A34689:3763
A34689:3763
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.
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.
Answ. True, but it is because he knows God can abundantly recompense it, they sometimes may lay down their lives for their brethren, and for the Truth; but they know that Christ hath done it for them before.
Answ. True, but it is because he knows God can abundantly recompence it, they sometimes may lay down their lives for their brethren, and for the Truth; but they know that Christ hath done it for them before.
2 From the eternity of Gods love, now Jer. 31.3. an everlasting love can have no cause; the cause is always before the effect: no temporal thing can be the cause of an eternal love.
2 From the eternity of Gods love, now Jer. 31.3. an everlasting love can have no cause; the cause is alwayes before the effect: no temporall thing can be the cause of an eternall love.
3 From the end of Gods love, that he might bring us to walk in love, Ephes. 1.4. Tit. 2.14. The love of God to his people of old, is a fir president to all his children, Deut. 7.8, 9. compared with Deut. 9.4, 5, 6.
3 From the end of Gods love, that he might bring us to walke in love, Ephes. 1.4. Tit. 2.14. The love of God to his people of old, is a fir president to all his children, Deut. 7.8, 9. compared with Deut. 9.4, 5, 6.
Use 1. Refutes a popish and Arminian conceit, that God chooseth none to life, but out of foreseen faith and good works, else he had chosen none to life, but this is a mercenary love: let a servant labour never so hard, yet he knows he shall be well paid at the years end; and therefore it is servile love, this is that love which they would put upon God.
Ʋse 1. Refutes a popish and Arminian conceit, that God chooseth none to life, but out of foreseen faith and good works, else he had chosen none to life, but this is a mercenary love: let a servant labour never so hard, yet he knows he shall be well paid at the years end; and therefore it is servile love, this is that love which they would put upon God.
2 It exhorts all to begin betimes to love God; begin never so soon, God hath prevented us, Rom. 11.35. it was an early love of Josiah, at twelve years of age when he sought after God, but Gods love was up before him; you cannot be in your love before him, though you begin as soon as you are warm in the womb, John Baptist was very early, when he leaped for joy in the womb, yet Gods love was before him; an Angel had appeared to his Father, and had promised a blessing, before John was begotten.
3 To teach old people, if God have prevented them with love long before, how should this stir them up to love God, and to be humbled for the want of love to God, that hath loved them so long? Shall we be to seek in our love to God and cleave to worldliness in our old times, and let God stay till our children be provided for? What an unworthy dealing is this with God? This should exhort all Gods servants that have had experience of Gods love, to acknowledge the freedom of Gods love. Job by Gods testimony, was a man that feared God and eschewed evil: What saith the Devil, Doth Job serve God for naught? No, but though God had stripped him of all, as he did, yet he had showed such marvellous love to his soul, as that he had just cause to love God for ever if God should not have bestowed on him one dram of wealth.
3 To teach old people, if God have prevented them with love long before, how should this stir them up to love God, and to be humbled for the want of love to God, that hath loved them so long? Shall we be to seek in our love to God and cleave to worldlinesse in our old times, and let God stay till our children be provided for? What an unworthy dealing is this with God? This should exhort all Gods servants that have had experience of Gods love, to acknowledge the freedome of Gods love. Job by Gods testimony, was a man that feared God and eschewed evill: What saith the Devill, Doth Job serve God for naught? No, but though God had stript him of all, as he did, yet he had shewed such marvellous love to his soul, as that he had just cause to love God for ever if God should not have bestowed on him one dram of wealth.
4 This should teach Gods children, to be as observant in love to Gods children as God is to them, to love them freely, to do kindness to them freely, Psal. 16.2, 3.
4 This should teach Gods children, to be as observant in love to Gods children as God is to them, to love them freely, to doe kindnesse to them freely, Psal. 16.2, 3.
Obj.If a man be thus free to others, he shall empty himself?
Answ. Do you think that ever any man served God for naught? Did Jobs care over the poor draw him dry? No, he multiplied it abundantly.
Answ. Doe you think that ever any man served God for naught? Did Jobs care over the poor draw him dry? No, he multiplied it abundantly.
5 Comfort to all Gods servants that have tasted of this love; he that loves you freely, loves you for ever, because his love stands not upon condition: he that loved us when we were enemies, will he hate us when we are acquainted with him, and reconciled? We shall not be worse then we were before, and if he loved us, because he would love us, his love will for ever remain.