A34689:4881
A34689:4881
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.
Q. How doth the Spirit certify us of the hearing of our petitions?
Q. How doth the Spirit certifie us of the hearing of our petitions?
1. By helping us to pray; for we know our own hearts are dead and straight, not able to put up any good prayer, if therefore the Spirit come like oil, and make us pray affectionately, and sensibly, we know a prayer well made cannot speed ill, a prayer made by Gods Spirit cannot but be heard, for God knows the meaning of his Spirit, Rom. 8.26.
1. By helping us to pray; for we know our own hearts are dead and straight, not able to put up any good prayer, if therefore the Spirit come like oyl, and make us pray affectionately, and sensibly, we know a prayer well made cannot speed ill, a prayer made by Gods Spirit cannot but be heard, for God knows the meaning of his Spirit, Rom. 8.26.
2. This Spirit puts in us a persuasion of faith, that what we pray for God will answer, Matth. 11.23, 24. And so God gives us an Amen in our hearts. Psal. 6.8. David was in a sore trial and affliction, he prays to God then, Vers. 8. Away from me all ye workers of iniquity, for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. In the midst of his mourning, this unction fills him with a persuasion of the granting of his prayers; and so God often times satisfies the heart of a Christian with this persuasion. Hannah when she had poured out her spirit before God, and Eli had said to her, The Lord grant thy petition thou askest of him: Why, she took this as a voice from heaven, and so she went away comfortably, and she feared that petition no more, 1 Sam. 1.16, 17.
2. This Spirit puts in us a perswasion of faith, that what we pray for God will answer, Matth. 11.23, 24. And so God gives us an Amen in our hearts. Psal. 6.8. David was in a sore tryall and affliction, he prayes to God then, Vers. 8. Away from me all ye workers of iniquity, for the Lord hath heard the voyce of my weeping. In the midst of his mourning, this unction fills him with a perswasion of the granting of his prayers; and so God often times satisfies the heart of a Christian with this perswasion. Hannah when she had poured out her spirit before God, and Eli had said to her, The Lord grant thy petition thou askest of him: Why, she took this as a voyce from heaven, and so she went away comfortably, and she feared that petition no more, 1 Sam. 1.16, 17.
2. There is another act of faith besides persuasion, and that is a constant wrestling against all discouragements which come betwixt us and our prayers; famous is that example of the woman of Syrophaenicia, Matth. 15, 26, 27, 28. If the holy Ghost doth but give us so much resolution, as not to be overwearied with d fficulties, then Be it unto thee thou wilt.
2. There is another act of faith besides perswasion, and that is a constant wrestling against all discouragements which come betwixt us and our prayers; famous is that example of the woman of Syrophaenicia, Matth. 15, 26, 27, 28. If the holy Ghost doth but give us so much resolution, as not to be overwearyed with d fficulties, then Be it unto thee thou wilt.
3. This Spirit works as a Spirit of hope, and this stirs us up to wait patiently on God, till he answer; our carnal spirits would be ready to say, Wherefore should I wait on the Lord any longer, as that wicked King did, but now a spirit of hope waits on God, till God shall give an answer of peace, Psal. 85.8. Psal. 130. 2 last vers. When God gives us spirits to wait on him, he seals up unto us the grant of our petitions. A wise Prince if a petition be put up that is lawful and he bid me wait for it, I count it granted: so if I put up a prayer, and God give me an heart to wait for it, I make account he will grant it.
3. This Spirit works as a Spirit of hope, and this stirs us up to wait patiently on God, till he answer; our carnall spirits would be ready to say, Wherefore should I wait on the Lord any longer, as that wicked King did, but now a spirit of hope waits on God, till God shall give an answer of peace, Psal. 85.8. Psal. 130. 2 last vers. When God gives us spirits to wait on him, he seals up unto us the grant of our petitions. A wise Prince if a petition be put up that is lawfull and he bid me wait for it, I count it granted: so if I put up a prayer, and God give me an heart to wait for it, I make account he will grant it.
4. This Spirit is a Spirit of fear, Psal. 145.9. Dost thou walk in thy Christian course depending upon Christ, reverencing his name and Ordinances? Why, God will fulfil the desires of them that fear him, Jer. 32.40. And so he keeps covenant with us. If God give us an awful reverent heart, that keeps us from departing from God, and God from departing from us, then the Lord will be near when we call upon him, and this is from the unction of the Spirit which make us profit in all our ways, Isa. 11.2, 3.
4. This Spirit is a Spirit of fear, Psal. 145.9. Dost thou walk in thy Christian course depending upon Christ, reverencing his name and Ordinances? Why, God will fulfill the desires of them that fear him, Jer. 32.40. And so he keeps covenant with us. If God give us an awefull reverent heart, that keeps us from departing from God, and God from departing from us, then the Lord will be neer when we call upon him, and this is from the unction of the Spirit which make us profit in all our wayes, Isa. 11.2, 3.
5. This is a Spirit of obedience, and that gives us good assurance of the hearing of our petitions, 1 Joh. 3.21. For as we hearken to God, so God hearkens to us, Prov. 28.9. He that turneth away his ear from hearing the Law, his prayer shall be abominable. But if you hearken to God, God will hearken to you, Judg. 9.7. If we say, Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth, 1 Sam. 3.5. then what we speak God will hear. An obedient Christian is a powerful petitioner, mighty in prayer.
