A34689:3933
A34689:3933
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.
Reas. These may be all, as so many reasons of the point▪ another reason may be this, flesh and blood cannot believe it, and confess it, Matth. 16.16, 17.
Reas. These may be all, as so many reasons of the point▪ another reason may be this, flesh and bloud cannot believe it, and confesse it, Matth. 16.16, 17.
Object. But Peter did swear, that he never knew Christ.
Answ. But yet he did believe, for it pricked him at the heart, that he had so wronged Christ, he wept bitterly, and did afterward with constant courage profess Christ.
Answ. But yet he did believe, for it pricked him at the heart, that he had so wronged Christ, he wept bitterly, and did afterward with constant courage professe Christ.
Use 1. Refutes all contrary religions: you see what becomes of all the Nations of the world, that do not believe Christ to be the Son of God, they have no fellowship with God, nor God with them; there is no other Name given by which we shall be saved, but the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ; whosoever doth not believe that Christ is the Son of God, he excludes himself from the fellowship with God in this world, and in the world to come.
Ʋse 1. Refutes all contrary religions: you see what becomes of all the Nations of the world, that do not believe Christ to be the Son of God, they have no fellowship with God, nor God with them; there is no other Name given by which we shall be saved, but the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ; whosoever doth not belive that Christ is the Son of God, he excluds himselfe from the fellowship with God in this world, and in the world to come.
2. Of trial; would you know whether God dwells in you, or you in him, do you confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, do you look up to Christ for salvation? Isa. 45.22. Do you find that your hearts are pricked when you sin against Christ? Do you desire to walk in obedience unto Christ? Do you sanctify him in your hearts? Zach. 12.10. If you be obedient children unto God, you shall enjoy entire fellowship with God.
2. Of tryal; would you know whether God dwels in you, or you in him, doe you confesse that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, doe you look up to Christ for salvation? Isa. 45.22. Doe you find that your hearts are pricked when you sin against Christ? Doe you desire to walk in obedience unto Christ? Doe you sanctifie him in your hearts? Zach. 12.10. If you be obedient children unto God, you shall injoy intire fellowship with God.
3. Of comfort to such, as have prevailed with their hearts and lives to make such a confession: Doth any man desire everlasting life? Let him look up to Christ, there is none from whom you should look for salvation, but Christ, wrestle with God by prayer, that you may find Christ in all the Ordinances you partake of, so shall you be sure to have God dwelling in you, and you in him, so shall you not go from home, whither soever you go.
3. Of comfort to such, as have prevailed with their hearts and lives to make such a confession: Doth any man desire everlasting life? Let him look up to Christ, there is none from whom you should look for salvation, but Christ, wrestle with God by prayer, that you may find Christ in all the Ordinances you partake of, so shall you be sure to have God dwelling in you, and you in him, so shall you not goe from home, whither soever you goe.
1 JOHN 4.16. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us, &c.
These words contain a third argument to prove a proposition laid down, vers. 12. That they that love one another, God dwells in them, and the argument is taken from the knowledge and faith, that such have of the love that God hath towards them, and it stands thus; they that have known and believed the love that God hath to them, such dwell in God, and God in them; but they that love one another, do know and believe the love that God hath to them. Ergo—
THese words contain a third argument to prove a proposition laid down, vers. 12. That they that love one another, God dwels in them, and the argument is taken from the knowledge and faith, that such have of the love that God hath towards them, and it stands thus; they that have known and believed the love that God hath to them, such dwell in God, and God in them; but they that love one another, do know and believe the love that God hath to them. Ergo—
We have known and believe the love that God hath to us, this love is wrapped up in the bosom of the Father, and no man can discern either love or hatred by any outward thing; but yet this love is manifested by faith and knowledge; faith and knowledge are both acts of the judgement, for both are Scientia axiomatis certi, the knowledge of a certain truth, for it is not divine Faith, unless it be of such a truth, Cui subesse falsum non potest.
We have known and believe the love that God hath to us, this love is wrapt up in the bosome of the Father, and no man can discern either love or hatred by any outward thing; but yet this love is manifested by faith and knowledge; faith and knowledge are both acts of the judgement, for both are Scientia axiomatis certi, the knowledge of a certain truth, for it is not divine Faith, unlesse it be of such a truth, Cui subesse falsum non potest.
Quest. How thou doth faith and knowledge differ?
Answ. Faith is the judgement of a certain truth, but certain by divine testimony, whether of the Spirit or of the Word; the apprehension we have of a truth by the authority of a divine testimony is faith; but knowledge is the judgement of a truth certain, not only by a divine testimony, but either by sense or experience, or evident reason; experience is but an observation of divers Sciences, and so most of the rules of practical Art are known by experience, or by evident reason; such are Mathematical rules gathered by certain principles of evident reason; such therefore as love one another, have a certain persuasion of Gods love to them, by some divine ⟨p. 315⟩[…]
Answ. Faith is the judgement of a certain truth, but certain by divine testimony, whether of the Spirit or of the Word; the apprehension we have of a truth by the authority of a divine testimony is faith; but knowledge is the judgement of a truth certain, not only by a divine testimony, but either by sense or experience, or evident reason; experience is but an observation of divers Sciences, and so most of the rules of practicall Art are knowne by experience, or by evident reason; such are Mathematical rules gathered by certain principles of evident reason; such therefore as love one another, have a certain perswasion of Gods love to them, by some divine ⟨p. 315⟩〈…〉
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3 A loving […] love of God to him by evid••• reason, by artificial argue […] judgement of Gods love to him.
3 A loving 〈…〉 love of God to him by evid••• reason, by artificial argu• 〈…〉 judgement of Gods love to him.
First, From […] in a Christians heart, when he is once be• […] exhorts them to be loving and ge• to a• […] •metimes foolish ⟨p. 316⟩disobedient and […] one another, James […] do you think the Scripture speaks in vain, the […] in us lusteth after envy, the frame of our natural temper lusteth after envy emulation, as the sparks fly upward; […] therefore we find this temper subdued, that we can think well, and speak well, and do good mee• to our brethren; way, this is an evident argument, that God hath showed love to us, or, […] the could never have so freely loved others.
First, From 〈…〉 in a Christians heart, when he is once be• 〈…〉 exhorts them to be loving and ge• to a• 〈…〉 •metimes foolish ⟨p. 316⟩disobedient and 〈…〉 one another, Iames 〈…〉 do you think the Scripture speaks in vain, the 〈…〉 in us lusteth after envy, the frame of our natural temper lusteth after envy emulation, as the sparks flye upward; 〈…〉 therefore we find this temper subdued, that we can think well, and speak well, and doe good mee• to our brethren; way, this is an evident argument, that God hath shewed love to us, or, 〈…〉 the could never have so freely loved others.
2. From the knowledge […] may have of […] in Christ because they see us expressing […] John 13. […] this shall all men know that ye are the Disciples if […] men forward and ready […] helpfulness to their […] •ill say, surely he is […] that company; i• therefo•• […] to be Christ […], may not […] it our selves? ••ay not […] discern love to […] all […] world knows it?
2. From the knowledge 〈…〉 may have of 〈…〉 in Christ because they see us expressin• 〈…〉 Iohn 13. 〈…〉 this shall all men know that ye are the Disciples if 〈…〉 men forward and ready 〈…〉 •elpfulnesse to their 〈…〉 •ill say, surely he is 〈…〉 that company; i• therefo•• 〈…〉 to be Christ 〈…〉, may not 〈…〉 it our selves? ••ay not 〈…〉 discern love to 〈…〉 all 〈…〉 world knows it?