A34689:4716
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.
Answ. True, there may fall such a deadness on the heart of a Christian, as whereby he may be both unable and unwilling to good duties, to which God usually leaves us, when we go about things in our own strength, and grow self-sure; but when by this God hath schooled us, and taught us thereby that all our life is hid in Christ; why, in this case God is wont to make us sensible of this sinful disloyalty, and that in us dwells no good thing, that we of our selves are unable to do any good duty, and for this distemper we mourn and grieve heartily. Why, this very sense of deadness is an act of spiritual life, which in time will work him to a farther dependence on Christ, and to be more heedful of Gods Wo•d, and by how much the more we strive thus, so much the more life we have.
Answ. True, there may fall such a deadnesse on the heart of a Christian, as whereby he may be both unable and unwilling to good duties, to which God usually leaves us, when we go about things in our own strength, and grow selfe-sure; but when by this God hath schooled us, and taught us thereby that all our life is hid in Christ; why, in this case God is wont to make us sensible of this sinfull disloyalty, and that in us dwells no good thing, that we of our selves are unable to doe any good duty, and for this distemper we mourn and grieve heartily. Why, this very sence of deadnesse is an act of spirituall life, which in time will work him to a farther dependence on Christ, and to be more heedfull of Gods Wo•d, and by how much the more we strive thus, so much the more life we have.
A second effect of life is feeding. This sign Christ gives, John 6.54. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life. This is not meant of the Sacrament, for it was not then instituted, but of Christ himself; but when God hath instituted ordinances, this is a sure sign of life, if in every ordinance we partake in, we feed on Christ, on his blood; he that feeds not, lives not, he that forbears his meat, and forbears it long, he cannot live. Indeed, for a time a mans stomach may be so distempered, that he cannot eat, but he recovers himself and falls to his food.