A34689:1949
A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first…
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 be converted, where had they their conversion?
2 Have not many of Gods Servants heretofore kept company with Churches as corrupt as ours are? Did not Peter and John keep company with them and shall they be more pure and curious?
3 Christ commands, If thy Brother offends admonish him, Matth. 18.17. if he hear thee not, take two or three more, if he hear not them, then tell it to the Church, and if he hear not the Church, let him be to thee as an Heathen, or Publican; but if the church hear not thy complaint, he doth not say let the church be as an Heathen, or Publican; now there are many of our Separatists never admonished their Brethren, nor made their complaint to the church, and if they did, and the church heard them not, must they therefore Excommunicate the church, and renounce it? therefore unless you find in it Blasphemy, or Idolatry, or Persecution, there is no just ground of separation.
3 Christ commands, If thy Brother offends admonish him, Matth. 18.17. if he hear thee not, take two or three more, if he hear not them, then tell it to the Church, and if he heare not the Church, let him be to thee as an Heathen, or Publican; but if the church hear not thy complaint, he doth not say let the church be as an Heathen, or Publican; now there are many of our Seperatists never admonished their Brethren, nor made their complaint to the church, and if they did, and the church heard them not, must they therefore Excommunicate the church, and renounce it? therefore unlesse you find in it Blasphemy, or Idolatry, or Persecution, there is no just ground of seperation.