5. This is a Spirit of obedience, and that gives us good assurance of the hearing of our petitions, 1 Joh. 3.21. For as we hearken to God, so God hearkens to us, Prov. 28.9. He that turneth away his ear from hearing the Law, his prayer shall be abominable. But if you hearken to God, God will hearken to you, Judg. 9.7. If we say, Speake Lord, for thy servant heareth, 1 Sam. 3.5. then what we speake God will hear. An obedient Christian is a powerfull petitioner, mighty in prayer.
6. From the root of confidence, which springs partly from Gods nature, partly from faith in Christ, partly from the unction of the Spirit; now for those things we see many promises belong to us, our adoption assures us of Gods Nature, that he is a merciful Father; our Father assures us that Christ is our Advocate; the unction of the Spirit breeds in us experience that we have the Son, that we are Sons; it assures us of our election, vocation, and salvation; and if it assure us of greater matters, then much more of the grant of our prayers, Rom. 8.32. But now knowledge is a further work, knowledge springs either from sense or experience? Now then this unction of the Spirit which gives us experience, not only gives us confidence, but knowledge, that our prayers are heard, Eph. 3.19. This Spirit of God in our hearts, gives us both sensible and experimental knowledge of Gods favour, and breeds certain knowledge of the hearing and having our petitions granted; hearing, that is, of Gods accepting them, Verba sensus cum affectu, & effectu sunt intelligenda; and having, that is, of the performing and fulfilling of our desires, chiefly of the ends and aims of our prayers.
6. From the root of confidence, which springs partly from Gods nature, partly from faith in Christ, partly from the unction of the Spirit; now for those things we see many promises belong to us, our adoption assures us of Gods Nature, that he is a mercifull Father; our Father assures us that Christ is our Advocate; the unction of the Spirit breeds in us experience that we have the Son, that we are Sons; it assures us of our election, vocation, and salvation; and if it assure us of greater matters, then much more of the grant of our prayers, Rom. 8.32. But now knowledge is a further work, knowledge springs either from sense or experience? Now then this unction of the Spirit which gives us experience, not only gives us confidence, but knowledge, that our prayers are heard, Eph. 3.19. This Spirit of God in our hearts, gives us both sensible and experimentall knowledge of Gods favour, and breeds certain knowledge of the hearing and having our petitions granted; hearing, that is, of Gods accepting them, Verba sensus cum affectu, & effectu sunt intelligenda; and having, that is, of the performing and fulfilling of our desires, chiefly of the ends and aims of our prayers.
Use 1. Serves to take off our hearts from confidence in any worldly thing, and encourages them to believe on the name of Jesus Christ; why, because hence you shall not only be assured of salvation, (which yet is more then all the travails, and p lgrimages, and devotions of our Fore-fathers could reach unto) but by believing on the Name of Christ, you shall have confidence that all your prayers are heard.
Ʋse 1. Serves to take off our hearts from confidence in any worldly thing, and incourages them to believe on the name of Jesus Christ; why, because hence you shall not only be assured of salvation, (which yet is more then all the travails, and p lgrimages, and devotions of our Fore-fathers could reach unto) but by believing on the Name of Christ, you shall have confidence that all your prayers are heard.
Use 2. For them that do believe in Christ, here is a method, whereby they may be assured of the granting their petitions.
Ʋse 2. For them that doe believe in Christ, here is a method, whereby they may be assured of the granting their petitions.
1. Make sure your adoption, for that breeds much assurance in prayer.
2. Meditate much on Christ, that Christ is your Advocate▪ and atonement for your sins.
3. Labour for a Spirit of faith, and hope, and fear, and obedience, and so you shall grow up to confidence and knowledge that your prayers are granted. Many a Christian falls short of this confidence, because he considers not who helps him to make his prayers, who makes intercession for him, or else he is wanting in some of those graces, and so his prayers are full of doubtings.
Use 3. Of consolation to all that believe on Christ; why, This is our confidence, that whatsoever we ask according to Gods will, he heareth us. How comfortable then is the condition of a believer? Be his estate never so miserable, his wants never so great, if he can but pray well, he may go on comfortably.
Ʋse 3. Of consolation to all that believe on Christ; why, This is our confidence, that whatsoever we ask according to Gods will, he heareth us. How comfortable then is the condition of a beleever? Be his estate never so miserable, his wants never so great, if he can but pray well, he may goe on comfortably.
1 JOHN 5.16, 16. If any man see his Brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death, I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not unto death.
1 JOHN 5.16, 16. If any man see his Brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death, I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousnesse is sin, and there is a sin not unto death.
These words contain a third motive to stir us up to believe on Christ, and that is from another benefit, we shall thereby be enabled to bestow on our Brethren, and that is, our prayer for him shall give him life.
THese words contain a third motive to stir us up to believe on Christ, and that is from another benefit, we shall thereby be enabled to bestow on our Brethren, and that is, our prayer for him shall give him life.