A34689:2027
A34689:2027
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.
2 For the Act, ye (know) all things, other men may know much, yet knowing they do not know, and understanding they do not understand, Prov. 9.12. he that knows not for his own souls good, is not wise, Prov. 24.5. a wise man increaseth in knowledge: the difference is
1 His knowledge is more clear, one man sees a thing by Candle-light, another by day-light, but he sees most clearly, that sees at noon-day; so a Christian sees things not only by the dim light of nature, nor the day-light of the Word, but by the bright clear light of the spirit, that clearly manifests things.
1 His knowledge is more clear, one man sees a thing by Candle-light, another by day-light, but he sees most clearly, that sees at noon-day; so a Christian sees things not only by the dimme light of nature, nor the day-light of the Word, but by the bright clear light of the spirit, that clearly manifests things.
2 His knowledge is more certain, he knows by his own experience the misery of sin; the excellency of Grace, he knows how Christ was formed in him, he hath conceived him in his soul, and so knows all the motions and operations of his spirit. Gal. 4.19.
3 It is more particular, he can apply all he hears and reads to himself, how far this promise belongs to him; he thinks the command belongs to him, the threatenings to him, the promises to him, he thinks the Word was penned for him; another man he reads and hears, and never applies it to himself, nunquid ego talis, when he hears a Christian may be assured of his salvation, am I so? Christs death is not only sufficient but effectual to them that believe, but do I believe? he hears that young men overcome the World, but do I so, and overcome? thus it is with a Christian another man rests in the Theory.
3 It is more particular, he can apply all he hears and reads to himselfe, how farr this promise belongs to him; he thinks the command belongs to him, the threatnings to him, the promises to him, he thinks the Word was pend for him; another man he reads and hears, and never applies it to himself, nunquid ego talis, when he hears a Christian may be assured of his salvation, am I so? Christs death is not only sufficient but effectuall to them that beleeve, but do I beleeve? he hears that young men overcome the World, but do I so, aad overcome? thus it is with a Christian another man rests in the Theory.
4 Their knowledge is effectual, it makes them ready to obey, the law is ⟨p. 166⟩a light to my feet, and a Lantern to my paths, saith David, it is not a light to the understanding only, but it a light to my steps, to my practice, all the understanding they have, is true knowledge, if a man should walk in such a soil where he should certainly sink in, and be swallowed up, would you think he knows the danger? it is a sign he knew it not; so we say, if we meet with one of our acquaintance, and he passeth by us without observing, we say, he would not know us.
4 Their knowledge is effectuall, it makes them ready to obey, the law is ⟨p. 166⟩a light to my feet, and a Lanthorne to my paths, saith David, it is not a light to the understanding only, but it a light to my steps, to my practice, all the understanding they have, is true knowledge, if a man should walk in such a soil where he should certainly sinck in, and be swallowed up, would you think he knows the danger? it is a sign he knew it not; so we say, if we meet with one of our acquaintance, and he passeth by us without observing, we say, he would not know us.
3 For the object (all things) that is, all things pertaining to life and godliness, 2 Pet. 1.3. for they do not know the motions of the Heavens, the influences of the Stars, the nature of the Creatures, but they know all things belonging to life and godliness.
3 For the object (all things) that is, all things pertaining to life and godliness, 2 Pet. 1.3. for they do not know the motions of the Heavens, the influences of the Stars, the nature of the Creatures, but they know all things belonging to life and godlinesse.
1 They know all things necessary to Salvation, no fundamental point but God reads it to them, which is necessary to Salvation, Joh. 17.3.
2 They know all things that are expedient in their Callings, and places to know, and there is a manifold expediency.
1 It is expedient, some men in some Callings should know more than others, as Ministers, Jer. 3.15. Mal. 2.7. it is fit that they should know more than others, and God hath promised their lips shall preserve knowledge; so it is not enough for a Magistrate to know as a private Christian, but he should know how to administer Judgment, 1 King. 3.9. & 12. as Solomon prayed for Wisdom, so Husbands should know more than Wives, 1 Pet. 3.17. so Parents than Children Ephes. 6.4.
1 It is expedient, some men in some Callings should know more than others, as Ministers, Jer. 3.15. Mal. 2.7. it is fit that they should know more than others, and God hath promised their lips shall preserve knowledge; so it is not enough for a Magistrate to know as a private Christian, but he should know how to administer Judgment, 1 King. 3.9. & 12. as Salomon prayed for Wisdom, so Husbands should know more than Wives, 1 Pet. 3.17. so Parents than Children Ephes. 6.4.
2 There is an expedience and meetness in regard of the present condition of Gods people, if God see that his Children he puffed up with knowledge, he is pleased to leave them in much ignorance; but if he finds their hearts humble, and prepared to hear, he doth delight to pour out his Spirit on them, Ps. 25.9. as long as the Woman had an empty Vessel, the Oil run, but when it was full, it ceased; so as long as we come with empty hearts this Oil runs upon them, but as soon as they think they have enough, and rest content, their knowledge stands at a stay.
