A34689:277
A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first…
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.
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,