A34689:4219
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.
3. Suppose you prevail so far with flesh and blood as to convince them their righteousness is unclean, and that there is no salvation but only in Christ; yet nature will not be persuaded that Christ did all this for him, but in anguish of soul nature runs to merry company, to the world, to the gallows, rather then it will come to Christ for help, and wait on him, and cleave to him; if therefore a man be brought to believe on him as his Saviour, and by his Priestly, Kingly, and Prophetical Office to look for salvation, and trust on him for it, is an evidence of our Regeneration.
3. Suppose you prevail so far with flesh and bloud as to convince them their righteousnesse is unclean, and that there is no salvation but onely in Christ; yet nature will not be perswaded that Christ did all this for him, but in anguish of soule nature runs to merry company, to the world, to the gallowes, rather then it will come to Christ for help, and wait on him, and cleave to him; if therefore a man be brought to believe on him as his Saviour, and by his Priestly, Kingly, and Propheticall Office to look for salvation, and trust on him for it, is an evidence of our Regeneration.
Reas. 1. From the mighty power of lively faith; for St. John here •oth not speak of a cold dead faith, but of a lively powerful faith; now where such faith is, it makes us live by our faith, Heb. 2.4. The just shall by his faith live a life of justification and sanctification; faith looks not at his own works for satisfaction, but to him that justifies the ungodly, Rom. 4.4, 5, 6. And so by faith we live a life of sanctification; whether Gods will be to be done or suffered, he lives by faith, that is, he will have a commandment for his rule, no duty he takes in hand but he will have his warrant for it.
Reas. 1. From the mighty power of lively faith; for St. John here oth not speak of a cold dead faith, but of a lively powerfull faith; now where such faith is, it makes us live by our faith,