empire, for that was not taken fully away many hundred years after, and it is still not wholly taken away, but stands upon its two Leggs, the Emperor of Turkey and Germany, but the things which with-held him was indeed the Emperor himself, when the Emperor Constantine, removed from Rome to Constantinople, then the 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 was taken away, the lustre of the Emperor, that Monarch of the World, and that Antichrist could not stand together, but so soon as the Emperor was departed from Rome, Antichrist began to be revealed, when as all the Bishops of the Christian World did meet together at the Council of Nice, the Bishop of Rome (requested by Letter) came not, pretending indeed the weaknesse of his body, and Old Age, but Bellarmin plainly tells us the reason: It was not meet, saith he, the Head should follow the Members, the Members were rather to follow the Head, and if the Emperor were present, it was likely he would take his place above the Pope, which was not meet, the Pope being the Spiritual Head, therefore because of this, and some other inconveniences, the Pope in his discretion thought it meet to absent himself. At this time Antichrist began to be revealed to the full, for though after that time some godly men were in that Seat, as Gregory the Great, and some others, yet the question is not of the Person, but of the place.
Obj. But the Apostle saith, that Let must be first taken away which with-held Antichrist; and St. John saith here, that many Antichrists were come already, how can these two stand together?
A. Though the Antichrist was not then revealed, yet the Mystery of Iniquity did then work in many men, when St. John wrote this Epistle; and Saint Paul his second Epistle to the Thessalonians, for then men began to observe the Traditions of men, and the Laws of the Church must be as well kept as Gods Laws, against whom St. John wrote in his second Epistle, vers. 5, 6, 7. besides, some then exalted themselves above their Brethren, as you may see in his third Epistle, and so did put out their Brethren; this was the Spirit which made way for the Bishop of Rome, exalting himself above other Bishops, as the Emperor was above Kings and Princes: this Mystery by degrees increased, now as the King may be said to come when he is yet in his Chamber, but some Parliament men go before, and the King follows soon after; so it is here, because Antichrist was not to come nakedly, but with Pomp, therefore way was made, and the Apostle wrote against the spirit of Antichrist then working, though Antichrist himself was not so fully revealed till afterwards, and so it is plain that which was spoken of Antichrist is in some part fulfilled.
A. Though the Antichrist was not then revealed, yet the Mystery of Iniquity did then work in many men, when St. John wrote this Epistle; and Saint Paul his second Epistle to the Thessalonians, for then men began to observe the Traditions of men, and the Laws of the Church must be as well kept as Gods Laws, against whom St. John wrote in his second Epistle, vers. 5, 6, 7. besides, some then exalted themselves above their Brethren, as you may see in his third Epistle, and so did put out their Brethren; this was the Spirit which made way for the Bishop of Rome, exalting himself above other Bishops, as the Emperor was above Kings and Princes: this Mystery by degrees encreased, now as the King may be said to come when he is yet in his Chamber, but some Parliament men go before, and the King follows soon after; so it is here, because Antichrist was not to come nakedly, but with Pomp, therefore way was made, and the Apostle wrote against the spirit of Antichrist then working, though Antichrist himself was not so fully revealed till afterwards, and so it is plain that which was spoken of Antichrist is in some part fullfilled.
Use 1 Confutes a conceit of the Church of Rome, that cannot yet discern Antichrist, but say, Antichrist is some singular person.
Ʋse 1 Confutes a conceit of the Church of Rome, that cannot yet discern Antichrist, but say, Antichrist is some singular person.
But we say, Antichrist is a state that hath many fore-runners, and followers, and the Pope himself is one of them.
Obj. But the Article • signifies a certain singular person?