A34689:4593
A34689:4593
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.
For the first, we are said to have Christ four ways. 1. By way of service. 2. By way of purchase. 3. By way of Covenant. 4. By way of acceptance.
For the first, we are said to have Christ four wayes. 1. By way of service. 2. By way of purchase. 3. By way of Covenant. 4. By way of acceptance.
1. By way of service or worship, a man is said to have God that worships God, as some Princes are chosen by the peoples adoration, so by our adoring of God, we have God, Exod. 20.3. Thou shalt have no other Gods but me, that is, Thou shalt worship no other Gods but me, if thou worship me, you have me, Psal. 45.11, 12. For he is the Lord thy God, and worship thou him: we receive Christ to be our Lord, by worshipping him. This Moses sang at the red Sea, Exod. 15.2, 3. to exalt and worship God, makes him our God; the worship of God is performed in our minds in our wills, in our live•.
1. In our minds; we then have Christ, when we have him in high estimation, Cant. 5.10. My Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest of ten thousand, who is like unto thee among the gods? Psal. 8.7. Exod. 15.10, 11. when the soul prizeth Christ above all, then we have him; this is the difference between spiritual and earthly things: a man may prize gold, and silver, and riches, and yet not have them; but we never prize spiritual things, especially Christ, but we have them; and this is worship, for all worship stands in exalting another, and debasing my self: now if I give Christ divine esteem, its divine worship; now when the soul thus esteems Christ as the highest, and debaseth himself to the lowest, it hath Christ. John 1.27. John the Baptist he so advanceth Christ, that in comparison of him, he thinks himself unworthy to loose the latchet of his shoe: no mortal man so great, but another may be worthy to loose his shoe; but Christ is so highly advanced, that we are not worthy to do him the meanest service; when a mans heart thus advanceth Christ, and thinks himself most unworthy of the meanest service about him, much more of having Christ himself; when once we have Christ in such high esteem, we have him indeed, and this high prizing of Christ may a poor soul have, when it can express little else; and this is an evident argument of our having Christ, when we can think the worst thing in Christ honourable and precious; this was Moses his faith, that he looked at the very reproaches and afflictions of Christ as greater riches, then the treasures of Egypt, Heb. 11.25, 26.
1. In our mindes; we then have Christ, when we have him in high estimation, Cant. 5.10. My Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest of ten thousand, who is like unto thee among the gods? Psal. 8.7. Exod. 15.10, 11. when the soul prizeth Christ above all, then we have him; this is the difference between spirituall and earthly things: a man may prize gold, and silver, and riches, and yet not have them; but we never prize spirituall things, especially Christ, but we have them; and this is worship, for all worship stands in exalting another, and debasing my selfe: now if I give Christ divine esteem, its divine worship; now when the soul thus esteems Christ as the highest, and debaseth himselfe to the lowest, it hath Christ. John 1.27. John the Baptist he so advanceth Christ, that in comparison of him, he thinks himselfe unworthy to loose the lachet of his shoe: no mortall man so great, but another may be worthy to loose his shoe; but Christ is so highly advanced, that we are not worthy to doe him the meanest service; when a mans heart thus advanceth Christ, and thinks himselfe most unworthy of the meanest service about him, much more of having Christ himselfe; when once we have Christ in such high esteem, we have him indeed, and this high prizing of Christ may a poor soul have, when it can expresse little else; and this is an evident argument of our having Christ, when we can think the worst thing in Christ honourable and precious; this was Moses his faith, that he lookt at the very reproaches and afflictions of Christ as greater riches, then the treasures of Egypt, Heb. 11.25, 26.
2. We honour Christ in our minds, when we esteem nothing more worthy knowing then Christ. 2 Cor. 2.2. For I determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ, and him crucified, John 17.3. and to know Christ, is to know the virtue and worth of Christ, as Paul knew him, Phil. 3.7, 8, 9. that is, to esteem all his best outward privileges as base and filthy in respect of the knowledge of Christ, an evident sign that Paul had him. In Nature we never have a thing, but we desire to know the worth and use of it, Phil. 3.10. so every one that hath Christ desires to know what the power of his death is, and the virtue of his Resurrection, and the fruits of his mediation.
2. We honour Christ in our minds, when we esteem nothing more worthy knowing then Christ. 2 Cor. 2.2. For I determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ, and him crucified, John 17.3. and to know Christ, is to know the vertue and worth of Christ, as Paul knew him, Phil. 3.7, 8, 9. that is, to esteem all his best outward priviledges as base and filthy in respect of the knowledge of Christ, an evident sign that Paul had him. In Nature we never have a thing, but we desire to know the worth and use of it, Phil. 3.10. so every one that hath Christ desires to know what the power of his death is, and the vertue of his Resurrection, and the fruits of his mediation.
