A34689:3610
A34689:3610
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.
He shows them, that when corrupt teachers should break into the Church, he would not have godly hearers sit down, but contend and wrestle earnestly for the faith. Paul stirs up Timothy to war a good warfare, to hold faith and a good conscience, 1 Tim. 18, 19. Which shows there are two things which good Ministers and people, and worldly Ministers and people do contend for, viz. faith and a good conscience; else of faith thou mayst make shipwreck, and a good conscience you may turn away.
He shews them, that when corrupt teachers should break into the Church, he would not have godly hearers sit down, but contend and wrestle earnestly for the faith. Paul stirs up Timothy to war a good warfare, to hold faith and a good conscience, 1 Tim. 18, 19. Which shews there are two things which good Ministers and people, and worldly Ministers and people doe contend for, viz. faith and a good conscience; else of faith thou mayst make shipwrack, and a good conscience you may turn away.
Quest. In what manner is this conflict acted between bad Ministers and good people?
A. 1. When bad Ministers contend with good people to pervert their faith, 2 Tim. 2.18, 19. or else they labour to destroy their good conscience; if they see good Christians make a conscience of keeping the Sabbath, of performing family duties, and abstaining from sin, bad Ministers will do as much as they can to pervert their faith, to destroy their good conscience; now the people of God contend for both.
A. 1. When bad Ministers contend with good people to pervert their faith, 2 Tim. 2.18, 19. or else they labour to destroy their good conscience; if they see good Christians make a conscience of keeping the Sabbath, of performing family duties, and abstaining from sin, bad Ministers will doe as much as they can to pervert their faith, to destroy their good conscience; now the people of God contend for both.
1 They wrestle with God for a better faith, and a better judgement, Rom. 15.30, 31. if they did so for Paul, then much more for themselves.
2 They do observe such as do corrupt their faith, and so are better armed against them, Rom. 16.17, 18. and so are the better able to overcome.
2 They doe observe such as doe corrupt their faith, and so are better armed against them, Rom. 16.17, 18. and so are the better able to overcome.
4 If none of those will prevail, they argue with them, and deal seriously with them, as the blind man (and therefore no great Scholar) did reason with the Pharisees about Christ, and affirmed that he was a good man, because he did open the eyes of the blind, John 9.7. to 34. if all this will not prevail, then they avoid their doctrine, Mat. 22.3, 4. and their leaven, Luke 12.1.
4 If none of those will prevaile, they argue with them, and deale seriously with them, as the blind man (and therefore no great Schollar) did reason with the Pharisees about Christ, and affirmed that he was a good man, because he did open the eyes of the blind, John 9.7. to 34. if all this will not prevaile, then they avoid their doctrine, Mat. 22.3, 4. and their leaven, Luke 12.1.
2. They have a care either to remove altogether from their Congregations, or else depart from them on the Sabbath day. The Levites left their Suburbs and Possessions, and came to Judah and Jerusalem, 2 Chron. 11.14. and those that could not sell their possessions, took horses, and rid whither the Word was faithfully and sincerely taught; when the Shunamitish woman asked her husband an Ass and a man to go with her to the Prophet, he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day, it is neither new Moon, nor Sabbath day, 2 Kings 4.22, 23. which shows you, that if it had been either new Moon or Sabbath day, she should have had liberty to go: And so should men that live under bad Ministers, take their horses, and ride to such places where the Word of God is faithfully taught; not that people must go from their Ministers, when they preach the Word of God in truth.
2. They have a care either to remove altogether from their Congregations, or else depart from them on the Sabbath day. The Levits left their Suburbs and Possessions, and came to Judah and Jerusalem, 2 Chron. 11.14. and those that could not sell their possessions, took horses, and rid whither the Word was faithfully and sincerely taught; when the Shunamitish woman asked her husband an Asse and a man to goe with her to the Prophet, he said, Wherefore wilt thou goe to him to day, it is neither new Moon, nor Sabbath day, 2 Kings 4.22, 23. which shews you, that if it had been either new Moon or Sabbath day, she should have had liberty to goe: And so should men that live under bad Ministers, take their horses, and ride to such places where the Word of God is faithfully taught; not that people must goe from their Ministers, when they preach the Word of God in truth.
Use 1. This shows how much people are left without excuse, who are ignorant and graceless, when their Ministers are so; the worse your Ministers are, the more should you contend to hold fast faith and a good conscience: you must not plead that you are ignorant men; are you more ignorant then the blind man? he was never book-learned, if you would show your selves to be Christians, you must hold forth faith and a good conscience.
Ʋse 1. This shews how much people are left without excuse, who are ignorant and gracelesse, when their Ministers are so; the worse your Ministers are, the more should you contend to hold fast faith and a good conscience: you must not plead that you are ignorant men; are you more ignorant then the blind man? he was never book-learned, if you would shew your selves to be Christians, you must hold forth faith and a good conscience.
2. To exhort people to contend with their Ministers, when they are not of God.
Ye are of God little children, and ye have overcome them.
Who so is born of God doth overcome the world, John 5.4. the world not only of vain glory and reproaches, of covetousness, injury, and losses, but the world of false Teachers also.
Who so is born of God doth overcome the world, John 5.4. the world not onely of vain glory and reproaches, of covetousness, injury, and losses, but the world of false Teachers also.
In what doth this victory stand? A godly Hearer overcomes worldly Teachers,
First, By trying and examining their doctrine, and finding it to be false; if he do discover him he overcomes him, Rev. 2.2. by this means he puts them to shame, as those that have lost the field.
First, By trying and examining their doctrine, and finding it to be false; if he doe discover him he overcomes him, Rev. 2.2. by this means he puts them to shame, as those that have lost the field.