A34689:3977
A34689:3977
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.
3. It's a day of much comfort and boldness, because then they shall be freed from all discouragements, from all persecutions and malignities, from slanderous tongues, and hard speeches, from all fears and sorrows; nay more, from all temptations and corruptions; this must needs give boldness to them; it's all the cause of boldness we have in this life, because at that day all our sins and sorrows shall be put away, it's a day of universal freedom from all sin, 1 John 3.2. we shall then be like him in grace and glory, and freedom from all evils.
3. It's a day of much comfort and boldnesse, because then they shall be freed from all discouragements, from all persecutions and malignities, from slanderous tongues, and hard speeches, from all fears and sorrows; nay more, from all temptations and corruptions; this must needs give boldnesse to them; it's all the cause of boldnesse we have in this life, because at that day all our sins and sorrows shall be put away, it's a day of universal freedome from all sin, 1 John 3.2. we shall then be like him in grace and glory, and freedom from all evils.
Use 1. To reprove a gross error in Popery, which is that no man can be certain of his salvation in the day of judgement, but we see it's no other doctrine, but St. John here delivers, is it not a word of boldness and confidence that Paul hath, 2 Tim. 4 7, 8. I know from henceforth is laid up for me a crown of glory? true say they, Paul was an extraordinary Christian; but he adds, not for me only, but for all them that love his appearing; were not Christians confident against that day, how is it that they so earnestly desire that day? The Spirit and the Bride say Come, and every one that is a thirst, says, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, be like a young Roe; which shows plainly, they do not look at it as a day of terror, but as a day of boldness and comfort.
Ʋse 1. To reprove a grosse errour in Popery, which is that no man can be certain of his salvation in the day of judgement, but we see it's no other doctrine, but St. John here delivers, is it not a word of boldnesse and confience that Paul hath, 2 Tim. 4 7, 8. I know from henceforth is laid up for me a crown of glory? true say they, Paul was an extraordinary Christian; but he addes, not for me only, but for all them that love his appearing; were not Christians confident against that day, how is it that they so earnestly desire that day? The Spirit and the Bride say Come, and every one that is a thirst, sayes, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, be like a young Roe; which shews plainly, they doe not look at it as a day of terrour, but as a day of boldnesse and comfort.
Object. Have not many of Gods servants been afraid of the face of death, and troubled at it? What was Hilarius his speech, Egredere anima mea quid trepidas? Egredere, septuaginta annos Christum colui, & jam mortem times?
Answ. The words of Hilarius show that he checks this fear, he thought he had no cause to be afraid, therefore he bids his soul go forth.
Answ. The words of Hilarius shew that he checks this fear, he thought he had no cause to be afraid, therefore he bids his soul goe forth.
2. I grant that a mans nature may shrink at death, though he knows that he hath been a faithful servant, and is not afraid of judgement, for death is an enemy to nature, though a friend to grace, 2 Cor. 5.12. Paul ⟨p. 321⟩himself desires to be clothed with glory, […] unclothed of his body, so Christ told Peter, John 21.18. […] thee whither thou wouldst not, he means to martyrdom implying if he could have shunned martyrdom with a good conscience he would have •orded it because its an enemy to nature; but yet this […] ••ture is after aggravated by tempt•• […], so that as […], so to […] will […] times taking away all matt•• […] he w•• con•••dent o• […] all […] of com•••• […] him […] that day shall […] examination, and possess him, […] youth, that his […] Psal. 30.7; […] his face, […] is the […] and Joh• •0 […] yet this […] love may […] in that day, though […], wh• […] with temptati•• and […] it may be […] and so other Christians) in his […] temper, […] Christ […] to him, Psal. 3.6. I will not be af••• […] about; […] St. Ambrose, I have not […] am ashamed to […] any longer neither doth it irk me to die […] a good Lo•• so Paul professeth, Phil. 1.21. […] •••ved, so
Use 2. Shows the dangerous estate of such whose love to Go• […] brethren is not perfect; for if they wh••• love is perfect may have […] then such as never sought […] his favour, never loved the •ell […] of his servants, in tha• […] where […]
Ʋse 2. Shews the dangerous estate of such whose love to Go• 〈…〉 brethren is not perfect; for if they wh••• love is perfect may have 〈…〉 then such as never sought 〈…〉 his favour, never loved the •ell 〈…〉 of his servants, in tha• 〈…〉 where 〈…〉
Obj. I have know••• […] ••ve never troubled themselves with matters of Relig••• […] yea scornful, […] boisterous men, yet as little afraid of death and hell, […], Isa. 22.••.
