A34689:273
A34689:273
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 declaration, such our Saviour embraceth, as appointing his Disciples to that end, and indeed if he would have had witnesses for confirmation, he would rather have sent Solomon in all his royalty, and such others as he, men of credit and honour, than poor Fisher-men; if therefore the Pope and his Clergy were not greater than Peter and the Apostles, they would not challenge to themselves power to give authority to the Scriptures, for are not such men for confirmation?
Quest. But why would our Saviour have such poor and simple men to be his witnesses, and to declare and preach him, rather than Gamaliel, and the other Rabbins of the Jews.
Quest. But why would our Saviour have sush poor and simple men to be his witnesses, and to declare and preach him, rather than Gamaliel, and the other Rabbins of the Jewes.
Answ. 1. To magnify his power, who was able to persuade the whole World to embrace him and his Doctrine by such weak instruments, 2 Cor. 4.7. Acts 4.33. Acts 4.13.
Answ. 1. To magnifie his power, who was able to perswade the whole World to embrace him and his Doctrin by such weak instruments, 2 Cor. 4.7. Acts 4.33. Acts 4.13.
2. To take away and prevent a slander, which otherwise might have been raised upon the Doctrine of the Gospel, that it had been the device of a mans brain, an human policy devised by great men, to keep the rest in awe, 1 Cor. 2.8. & 6. Many profane Atheists are ready now so to deem, and speak of it as it is, how much more if these had seen great men and Princes embracing it, and setting it forward at first? At the first Satan hindered Religion, by persuading the World that the Professors thereof were enemies to the State, Acts 16.20, 21. but when long experience proved none more faithful, now he goeth about to persuade, that Princes devised it for their own turn.
2. To take away and prevent a slander, which otherwise might have been raised upon the Doctrin of the Gospel, that it had been the device of a mans brain, an human policy devised by great men, to keep the rest in awe, 1 Cor. 2.8. & 6. Many prophane Atheists are ready now so to deem, and speak of it as it is, how much more if these had seen great men and Princes embracing it, and setting it forward at first? At the first Satan hindered Religion, by perswading the World that the Professors thereof were enemies to the State, Acts 16.20, 21. but when long experience proved none more faithfull, now he goeth about to perswade, that Princes devised it for their own turn.
3. To teach all Ministers, both how to become most able, and sufficient Preachers of the Gospel, and also to deliver the Gospel so as may be most for Gods glory. If Learning, and skill in all Human knowledge would have made us most able Ministers of his Gospel, he would either have chosen ⟨p. 15⟩such to have been his Witnesses, or have made them such, by instructing them thereafter in that three years space when he abode with them; but he found them ignorant Fishermen, and left them very raw and rude in the knowledge, yea even of the Principles of Religion, Acts 1.8. and yet in one hour, fifty days after, by the sending of the Holy Ghost, he made them more able Ministers than all the Prophets before them, and their Fathers, Schoolmen, and the late restorers of the Gospel since, to show us, that howsoever we must not neglect the help of Studies of the Arts, and Tongues, for want of immediate revelation, yet these are not the things that make us more sufficient, but we above all things are to desire, and strive with God, for the anointment of his Spirit, mentioned 1 John 2.27. And Again, the Apostles being such simple men, were fitted to deliver it so as might be most for Gods glory, not in excellency of words, but in evidence of the Spirit, 1 Cor. 4.5. and therefore Paul, (though otherwise a learned man) imitated their simplicity, 1 Cor. 2.12, 13. And here Chemnitius his modesty is to be commended, who when he cometh to speak of some points of Divinity, carved out by the School-men too curiously, is wont to say, Hac non sapiunt Piscatoriam sapientiam.
3. To teach all Ministers, both how to become most able, and sufficient Preachers of the Gospell, and also to deliver the Gospel so as may be most for Gods glory. If Learning, and skill in all Human knowledge would have made us most able Ministers of his Gospel, he would either have chosen ⟨p. 15⟩such to have been his Witnesses, or have made them such, by instructing them thereafter in that three years space when he abode with them; but he found them ignorant Fishermen, and left them very raw and rude in the knowledge, yea even of the Principles of Religion,
Use 1. Behold then the great and fearful unthankfulness of the World, who put most of these men to death, who did declare unto them Eternal Life.
Ʋse 1. Behold then the great and fearfull unthankfulnesse of the World, who put most of these men to death, who did declare unto them Eternall Life.
