A34689:4438
A34689:4438
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 3. If all the three Persons in the Trinity agree together in the witness of this •••th, their we see what manner of men we ought to be in our witness ⟨p. 367⟩were we never so many persons; as the Persons in the Trinity are three, and yet their nature such, as they cannot be but one, one holiness, one goodness, one truth, so all that worship him, though their persons be never so different, yet let their spirits be all one.
Ʋse 3. If all the three Persons in the Trinity agree together in the witnesse of this •••th, their we see what manner of men we ought to be in our witnesse ⟨p. 367⟩were we never so many persons; as the Persons in the Trinity are three, and yet their nature such, as they cannot be but one, one holinesse, one goodnesse, one truth, so all that worship him, though their persons be never so different, yet let their spirits be all one.
1. Hence learn, not to take up a truth upon a slight report; God would not commend any work of his to us, unless he had confirmed it by three witnesses, therefore believe not single reports; say not he was a good man that said it, for God would not put upon us any truth, but confirmed it by sundry witnesses, therefore believe not every report, though brought by a good man, let God be true and every man a liar, Rom. 3.15. Jer. 9.2, 3, 4, 5.
1. Hence learn, not to take up a truth upon a slight report; God would not commend any work of his to us, unlesse he had confirmed it by three witnesses, therefore believe not single reports; say not he was a good man that said it, for God would not put upon us any truth, but confirmed it by sundry witnesses, therefore believe not every report, though brought by a good man, let God be true and every man a lyar, Rom. 3.15. Jer. 9.2, 3, 4, 5.
2. Hence learn, that all that believe this divine testimony of the Son, ought to be compounded into unity; it was the last solemn Prayer that Christ put up for the Church, that they all might be one with him, as he was one with the Father, John 17.8, 9, 20, 21. where he useth this as a motive to God, to bring on all believers to unity, because he was one with the Father, and the Father with him, and therefore he prays that they be one, that hereby the world might believe that God had sent him; as if dissensions among brethren would bear witness to the world, that God did not send his Son to be our Saviour; so that by these dissensions, as much as in them lies, they make the promises of God of none effect.
2. Hence learn, that all that believe this divine testimony of the Son, ought to be compounded into unity; it was the last solemn Prayer that Christ put up for the Church, that they all might be one with him, as he was one with the Father, John 17.8, 9, 20, 21. where he useth this as a motive to God, to bring on all believers to unity, because he was one with the Father, and the Father with him, and therefore he prayes that they be one, that hereby the world might believe that God had sent him; as if dissensions among brethren would bear witnesse to the world, that God did not send his Son to be our Saviour; so that by these dissensions, as much as in them lies, they make the promises of God of none effect.
2. They annihilate all the testimony that the three Persons give to Christ; this unity is that mark whereby all the world shall know them to be Christs Disciples, and it is the main duty Paul calls for, Ephes. 4.3, 6. from this ground, because there is but one God; and one Christ, and one faith, Acts 4.31, 32. And indeed all the dissensions of the world have sprung from this ground, that they do not all worship one God, or believe not that God is but one: For what makes a man to fall out with his brother, but either his profit, or pleasure, or credit is conceived to be hindered, and is not this because I make my profit, or my credit my God? and so I had rather lose God, and fellowship with his Saints, then lose any gain and pleasure, and so I am a lover of pleasure more then of God: Now the Apostle made account, if we profess but one God, the unity of God should be more powerful to make us one, then any thing in the world should be to make us two: so much dissension, so much atheism: If we suffer the world to be more mighty to make difference then God to make unity, we make God our Idol.
2. They annihilate all the testimony that the three Persons give to Christ; this unity is that mark whereby all the world shall know them to be Christs Disciples, and it is the main duty Paul calls for, Ephes. 4.3, 6. from this ground, because there is but one God; and one Christ, and one faith, Acts 4.31, 32. And indeed all the dissensions of the world have sprung from this ground, that they doe not all worship one God, or believe not that God is but one: For what makes a man to fall out with his brother, but either his profit, or pleasure, or credit is conceived to be hindered, and is not this because I make my profit, or my credit my God? and so I had rather lose God, and fellowship with his Saints, then lose any gain and pleasure, and so I am a lover of pleasure more then of God: Now the Apostle made account, if we professe but one God, the unity of God should be more powerfull to make us one, then any thing in the world should be to make us two: so much dissension, so much atheism: If we suffer the world to be more mighty to make difference then God to make unity, we make God our Idoll.
1 JOHN 5.8. And there are three thus bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
1 JOHN 5.8. And there are three thus bear witnesse in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the bloud: and these three agree in one.
IN these words is described the testimony given on earth to the Divinity and Sonship of Christ. Wherein 1. Their number, Three. 2. Their names, the Spirit, the Water, and the Blood. 3. Their consent, and these three agree in one.
IN these words is described the testimony given on earth to the Divinity and Sonship of Christ. Wherein 1. Their number, Three. 2. Their names, the Spirit, the Water, and the Bloud. 3. Their consent, and these three agree in one.
The three principal witnesses, for he doth compare them to the three witnesses in Heaven.
The three principall witnesses, for he doth compare them to the three witnesses in Heaven.
Quest. What these three witnesses be?
Answ. The Spirit partly breathing in the Scripture, partly in the conscience of men.
First, The Spirit breathing in the Scriptures, for they in a special manner bear witness to Christ, and they are called Testaments, and indeed they are so far witnesses, as no witness is to be received, unless it be ⟨p. 368⟩consonant to the testimony of the Scripture, Gal. 1.7, 8. and it is not Paul, or Peter, that testifies this, but the Spirit breathing in them, otherwise Christ receives not the testimony of men, neither doth the conscience of a Christian receive the testimony of any living man, except he find the Spirit breathing in him; for let God be true, and every man a liar. This Spirit breathing in the Scripture is a Spirit of power, and perfection, the Spirit of power in the Scripture, is discerned partly, 1. In convincing men, John 16.9. 2. In comforting those that are dejected, Rom. 3.16. 3. In strengthening us against temptation, 1 John 2.14.
