A34689:3752
A34689:3752
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.
Use 1. This shows us what our condition is without Christ, if God send Christ, that we might live through him, then in Gods fight without Christ, we are dead, as dead flies, dead worms in a cold frost; we are utterly dead without true peace, we are like thorns that give a blaze; but we lye down in sorrow, Isa. 50.11. Christ is our life, without him we can do nothing, we are not able to put forth any spiritual action.
Ʋse 1. This shewes us what our condition is without Christ, if God send Christ, that we might live through him, then in Gods fight without Christ, we are dead, as dead flyes, dead wormes in a cold frost; we are utterly dead without true peace, we are like thorns that give a blaze; but we lye down in sorrow, Isa. 50.11. Christ is our life, without him we can doe nothing, we are not able to put forth any spirituall action.
2 Let us try our estates, Whether can we say that God sent his Son into the world, and hereby manifested his love to us? Do you live in Gods sight? without him we are but dry bones, until we can say we live in Christ, we cannot say we have any sense of Gods favour.
2 Let us try our estates, Whether can we say that God sent his Son into the world, and hereby manifested his love to us? Doe you live in Gods sight? without him we are but dry bones, untill we can say we live in Christ, we cannot say we have any sense of Gods favour.
3 It teacheth such as have any evidence of life in Christ, Joh. 10.10. to come into Gods presence, as dry bones, entreat God that he would so speak the word, as that those dry bones may live.
3 It teacheth such as have any evidence of life in Christ, Joh. 10.10. to come into Gods presence, as dry bones, intreat God that he would so speake the word, as that those dry bones may live.
4 To teach all such as have received this manifest token of Gods love, to acknowledge the Lord Christ to be their life, Phil. 1.21. For me to live is Christ, and to dye is gain; now Paul is crucified with Christ, Gal. 2.20. and now for him to live is Christ; now every day he lives, he doth the more express Christ.
4 To teach all such as have received this manifest token of Gods love, to acknowledge the Lord Christ to be their life, Phil. 1.21. For me to live is Christ, and to dye is gain; now Paul is crucified with Christ, Gal. 2.20. and now for him to live is Christ; now every day he lives, he doth the more expresse Christ.
1 JOHN 4.10. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
So that in these words, we have the freeness of Christs love, he loved us freely, because he loved us, when we loved not him, we did not begin in love to him, but he to us; and this is set out by the effect and end of it, the pardon of our sins.
So that in these words, we have the freenesse of Christs love, he loved us freely, because he loved us, when we loved not him, we did not begin in love to him, but he to us; and this is set out by the effect and end of it, the pardon of our sins.
What is that love God bare to us, before we loved him?
Answ. There is a threefold principle of love, which God magnifies and manifests to his people, before they love him.
1 That love whereby he chose us to life, and to redeem us by Christ, 2 Tim. 1.9. and the choice to life was not according to works, but free grace.
1 That love whereby he chose us to life, and to redeem us by Christ, 2 Tim. 1.9. and the choyce to life was not according to workes, but free grace.
2 Gods love in redeeming us by Christ, was before any love of ours to God, Joh. 3.16.
3 His love prevented us, by effectually calling us; drawing implies unwillingness, therefore it prevented all good affections in us: he must draw us out of presumption, then out of despair.
3 His love prevented us, by effectually calling us; drawing implies unwillingnesse, therefore it prevented all good affections in us: he must draw us out of presumption, then out of despair.
Reas. From the difference between the care of Gods love and of our love, self love is so riveted in our hearts, that we cannot love any, unless it be for some cause concerning us; a natural man loves none any further then tends to profit or pleasure; but a Christian is enlarged to all Gods children, he loves them all; and the ground of this is, because we know such to be incorporated into the same body with us, and so as we see them in some kind our own; and so we should never have loved God, unless we had found his love to us.
Reas. From the difference between the care of Gods love and of our love, self love is so •iveted in our hearts, that we cannot love any, unlesse it be for some cause concerning us; a natural man loves none any further then tends to profit or pleasure; but a Christian is inlarged to all Gods children, he loves them all; and the ground of this is, because we know such to be incorporated into the same body with us, and so as we see them in some kind our own; and so we should never have loved God, unlesse we had found his love to us.
Object. A christian comes off freely to many offices of love to them, that love not him.
Object. A christian comes off freely to many •ffices of love to them, that love not him.