A34689:4520
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. There is a weaker faith then this, that is, a Christian comes sometimes to doubt even of the power of God, that he is not able to show him mercy, and so doubts of it, as thus, because God hath said, That they that have sinned against the holy Ghost shall never be forgiven, and they are afraid they have committed this sin, and they know God is not able to break his word, Mark 9.22. There comes a poor man to Christ for help for his son, and said, If thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us; What saith Christ, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth? viz, that I am able; why, saith he, Lord I believe, help my unbelief, he believed God was able to help him, and yet was not certain of it neither, and yet this faith procured this blessing from God.
3. There is a weaker faith then this, that is, a Christian comes sometimes to doubt even of the power of God, that he is not able to shew him mercy, and so doubts of it, as thus, because God hath said, That they that have sinned against the holy Ghost shall never be forgiven, and they are afraid they have committed this sin, and they know God is not able to break his word, Mark 9.22. There comes a poor man to Christ for help for his son, and said, If thou canst doe any thing, have compassion on us; What saith Christ, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth? viz, that I am able; why, saith he, Lord I believe, help my unbeliefe, he believed God was able to help him, and yet was not certain of it neither, and yet this faith procured this blessing from God.
Quest. How can this be called believing on Christ, when the heart is not grounded on Christ, nor rests on him?