A34689:4391
A34689:4391
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.
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.
Use 1. If this Spirit bearing witness to Christs coming be a Spirit of truth, then such as have received the Spirit of truth, need not be afraid, that they are led by a spirit of delusion, that do believe that Jesus Christ came by water and blood, Jer. 20.10, 11. the way of the righteous man cannot deceive him.
Ʋse 1. If this Spirit bearing witnesse to Christs coming be a Spirit of truth, then such as have received the Spirit of truth, need not be afraid, that they are led by a spirit of delusion, that doe believe that Jesus Christ came by water and bloud, Jer. 20.10, 11. the way of the righteous man cannot deceive him.
Quest. How shall I know that this spirit doth not deceive, when it witnesseth pardon, and healing, and the like?
Answ. 1. The Spirit bears witness of it self, as well as of other things; the Sun shows it self, as well as makes other things visible.
Answ. 1. The Spirit bears witnesse of it selfe, as well as of other things; the Sun shews it selfe, as well as makes other things visible.
2. The Spirit beareth witness of it self, from the work it frames in the hearts of Gods servants, the testimony of the Spirit doth so set on its witness, doth so pacify, and purify the conscience, that he plainly sees, that this is the very Spirit of God, which is manifest by the fruits.
2. The Spirit beareth witnesse of it selfe, from the work it frames in the hearts of Gods servants, the testimony of the Spirit doth so set on its witnesse, doth so pacifie, and purifie the conscience, that he plainly sees, that this is the very Spirit of God, which is manifest by the fruits.
3. The testimony of the Spirit breathing in the Word, and in the hearts of Gods children do so agree in every thing that its evident to be the same Spirit, though it be true, the Spirit is more strong and evident in the Scripture; the witness may be weak in our hearts, yet always in the main aim and ends they agree together.
3. The testimony of the Spirit breathing in the Word, and in the hearts of Gods children doe so agree in every thing that its evident to be the same Spirit, though it be true, the Spirit is more strong and evident in the Scripture; the witnesse may be weak in our hearts, yet always in the main aim and ends they agree together.
4. By how much the more suitable it is to the Scripture, by so much the more it conforms us to the Image of Christ; the Spirit of Christs make you meek and lowly, as he was, draws us from earthly objects to a more divine frame; that Spirit which fashions to Christ is of God.
Use 2. Of just reproof to Gods servants that have found the blood of Christ pacifying and purifying their hearts; if in this case their souls doubt, and are solicitous, they refuse the testimony of the Spirit; Satan, say they, may transform himself into an Angel of light; I, but Satan cannot pacify the conscience, much less purify it, himself being an unclean spirit, loves to draw on others to impurity; if therefore the spirit within you, draw you on to walk in truth, and to frame your heart according to the Image of Christ, if you find any measure of peace and purity, its evident the Spirit is a Spirit of truth.
Ʋse 2. Of just reproof to Gods servants that have found the bloud of Christ pacifying and purifying their hearts; if in this case their souls doubt, and are solicitous, they refuse the testimony of the Spirit; Satan, say they, may transform himselfe into an Angell of light; I, but Satan cannot pacifie the conscience, much lesse purifie it, himselfe being an unclean spirit, loves to draw on others to impurity; if therefore the spirit within you, draw you on to walk in truth, and to frame your heart according to the Image of Christ, if you finde any measure of peace and purity, its evident the Spirit is a Spirit of truth.