A34689:2067
A34689:2067
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. 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.
You that have received the Unction of the Holy one, I write to you, not because you know not the truth, but because you know it, 1 Tim. 4.3. where he puts Believers and knowers together, now Believers are anointed with the Spirit of faith, John 8.31▪ 32. so much sincerity of truth, so much Discipleship, the stronger faith, the stronger knowledge of the truth, the weaker our faith the weaker our knowledge.
You that have received the Unction of the Holy one, I write to you, not because you know not the truth, but because you know it, 1 Tim. 4.3. where he puts Beleevers and knowers together, now Beleevers are anoynted with the Spirit of faith, John 8.31▪ 32. so much sincerity of truth, so much Discipleship, the stronger faith, the stronger knowledge of the truth, the weaker our faith the weaker our knowledge.
For Explication.
Q. 1. What is the truth?
A. The truth might be taken for the Lord Jesus Christ, and he is not to be excluded, but he is not principally meant here, John 15.6. and it is true, that they know Christ that have received this Unction, John 6.69.
A. The truth might be taken for the Lord Jesus Christ, and he is not to be excluded, but he is not principally meant here, Jhon 15.6. and it is true, that they know Christ that have received this Unction, John 6.69.
But here by the truth is meant the Doctrine. of the Gospel, Ephes. 4.21. which is called the truth in Jesus, that truth which teacheth us to find Christ, to prize Christ, and you know it in a special manner, as it is in Jesus in a Crucified manner, you know it as it is in Jesus which raiseth you from death to life; it is sometimes called the word of truth, Col. 1.5. Gal. 2.4, 5. so then, you that know the truth, you know the worth of Christ, the means to find him, yea you know him in a Crucified manner, in his Death and Resurrection.
But here by the truth is meant the Doctrin. of the Gospel, Ephes. 4.21. which is called the truth in Jesus, that truth which teacheth us to finde Christ, to prize Christ, and you know it in a special manner, as it is in Jesus in a Crucified manner, you know it as it is in Jesus which raiseth you from death to life; it is sometimes called the word of truth, Col. 1.5. Gal. 2.4, 5. so then, you that know the truth, you know the worth of Christ, the means to finde him, yea you know him in a Crucified manner, in his Death and Resurrection.
Q. 2. What is the knowledge of the truth?
A. Three things make up the knowledge of the truth.
1 The understanding of it.
2 Approving of it, and consenting to it.
3 Because a man may consent to it, either as probable, or as certain and evident knowledge, therefore it is not only an understanding of the truth, but a consenting to it, and that not as a probable thing, but as an undoubted certain truth, Judicium contingentis axiomatis est opinio, necessarii scientia, if it be from the causes, then it is scientia, if by the effects, cognitio.
And thus these Babes know the truth, you understand it, you consent to it, ⟨p. 171⟩you yield to it as a certain and undoubted truth; and that all those concur to knowledge, we may see by Scripture.
And thus these Babes know the truth, you understand it, you consent to it, ⟨p. 171⟩you yeeld to it as a certain and undoubted truth; and that all those concur to knowledge, we may see by Scripture.