A34689:4910
A34689:4910
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.
Use 1. Hence learn not to neglect the falls of our Brethren, as if they belonged not to us, and we would neither meddle nor make with them. This was Cains spirit, Am I my Brothers keeper? Gen. 4.9. We should look at every mans sin as belonging unto us, and strive to heal them.
Ʋse 1. Hence learn not to neglect the falls of our Brethren, as if they belonged not to us, and we would neither meddle nor make with them. This was Cains spirit, Am I my Brothers keeper? Gen. 4.9. We should look at every mans sin as belonging unto us, and strive to heal them.
Use 2. To teach us to have a due regard to the falls of our Brethren, not to see them, and take no notice of them, but God requires we should observe them, and help them, and make use of them.
Ʋse 2. To teach us to have a due regard to the falls of our Brethren, not to see them, and take no notice of them, but God requires we should observe them, and help them, and make use of them.
What use should we make of our Brethren's falls?
What use should we make of our Brethrens falls?
1. Let their falls affect us with a holy fear and jealousy of our own hearts; in that we have a deceitful heart, subject to the like. This use Paul would have the Church of the Romans to make of the fall of the Church of Israel, Rom. 11.20.
1. Let their falls affect us with a holy fear and jealousie of our own hearts; in that we have a deceitfull heart, subject to the like. This use Paul would have the Church of the Romanes to make of the fall of the Church of Israel, Rom. 11.20.
2. Look at them with such an eye as may move thee to pity thy Brother; if he be gone astray, bring him back; if he lye under the burden of sin, help him up, and if thou canst not have opportunity to speak to him, yet pray heartily for him, that is the frame of heart of every loving Christian, to be compassionate of his Brothers misery.
2. Look at them with such an eye as may move thee to pity thy Brother; if he be gone astray, bring him back; if he lye under the burthen of sin, help him up, and if thou canst not have opportunity to speake to him, yet pray heartily for him, that is the frame of heart of every loving Christian, to be compassionate of his Brothers misery.
Object. Doth not the Holy Ghost say, love covereth a multitude of sins? 1 Pet. 4. v. 8.
Answ. True, it covers them, but how?
1. With a mantle of wisdom, not so cover them as to skin over their wounds, but so cover them as that they may be covered before God and men, Jam. 5.19, 20. This is a right covering, when a man takes such a course as that his Brothers sins may be covered from Gods eyes, and from the conscience of the sinner, that it may not be overwhelmed with them, Psal. 32.1, 2. God would have us cover them not with a mantle of flattery, but with a healing plaster that may cure them.
1. With a mantle of wisdome, not so cover them as to skinne over their wounds, but so cover them as that they may be covered before God and men, Jam. 5.19, 20. This is a right covering, when a man takes such a course as that his Brothers sins may be covered from Gods eyes, and from the conscience of the sinner, that it may not be overwhelmed with them, Psal. 32.1, 2. God would have us cover them not with a mantle of flattery, but with a healing plaister that may cure them.
2. We must cover these sins with a mantle of faithfulness, that is, not to blaze them abroad to their defaming; but as if our Brothers beast lay under his burden, and we were notable to help him up alone, we get the help of others; this is faithfulness, no further to reveal their infirmities, then to such as may help them, Prov. 11.13. And yet we may so reveal them in this kind to others, as may be sinful, if it be done in as insulting, soot•• manner, Gen. 9.22, 23. Ham told his Brethren of their Fathers nakedness, but he did it in a scornful manner; beside▪ he might have covered him himself, and never told them, and therefore Noah made him a curse. This God requires of us, if we be able to heal an infirmity our selves, then to let it go no further; if not, then to get the help of others, but not in a scornful manner, but in a spirit of grief and holy fear.
2. We must cover these sins with a mantle of faithfulnesse, that is, not to blaze them abroad to their defaming; but as if our Brothers beast lay under his burden, and we were notable to help him up alone, we get the help of others; this is faithfulnesse, no further to reveale their infirmities, then to such as may help them, Prov. 11.13. And yet we may so •eveile them in this kind to others, as may be sinfull, if it be done in as insulting, soot•• manner, Gen. 9.22, 23. Cham told his Brethren of their Fathers nakednesse, but he did it in a scornfull manner; beside▪ he might have covered him himself, and never told them, and therefore Noah made him a curse. This God requires of us, if we be able to heal an infirmity our selves, then to let it goe no further; if not, then to get the help of others, but not in a scornfull manner, but in a spirit of grief and holy fear.
3. Cover them with a mantle of compassion, that if they shall turn again, and say, It repents them, be ready to forgive them, even as God for Christs sake forgave you, Luk. 17.13, 14. Eph. 4.2 last vers.
Obj. 2. If a man be thus willing to observe other mens sins, we shall be counted busy bodies, and meddlers in other mens dioceses.
Obj. 2. If a man be thus willing to observe other mens sins, we shall be counted busie bodies, and medlers in other mens di•cesses.
Answ. True, we shall be busy, but yet not where we have nothing to do, God lays the charge upon us to have regard of our Brethren's carriages; if we keep the true bounds of observing them, named before, we do not go beyond our commission.
Answ. True, we shall be buisie, but yet not where we have nothing to doe, God layes the charge upon us to have regard of our Brethrens carriages; if we keep the true bounds of observing them, named before, we doe not goe beyond our commission.
Obj. 3. But I shall be more busy then I shall have thank for, I shall be worse, and he never the better.
Obj. 3. But I shall be more busie then I shall have thank for, I shall be worse, and he never the better.
Answ. True, for a while it may be so, but yet remember what Solomon saith, Prov. 28.28. He that rebuketh a man, afterward shall find more favour then he that flattereth with the tongue; but suppose thou shouldst loose his favour; yet thou shalt have favour with God.
So Moses did pray for the people when they had sinned, Exod, 32.30, 31. Either pardon them, or let me have no mercy. Thus God would have Job pray for his friends, Job 42.7, 8. So did Jeremiah, ch. 13.17, & 14.17.18. Our Saviours example is a full pattern, Luk. 23.24. Father forgive them, they know not what they do. So Stephen the first Martyr, with a loud voice prayed for his adversaries, Act. 7.60. Lord lay not this sin to their charge.
So Moses did pray for the people when they had sinned, Exod, 32.30, 31. Either pardon them, or let me have no mercy. Thus God would have Job pray for his friends, Job 42.7, 8. So did Jeremiah, ch. 13.17, & 14.17.18. Our Saviours example is a full pattern, Luk. 23.24. Father forgive them, they know not what they doe. So Stephen the first Martyr, with a loud voyce prayed for his adversaries, Act. 7.60. Lord lay not this sin to their charge.