A34689:4825
A34689:4825
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.
4 The word examined, that is, when hearers bring things to the ••llance of the Sanctuary; when they […] the Masters doctrine, by the Scriptures, whether it be sound or not▪ This […] use to father our faith; nay, to ••get faith sometimes in those that […] not before, as it did in the Koreans, Acts 17.11, 12. Th•• ••king this c••efe, many of them believed, Many times when a Christian […] the Word of God, his hear• fails him, he is not well persuaded of what […], his […] examines it; why, oft-times the Word […] works and […] faith, when the Word preached did not.
4 The word examined, that is, when h••rers bring things to the ••llance of the Sanctuary; when they 〈…〉 the Masters doctrine, by the Scriptures, whether it be sound or not▪ This 〈…〉 use to father our faith; nay, to ••get faith sometimes in those that 〈…〉 not before, as it did in the ••reans, Acts 17.11, 12. Th•• ••king this c••efe, many of them believed, Many times when a Christian 〈…〉 the Word of God, his hear• fails him, he is not well perswaded of what 〈…〉, his 〈…〉 examines it; why, oft-times the Word 〈…〉 works and 〈…〉 faith, when the Word preached did not.
5 The Word meditated on […] of special use to increase our faith, to make […] more comfortable, and […] and rooted old his faith, Psal. 1.3. •• When a man so delights in the Word, that he meditates there•• on day and night, such a one shall be as a tree planted by the river side, well rooted, well watered, and so he becomes to be very fruitful in every season, his leaf fades not, but in every condition of life he brings forth seasonable fruit.
5 The Word meditated on 〈…〉 of special use to increase our faith, to make 〈…〉 more comfortable, and 〈…〉 and rooted old his faith, Psal. 1.3. •• When a man so delights in the Word, that he meditates there•• on day and night, such a one shall be as a tree planted by the river side, well rooted, well watered, and so he becomes to be very fruitfull in every season, his leaf fades not, but in every condition of life he brings forth seasonable fruit.
Use 1. Hence we may take a good trial of a faithful Minister, and a faithful Christian. We see St. John, when he had begun faith in them, he would not leave them so, as thinking that what he had begun, God would perfect; and therefore he would leave them and turn to others. This was far from St Johns practise, and […] it should be far from every faithful Minister, […] leave believers that they have began faith in them; but their care ought to […] to be desirous first to grow themselves in faith, Lord increase our faith, Luke 17.•9. so to confirm and establish others in the faith. So for Christians; it's a sign of a good heart, not only to labour for truth of faith, but also for growth of faith; that •s the Apostle prayed, so ought every Christian to pray, […] increase our faith; or as the poor man cried to Christ, Lord I believe, help my unbelief ▪ • […] need of a great deal of faith to be so plentiful in […], and to heal offences, as Christ requires, for on this ground the Apostle pray•• […] faith, Luke 17.3, 4, 5. So we have many temptations to mee• with, therefore a Christian had need of strong faith. Above all things take the shield of faith Eph. 6.6. the shield that covers the whole body. No man would willingly go into the field with a weak […], but that had need to be metal of proof to supply a man at every turn, and every occasion, it's a sign of a lively faith, if it be a growing faith.
Ʋse 1. Hence we may take a good tryal of a faithful Minister, and a faithful Christian. We see St. John, when he had begun faith in them, he would not leave them so, as thinking that what he had begun, God would perfect; and therefore he would leave them and turn to others. This was far from St Johns practise, and 〈…〉 it should be far from every faithful Minister, 〈…〉 leave believers that they have began faith in them; but their care ought to 〈…〉 to be desirous first to grow themselves in faith, Lord increase our faith,
2 It reproves the sacrilegious, ungodly, and uncharitable practise of the Church of Rome, that take away the Scripture from the people. St. John writes those things that they might believe, why then take away the Scripture, you make them no better then Infidels, under the faith of Gods elect; And as they are injurious to the souls of the people, so they cast the imputation of ignorance upon God, as if God had been mistaken when he sent his Word, that believers might believe, and they think that reading the Word would make them heretics.
2 It reproves the sacrilegious, ungodly, and uncharitable practise of the Church of Rome, that take away the Scripture from the people. St. John writes those things that they might believe, why then take away the Scripture, you make them no better then Infidels, under the faith of Gods elect; And as they are injurious to the souls of the people, so they cast the imputation of ignorance upon God, as if God had been mistaken when he sent his Word, that believers might believe, and they think that reading the Word would make them hereticks.
