A34689:3550
A34689:3550
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.
What is it to confess?
What is it to confesse?
There is a threefold confession in Scripture:
1. To acknowledge the truth, doctrine and worship of Christ, even before Rulers, Matth. 22.25. to confess is to profess, to bear witness of the grace of Christ.
1. To acknowledge the truth, doctrine and worship of Christ, even before Rulers, Matth. 22.25. to confesse is to professe, to bear witnesse of the grace of Christ.
3. There is a conf•sion of a mans work, Tit. 1.16. that is, by our life or […] be Saviour, Matth. 1.21. the anointed of the Lord […] Prophet, and King, Jesus Christ the second Person in the Trinity, […] in the flesh, which is a great mystery 1 Tim. 3.16.
3. There is a conf•sion of a mans work, Tit. 1.16. that is, by our life or 〈…〉 be Saviour, Matth. 1.21. the anoynted of the Lord 〈…〉 Prophet, and King, Jesus Christ the second Person in the Trinity, 〈…〉 in the flesh, which is a great mystery 1 Tim. 3.16.
What is it […] spirit of a Prophet to confess Christ Jesus? By spirit is not […] for body 1 Thess. 5.23. but the i••mation both of soul and body […] else it is carnal, sensual, and devilish: when the spirit […] the be•t both of soul an• body, the inclination of […] whole man doth •old forth Christ Jesus; that is the mighty saving […] revealed in humane infirmities: What is Pauls meani••, when he saith I desire to know nothing, 1 Cor. •.3, 4. He means he desires to express nothing in his life and […] Christ Jesus revealed in the flesh in […] infirmities: wh•• the Corinthians […] a sign of Christ in […] acknowledgeth that for his outside he was weak; but yet he did ex•• […] the mighty ••ving power of Christ crucified in his Ministry, 2 Cor. 13.3, •, 5. and he tells the Galatians, They knew, that through […] infirmities of the flesh, he preached the Gospel at the first, Gal. 4, 13, 14, 15. Was any doctrine weakly delivered? he speaks of his bodily presence, for in his life he showed such a mighty power of Christ, as that they looked at him as an Angel of God, yea, they did so affect him, that if it were possible they would have plucked out their eyes to have doth him good.
What is it 〈…〉 spirit of a Prophet to confesse Christ Jesus? By spirit is not 〈…〉 for body 1 Thess. 5.23. but the i••mation both of soul and body 〈…〉 else it is carnal, sensuall, and devillish: when the spirit the bet both of soul an body, the inclination of whole man doth old forth Christ Jesus; that is the mighty saving revealed in humane infirmities: What is Pauls meani, when he saith I desire to know nothing, 1 Cor. .3, 4. He means he desires to expresse nothing in his life and Christ Jesus revealed in the flesh in infirmities: wh the Corinthians a sign of Christ in acknowledgeth that for his outside he was weak; but yet he did ex the mighty ving power of Christ crucified in his Ministry,
Reas. […] •is cannot […] from mans nature, for mans spirit comes short of it, Phil. •.20. every man s••ks his own, Demas hath forsaken Christ and embraced this present world, 2 Tim. 4.10. Some men look too high, they look to their own profits and preferments in […] and account the seeking to save souls, a matter n•t pertaining […] if they preach, they […] some moral discourse which […] •hose that are looking towards the ways of grace, […] the mighty saving power o• ••rist Jesus is not […] their Ministry.
Reas. 〈…〉 •is cannot 〈…〉 from mans nature, for mans spirit comes short of it, Phil. •.20. every man s••ks his own, Demas hath forsaken Christ and embraced this present world, 2 Tim. 4.10. Some men look too high, they look to their own profits and preferments in 〈…〉 and account the seeking to save souls, a matter n•t pertainin• 〈…〉 if they preach, they 〈…〉 some moral discourse •hich 〈…〉 •hose that are looking towards the wayes of grace, 〈…〉 the mighty saving power o• ••rist Jesus is not 〈…〉 their Ministry.
2▪ It's not from the spirit o• […] spirit far exceeds his spirit, he c•v•• own Ch••• ••sus, Ezek. • 22. he speaks with envy against Christ, therefore it must needs •e the […] that confesseth Christ Jesus come in the flesh.
