A34689:1889
A34689:1889
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.
If they had been of us, that is, of our fellowship which is with the Father, they would have continued for ever with us, Psal. 125.1. They that trust in the Lord, shall be as mount Zion, which shall never be moved; God gives a man true fellowship with him by trusting in him, and such stand as a mountain, or rock, that cannot be removed, an the cause of it is, because God in a special manner protects them; Gods protection stands as an hill about him, so that none can climb over God to come at them, 1 Tim. 2.19. The foundation of God standeth sure, &c. the foundation, some take it for election, some for their faith, such a man doth set to his seal that the Lord is true.
If they had been of us, that is, of our fellowship which is with the Father, they would have continued for ever with us, Psal. 125.1. They that trust in the Lord, shall be as mount Zion, which shall never be moved; God gives a man true fellowship with him by trusting in him, and such stand as a mountain, or rock, that cannot be removed, an the cause of it is, because God in a special manner protects them; Gods protection stands as an hill about him, so that none can climbe over God to come at them, 1 Tim. 2.19. The foundation of God standeth sure, &c. the foundation, some take it for election, some for their faith, such a man doth set to his seal that the Lord is true.
Q. How comes it to pass that they always thus keep communion with Christ, and his members?
Q. How comes it to passe that they always thus keep communion with Christ, and his members?
A. 1. They keep fellowship with Christ, from the nature of that Covenant which Christ makes with all Believers, it is opposed to a Covenant that may be broken, Jer. 31.31. to 35. so that this Covenant cannot be broken, where he opposeth this new Covenant to the first Covenant made with Adam, which he brake, but this cannot be broken, for what should break it but sin, but God will write his Law in their hearts, &c. and they shall not depart from him.
This Covenant is either expressed without condition, or else such a condition as he will give us power to perform, or else such a condition as Christ will perform for us, therefore cannot be broken.
This Covenant is either exprest without condition, or else such a condition as he will give us power to perform, or else such a condition as Christ will perform for us, therefore cannot be broken.
Obj. Is it possible that any Covenant should be without condition? Is it not the nature of a Covenant, to have a condition on both parts?
A. It sometimes requires none, as Gen. 9. to 17. the Covenant God made with Noah, he made a Covenant never again to destroy the whole World by a flood, and yet there is no condition expressed on mans part, but all the world knows, that whatsoever the lives of men be, be their sins never so great, even as the sins of the Land, yet God will keep this Covenant with them, and not destroy the World by waters any more; now this Covenant of Grace is likened to the Covenant he made with Noah, that as that Covenant was without all conditions, so the Covenant of Grace that God makes with us, is absolute without condition, so that he will remember us with everlasting mercy, Isa. 54.8, 9, 10. so that whosoever have made a Covenant with God to cleave to him in Christ, he will never cast them off, no more than he will drown the world.
2 Though he do require a condition, yet it […] such as he himself will perform, so that I shall never forfeit his Covenant, Jer. 32.40. God will never depart from them, I but we may depart from him; no, God will put his fear in our hearts, that we shall not depart from him, so that though God requires faith, and repentance, and obedience, yet he gives it to us, or else we have Christ as a Surety, that hath fulfilled all righteousness for us, Heb. 7.22. if therefore I, or my Surety pay, as he hath done here, no breach of Covenant can be made on our part, because Christ hath fulfilled all righteousness; so that though we be unfaithful and disobedient, yet Christ hath undertook for us.
2 Though he do require a condition, yet it 〈…〉 such as he himself will perform, so that I shall never forfeit his Covenant, Jer. 32.40. God will never depart from them, I but we may depart from him; no, God will put his fear in our hearts, that we shall not depart from him, so that though God requires faith, and repentance, and obedience, yet he gives it to us, or else we have Christ as a Surety, that hath fulfilled all righteousnesse for us, Heb. 7.22. if therefore I, or my Surety pay, as he hath done here, no breach of Covenant can be made on our part, because Christ hath fulfilled all righteousnesse; so that though we be unfaithful and disobedient, yet Christ hath undertook for us.
2 From the Spiritual vigour, and efficacy of that Grace which the Lord gives to every true member of the Church, that Spirit which knits us to Christ and his Members, 1 Pet. 1.23. is an immortal seed, it is that spring which springs up unto everlasting life, Joh. 4.14.
Obj. True, if we drink, but we may cease drinking, and so thirst?
A. But then it should not differ from Jacobs Well, for as long as we drink of that we shall not thirst, but this is opposed to that, Heb. 10.39. he opposeth [Greek or Hebrew], so that whosoever draws back from Christ had never true faith.
A. But then it should not differ from Jacobs Well, for as long as we drink of that we shall not thirst, but this is opposed to that, Heb. 10.39. he opposeth 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, so that whosoever draws back from Christ had never true faith.
Nay, this grace is expressed, as overcoming all the enemies of Salvation, Satan, the World, and the Flesh, 1 Joh. 1.4. 1 Joh. 5.4. Rom. 6.14. Sin, that is, your corruption, shall not reign in you, it may be remanent, but not regnant, it may Tyrannize over us, and lead us Captive, but it shall not carry us willingly, but it is a captivity to us very grievous and hard, and we strive to get loose from it, it may [Greek or Hebrew] but not [Greek or Hebrew] now if sin have once dominion over grace it should be superior, which cannot be.
Nay, this grace is exprest, as overcoming all the enemies of Salvation, Sathan, the World, and the Flesh, 1 Joh. 1.4. 1 Joh. 5.4. Rom. 6.14. Sin, that is, your corruption, shall not reign in you, it may be remanent, but not regnant, it may Tyranize over us, and lead us Captive, but it shall not carry us willingly, but it is a captivity to us very grievous and hard, and we strive to get loose from it, it may 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 but not 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 now if sin have once dominion over grace it should be superiour, which cannot be.
2 As they never depart from Christ, so they never depart from the Fellowship of the Church.
Q. What may be the ground of it?