A34689:2009
A34689:2009
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.
Holiness is that whereby we give God his own due, Holiness is the fulfilling of the first Table, righteousness of the Second; now Christ is called the Holy one, because he was set apart, not only from all unclean but common uses, and dedicated to the Lord.
Holinesse is that whereby we give God his own due, Holinesse is the fulfilling of the first Table, righteousnesse of the Second; now Christ is called the Holy one, because he was set apart, not only from all unclean but common uses, and dedicated to the Lord.
Two things make a thing holy, a setting apart from unclean and common uses, and dedicating to Spiritual and Holy uses, so the Sabbath and the Sacraments are said to be Holy: now Christ was properly called, the Holy one, for no Ordinance so separate from community, as Christ, nor so wholly dedicate to God as Christ was, therefore we see how these little Babes should help themselves against Antichrist; as there is an Antichrist, so there is a Christ, as they have a spirit of seducing, so he is an Unction, a Box of Ointment which is able to confirm you, and help you against all these.
Two things make a thing holy, a setting apart from unclean and common uses, and dedicating to Spiritual and Holy uses, so the Sabbath and the Sacraments are said to be Holy: now Christ was properly called, the Holy one, for no Ordinance so separate from community, as Christ, nor so wholly dedicate to God as Christ was, therefore we see how these little Babes should help themselves against Antichrist; as there is an Antichrist, so there is a Christ, as they have a spirit of seducing, so he is an Unction, a Box of Oyntment which is able to confirm you, and help you against all these.
Use 1 Of trial to every Christian, whether he be a true Christian or no, for he is a Jew that that is one outwardly, Rom. 2.27.28. we would think our selves deeply wronged if any should deny us to be Christians; why what is a Christian? one that is anointed to be King, Priest, and Prophet; dost not thou know the things that belong to thy peace, or heavenly knowledge? Dost thou find that thou canst not war against thy Spiritual enemies? Dost thou find that thou canst not pray, or instruct others? and as for judging, thou sayest, God forbid that I should meddle with other mens matters, the secrets of God are not with thee; why, if it be thus with thee, thou mayest pretend Christianity, but thou hast none in thee; but on the contrary, if thou knowest how to discern things that differ, if thou knowest how to fight the Lords Battles, if thou knowest how to pray, and instruct others, and bring in others; if thou beest able to discern the mysteries of God, to subdue Satan, the World, and thine own heart; if it be thus with thee, thou art a Christian, and thou hast that Unction that will never forsake thee: if thou hast received no more then thou hast by thy Book, or thy education, thou wantest these infused gifts; there is never a Christian but he now knows better what Sin is, and what Grace is, then he did before; he is now able to see what he never saw before, he knows the Wrath of Christ, and the excellency of Gods favour; why if thy graces come from this inward anointing thou art a Christian, such a one whose praise is of God, and not of man.
Ʋse 1 Of trial to every Christian, whether he be a true Christian or no, for he is a Jew that that is one outwardly, Rom. 2.27.28. we would think our selves deeply wronged if any should deny us to be Christians; why what is a Christian? one that is annoynted to be King, Priest, and Prophet; dost not thou know the things that belong to thy peace, or heavenly knowledge? Dost thou finde that thou canst not warre against thy Spirituall enemies? Dost thou finde that thou canst not pray, or instruct others? and as for judging, thou sayest, God forbid that I should meddle with other mens matters, the secrets of God are not with thee; why, if it be thus with thee, thou maist pretend Christianity, but thou hast none in thee; but on the contrary, if thou knowest how to discern things that differ, if thou knowest how to fight the Lords Battels, if thou knowest how to pray, and instruct others, and bring in others; if thou beest able to discern the mysteries of God, to subdue Sathan, the World, and thine own heart; if it be thus with thee, thou art a Christian, and thou hast that Unction that will never forsake thee: if thou hast received no more then thou hast by thy Book, or thy education, thou wantest these infused gifts; there is never a Christian but he now knows better what Sin is, and what Grace is, then he did before; he is now able to see what he never saw before, he knows the Wrath of Christ, and the excellency of Gods favour; why if thy graces come from this inward annoynting thou art a Christian, such a one whose praise is of God, and not of man.
