A34689:4135
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.
Use 1. To refute those that make Gods love to us depend upon our love to him, they expressly blot out this Scripture, to say that any one is beloved of God for his fore-seen faith, is to say, that God loved us, because we first loved him, which is expressly contrary to this Text, so that if we enquire the cause of Gods love to us, we must seek it in God, not in our selves, for he loved us, because he loved us.
Ʋse 1. To refute those that make Gods love to us depend upon our love to him, they expresly blot out this Scripture, to say that any one is beloved of God for his fore-seen faith, is to say, that God loved us, because we first loved him, which is expresly contrary to this Text, so that if we enquire the cause of Gods love to us, we must seek it in God, not in our selves, for he loved us, because he loved us.
Use 2. May teach us to love God betimes; for you can never begin too soon, but he hath prevented you, you can never begin so early, but he hath been up before you: what a shame is it for men to defer this, till 30. 40. 50. years, till their old age? God was up betimes to manifest his love to you, and will not you begin to love God, till you are going out of the world?
Ʋse 2. May teach us to love God betimes; for you can never begin too soon, but he hath prevented you, you can never begin so early, but he hath been up before you: what a shame is it for men to deferre this, till 30. 40. 50. yeares, till their old age? God was up betimes to manifest his love to you, and will not you begin to love God, till you are going out of the world?
Use 3. To such as have already given their love to God; let them learn to maintain their love, and increase it: a man is wont to make much of an old friend; Thine own friend, and thy Fathers friend forsake not,