A34689:2049
A34689:2049
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.
Observe all the Apostles writings, they were never written to any Country, or Town or person that did not know the truth before, but they were already brought on to the knowledge of the truth, Rom. 15.14. so the Corinths, he speaks to them, as to a Church of God, 1 Cor. 1.1.2 & 8, 9. so Gal. 2, 3, 4. and chap. 3. so Ephes. 4.21. Phil. 1.6. Col. 1.12, 13. so the Thessalonians, he blessed God for their election, 1 Thes. 1.9. so Timothy and Titus he writes to them, as to his natural sons in Christ, Heb. 6.9.10, 11. so the Apostle James chap. 1.2, 3. so 1 Pet. 1.2, 3, 4. so this Apostle St. John, I write unto you, because you know the truth. 2 Epist. 1. and third Epistle, 2.3. so the Epistles, Christ wrote to the seven Churches of Asia, he wrote to them as such as knew the truth of Christ, and profest his name; so that this is an universal truth, that not the Ignorance of the truth, but the knowledge hath occasioned the Apostles writings.
Observe all the Apostles writings, they were never written to any Country, or Town or person that did not know the truth before, but they were already brought on to the knowledge of the truth, Rom. 15.14. so the Corinths, he speaks to them, as to a Church of God, 1 Cor. 1.1.2 & 8, 9. so Gal. 2, 3, 4. and chap. 3. so Ephes. 4.21. Phil. 1.6. Col. 1.12, 13. so the Thessalonians, he blessed God for their election, 1 Thes. 1.9. so Timothy and Titus he writes to them, as to his naturall sons in Christ, Heb. 6.9.10, 11. so the Apostle James chap. 1.2, 3. so 1 Pet. 1.2, 3, 4. so this Apostle St. John, I write unto you, because you know the truth. 2 Epist. 1. and third Epistle, 2.3. so the Epistles, Christ wrote to the seven Churches of Asia, he wrote to them as such as knew the truth of Christ, and profest his name; so that this is an universall truth, that not the Ignorance of the truth, but the knowledge hath occasioned the Apostles writings.
Reas. 1. From God, who hath not sanctified their writings to this end, to the conversion of the Gentiles, but to their establishment, the Apostle here speaks of them that knew the main truth, though they were Ignorant of many particular truths; if men be converted to the truth; and brought to prize Christ and walk in obedience, there may be great use of the Apostles writings to establish them in the truth, we never read that they wrote to any Kingdoms where themselves had not been or sent; they wrote not to Persia, or Spain, or France, but to such places as they had been at, and if God had sanctified their writings to the conversion of the Gentiles, it had been more fit to write to such places, where they were not likely to come, rather than such places as they came at, 1 Cor. 1.2. but we see that God hath so ordered it, that men should be called by the foolishness of preaching, Rom. 10 13, •4, 15▪ and not of writing, it is not his writing to them, but he must be sent to them, so that the work of conversion is wrought by the preaching of the Gospel.
Reas. 1. From God, who hath not sanctified their writings to this end, to the conversion of the Gentiles, but to their establishment, the Apostle here speaks of them that knew the main truth, though they were Ignorant of many particular truths; if men be converted to the truth; and brought to prize Christ and walk in obedience, there may be great use of the Apostles writings to establish them in the truth, we never reade that they wrote to any Kingdomes where themselves had not been or sent; they wrote not to Persia, or Spaine, or France, but to such places as they had been at, and if God had sanctified their writings to the conversion of the Gentiles, it had been more fit to write to such places, where they were not likely to come, rather than such places as they came at, 1 Cor. 1.2. but we see that God hath so ordered it, that men should be called by the foolishnesse of preaching, Rom. 10 13, •4, 15▪ and not of writing, it is not his writing to them, but he must be sent to them, so that the work of conversion is wrought by the preaching of the Gospel.
Reas. 2. From the accompanying of their preaching of the Gospel with mighty signs and wonders, but we never read that God accompanied any of their writings with miracles, their writings laid upon any disease, healed none, but their presence healed many, and did many wonders, Heb. 2.2, 3, 4. 1 Cor. 5.22. tongues are not for them that believe, but them that believe not that is, the miracle of speaking with divers tongues, is not for them that believe, but for them that believe not; therefore we never read in any History, that their writings did work any miracle, and so he never intended that they should convert.
Reas. 2. From the accompanying of their preaching of the Gospel with mighty signes and wonders, but we never read that God accompanied any of their writings with miracles, their writings laid upon any disease, healed none, but their presence healed many, and did many wonders, Heb. 2.2, 3, 4. 1 Cor. 5.22. tongues are not for them that beleeve, but them that believe not that is, the miracle of speaking with divers tongues, is not for them that beleeve, but for them that beleeve not; therefore we never read in any History, that their writings did work any miracle, and so he never intended that they should convert.
Obj. What then, is their writings in vain, seeing they are of no use to convince?
A. No, there are singular uses of their Writings.
1 Sometimes to put men in remembrance of what they have heard, Rom. 15.14. 2 Pet. 1.15.
2 That they may be established in the truth, and confirmed in the knowledge thereof, 2 Cor. 13.1. Phil. 3.1. To write the same things, to me it is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
3 To stir them up to the exercise of such truth as they knew, but were slack in performing thereof; sometimes in liberality slack, sometimes in dispensing of the Ordinances, 2 Pet. 2.13. 1 John 1.4. 2 John 8. Revel. 2.4, 5. to stir them up to their first Love, to stir them up to take heed of false Doctrine.
