A34689:4474
A34689:4474
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 That the Father, Son, and Spirit, are divine witnesses, is no question, for they are the three Persons in the Trinity, and yet are but one God, Deut. 6 4. Therefore their testimony must needs be divine. But the question is, How do these hear witness in our hearts to this truth, he that believeth hath all these witnesses in himself?
1 That the Father, Son, and Spirit, are divine witnesses, is no question, for they are the three Persons in the Trinity, and yet are but one God, Deut. 6 4. Therefore their testimony must needs be divine. But the question is, How doe these hear witnesse in our hearts to this truth, he that believeth hath all these witnesses in himselfe?
1 The Father, as he is the Fountain of the God head, so his work is a work of Almighty power, and that is it which speaks in the heart of every believer, John 6.44. No man can come to me; except the Father which sent me draw him: as none come to Christ, except the Father draw him; so he draws none, but by the same power whereby he sent Christ, and that was by his Sovereign authority; if God should draw us only by the cords of men, we should break through all, as the Israelites did, Hos. 11.4. But when God shakes our hearts by an Almighty power, and lets us see the danger of our estate, and after enlightens us to see the ways of salvation, then he draws a man on to Christ: take a natural man, all the world cannot persuade him of his dangerous estate, but he is persuaded of his good nature and good heart towards God.
1 The Father, as he is the Fountain of the God head, so his work is a work of Almighty power, and that is it which speaks in the heart of every believer, John 6.44. No man can come to me; except the Father which sent me draw him: as none come to Christ, except the Father draw him; so he draws none, but by the same power whereby he sent Christ, and that was by his Soveraign authority; if God should draw us onely by the cords of men, we should break through all, as the Israelites did, Hos. 11.4. But when God shakes our hearts by an Almighty power, and lets us see the danger of our estate, and after enlightens us to see the wayes of salvation, then he draws a man on to Christ: take a naturall man, all the world cannot perswade him of his dangerous estate, but he is perswaded of his good nature and good heart towards God.
Secondly, If he be convinced of it, all the world cannot persuade him, that any promise belongs to him, and therefore here God must put forth an Almighty power of a Spirit of adoption, whereby he is brought on to believe the promises; before he had only an humane credulity, now he believes it from a testimony within himself, John 6.45.
Secondly, If he be convinced of it, all the world cannot perswade him, that any promise belongs to him, and therefore here God must put forth an Almighty power of a Spirit of adoption, whereby he is brought on to believe the promises; before he had onely an humane credulity, now he believes it from a testimony within himselfe, John 6.45.
2 The Son of God bears witness in our hearts of this truth, by speaking freedom and liberty to our souls from the guilt of sin, John 8.36. If the Son shall make you free, then shall you be free indeed, that whereas before we were bound to our sins, and lusts, and ways, Christ comes and sets us free from all, so that now we serve not our selves or men, but the Lord Christ; & by this a Christian knows that surely Christ is the Son of God, that hath made me a son of God my self.
2 The Son of God bears witnesse in our hearts of this truth, by speaking freedome and liberty to our souls from the guilt of sin, John 8.36. If the Son shall make you free, then shall you be free indeed, that whereas before we were bound to our sins, and lusts, and wayes, Christ comes and sets us free from all, so that now we serve not our selves or men, but the Lord Christ; & by this a Christian knows that surely Christ is the Son of God, that hath made me a son of God my selfe.
Secondly, By working a Spirit of faith, and a spirit of joy in believing, John 14.16, 17. Hence he is called the Comforter.
Thirdly, By giving us a spirit to make us overcome the temptations of the world, and the lusts of our own hearts, 2 Tim. 1.7. 1 John 4.4. and this testimony is divine.
1 Because it is the revelation and will of God himself.
1 Because it is the revelation and will of God himselfe.
2 Because it is above all humane power thus to draw us and convince us, and strengthen and comfort us against all temptations.
For the three witnesses on earth, they likewise bear witness to this truth in our hearts.
For the three witnesses on earth, they likewise bear witnesse to this truth in our hearts.
1 The Spirit, that is, the Spirit breathing in the Word hath such a mighty power to enlighten, and quicken, and strengthen a soul, that whatsoever the Spirit speaks in the Scripture, the same it witnesseth in our souls, 1 Cor. 14.24, 25.
2 Water bears witness in our hearts to this truth, that is, the water of Sanctification doth so cleanse, and cool, and refresh the conscience of a man, and make him so fruitful in his Christian course, that it's plainly a divine testimony, it passeth all the power of the creature thus to pacify and quiet the conscience; it is only the Spirit of God that is able thus to pacify a guilty soul; thus to cleanse an impure heart, and to make these dry barren stocks as we are fruitful; this is a divine work of Gods Spirit.
2 Water bears witnesse in our hearts to this truth, that is, the water of Sanctification doth so cleanse, and cool, and refresh the conscience of a man, and make him so fruitful in his Christian course, that it's plainly a divine testimony, it passeth all the power of the creature thus to pacifie and quiet the conscience; it is only the Spirit of God that is able thus to pacifie a guilty soul; thus to cleanse an impure heart, and to make these dry barren stocks as we are fruitful; this is a divine work of Gods Spirit.
3 The blood of Christ witnesseth this truth to our hearts, by being sprinkled on our consciences, and so speaking peace to us; this is a divine work.
3 The bloud of Christ witnesseth this truth to our hearts, by being sprinkled on our consciences, and so speaking peace to us; this is a divine work.
2 The same blood purifies every Ordinance, and creature; there would be no virtue in any Ordinance, nothing would do us good, but for the blood of Christ sanctifying it to our use: now this testimony is of greater force then the testimony of all the sons of men together. There be three things needful in a testimony.
2 The same bloud purifies every Ordinance, and creature; there would be no vertue in any Ordinance, nothing would doe us good, but for the bloud of Christ sanctifying it to our use: now this testimony is of greater force then the testimony of all the sons of men together. There be three things needful in a testimony.