Use 2 Would you know where the Church is, every company saith, It is in me, the Papists say, it is in me, and the Separists, it is in me; the Protestants say, it is in neither of you, but in me; why where you have a Company endued with this holy Ointment, why there the Church is, and he that departs from it, is of Antichrist; so then, the question is, Where is this Spiritual Unction? alas, it is an hard thing for blind natural men to know, but yet as the Ambassador of Persia said, Quot Senators, tot reges, so where you see a company of Christians, Quot Christiani, tot reges, so many Kings, Priests, and Prophets, Psal. 45.16. the children of the New Testament shall be answerable to the Fathers of the Old, and shall be endued with suitable graces; they are Princes in what part of the World soever they are, Princes judging of things in difference; endued with a Princely spirit to overcome the World, and Satan, and their own Corruptions; they have a Priestly Office, to pray and instruct to sacrifice themselves, and their Families to God, &c. therefore if you find such a company, verily there is the Church of God; and let not the Separatists say, you have profane persons among you: We say, though they be amongst us, yet they are not of us; and therefore that hinders us not from being the Church: therefore whither should we go to seek the Church, but where this Unction is?
Ʋse 2 Would you know where the Church is, every company saith, It is in me, the Papists say, it is in me, and the Separists, it is in me; the Protestants say, it is in neither of you, but in me; why where you have a Company endued with this holy Oyntment, why there the Church is, and he that departs from it, is of Antichrist; so then, the question is, Where is this Spirituall Unction? alas, it is an hard thing for blinde natural men to know, but yet as the Ambassador of Persia said, Quot Senatores, tot reges, so where you see a company of Christians, Quot Christiani, tot reges, so many Kings, Priests, and Prophets,
Use 3 For all you that have received this Unction, it is not for Kings and Princes to be digging in the earth, it is not for Priests and Prophets to be ignorant, and blind, and dumb. 1 Cor. 6.1. to 7. Paul is confident that the meanest Christian is a Judge. What a shame is it, for a Christian at every temptation to be carried Captive? What a shame is it, for Kings to soil and besmut themselves, for Saul to cast away his shield was a vile dishonour; so for Christians to be soiled, and carried away with every temptation, for you to cast away your shield, as if you had not been anointed is a great dishonour. ⟨p. 164⟩It becomes Christians to fight like Princes, and to be victorious, and to judge like Kings; so walk as Priests of the high God, know how to pray, how to instruct your Families, how to offer all your ways to God, all your Families, you are not to be only holy day Priests, but daily Priests.
Ʋse 3 For all you that have received this Unction, it is not for Kings and Princes to be digging in the earth, it is not for Priests and Prophets to be ignorant, and blinde, and dumbe. 1 Cor. 6.1. to 7. Paul is confident that the meanest Christian is a Judge. What a shame is it, for a Christian at every temptation to be carried Captive? What a shame is it, for Kings to soyl and besmut themselves, for Saul to cast away his shield was a vile dishonour; so for Christians to be soyled, and carried away with every temptation, for you to cast away your shield, as if you had not been annoynted is a great dishonour. ⟨p. 164⟩It becomes Christians to fight like Princes, and to be victorious, and to judge like Kings; so walk as Priests of the high God, know how to pray, how to instruct your Families, how to offer all your wayes to God, all your Families, you are not to be only holy day Priests, but daily Priests.
Use 4 It may teach every Christian that stands in need of healing or suppling your stiff spirits, you need balm and oil for healing the wounds of your souls, and suppling, and softening your stiff spirits, why here is an unction that will heal thy wounds, and soften thy heart; entreat God that he would shed abroad his spirit into thy heart, that he would heal thy spirit, soften thy heart, and cheer thy soul; look up to the holy one, he is able to pour floods of consolation on thee, and establish thy soul in peace; do we find our spirits hard, and stiff, and bound, our spirits very straight, and stand in need of a great deal of alacrity? why yet this spiritual unction will so enlarge thee, and supple thee, that thou shalt find thy self helped and quickened, that thou mayest do things not weakly, but with power and life; so if we find corruptions so strong, that we know not how to overmaster them, there is an unction from this holy one, able to strengthen us against them, entreat God therefore to power it down upon thy soul; so do you want power and life in Gods ordinances? why in any need look up to him.
Ʋse 4 It may teach every Christian that stands in need of healing or suppleing your stiff spirits, you need balme and oyle for healing the wounds of your souls, and suppleing, and softning your stiff spirits, why here is an unction that will heal thy wounds, and soften thy heart; intreat God that he would shed abroad his spirit into thy heart, that he would heale thy spirit, soften thy heart, and chear thy soule; look up to the holy one, he is able to powre floods of consolation on thee, and establish thy soul in peace; do wee find our spirits hard, and stiff, and bound, our spirits very straight, and stand in need of a great deal of alacrity? why yet this spirituall unction will so inlarge thee, and supple thee, that thou shalt find thy selfe helped and quickned, that thou mayest do things not weakly, but with power and life; so if we find corruptions so strong, that we know not how to overmaster them, there is an unction from this holy one, able to strengthen us against them, intreat God therefore to power it down upon thy soul; so doe you want power and life in Gods ordinances? why in any need look up to him.
