A34689:4176
A34689:4176
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 Such a man hath no faith in God, that wants love to his brother, for faith works by love.
2 He can have no sense of Gods love, for God never reveals sensible love to such, as have no love to these brethren, and then how can we love God, if we have no sense of his love to us?
3 Much less can he have experience of Gods love to him, for he never had it.
3 Much lesse can he have experience of Gods love to him, for he never had it.
4 You will say, he may have reason to love God, for many bounties of God towards him; I, but what reason can such have to think, that God gives them these in love? and therefore he will have little cause to love God; if he find in his heart no reason to love his brother, he will find less reason to love God.
4 You will say, he may have reason to love God, for many bounties of God towards him; I, but what reason can such have to think, that God gives them these in love? and therefore he will have little cause to love God; if he find in his heart no reason to love his brother, he will find lesse reason to love God.
Use 1. To stir us up to hasten out of this sinful lust of hatred towards our brethren, for though we may think we have more cause to love God then them, yet truly we shall find if we be willing to part with our Brother, we shall be more willing to part with God.
Ʋse 1. To stirr us up to hasten out of this sinfull lust of hatred towards our brethren, for though we may think we have more cause to love God then them, yet truly we shall find if we be willing to part with our Brother, we shall be more willing to part with God.
Object. But this man hath done me much wrong, but God never did me any.
Answ. If he hath wronged thee, and thou seest him daily, pity him the more strive to heal it, and redress it, if thou canst not do it, thou canst not look that God should ever pardon thee.
Answ. If he hath wronged thee, and thou seest him daily, pity him the more strive to heal it, and redresse it, if thou canst not doe it, thou canst not look that God should ever pardon thee.
The second argument the Apostle lays down why we should love our brethren is from the equal cause we have of both, and it is from Gods Commandment to love both.
The second argument the Apostle layes down why we should love our brethren is from the equall cause we have of both, and it is from Gods Commandement to love both.
He that loves God, let him love his brethren also? Why? because God hath commanded the one as well as the other, Psal. 119.9. then shall I never be ashamed when I have respect to all thy commandments, he doth not say, when he keeps them all, we all fail in that, but I may have respect to all, so a christian cannot keep all Gods Commandments, but he may have respect to all, so David professeth, Psal. •••.128. I hate every false way.
He that loves God, let him love his brethren also? Why? because God hath commanded the one as well as the other, Psal. 119.9. then shall I never be ashamed when I have respect to all thy commandements, he doth not say, when he keeps them all, we all faile in that, but I may have respect to all, so a christian cannot keep all Gods Commandements, but he may have respect to all, so David professeth, Psal. •••.128. I hate every false way.
Reas. 1. From the same Law-giver that gives all the Commandments, Jam. 2.10, 11. he that breaks one, breaks all; if in obedience to Gods Law thou love him, the• in obedience to the same Law thou wilt love thy brother also.
Reas. 1. From the same Law-giver that gives all the Commandements, Jam. 2.10, 11. he that breaks one, breaks all; if in obedience to Gods Law thou love him, the• in obedience to the same Law thou wilt love thy brother also.
2 From the n•• ••finity betwixt the Commandments, they are like to the links in a chain, break one, you break all: If a man love not his brother, how can he love God, or worship him, or keep his Sabbaths? He that hath not respect to all Gods Commandments, hath respect to none.
2 From the n•• ••finity betwixt the Commandements, they are like to the links in a chain, breake one, you breake all: If a man love not his brother, how can he love God, or worship him, or keep his Sabbaths? He that hath not respect to all Gods Commandements, hath respect to none.
Use 1 Gives us a free trial of our sincerity or hypocrisy, If God give thee an heart to have respect to every Commandment, and therefore to make conscience of them all; why, then thy profession is true and sincere, though thou canst not say that thou keepest one of them aright, yet if thou be conscionable unto them all, and it grieves thee, that thou canst not perform that indeed which in heart thou respectest, thy heart is sound; contrary, if we shake off the bonds of these Commandments, or break but one willingly, we have no truth in us: Jehu had no respect to walk in all the Commandments of God, and therefore was an hypocrite, if a man take not heed to all the Commandments; he takes heed to none at all: When the two Harlots came before Solomon, his judgment was that the child should be divided betwixt them, the Harlot was willing, but the true Mother would by no means endure it: so if thou give God undivided obedience, thy heart is sound, but if you divide with God, and some part you will give to God, and some part keep for your lusts; why, you have the heart of an Harlot, and all your works are dead works.
Ʋse 1 Gives us a free tryall of our sincerity or hypocrisie, If God give thee an heart to have respect to every Commandement, and therefore to make conscience of them all; why, then thy profession is true and sincere, though thou canst not say that thou keepest one of them aright, yet if thou be conscionable unto them all, and it grieves thee, that thou canst not perform that indeed which in heart thou respectest, thy heart is sound; contrary, if we shake off the bonds of these Commandements, or breake but one willingly, we have no truth in us: Jehu had no respect to walke in all the Commandements of God, and therefore was an hypocrite, if a man take not heed to all the Commandements; he takes heed to none at all: When the two Harlots came before Sol•mon, his judgment was that the childe should be divided betwixt them, the Harlot was willing, but the true Mother would by no means endure it: so if thou give God undivided obedience, thy heart is sound, but if you divide with God, and some part you will give to God, and some part keep for your lusts; why, you have the heart of an Harlot, and all your works are dead works.
Answ. Yes, we all fail in performing, but we may have respect to all Gods Commandments, and it grieves us that we have failed in those we do respect, and we are sorry for it; if we be thus affected, our hearts are right before God.
Answ. Yes, we all faile in performing, but we may have respect to all Gods Commandements, and it grieves us that we have failed in those we doe respect, and we are sorry for it; if we be thus affected, our hearts are right before God.
Use 2. Of consolation to all such as find this frame of heart, to yield universal obedience to God, God himself testifies your profession is sincere, and so you shall find you shall never be confounded, when you have respect to all Gods Commandments.
Ʋse 2. Of consolation to all such as find this frame of heart, to yeeld universall obedience to God, God himselfe testifies your profession is sincere, and so you shall find you shall never be confounded, when you have respect to all Gods Commandements.