A34689:4786
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.
Doct. 1. This Epistle of John was written and delivered to believers only.
This is evident not only in the Text, but sundry other places of the Epistle, cap. 1.4. He wrote it to such, as by reading this Epistle might attain to full joy. This is evident likewise by recounting the several sorts of persons to whom he wrote, cap. 1.12, 13, 14. Which were of three sorts, Babes, Young men, and Fathers, yet all believers so, cap. 4.4. Ye are of God little children. His second Epistle was written to the elect Lady; and the third Epistle to his beloved Gaius, vers. 1, 2. All his writings were directed to believers; so were all the Epistles of the rest of the Apostles, directed to believers, to Saints, to the chosen of God, to their brethren, as will appear in all their first greetings; when our Saviour himself wrote, he wrote to such in whom he acknowledged many special graces, yea even in the worst of them, in the Church of Sardis, he acknowledged that she had a few names. Now this gives us just occasion to enquire; Why they were written to believers? 2 Why to them only.
This is evident not onely in the Text, but sundry other places of the Epistle, cap. 1.4. He wrote it to such, as by reading this Epistle might attain to full joy. This is evident likewise by recounting the several sorts of persons to whom he wrote, cap. 1.12, 13, 14. Which were of three sorts, Babes, Young men, and Fathers, yet all believers so, cap. 4.4. Ye are of God little children. His second Epistle was written to the elect Lady; and the third Epistle to his beloved Gaius, vers. 1, 2. All his writings were directed to believers; so were all the Epistles of the rest of the Apostles, directed to believers, to Saints, to the chosen of God, to their brethren, as will appear in all their first greetings; when our Saviour himself wrote, he wrote to such in whom he acknowledged many special graces, yea even in the worst of them, in the Church of Sardis, he acknowledged that she had a few names. Now this gives us just occasion to enquire; Why they were written to believers? 2 Why to them only.