2. In our hearts and wills, we have Christ, when we look at him as our chiefest good, that there is nothing in heaven or earth, that we desire in comparison of him, this is an act of the will and affections, Psal. 73.25. Psal. 42.1, 2. this is called hungering and thirsting after Christ; No hunger is satisfied, without eating of that we hunger after; so when a soul hungers and thirsts after Christ, give him pleasures and profits, yet they satisfy not, except you give him Christ; and this is an high point of worship, Gal. 6.14. when our hearts are set on him, that our chiefest care is to get him, our greatest grief to lose him, our chiefest delight in him; why, if we be thus affected to Christ, we have him.
2. In our hearts and wills, we have Christ, when we look at him as our chiefest good, that there is nothing in heaven or earth, that we desire in comparison of him, this is an act of the will and affections, Psal. 73.25. Psal. 42.1, 2. this is called hungering and thirsting after Christ; No hunger is satisfied, without eating of that we hunger after; so when a soul hungers and thirsts after Christ, give him pleasures and profits, yet they satisfie not, except you give him Christ; and this is an high point of worship, Gal. 6.14. when our hearts are set on him, that our chiefest care is to get him, our greatest griefe to lose him, our chiefest delight in him; why, if we be thus affected to Christ, we have him.
Object. The Church earnestly desired and sought after Christ, yet found him not, Cant. 3. 1, to 4.
Answ. 1. She could neither have sought after him, nor desired him, except she had had him.
2. When she sought him, and said, She found him not, she means, I found him not in that measure of peace and comfort, and fellowship I desired, but yet she had him, for she said, She sought him whom her soul loved. Secondly, Such a soul as it thus highly prizeth, and desireth, and hungers ⟨p. 383⟩after Christ, so it debased it self; the more we esteem him the more we debase our s•lves, the more we love him the less we love our selves; when Christ once revealed himself to J•b, Job 40.3. What laid he? Behold Lord, I am vile see▪ Job 42.4, 5. No soul that highly prizeth and affecteth Christ, but the more he disaffects and loathes himself, as unmeet to come into the presence of Christ, Isa. 6.4, 5. Then said I, woe is me, for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts, the more he sees Christ, the more he abhors himself, as an unclean and abominable thing, that if he could, he would go out of himself; this self-denial is the first principle in Christianity, Luke 9.23.
2. When she sought him, and said, She found him not, she means, I found him not in that measure of peace and comfort, and fellowship I desired, but yet she had him, for she said, She sought him whom her soul loved. Secondly, Such a soul as it thus highly prizeth, and desireth, and hungers ⟨p. 383⟩after Christ, so it debased it selfe; the more we esteem him the more we debase our s•lves, the more we love him the lesse we love our selves; when Christ once revealed himselfe to J•b, Job 40.3. What laid he? Behold Lord, I am vile see
3. We worship Christ in our lives, by our obedience in doing his will, and by patience in suffering for him. Our obedience is a true worship of Christ, 1. When a man hath such respect to all Gods Commandments in his heart, that there is not one of them, but he hath respect unto, and submits his heart to it, this is a principal part of Gods worship, Psal. 119.6, 2. When he hath respect to them all in his conversation, 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. The Gospel of Christ brings every thought into subjection; now this is a marvellous worship of Christ, when a man hath not a thought in him, but it is subjected to Christ.
3. We worship Christ in our lives, by our obedience in doing his will, and by patience in suffering for him. Our obedience is a true worship of Christ, 1. When a man hath such respect to all Gods Commandements in his heart, that there is not one of them, but he hath respect unto, and submits his heart to it, this is a principall part of Gods worship, Psal. 119.6, 2. When he hath respect to them all in his conversation, 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. The Gospel of Christ brings every thought into subjection; now this is a marvellous worship of Christ, when a man hath not a thought in him, but it is subjected to Christ.
