A34689:4083
A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first…
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. From the object of love, which is always some good; and if the soul love good, God will be good to it, Psal. 79.1. Truly God is good to Israel. In the midst of many fears and doubts, and griefs, in the midst of all, like the Sun through a cloud, he breaks out, yet God is good to Israel: Now when a man in the midst of evil, can look at God as good, this makes way to quiet all, as he expresseth, vers. 24, 25.28, 29. When the heart conceives of God as good, it scatters all doubts und fears wherewith the soul is possest, that though his heart and flesh fail, yet God is his portion for ever.
Reas. From the object of love, which is alwayes some good; and if the soule love good, God will be good to it, Psal. 79.1. Truly God is good to Israel. In the midst of many fears and doubts, and griefs, in the midst of all, like the Sunne through a cloud, he breaks out, yet God is good to Israel: Now when a man in the midst of evill, can looke at God as good, this makes way to quiet all, as he expresseth, vers. 24, 25.28, 29. When the heart conceives of God as good, it scatters all doubts und fears wherewith the soule is possest, that though his heart and flesh faile, yet God is his portion for ever.
Use 1. Of direction to them that have to deal with troubled spirits, where they may apply comfort; a man comes and complains bitterly of the burden of his soul: Why, as yet there is no sure ground of applying of comfort, but when you can discern any fruit of love in their expressions, if you find them taking all in good part, and blessing God, that by this means he is pleased to break them off from their own sinful ways, and ⟨p. 331⟩draw them closer to himself, then you may safely apply comfort; but otherwise, if you see men murmuring against Gods hand, why truly that fear hath torment, and that soul is not sound-hearted: This is true love, to love God when he is angry, and to take it in good part, that God should deal frowardly and crabbedly with a froward and ooked heart.