Use 5 Here is a ground of much consolation that God is pleased to bestow such a mercy, such a blessing as this upon us, how are we bound to Christ, that is pleased to anoint us with the same ointment wherewith himself was anointed? it is a ground of much consolation; Christians are often called to great employments, which if they look on themselves, they see themselves altogether unfit for, such as Moses said, send by whom thou wilt send, but is not this unction able to make us Kings and Priests? we know where to find supply, and if God call us to more employments, that is our comfort, that we have an unction which is able to fit us for every work, and employment God shall call us to.
Ʋse 5 Here is a ground of much consolation that God is pleased to bestow such a mercy, such a blessing as this upon us, how are we bound to Christ, that is pleased to annoynt us with the same oyntment wherewith himselfe was anoynted? it is a ground of much consolation; Christians are often called to great imployments, which if they look on themselves, they see themselves altogether unfit for, such as Moses said, send by whom thou wilt send, but is not this unction able to make us Kings and Priests? we know where to find supply, and if God call us to more imployments, that is our comfort, that we have an unction which is able to fit us for every work, and imployment God shall call us to.
Use 6 Of exhortation to every Christian, not to rest contented in an empty name of Christianity, ••ll you get this spiritual unction; rest not in any known strength, but what you receive by this spirit, otherwise you shall find much want of help, Matth. 25.1. to 10. the wife Virgins had their oil continually ready and prepared, whensoever Christ came; but the foolish Virgins, some oil they had, some common gifts and graces, but they were spent, and it was too late to seek for oil when the Bridegroom came, so do not only hear the Word, but labour to find some oil dropped into your souls, that so in storms, you may find the life and comfort of the spirit.
Ʋse 6 Of exhortation to every Christian, not to rest contented in an empty name of Christianity, ••ll you get this spirituall unction; rest not in any known strength, but what you receive by this spirit, otherwise you shall find much want of help, Matth. 25.1. to 10. the wife Virgins had their oyle continually ready and prepared, whensoever Christ came; but the foolish Virgins, some oyle they had, some common gifts and graces, but they were spent, and it was too late to seek for oyle when the Bridegroome came, so do not only hear the Word, but labour to find some oyle dropt into your souls, that so in stormes, you may find the life and comfort of the spirit.
1 JOHN 2.20. But ye have an unction from the holy one, and ye know all things.
IN these words the Apostle prescribes a means to preserve them against seducements, and the first means is the unction they had received from the holy one, which is a comparison from the legal ointment; this spirit of Grace should be as an Antidote against all Antichrists.
IN these words the Apostle prescribes a means to preserve them against seducements, and the first means is the unction they had received from the holy one, which is a comparison from the legall oyntment; this spirit of Grace should be as an Antidote against all Antichrists.
Now we come to speak of the virtue of this unction.
Now we come to speak of the vertue of this unction.
So Verse 27. so that there is an abiding ointment, and so sufficient, that they need not be taught more or better things than it will teach them.
So Verse 27. so that there is an abiding oyntment, and so sufficient, that they need not be taught more or better things than it will teach them.
For Explication,
1 Consider the subject, ye know all things. This universality of Christian knowledge is amplified by the subject, ye know all things.
1 Consider the subject, yee know all things. This universality of Christian knowledge is amplified by the subject, yee know all things.
1 For the desire of their hearts, they desire to know all things necessary to salvation, Acts 10.33. this is the frame and disposition of a converted heart, to know all things, and so great is the desire of Gods Children to know this, that they desire to know those things that are most against them, 1 Sam. 3.17. Eli knowing by Samuel's lingering that he had some terrible message, yet he would know it, and urged him by a curse to declare it, and when he had told him, yet saith he, Good is the Word of the Lord; so that a godly heart desires to know all the Will of God, especially if it belongs to him, though it be never so bitter, it is contrary with a carnal heart; few are willing to know all things, especially if they be against them, and cross their lusts, they would not know it, so Mark 6.12. in Herod, so Isa. 13.10. they were men of that frame, that would have the Prophet speak pleasing things, Mal. 2.11.
1 For the desire of their hearts, they desire to know all things necessary to salvation, Acts 10.33. this is the frame and disposition of a converted heart, to know all things, and so great is the desire of Gods Children to know this, that they desire to know those things that are most against them, 1 Sam. 3.17. Eli knowing by Samuels lingring that he had some terrible message, yet he would know it, and urged him by a curse to declare it, and when he had told him, yet saith he, Good is the Word of the Lord; so that a godly heart desires to know all the Will of God, especially if it belongs to him, though it be never so bitter, it is contrary with a carnall heart; few are willing to know all things, especially if they be against them, and crosse their lusts, they would not know it, so Mark 6.12. in Herod, so