4. We worship Christ in our lives, by our patience in suffering, if the Lord call us to suffer for him, when we can sit down quietly, and rest well contented to endure his good pleasure with patience, this is a principal part of Gods worship, 1 Sam. 3.18. It was a good testimony of Eli's sincerity, when he heard of a woeful judgement denounced against him, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth good in his eyes, we have the Lord for our Lord, when we give him leave to rule us as he pleaseth, and patiently submit our selves unto him in every thing, Job 1.21. an argument we have God for our God, otherwise how should we complain and murmur at the instruments? Psal. 39.9. Lam. 3.29. The Church complaining of her misery, tells us the frame of her Spirit, in such a time it is good to bear the yoke in our youth, she sits alone and keeps silence, Psal. 62.1, 2. Micah 7.7, 8. This is a solemn worship of Christ; if God call a man to suffer for his Name divers evils, he is so far from being ashamed of it, that it is his glory and rejoicing; if any man suffer as a Christian, let him rejoice in that behalf, when a man is thus framed to obedience in doing, and patience in suffering the will of God, such a soul is a true worshipper of Christ, and by worshipping him, we have him; if contrary, we look at Christ as no such excellent thing but are ashamed of him; if we can look at our selves as great men in the world, and scorn to seek and mourn after Christ, when we will not be under Christs yoke, but scorn to stoop to him in every thing, and by no means we will endure any hardship for him; why, then we do not worship Christ, and if we do not worship him, we have him not, and not having him we have no life.
4. We worship Christ in our lives, by our patience in suffering, if the Lord call us to suffer for him, when we can sit down quietly, and rest well contented to endure his good pleasure with patience, this is a principall part of Gods worship,
5. We are said to have Christ by purchase, this is expressed partly in that parable, Mat. 13.46. One way to have this Pearl, is to buy it, see Isa. 55.1, 2. Come and buy, yea without money; why, without money? Cant. 8.7. If a man should give all the treasure of his house for Christ, they would be greatly despised, Acts 8.19. when Simon Magus offered money, for the gift of the holy Ghost, Peter tells him, Thy money perish with thee, yet many times without parting with money we cannot have him, the holding fast of money oft-times looseth Christ; upon this ground the young man went without him, Mat. 19. 21, to 25. Upon the point of money Christ parted with the Pharisees, Luke 16.14.
5. We are said to have Christ by purchase, this is exprest partly in that parable, Mat. 13.46. One way to have this Pearl, is to buy it, see Isa. 55.1, 2. Come and buy, yea without money; why, without money? Cant. 8.7. If a man should give all the treasure of his house for Christ, they would be greatly dispised, Acts 8.19. when Simon Magus offered money, for the gift of the holy Ghost, Peter tells him, Thy money perish with thee, yet many times without parting with money we cannot have him, the holding fast of money oft-times looseth Christ; upon this ground the young man went without him, Mat. 19. 21, to 25. Upon the poynt of money Christ parted with the Pharisees,
In three cases money must be parted with, else you shall not purchase Christ.
First, When the Lord upon some special command requires it, as he did the young man expressly; now for him to stick for money, for want of parting with it, he lost Christ; upon the same point Ananias and Sapphira lost Christ, ⟨p. 384⟩because they kept back some of the price, Acts 5.1, 2, 3, 4. a fearful judgement felt on them, to show how dangerous it is to stand upon terms with Christ; in this case money must be parted withal.
First, When the Lord upon some speciall command requires it, as he did the young man expressely; now for him to stick for money, for want of parting with it, he lost Christ; upon the same point Ananias and Saphira lost Christ, ⟨p. 384⟩because they kept back some of the price, Acts 5.1, 2, 3, 4. a fearfull judgement felt on them, to shew how dangerous it is to stand upon tearms with Christ; in this case money must be parted withall.
Secondly, When in times of persecution, a man cannot have Christ with peace and purity, unless he be willing to part with all for him, as sometimes the market goes higher, sometimes lower, but at what rate soever it goes, a Christian is resolved to take Christ at the highest rate; sometimes unless a man be content to be spoiled of all his goods, he cannot have liberty of conscie ce: in this case set money, and goods, and lands, and all go, and suffer joyfully the spoiling of your goods, Heb. 10.34.
Secondly, When in times of persecution, a man cannot have Christ with peace and purity, unlesse he be willing to part with all for him, as sometimes the m•rket goes higher, sometimes lower, but at what rate soever it goes, a Christian is resolved to take Christ at the highest rate; sometimes unlesse a man be content to be spoyled of all his goods, he cannot have liberty of conscie ce: in this case set money, and goods, and lands, and all goe, and suffer joyfully the spoyling of your goods, Heb. 10.34.
Thirdly, When sometimes by laying out money, we may win Christ, as in case we want a good Ministry among us, and cannot have it unless we be willing to lay out money for obtaining the Gospel, and this he calls sowing to the spirit, Gal. 6.8. As a man by laying out money provides things needful for him, so when a man lays out for spiritual uses, he shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. In these three case money must be parted with, and yet if you think money can purchase Christ, you are not worthy of him.