2▪ It's not from the spirit o• 〈…〉 spirit far exceeds his spirit, he c•v•• own Ch••• ••sus, Ezek•. • 22. he speaks with envy against Christ, therefore it must needs •e the 〈…〉 that confesseth Christ Jesus come in the flesh.
Use 1: To teach Gods people […] acquainted with the Lord Jesus, or else they will not be able to discern […] their Minister in doctrine, […], and carriage; it is […] Saints to express their carnal excellencies […] complains of the Galatians, that they made a fair show […] flesh•• […] ••at make a fair show i• the flesh, when they come to […] out, their spirits will not bear it; a Christian should sa• of those outward […] Da••d of Sauls armour, if any man will come after Christ, he must […] wisdom, life, and carnal excellency▪ God ••ts ho•••r, upon many Christians, and gives them carnal excellency, but they must take heed that they do not darken the power of the Lord Jesus Christ […] by.
Ʋse 1: To teach Gods people 〈…〉 acq•ainted with the Lord Jesus, or else they will not be able to discern 〈…〉 their Minister in doctrin, 〈…〉, and carriage; it is 〈…〉 Saints to expresse their carnall excellencie• 〈…〉 complains of the Galatians, that they made a fair shew 〈…〉 flesh•• 〈…〉 ••at make a fair shew i• the flesh, when they come to 〈…〉 out, their spirits will not bear it; a Christian should sa• of those outward 〈…〉 Da••d of Sauls armour, if any man will come after Christ, he must 〈…〉 wisdome, life, and carnal excellency God ts hor, upon many Christians, and gives them carnal excellency, but they must take heed that they doe not darken the power of the Lord Jesus Christ by.
2. […] trial ••ur estates; […] whether the bent of our carriage doth hold forth the Lord Jesus in […] infirmities: God is not affected with our humane excellencies, […] please him, when we show forth the hidden man of the heart, this the […] exhorts women to, 1 Peter 3.3, 4. Isa. •2. & 53. there was no […] or beauty in Christ, why he should be desired.
2. 〈…〉 tryal ••ur estates; 〈…〉 whether the bent of our carriage doth hold forth the Lord Jesus in 〈…〉 infirmities: God is not affected with our humane excellencies, 〈…〉 please him, when we shew forth the hidden man of the heart, this the 〈…〉 exhorts women to, 1 Peter 3.3, 4. Isa. •2. & 53. there was no 〈…〉 or beauty in Christ, why he should be desired.
3. If there were so many false Prophets in St. Johns time, then this reproves ⟨p. 287⟩the Papists, that are burdened with traditions, Col. 2.20. they much adore Venerable Antiquity, as they call it; true indeed, an hoary head is a crown of glory; but it is when it is found in a way of righteousness.
3. If there were so many false Prophets in St. Johns time, then this reproves ⟨p. 287⟩the Papists, that are burthened with traditions, Col. 2.20. they much adore Venerable Antiquity, as they call it; true indeed, an hoary head is a crown of glory; but it is when it is found in a way of righteousnesse.
4. Labour now especially to discern the spirits of your Ministers, for many a man makes a fair show, hath a fair outside, but nothing within him but rottenness; many again have a fair outside, and as for their inside are like empty shells, they have no power of godliness, Col. 2.22, 23.
4. Labour now especially to discern the spirits of your Ministers, for many a man makes a fair shew, hath a faire outside, but nothing within him but rottennesse; many again have a fair outside, and as for their inside are like empty shels, they have no power of godlinesse, Col. 2.22, 23.
1 JOHN 4.3. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God; and this is that spirit of Antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come, and even now already is it in the world.
He doth not say every Prophet, or every Person, for a good Prophet may express much weakness, but he saith every spirit; whatsoever spirit is in a Prophet that doth express Christ Jesus; if any spirit shall not acknowledge Christ come in the flesh, as the spirit of Menander did not, such a spirit is not of God, but of Antichrist.
He doth not say every Prophet, or every Person, for a good Prophet may expresse much weaknesse, but he saith every spirit; whatsoever spirit is in a Prophet that doth expresse Christ Jesus; if any spirit shall not acknowledge Christ come in the flesh, as the spirit of Menander did not, such a spirit is not of God, but of Antichrist.