A34689:4663
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.
2 If an evil thought come into a natural mans heart, it's connatural to him, it finds lodging and welcome there, Eph. 4.18, 19. But a godly man, if an evil thought come, he looks at it as an enemy and traitor, he calls to all the family, to all the faculties of the soul to help against it: and if he be not strong enough, he calls to all his Christian friends, but especially he calls to his Prince to deliver him, even as a good Subject that hath a Traitor got into his house, that plots treason against the King, and spoils his goods, and he is not able to get rid of him, be secretly sends to his Prince for aid. This course David took, Psal. 139.23. Search me, O Lord, and try me. He would have God to make privy search, and find out the frame of his heart; unlike to them, Isa. 29.15. And then v. 24. See if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the ⟨p. 395⟩way everlasting. And if he would have God to be ruler over his thoughts, then much more of his words and actions. Now there are some men whose hearts are like the high-way ground, let evil thoughts come and go at their pleasures, they will not be subject to Christ. As for this man, we will not have him rule over us, Luke 19.14. What say they? Thoughts are free, and our tongues are our own, who shall control us? Whereas a Christian would have God rule all his thoughts and words; nay, a carnal heart is so wonderfully desperate, that they will not only not be servants to God, but they will make God servant to them. Isa. 43.24. Thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, and wearied me with thy iniquities. They make God to serve a wearisome service, that as a cart is pressed under the sheaves, so is God under them; they load Gods patience with one sin after another, pitch one sin upon another, till he be burdened with our sins; and what parts and gifts, and liberties God gives them, they abuse to Gods dishonour, And is not this monstrous rebellion, for poor creatures to make God serve a wearisome service? Wonder not therefore if he say, Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,