Use 3. For you that do believe, be frequent in reading the Word, for to you it was written, that you might believe. Meditate there on day and night. The blessed will find a time to meditate on Gods Word every day, and every night, and this you shall •••le very effectual to the increase of your faith. The King himself, whose employments were greatest, the Lord •aid a charge on him to read in the Book of the Law all the days of his life. Deut. 17.14. And much more is every private man bound to it. If these God hath sanctified, to help us in our belief, then as ever you would believe, •e diligent in hearing, reading, conferring, examining, and meditating on the Word, all these are notable means to increase and enlarge our saith; therefore if thou •e wanting in faith, consider whether thou hast not been wanting in this practise, take away the Word, and take away the fuel of your faith. And for you that believe not, though this Scripture was not so much written for you, yet because hearing is the only way of faith […]. 10.17. be diligent in hearing the Word preached, Prov. 8.3• •5. Blessed it be that heareth ••, for whose findeth me, findeth life. And when you have heard, be careful to search and ••amine whether the things preached be agreeable to Gods Word. By this means many that believed not before, have been taught to believe, and be careful to confer on the Word. The Lord hath sanctified the Word preached, and the Word examined, and the Word confer•ed above, to the begetting of faith, and the Word read to the increasing of faith; •herefore be ste•u•• in these, and withal join hearty prayer to God, 1 Tim. 4.4, •. that he would open thine eyes, and cause thee to understand, and bow thine heart to embrace every truth, that so every ordinance may be effectual to thee, to the […] and increasing of faith in thee.
1 JOHN 5.14, 15. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
Vers. 18. he had showed a double soon of his writing; th• ate […], that they might believe on the Name of the Son of God. This he exhorts Christians to, vers. 14, 15, 16. by three arguments.
VErs. 18. he had shewed a double soone of his writing; th• atte• 〈…〉, that they might believe on the Name of the Son of God. This he exhorts Christians to, vers. 14, 15, 16. by three arguments.
1 From the confidence such may have of the hearing of their petitions, verse 1•4.
2 From the certain knowledge such may have that their prayers are granted.
3 From the prevalency of our prayers with God that as we shall be assured of the granting of our petitions, so we shall thereby, obtain life for our Brother, that both not sinned a sin unto death.
A prayer made according to Gods will, God will grant according to our will.
Notable is that encouragement Christ gave to the Woman, Matth. 15.•6. O […] I great is thy faith, Be it unto thee even as thou wilt. As if God would let such into his privy treasury, and grant them what they would.
Notable is that incouragement Christ gave to the Woman, Matth. 15.•6. O 〈…〉 I great is thy faith, Be it unto thee even as thou wilt. As if God would let such into his privy treasury, and grant them what they would.
For explication.
Q What is it to pray according to Gods will? These two things it holds forth at the first view,
1. When we pray for such things as are agreeable to Gods will, viz. his revealed will, we should ask nothing but what he commands us. In the Lords prayer Christ tells us what he would have us pray for, for those things we have warrant to pray.
1. When we pray for such things as are agreeable to Gods will, viz. his revealed will, we should ask nothing but what he commands us. In the Lords prayer Christ tels us what he would have us pray for, for those things we have warrant to pray.
Ʋse 3. For you that do believe, be frequent in reading the Word, for to you it was written, that you might believe. Meditate there on day and night. The blessed will finde a time to meditate on Gods Word every day, and every night, and this you shall •••le very effectuall to the increase of your faith. The King himselfe, whose employments were greatest, the Lord •aid a charge on him to read in the Book of the Law all the dayes of his life. Deut. 17.14. And much more is every private man bound to it. If these God hath sanctified, to help us in our belief, then as ever you would believe, •e diligent in hearing, reading, conferring, examining, and meditating on the Word, all these are notable means to increase and inlarge our saith; therefore if thou •e wanting in faith, consider whether thou hast not been wanting in this practise, take away the Word, and take away the fuel of your faith. And for you that believe not, though this Scripture was not so much written for you, yet because hearing is the only way of faith 〈…〉. 10.17. be diligent in hearing the Word preached, Prov. 8.3• •5. Blessed it be that heareth ••, for whose findeth me, findeth life. And when you have heard, be careful to search and ••amine whether the things preached be agreeable to Gods Word. By this means many that believed not before, have been taught to believe, and be careful to conferre on the Word. The Lord hath sanctified the Word preached, and the Word examined, and the Word confer•ed aboue, to the begetting of faith, and the Word read to the increasing of faith; •herefore be ste•u•• in these, and withall joyn hearty prayer to God, 1 Tim. 4.4, •. that he would open thine eyes, and cause thee to understand, and bow thine heart to imbrace every truth, that so every ordinance may be effectual to thee, to the 〈…〉 and increasing of faith in thee.