Use 2. If the Apostles show unto us Eternal Life, it is easy to discern how far they be from Eternal Life, who do not receive their Witness; alas, how many poor souls through the greatest part of the World, Jews, Turks, all the rest of the Pagans and Infidels are by this means cut off from all hope of Eternal Life? how true alas is that speech of our Saviour, Mat. 7.13, 14. many there be who go in the broad way to destruction?
Ʋse 2. If the Apostles shew unto us Eternall Life, it is easie to discern how far they be from Eternall Life, who doe not receive their Witnesse; alas, how many poor souls through the greatest part of the World, Jewes, Turks, all the rest of the Pagans and Infidells are by this means cut off from all hope of Eternal Life? how true alas is that speech of our Saviour, Mat. 7.13, 14. many there be who go in the broad way to destruction?
Use 3. Then how much to blame are the Wolves (rather than Shepherds) of the Church of Rome, who shut and lock up from the people in a strange Tongue the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles? is not this one way to bar them from Eternal Life? how truly upon them is that verified? Luke 11.32.
Ʋse 3. Then how much to blame are the Wolves (rather than Shepheards) of the Church of Rome, who shut and lock up from the people in a strange Tongue the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles? is not this one way to barre them from Eternall Life? how truly upon them is that verified? Luke 11.32.
Use 4. Then we all of us are to be exhorted diligently to be conversant in the Writings of the Apostles, John 5.39. where what our Saviour spake of the Writings of the Prophets, my Text speaketh the very same of the Writings of the Apostles, they bear witness of Christ, and show unto us Eternal Life; and as the Apostle spake unto our Saviour, so may we to them, John 6.68. Ministers most of all are to be conversant in their Writings, because they succeed the Apostles in bearing witness unto Christ, and declaring of him, so little differing from that of theirs, else we bring a curse upon our own heads, Gal. 1.8. which if the Church of Rome had remembered, they would never have thrust out the Apostles from the Chairs of their Professors, and brought in the Sentences of Peter Lombard; but we are to follow Timothy's example, 2 Tim. 3.15, 16, 17. and all Christians are to imitate the forwardness of Christians in Chrysostoms time.
Ʋse 4. Then we all of us are to be exhorted diligently to be conversant in the Writings of the Apostles, John 5.39. where what our Saviour spake of the Writings of the Prophets, my Text speaketh the very same of the Writings of the Apostles, they bear witnesse of Christ, and shew unto us Eternall Life; and as the Apostle spake unto our Saviour, so may we to them, John 6.68. Ministers most of all are to be conversant in their Writings, because they succeed the Apostles in bearing witnesse unto Christ, and declaring of him, so little differing from that of theirs, else we bring a curse upon our own heads, Gal. 1.8. which if the Church of Rome had remembred, they would never have thrust out the Apostles from the Chairs of their Professors, and brought in the Sentences of Peter Lombard; but we are to follow Timothies example, 2 Tim. 3.15, 16, 17. and all Christians are to imitate the forwardnesse of Christians in Chrysostoms time.
Use 5. Then we are to praise the Lords goodness unto us, who hath granted unto us their Writings. Consider the like example, Psal. 147.12, 19, 20. It was a great preferment to the Jews to have the Writings of the Prophets, Rom. 3.1, 2. but their witness of Christ is much more dark and obscure than this of the Apostles; without their Writings, we should but have groped after God, Acts 17.27. and as for Christ, this Eternal Life, we should never have dreamed of him: the Lord make us more thankful, and more careful to walk more worthy of them, lest he take them from us.
Ʋse 5. Then we are to praise the Lords goodnesse unto us, who hath granted unto us their Writings. Consider the like example, Psal. 147.12, 19, 20. It was a great preferment to the Jewes to have the Writings of the Prophets, Rom. 3.1, 2. but their witnesse of Christ is much more dark and obscure than this of the Apostles; without their Writings, we should but have groped after God, Acts 17.27. and as for Christ, this Eternall Life, we should never have dreamed of him: the Lord make us more thankfull, and more carefull to walk more worthy of them, lest he take them from us.
1 JOHN 1.3, 4. That, I say, which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, &c.
IN these two Verses we have of the Apostles Doctrine,
1. The subject repeated, That which we have seen and heard.
2. And declared.
3. The end.
1 Subordinate, fellowship with the Apostles.