A34689:2056
A34689:2056
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.
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.
Obj. But you will say, what can be more said of pagans?
2 And what then, will you judge that all such as live under dumb Ministers are cast a-ways?
2 And what then, will you judge that all such as live under dumb Ministers are cast a-wayes?
A. Whether do you think it greater charity to tell them that they may be without a Teaching Minister, or to tell them, that without a Teaching Minister they live without God, and without the Law? we know, that many that live in such places go abroad, and light on good Sermons, and to Christ is found where he was not sought, and then they either remove themselves, or go many miles to hear the Word abroad, and God often blesseth private conference and helps, to do much good, Neh. 8.12. but men that go home from bare reading, their hearts go home as dead as their Minister was dumb, so that you shall find many people as ignorant as Pagans and Turks.
A. Whether do you think it greater charity to tell them that they may be without a Teaching Minister, or to tell them, that without a Teaching Minister they live without God, and without the Law? we know, that many that live in such places go abroad, and light on good Sermons, and to Christ is found where he was not sought, and then they either remove themselves, or go many miles to hear the Word abroad, and God often blesseth private conference and helps, to do much good, Neh. 8.12. but men that go home from bare reading, their hearts go home as dead as their Minister was dumb, so that you shall finde many people as ignorant as Pagans and Turks.
Ʋ 3. It may serve for direction to such as God hath given a gift of writing unto, to know where their Writings may be of most use; if you writ to some, thinking to convert them, it will be labour in vain, but to writ to them that know the truth, may be of much use, to inform them, to reprove them, to stir them up, and so you may write with comfort to them.
Ʋ 3. It may serve for direction to such as God hath given a gift of writing unto, to know where their Writings may be of most use; if you writ to some, thinking to convert them, it will be labour in vain, but to writ to them that know the truth, may be of much use, to informe them, to reprove them, to stir them up, and so you may write with comfort to them.
Use 4. May serve to encourage all Christians to be frequent in reading; to what purpose did the Apostles write, if others read not? it is good to be reading; put more fuel to fire and it grows hotter, so let people read after they have heard, and it will be very profitable; therefore we see the great abuse of the Papists, that deny the reading of the Scriptures in a Vulgar Tongue.
Ʋse 4. May serve to encourage all Christians to be frequent in reading; to what purpose did the Apostles write, if others read not? it is good to be reading; put more fuel to fire and it grows hotter, so let people read after they have heard, and it will be very profitable; therefore we see the great abuse of the Papists, that deny the reading of the Scriptures in a Vulgar Tongue.
Let us therefore be stirred up, not to forbear the reading of the Scriptures, though you do know the truth, Deut. 17.19. if Kings might not be excused, much less private men.
Let us therefore be stirred up, not to forbear the reading of the Scriptures, though you do know the truth, Deut. 17.19. if Kings might not be excused, much lesse private men.