Obj. I have know••• 〈…〉 ••ve never troubled themselves with matters of Relig••• 〈…〉 yea scornfull, 〈…〉 boysterous men, yet as little afraid of death and hell, 〈…〉, Isa. 22.••.
Answ. That which the Papists condemn as heretical […] Gods servants, that may be called […] presumption in such men […] who never shrink at death or judgement: and indeed it proceeds from […] profound ignorance and deadness of their hearts who never […] of God nor the terrors of hell, D•••e bellum in ex pertis, but if one […] •ome to see that d•y, then shall they call to the mountains and hills to cove•• ••em from the wrath […] the Lamb.
Answ. That which the Papists condemn as hereticall 〈…〉 Gods servants, that may be called 〈…〉 presumption in such men 〈…〉 who never shrink at death or judgement: and indeed it proceeds from 〈…〉 profound ignorance and deadnesse of their hearts who nenver 〈…〉 of God nor the terrours of hell, D•••e bellum in ex pertis, but if one 〈…〉 •ome to see that d•y, then shall they call to the moutainns and hills to cove•• ••em from the wrath 〈…〉 the Lamb.
Use 3. For those that would live comfortably and die peaceably, take this ready way, be perfect and sincere in your love to God and his Saints, and that will breed […] marvellous boldness against that day, when the Lo•• […] shall come to be admi•• […] you, and glorified in all his […] so […] perfect love, so much […]; if your hearts be […] and your love unsound, all […] at […] from the halting of your love: W••• made Dav•• afraid […] pit, but that his […] was com• on he […] Urian […] Bathsheba.
Ʋse 3. For those that would live comfortably and die peaceably, take this ready way, be perfect and sincere in your love to God and his Saints, and that will breed 〈…〉 marvellous boldnesse against that day, when the Lo•• 〈…〉 shall come to be admi•• 〈…〉 you, and glorified in all his 〈…〉 so 〈…〉 perfect love, so much 〈…〉; if your hearts be 〈…〉 and your love unsound, all 〈…〉 at 〈…〉 from the halting of your love: W••• made Dav•• afraid 〈…〉 pit, but that his 〈…〉 was com• on he 〈…〉 Ʋrian 〈…〉 Bathshebah.
Use 4 […] loving hearted Christians, that […] sincerely towards […] brethren, who, thou walkest up and […] with a spirit of […] as other call Death [Greek or Hebrew], the most […] all […] thou shalt […] at it with confi••••, when others […] be lifted up.
Ʋse 4 〈…〉 loving hearted Christians, that 〈…〉 sincerely towards 〈…〉 brethren, who, thou walkest up and 〈…〉 with a spirit of 〈…〉 as other call Death 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, the most 〈…〉 all 〈…〉 thou shalt 〈…〉 at it with confi••••, when others 〈…〉 be lifted up.
• John 4.17. latter part. Because as he is, so are we in this world.
IN these words, […] whom love is perfect, such ••y have boldness in […] argument […] who […] in this world […]
IN these words, 〈…〉 whom love is perfect, such ••y have boldnesse in 〈…〉 argument 〈…〉 who 〈…〉 in this world 〈…〉
For proof, Eph. […] 1. Be kind one to another […] [Greek or Hebrew] be useful and […] one the another, ready to do […] •ood, tender•••• […] you any wrongs, and […] them it their miseries, […] 1. Be […] follower of Go• […] dear […]; they that walk in […] Christ himself did, […] sons […] giving […] and giving liber•• to […] is God in this world, all his path […] and truth, in his love […], in […] love […] God in this world: When Adam stood […], be loved […], and […] he fell, he would not let him lie, but in his love he sent his Son to redeem him; so let men walk lovingly towards […] love to thee decay, yet stretch out […].
For proof, Eph. 〈…〉 1. Be kind one to another 〈…〉 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 be usefull and 〈…〉 one the another, ready to doe 〈…〉 •ood, tender•••• 〈…〉 you any wrongs, and 〈…〉 them it their miseries, 〈…〉 1. Be 〈…〉 follower of Go• 〈…〉 dear 〈…〉; they that walk in 〈…〉 Christ himselfe did, 〈…〉 sons 〈…〉 giving 〈…〉 and giving liber•• to 〈…〉 is God in this world, all his path 〈…〉 and truth, in his love 〈…〉, in 〈…〉 love 〈…〉 God in this world: When Adam stood , be loved , and he fell, he would not let him lie, but in his love he sent his Son to redeem him; so let men walk lovingly towards love to thee decay, yet stretch out .