First, The Spirit breathing in the Scriptures, for they in a speciall manner bear witnesse to Christ, and they are called Testaments, and indeed they are so farre witnesses, as no witnesse is to be received, unlesse it be ⟨p. 368⟩consonant to the testimony of the Scripture, Gal. 1.7, 8. and it is not Paul, or Peter, that testifies this, but the Sp•rit breathing in them, otherwise Christ receives not the testimony of men, neither doth the conscience of a Christian receive the testimony of any living man, except he finde the Spirit breathing in him; for let God be true, and every man a lyar. This Spirit breathing in the Scripture is a Spirit of power, and perfection, the Spirit of power in the Scripture, is discerned partly, 1. In convincing men, John 16.9. 2. In comforting those that are dejected,
Secondly, There is in the Scripture a Spirit of perfection, so that if we have but the testimony of the Scripture, what need we any further witness? 2 Tim. 3.16, 17.
Secondly, There is in the Scripture a Spirit of perfection, so that if we have but the testimony of the Scripture, what need we any further witnesse? 2 Tim. 3.16, 17.
Thirdly, There is a Spirit that bears witness in our hearts, that Jesus is the Son of God, and that Spirit is the same that breathed in the Scripture, so that when we are hearing, or reading, yet the Spirit sets it home to your hearts and souls, so that we go home either convinced, or comforted, or strengthened to every good work and duty God requires; now this Spirit fully persuades us, that Jesus is the Son of God; for this Spirit goes beyond the power of all created things; for no created power is able to convince an hard heart, or comfort a dejected Spirit, or strengthen us in our Christian course, therefore if we find a Spirit in us, enabling us to do all this, the soul rests satisfied without any need of further witness, that Jesus is the Son of God.
Thirdly, There is a Spirit that bears witnesse in our hearts, that Jesus is the Son of God, and that Spirit is the same that breathed in the Scripture, so that when we are hearing, or reading, yet the Spirit sets it home to your hearts and souls, so that we goe home either convinced, or comforted, or strengthned to every good work and duty God requires; now this Spirit fully perswades us, that Jesus is the Son of God; for this Spirit goes beyond the power of all created things; for no created power is able to convince an hard heart, or comfort a dejected Spirit, or strengthen us in our Christian course, therefore if we find a Spirit in us, inabling us to doe all this, the soul rests satisfied without any need of further witnesse, that Jesus is the Son of God.
Fourthly, Water bears witness to this; by water some understand the water of baptism, and indeed that gives strong testimony to Christ, especially to them that are prepared to receive it: as in the Apostles times, when they were first brought on to believe, and then to be baptized, God then strongly testified this truth, so that after baptism, they were filled with much joy, and oft-times with divers gifts and tongues, Acts 8.36. The water of baptism sent away the Eunuch rejoicing, see Acts 19.6, 7. and though children be not capable of this mercy now in their Infancy, except by an extraordinary power, yet notwithstanding a Christian afterwards finds such virtue and strength from his baptism, that he sees there is no water like it, but that there is a divine testimony in it: But because water is but a representation of this Spirit, therefore by water here, may be understood the water of sanctification, the Spirit of God sanctifying and regenerating us; for besides the Spirit of God, that at some extraordinary times fills with unspeakable joy of the holy Ghost; there is also an ordinary work of Gods Spirit, partly cooling, refreshing us, as water doth, partly making us fruitful in our Christian course; for those great enlargements of Gods Spirit, do not always abide with us in that measure, but this water is a spring in us, continually affording us something which evidently witnesseth this truth, Tit. 3.5. John 4.14.
Fourthly, Water bears witnesse to this; by water some understand the water of baptism, and indeed that gives strong testimony to Christ, especially to them that are prepared to receive it: as in the Apostles times, when they were first brought on to believe, and then to be baptized, God then strongly testified this truth, so that after baptism, they were filled with much joy, and oft-times with divers gifts and tongues, Acts 8.36. The water of baptism sent away the Eunuch rejoycing, see Acts 19.6, 7. and though children be not capable of this mercy now in their Infancy, except by an extraordinary power, yet notwithstanding a Christian afterwards findes such vertue and strength from his baptism, that he sees there is no water like it, but that there is a divine testimony in it: But because water is but a representation of this Spirit, therefore by water here, may be understood the water of sanctification, the Spirit of God sanctifying and regenerating us; for besides the Spirit of God, that at some extraordinary times fills with unspeakable joy of the holy Ghost; there is also an ordinary work of Gods Spirit, partly cooling, refreshing us, as water doth, partly making us fruitful in our Christian course; for those great inlargements of Gods Spirit, doe not always abide with us in that measure, but this water is a spring in us, continually afording us something which evidently witnesseth this truth,
1. In this water of Gods Spirit, we find a power to cleanse us from our lusts, as running waters do channels and sinks, Ezek. 36.25. when I see something in me conforming me to Christ, that water bears witness, that Jesus is the Son of God.
1. In this water of Gods Spirit, we finde a power to cleanse us from our lusts, as running waters doe channells and sinks, Ezek. 36.25. when I see something in me conforming me to Christ, that water bears witnesse, that Jesus is the Son of God.
2. There is a power in water to cool and refresh us, when God sheds abroad his Spirit in us, there is something that cools us from the heat of Gods wrath, Isa. 44.3.