3 To stir them up to the exercise of such truth as they knew, but were slack in performing thereof; sometimes in liberality slack, sometimes in dispencing of the Ordinances, 2 Pet. 2.13. 1 John 1.4. 2 John 8. Revel. 2.4, 5. to stir them up to their first Love, to stir them up to take heed of false Doctrin.
4 To inform them in some particular truth which they were ignorant of; some were afraid that the Day of the Lord was so nigh that they neglected their particular Calling, 2 Thes. 2. so some were ignorant of the Resurrection, so he tells Timothy how to behave himself, 1. Tim. 3.15. so he informs the Corinthians how Husbands ought to carry themselves towards their Wives, in case of desertion, or present persecution.
4 To informe them in some particular truth which they were ignorant of; some were afraid that the Day of the Lord was so nigh that they neglected their particular Calling, 2 Thes. 2. so some were ignorant of the Resurrection, so he tells Timothy how to behave himselfe, 1. Tim. 3.15. so he informs the Corinthians how Husbands ought to carry themselves towards their Wives, in case of desertion, or present persecution.
Use. 1. It shows a reason of that little good which hath been done among the Papists, by any Writings that have been writ in defence of the truth, they have been means of much good to them that have known the truth, but amongst Millions of Papists, it is hard to know whether any have been converted to the true Religion, after such evident demonstration and conviction, the reason is, because Writings do not profit them that know not the truth, but such as know the truth, for else why did not Saint John write to Cerinthus, or other Heretics in that time? but he tells them, I write to you, because you know the truth, had he writ to Cerinthus or Menander, his labour would have been lost; not but that it hath done much good, not only to them that have known the truth, but those that have not known the truth, it hath stirred them up to like the truth better, and some to seek out the truth in other Writings; but never to convert them to the truth; God hath many times blessed sudden speeches to convert some that have come to hear the truth, but it hath never been so effectual to them that have only read it in writings, for God never sanctified the Apostles Writings to the conversion of the unbelieving Gentiles.
Ʋse. 1. It shewes a reason of that little good which hath been done among the Papists, by any Writings that have been writ in defence of the truth, they have been means of much good to them that have known the truth, but amongst Millions of Papists, it is hard to know whether any have been converted to the true Religion, after such evidet demonstration and conviction, the reason is, because Writings do not profit them that know not the truth, but such as know the truth, for else why did not Saint John write to Cerinthus, or other Heretiques in that time? but he tells them, I write to you, because you know the truth, had he writ to Cerinthus or Menander, his labour would have been lost; not but that it hath done much good, not only to them that have known the truth, but those that have not known the truth, it hath stirred them up to like the truth better, and some to seek out the truth in other Writings; but never to convert them to the truth; God hath many times blessed sudden speeches to convert some that have come to hear the truth, but it hath never been so effectual to them that have only read it in writings, for God never sanctified the Apostles Writings to the conversion of the unbeleeving Gentiles.
Obj. Why then do not our Divines spare their labour in writing?
A. Though they do not prosper to conversion, yet to establishment of many in the truth, and to stir them up to stick closer to the truth.
A. Though they do not prosper to conversion, yet to establishment of many in the truth, and to stirre them up to stick closer to the truth.
Use. 2. You may hence see the reason, why such as read the Word of God diligently, it may be once or more every day, yet notwithstanding not being accompanied with the preaching of the Gospel, few, or none such as are converted and brought to the true knowledge of the truth, but such people are fit to be led into Popery or Heresy; no wonder, for God never blessed the Apostles Writings, while they were living, to the conversion of unbelievers, therefore we see the necessity of preaching to every Congregation, or else the body of the please will sit in darkness and shadow of death; therefore it is a false Assertion of those that say, Reading and Preaching are of like efficacy, for it is certain, had the Apostles Writings been as effectual to conversion as their presence in preaching, they would have wrote most to such Churches as were most remote, 2 Chron. 15.3. a long time they were without a God, and without a Teaching Priest; implying, they that are without a Teaching Priest are without God, 1 King. 13.33. the reason, because he set up base fellows, that wanted both learning and grace, and so only read, but they had not a Teaching Priest, and therefore lived without God.
Ʋse. 2. You may hence see the reason, why such as read the Word of God diligently, it may be once or more every day, yet notwithstanding not being accompanied with the preaching of the Gospel, few, or none such as are converted and brougt to the true knowledge of the truth, but such people are fit to be led into Popery or Heresie; no wonder, for God never blessed the Apostles Writings, while they were living, to the conversion of unbeleevers, therefore we see the necessity of preaching to every Congregation, or else the body of the pleace will sit in darknesse and shadow of death; therefore it is a false Assertion of those that say, Reading and Preaching are of like efficacy, for it is certain, had the Apostles Writings been as effectual to conversion as their presence in preaching, they would have wrot most to such Churches as were most remote, 2 Chron. 15.3. a long time they were without a God, and without a Teaching Priest; implying, they that are without a Teaching Priest are without God, 1 King. 13.33. the reason, because he set up base fellows, that wanted both learning and grace, and so only read, but they had not a Teaching Priest, and therefore lived without God.