A34689:3664
A34689:3664
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.
Love is the chief lesson Christ gave to his Disciples, when he went out of the world, John 13.35, 36. 2 Tim. 1.13. a man may as soon lose his inheritance in the Lord Jesus, as lose his love to his brethren, if God set love in my soul, and man unset it, I shall destroy the work of God in my soul.
Love is the chiefe lesson Christ gave to his Disciples, when he went out of the world, John 13.35, 36. 2 Tim. 1.13. a man may assoon lose his inheritance in the Lord Jesus, as lose his love to his brethren, if God set love in my soule, and man unset it, I shall destroy the work of God in my soule.
Use 1. Take heed of wrath; if love be of God, whence then is hatred? that is from the enemy of God, Eph. 4.26, 27. if we keep leaven long, it will sour, so this anger will degenerate into hatred.
Ʋse 1. Take heed of wrath; if love be of God, whence then is hatred? that is from the enemy of God, Eph. 4.26, 27. if we keep leaven long, it will sowre, so this anger will degenerate into hatred.
Obj. You will say, You will not hate your brother, but yet you will have nothing to do with him.
Obj. You will say, You will not hate your brother, but yet you will have nothing to doe with him.
Answ. When a man affects not Communion with his brother, nor communication of good to him, such a man doth hate his brother.
2. If we would have any comfort in our hearts, we must have a care, that nothing that befalls betwixt us and our brethren should take away our love from them; if we suffer a fire of wrath to kindle in us, we do as much as in us lies to destroy our own souls, Cant. 7.7, 8. Much water cannot quench love, therefore love is an heavenly fire, hatred a fire from hell. Majus lumen extinguet minus.
2. If we would have any comfort in our hearts, we must have a care, that nothing that befalls betwixt us and our brethren should take away our love from them; if we suffer a fire of wrath to kindle in us, we doe as much as in us lies to destroy our own souls, Cant. 7.7, 8. Much water cannot quench love, therefore love is an heavenly fire, hatred a fire from hell. Majus lumen extinguet minus.
2. Love is a fruit of faith, by which we receive Christ, Gal. 5.6.
Use 1. This condemns such of deep prodigality as suffer love to decay; so much you lose of your love to your brethren, so much you lose of your love to God, and so much you lose of the evidence of your inheritance.
Ʋse 1. This condemns such of deep prodigality as suffer love to decay; so much you lose of your love to your brethren, so much you lose of your love to God, and so much you lose of the evidence of your inheritance.
2. Preserve your love to your brethren, and you preserve your inheritance; your brotherly love is a pledge of your inheritance.
3. Of comfort to such souls, as abound in their love to their brethren; so much love, so much grace, so much hope of an everlasting inheritance: if your love decays, your faith and hope of salvation decays.
Obj. But a little thing frets my soul, and I am not so soon healed being fretted; ⟨p. 296⟩some flesh is hard to heal, so is it with some mens spirits: What shall I do to uphold my brotherly love?
Obj. But a little thing frets my soul, and I am not so soon healed being fretted; ⟨p. 296⟩some flesh is hard to heal, so is it with some mens spirits: What shall I doe to uphold my brotherly love?
Answ. 1. Keep your love to God, and so you shall preserve your love to your brethren; forgive your brethren, and God will forgive you, Mat. 18. ult.