A34689:489
A34689:489
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 Vocalis, to speak, to say in outward words, Gen. 22.7.
All these are meant here; to carry a mans self therefore as if he were a Christian, and yet walk in darkness, is Hypocrisy, Prov. 14.12. Mat. 7.21, 22, 23. Not every one that saith Lord, Lord; It is not thinking, nor saying, that carries it, nor walking so outwardly, for we may do so, and have no fellowship with Christ.
All these are meant here; to carry a mans self therefore as if he were a Christian, and yet walk in darknesse, is Hypocrisie, Prov. 14.12. Mat. 7.21, 22, 23. Not every one that saith Lord, Lord; It is not thinking, nor saying, that carries it, nor walking so outwardly, for we may do so, and have no fellowship with Christ.
Reas. 1. Because opinion may spring from [Greek or Hebrew] even as Hamans opinion was, that the King would honour no man so much as himself, H•st. 6.6. so many times out of self-love, we think we wish well to God, and he to us, when there is no such matter in truth.
Reas. 1. Because opinion may spring from 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 even as Hamans opinion was, that the King would honour no man so much as himself, H•st. 6.6. so many times out of self-love, we think we wish well to God, and he to us, when there is no such matter in truth.
2 Opinion may spring from common Graces, such as may be in Hypocrites, Matth. 7.22, 23. they wondered why they were not received, because they had done many good works, and Prophesied in his Name, and cast out Devils, &c. therefore they doubted not of acceptance, so from these common Gifts it often falls out, that we have a good conceit of our selves, that God will accept us.
And for carriage, a man may so carry himself, as if he were a good Christian.
1 A man may profess Religion for worldly respects, as many became Jews, H•st. 8.17. it may be for fear of the Laws, or Friends, many love Christ for Loaves, for Profit, because there is fullness in Christ, Joh. 6.16.
1 A man may professe Religion for worldly respects, as many became Jewes, H•st. 8.17. it may be for fear of the Lawes, or Friends, many love Christ for Loaves, for Profit, because there is fullnesse in Christ, Joh. 6.16.
2 Common Graces may make us profess Religion; as a man that hath been enlarged at the word, he is willing to come to it, as those Joh. 5.35. and yet were but [Greek or Hebrew], Joh. 4.20. and the stony ground.
2 Common Graces may make us professe Religion; as a man that hath been enlarged at the word, he is willing to come to it, as those Joh. 5.35. and yet were but 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Joh. 4.20. and the stony ground.
3 Some are drawn on through mere compulsion of conscience, and yet live in darkness; some have gifts in prayer, and preaching, and zeal, as Jehu had, and joy in the word, as Herod, yet because they walked in darkness, they had no Fellowship with God.
3 Some are drawn on through meer compulsion of conscience, and yet live in darknesse; some have gifts in prayer, and preaching, and zeal, as Jehu had, and joy in the word, as Herod, yet because they walked in darknesse, they had no Fellowship with God.
Use 1 A ground of comfort to such as are afraid that they are Hypocrites, and are much discouraged, and think they have no fellowship with God, why this may comfort them; if there be some that say▪ they have Fellowship with God, and have not, so contra, some may think and say they have no Fellowship with him, and yet may have.
Ʋse 1 A ground of comfort to such as are afraid that they are Hypocrites, and are much discouraged, and think they have no fellowship with God, why this may comfort them; if there be some that say▪ they hav Fellowship with God, and have not, so contra, some may think and say they have no Fellowship with him, and yet may have.
Use 2 It confutes the Papists, that say we teach that mens opinion is Faith, and a man is justified by persuasion; but we do not say that every opinion and persuasion is a good argument of justifying Faith, but that kind of persuasion and opinion, that is built upon Gods Testimony, upon the Testimony of the Word and Spirit, that is a divine justifying Faith, otherwise we say many a mans persuasion is built on self-love, or some Common Graces.
Ʋse 2 It confutes the Papists, that say we teach that mens opinion is Faith, and a man is justified by persuasion; but we do not say that every opinion and persuasion is a good argument of justifying Faith, but that kind of persuasion and opinion, that is built upon Gods Testimony, upon the Testimony of the Word and Spirit, that is a divine justifying Faith, otherwise we say many a mans persuasion is built on self-love, or some Common Graces.
Use 3 It may exhort such as have a good opinion of their own estate, and make a profession of it, it may teach all such, seriously to consider whether they be well grounded, for a man may be deceived in it; if we say we have fellowship, and yet walk in darkness, we lye; a man would be loath to be cozened in a piece of gold; why, what are thousands of gold and silver, to have all his estate and body current, and strong, and to have his heart unsound and counterfeit, all current but his own soul? what greater confusion than the cutting off a mans hopes? for a man to live all his days in a good hope, and at death to have his hopes to fail him, this confounds his Spirit; therefore take not all for gold that glisters.
Ʋse 3 It may exhort such as have a good opinion of their own estate, and make a profession of it, it may teach all such, seriously to consider whether they be well grounded, for a man may be deceived in it; if we say we have fellowship, and yet walk in darnesse, we lye; a man would be loath to be cozened in a piece of gold; why, what are thousands of gold and silver, to have all his estate and body current, and strong, and to have his heart unsound and counterfeit, all current but his own soul? what greater confusion than the cutting off a mans hopes? for a man to live all his dayes in a good hope, and at death to have his hopes to fail him, this confounds his Spirit; therefore take not all for gold that glisters.
Use 4 It teacheth us not forthwith to be deluded with the opinion of others, but consider whether they be not deceived that he takes for good, or they be not sound whom he takes for Hypocrites, do not easily take them for our Brethren and Sisters that carry a show, the Church had never more wrong than by false Brethren that have spied out their liberty, and informed against them; take not every Professor for a Brother; men may say they have fellowship with God, and yet walk in darkness, therefore take heed of entertaining such into thy good opinion and fellowship.
Ʋse 4 It teacheth us not forthwith to be deluded with the opinion of others, but consider whether they be not deceived that hee takes for good, or they be not sound whom he takes for Hypocrites, do not easily take them for our Brethren and Sisters that carry a shew, the Church had never more wrong than by false Brethren that have spyed out their liberty, and informed against them; take not every Professor for a Brother; men may say they have fellowship with God, and yet walk in darknesse, therefore take heed of entertaining such into thy good opinion and fellowship.
1 It will dishonour God, when such have been embraced by such and such people of God, and now what is become of them?
1 It will dishonour God, when such have been imbraced by such and such people of God, and now what is become of them?
2 It will bring prejudice to Gods Saints many times; they are more wronged by them (than any) that carry it closely, and at length break out, 2 Cor. 11.26. so David complains Psal. 55.12, 13, 14. it was a commendable practice of the Apostles, Acts 9.26. they would not easily admit of Paul, and it is commonly said, if a man or woman carry a Bible, or come to good duties, why they begin to be esteemed, but others that make not such a show are less respected.
2 It will bring prejudice to Gods Saints many times; they are more wronged by them (than any) that carry it closely, and at length break out, 2 Cor. 11.26. so David complains Psal. 55.12, 13, 14. it was a commendable practice of the Apostles, Acts 9.26. they would not easily admit of Paul, and it is commonly said, if a man or woman carry a Bible, or come to good duties, why they begin to be esteemed, but others that make not such a shew are lesse respected.