2 There is an expedience and meetnesse in regard of the present condition of Gods people, if God see that his Children he puft up with knowledge, he is pleased to leave them in much ignorance; but if he finds their hearts humble, and prepared to hear, he doth delight to poure out his Spirit on them, Ps. 25.9. as long as the Woman had an empty Vessel, the Oyl run, but when it was ful, it ceased; so as long as we come with empty hearts this Oyl runs upon them, but as soon as they think they have enough, and rest content, their knowledge stands at a stay.
3 There is expediency for the present practice in any business, a man that hath present need of direction, in some present business that must presently be done, if men have humble hearts, and look up to God why the Spirit is pleased to whisper into their hearts, there is your way walk in it, Isa. 30.21.
3 There is expediency for the present practice in any businesse, a man that hath present need of direction, in some present businesse that must presently be done, if men have humble hearts, and look up to God why the Spirit is pleased to whisper into their hearts, there is your way walk in it, Isa. 30.21.
4 There is a further expedience for the present condition of the Church, for sundry things are expedient in sundry Ages, it had been an hindrance of many providences of God, had they known the sinfulness of Polygamy in the first ages of the world; so, many Christians were ignorant of the Death and Resurrection of Christ, but after the Ascension of Christ they had the clear knowledge thereof, 2 Pet. 1.18. the days of the Old Testament were but as a dim light, now it is more clear: the Fathers of the Church of Old had little of the Revelation of Saint John, and as the Church hath now need to know more than at other times, so God reveals himself accordingly: had those seven thousand in Israel which bowed not their knee to Baal, been endued with the spirit of Elijah, certainly the Church had been dissipated, had they spoken with the same spirit and power that he did, they had been dissipated: but they knew as much as God saw fit for their present condition, and so what God sees meet for you to know, as far as you stand in need to know the spirit of Antichrist in th•se times, so far shall knowledge be revealed to you, so that you may be preserved.
4 There is a further expedience for the present condition of the Church, for sundry things are expedient in sundry Ages, it had been an hindrance of many providences of God, had they known the sinfulnesse of Poligamie in the first ages of the world; so, many Christians were ignorant of the Death and Resurrection of Christ, but after the Ascension of Christ they had the clear knowledge thereof, 2 Pet. 1.18. the dayes of the Old Testament were but as a dim light, now it is more clear: the Fathers of the Church of Old had little of the Revelation of Saint John, and as the Church hath now need to know more than at other times, so God reveals himselfe accordingly: had those seven thousand in Israel which bowed not their knee to Baal, been endued with the spirit of Elias, certainly the Church had been dissipated, had they spoken with the same spirit and power that he did, they had been dissipated: but they knew as much as God saw fit for their present condition, and so what God sees meet for you to know, as farre as you stand in need to know the spirit of Antichrist in th•se times, so farre shall knowledge be revealed to you, so that you may be preserved.
For the Reasons of the Point.
Reas. 1. From the object of their Knowledge, and in him all things needful; 2 Cor. 2.2. in Christ they have enough, Col. 2.9, 10. therefore having got Christ, will he not give you all other things needful? since God hath given us Christ, ⟨p. 167⟩our head understands all things, and the head will be sure to guide the foot, when it hath need to go.
2 From the excellency of their Teacher, John 6.45. thy Children shall be [Greek or Hebrew], Isa. 48.17. and if God undertake to teach us to profit he is able to do more than any other teachers; they may teach, but they cannot give a dullard wit, but God can open our understandings, and enlarge our hearts with wisdom, so that he will clear the object, the Medium and the faculty, Psal 119.13. I have more understanding then my teachers, so vers. 97.
2 From the excellency of their Teacher, John 6.45. thy Children shall be 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Isa. 48.17. and if God undertake to teach us to profit he is able to do more than any other teachers; they may teach, but they cannot give a dullard wit, but God can open our understandlngs, and enlarge our hearts with wisdom, so that he will clear the object, the Medium and the faculty, Psal 119.13. I have more understanding then my teachers, so vers. 97.
Use. 1 A ground of singular comfort to any poor Christian, that whatsoever is needful for him, expedient for him, he hath a teacher; every poor Christian hath a Counsellor within him; that teacheth him all things, and this is better than the Urim and Thummim, and Ephod; to counsel at, we have an unction which is worth all, we have an oracle in our breasts, which if we would but rub up, would reveal all things to us.
Ʋse. 1 A ground of singular comfort to any poor Christian, that whatsoever is needfull for him, expedient for him, he hath a teacher; every poor Christian hath a Counsellor within him; that teacheth him all things, and this is better than the Ʋrim and Thummim, and Ephod; to counsell at, we have an unction which is worth all, we have an oracle in our breasts, which if we would but rub up, would reveal all things to us.