A34689:4384
A34689:4384
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.
Answ. This is not our private spirit; but the same spirit that breaths in the Scripture, which witnesseth to our conscience the truth.
Use 2. To teach Christians never to rest in any Scripture they read, or Ministers they hear, before they have examined things by the testimony of the Spirit: it's not the saying of all men that can assure you of this, but it's the Spirit of God in the Scripture, and in your hearts, that must testify that Christ came by water and blood; if you do not discern this Spirit in you, all your faith is but humane credulity, no• divine faith.
Ʋse 2. To teach Christians never to rest in any Scripture they read, or Ministers they hear, before they have examined things by the testimony of the Spirit: it's not the saying of all men that can assure you of this, but it's the Spirit of God in the Scripture, and in your hearts, that must testifie that Christ came by water and bloud; if you doe not discern this Spirit in you, all your faith is but humane credulity, no• divine faith.
Use 3. For trial of our faith, whether it be the faith of Gods elect or no. Dost thou believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Yes thou wilt say: But what witness hast thou to believe it? Is it from the Scripture or because thou hast been taught so; and so takest it up as a Principle? Why, this is no divine faith▪ But dost thou find a Spirit within thee, which convinceth thy conscience, purifies thy heart? Why this divine witness testifies, that Jesus Christ came by water and blood.
Ʋse 3. For tryal of our faith, whether it be the faith of Gods elect or no. Dost thou believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Yes thou wilt say: But what witnesse hast thou to believe it? Is it from the Scripture or because thou hast been taught so; and so takest it up as a Principle? Why, this is no divine faith▪ But dost thou find a Spirit within thee, which convinceth thy conscience, purifies thy heart? Why this divine witnesse testifies, that Jesus Christ came by water and bloud.
Use 4. Of consolation in the testimony of the Spirit, whereas the world […] •est you • is but a delusion and a fancy, he not deceived, This spirit […] truth, and such a Spirit as witnesseth that true faith, only trust not thy private spirit, which agrees not with the Spirit breathing in the Scripture, and therefore both are to be joined together, the Spirit breathing in the Scripture, and the Spirit breathing in our hearts.
Ʋse 4. Of consolation in the testimony of the Spirit, whereas the world 〈…〉 •est you • is but a delusion and a fancy, he not deceived, This spirit 〈…〉 truth, and such a Spirit as witnesseth that true faith, only trust not thy private spirit, which ag•ees not with the Spirit breathing in the Scripture, and therefore both are to be joyned together, the Spirit breathing in the Scripture, and the Spirit breathing in our hearts.
1 JOHN 5.6. the latter part. Because the Spirit is truth.
The Spirit which beareth witness to Christ is amplified by the effect, witness bearing, and by […] junct of truth, which is the cause of his bearing witness, he br••s witness, because his is a Spirit of truth.
THe Spirit which beareth witnesse to Christ is amplified by the effect, witnesse bearing, and by 〈…〉 junct of truth, which is the cause of his bearing witnesse, he br••s witnesse, because his is a Spirit of truth.
Quest. Why is it called a Spirit of Truth?
Answ. Not only because be in one of the Persons in the blessed Trinity, and therefore his witness must needs be truth: a man that works by a rule may go• aw•y, but the rule it self is not awry▪ the holy Ghost being a God of Truth, cannot […] speak truth; himself being the line, cannot go wrong: But he is called a Spirit of truth rather.
Answ. Not only because be in one of the Persons in the blessed Trinity, and therefore his witnesse must needs be truth: a man that works by a rule may go• aw•y, but the rule it selfe is not awry▪ the holy Ghost being a God of Truth, cannot 〈…〉 speak truth; himselfe being the line, cannot goe wrong: But he is called a Spirit of truth rather.
1. Because he speaks nothing but what he hears of the Father, and of the Son, John 16.13. ••e Spirit […] ••thing from the Father, and the Son, speaks nothing, but […] we receives from them, what they apprehend and judge▪ the same […] testifies, John 8.26. and he speaks it without change and alteration.
1. Because he speaks nothing but what he hears of the Father, and of the Son, John 16.13. ••e Spirit 〈…〉 ••thing from the Father, and the Son, speaks nothing, but 〈…〉 we receives from them, what they apprehend and judge▪ the same 〈…〉 testifies, John 8.26. and he speaks it without change and alteration.
2. Because he speaks a testimony, not of a shadowing or typical representation, […] and manifest truth Moses s•ake by types, which observed the […] but what the holy Ghost speaks is evident truth, without v••d or covering, • Cor. •.17, 18.
2. Because he speaks a testimony, not of a shadowing or typical representation, 〈…〉 and manifest truth Moses s•ake by types, which observed the 〈…〉 but what the holy Ghost speaks is evident truth, without v••d or covering, • Cor. •.17, 18.
3. From the effect of the Spirit, the Spirit not only speaks, but works truth in the hearts of those to whom he speaks, by speaking truth he works truth in the heart, so that they that receive the testimony are of the truth, John 3.19. 2 John 1.2.
Now they that receive the testimony of the Spirit, that Jesus Christ is come by water and blood, they are cleansed from the world, from dissimulation and hypocrisy, and so are made of the truth.
Now they that receive the testimony of the Spirit, that Jesus Christ is come by water and bloud, they are cleansed from the world, from dissimulation and hypocrisie, and so are made of the truth.
Object. How comes it to pass then, that sometimes many speaking by the Spirit, yet speak falsely, and yet are confident they speak truth.
Object. How comes it to passe then, that sometimes many speaking by the Spirit, yet speak falsly, and yet are confident they speak truth.
Answ. True, a man having received some work of the Spirit, may speak falsehood, as Zedekiah, 1 Kings 22.24. and yet was confident he spake by the Spirit; but yet though a man speaking by a spirit of delusion, may think he hath spoken the truth; yet it hinders not, but when the Spirit of God indeed bears witness, it may be discerned to be truth.
Answ. True, a man having received some work of the Spirit, may speak falsehood, as Zedekiah, 1 Kings 22.24. and yet was confident he spake by the Spirit; but yet though a man speaking by a spirit of delusion, may think he hath spoken the truth; yet it hinders not, but when the Spirit of God indeed bears witnesse, it may be discerned to be truth.