Thirdly, When sometimes by laying out money, we may win Christ, as in case we want a good Ministry among us, and cannot have it unlesse we be willi•g to lay out money for obtaining the Gospel, and this he calls sowing to the spirit, Gal. 6.8. As a man by laying out money provides things needfull for him, so when a man layes out for spirituall uses, he shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. In these three case money must be parted with, and yet if you think money can purchase Christ, you are not worthy of him.
1. Christ must be purchased, by parting with all those strong lusts that keep us off from Christ, Isa. 55 7. v. 1. having bidden us buy without money, he tells us then what it is that we must lay out for Christ; why, Let the wicked forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, let him forg•e his secret and open sins, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will abundantly pardon, upon this point sundry have broken off from Christ; Jehu was carried with ambition to rule, and when he saw it would hazard his Kingdom to forsake his golden Calves, he would rather part with God, then with his Kingdom, 2 Kings 10.29, 30. and therefore he is said, Not to regard the Commandments of the Lord, and therefore because he cut short his reformation, and did it not fully, therefore v. 33. the Lord began to cut short Israel in his days, so tha• Hazael cut off many of the out parts of his Kingdom; if we cut short with God▪ God will cut short with us: so Herod heard John Baptist gladly and did many things, but when he would not cut off his lust of uncleanness, but rather cut off Johns head that reproved him, it's said he added this above all his other evils, that he shut up John in Prison; they that will not be cut off from their sinful lusts, they cut themselves short of mercy; Demas a forward Christian, yet the love of the world so prevailed with him, that he fell off from the Lord, and embraced this present world▪ if we would have Christ our lusts must be parted with, Judg. 10.10. to 16. the people were in great distress by their enemies, they come and cry unto God for help, God bids them go to the gods that they had chosen, to see if they would help them, I will deliver you no more, upon this they put away all their gods, and then the soul of the Lord was grieved for them, and he raised up a deliverer for them; when he saw they were willing to part with their gods for him, then God had compassion on them; so when men are willing to forgo their honourable and profitable sins, which stick as close to a man as his very heart, if God see men willing to rend out their dearest lusts for him; why, then Gods soul is grieved for them, Hos. 14.23. then the Church cries unto God, Take away our iniquities and receive us graciously; and that's not all, but they go about to reform their ways, Ashur shall not save us, neither will we ride upon Horses; Why then v. 4.
1. Christ must be purchased, by parting with all those strong lusts that keep us off from Christ, Isa. 55 7. v. 1. having bidden us buy without money, he tells us then what it is that we must lay out for Christ; why, Let the wicked forsake his wayes, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, let him forg•e his secret and open sins, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will abundantly pardon, upon this poynt sundry have broken off from Christ; Jehu was carried with ambition to rule, and when he saw it would hazard his Kingdome to forsake his golden Calves, he would rather part with God, then with his Kingdome, 2 Kings 10.29, 30. and therefore he is said, Not to regard the Commandements of the Lord, and therefore because he cut short his reformation, and did it not fully, therefore v. 33. the Lord began to cut short Israel in his dayes, so tha• Hazael cut off many of the out parts of his Kingdome; if we cut short with God▪ God will cut short with us: so Herod heard John Baptist gladly and did many things, but when he would not cut off his lust of uncleanesse, but rather cut off Johns head that reproved him, it's said he added this above all his other evils, that he shut up John in Prison; they that will not be cut off from their sinful lusts, they cut themselves short of mercy; Demas a forward Christian, yet the love of the world so prevailed with him, that he fell off from the Lord, and embraced this present world▪ if we would have Christ our lusts must be parted with, Judg. 10.10. to 16. the people were in great distresse by their enemies, they come and cry unto God for help, God bids them go to the gods that they had chosen, to see if they would help them, I will deliver you no more, upon this they put away all their gods, and then the soul of the Lord was grieved for them, and he raised up a deliverer for them; when he saw they were willing to part with their gods for him, then God had compassion on them; so when men are willing to forgoe their honourable and profitable sins, which stick as close to a man as his very heart, if God see men willing to rend out their dearest lusts for him; why, then Gods soul is grieved for them, Hos. 14.23. then the Church cryes unto God, Take away our iniquities and receive us graciously; and thats not all, but they goe about to reform their ways, Ashur shall not save us, neither will we ride upon Horses; Why then v. 4.