[…] righteousness, that is ••••est in the […] •ercy, wisdom, goodness, all pro•••• from love, in his love he […] his love he preserves us, in his love he […] his love he […] 13.10. Love is the fulfilling of the […] if it fulfil the law, then if […] falls all the righteousness […] to God […]
〈…〉 righteousnesse, that is ••••est in the 〈…〉 •ercy, wisdome, goodnesse, all pro•••• from love, in his love he 〈…〉 his love he preserves us, in his love he 〈…〉 his love he 〈…〉 13.10. Love is the fulfilling of the 〈…〉 if it fulfill the law, then if 〈…〉 falls all the righteousnesse 〈…〉 to God 〈…〉
Use. This is a notable […] grow up in the grace of love: If a man would know how in a […] of performance, he may be as God himself is; why, this is the […], he who is perfect in love, is in this world […] God himself is: Many […] the duties […] ••••gion hard and […] but to a loving […] all is […]; let there be but love in the […] to God and […] will come off easily; […] many loving […] god in resemblances Magistrates are called gods in […] they bear the Image of his Sovereignty; old men bear the Image […] Eternity, learned men of his Co•••isciency; but a man may have all these Images of God, and yet perish: The Devils are spirits of power and wisdom, and yet bound in chains of darkness; but a poor Christian that walks in the spirit of love, he is in this world, as God himself is, he goes beyond all other resemblances, and they that are such may have boldness in the day of judgement, which is more them either wisdom, or wealth for honour can afford; a man […] have all them, and yet tremble at the tho•••ts of death: If you observe, […] she […] men in the world busy the […] about some of those perfections, to be perfect in wisdom, lear••• or ••nours, and these things they labour hard after; why, go […] as hand after love, strive to be as eminent in love, and […] shalt get […] purchase then they can get by […] endeavours, all their contents […] them boldness against the day of judgments: great men, and learned […] slept in the grave, and have […] nothing in the morning […] they […]; but a loving Christian what […] in the dust […] the […] when he awakes, shall be satisfied with the Image of God. But if […] are blest with Magistracy wisdom, rich learning, if you likewise bound with a spirit of love, you and more like Go• […] Christian, that wants those other resemblances; a rich […] and a loving Christian how much do they set out the similitude and fullness of God himself? God is royal and loving, God is wise and loving withal, he is Almighty and loving withal; its his love only ⟨p. 323⟩that doth good to us, his Majesty, Power, and Eternity, would be a terror to us, its his love whereby he doth us good; therefore to all endowments, add, what good do riches, and honours, and knowledge, except thou have love withal.
2. I grant that a mans nature may shrink at death, though he knowes that he hath been a faithfull servant, and is not afraid of judgement, for death is an enemy to nature, though a friend to grace, 2 Cor. 5.12. Paul ⟨p. 321⟩himselfe desires to be cloathed with glory, 〈…〉 unclothed of his body, so Christ told Peter, John 21.18. 〈…〉 thee whither thou wouldst not, he means to martyrdome implying if he could have shunned martyrdome with a good conscience he would have •orded it because its an enemy to nature; but yet this 〈…〉 ••ture is after aggravated by tempt•• 〈…〉, so that as 〈…〉, so to 〈…〉 will 〈…〉 times taking away all matt•• 〈…〉 he w•• con•••dent o• 〈…〉 all 〈…〉 of com•••• 〈…〉 him 〈…〉 that day shall 〈…〉 examination, and possese him, 〈…〉 youth, that his 〈…〉 Psal. 30.7; 〈…〉 his face, 〈…〉 is the 〈…〉 and Joh• •0 〈…〉 yet this 〈…〉 love may 〈…〉 in that day, though 〈…〉, wh• 〈…〉 with temptati•• and 〈…〉 it may be 〈…〉 and so other Christians) in his 〈…〉 •emper, 〈…〉 Christ 〈…〉 to him, Psal. 3.6. I will not be af••• 〈…〉 about; 〈…〉 St. Ambrose, I have not 〈…〉 am ashamed to 〈…〉 any longer neither doth it irk me to die 〈…〉 a good Lo•• so Paul professeth, Phil. 1.21. 〈…〉 •••ved, so Job. 19.••, 26. 〈…〉, but even of every one whose lo•• 〈…〉 that th•• 〈…〉 in that day.