A34689:4967
A34689:4967
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.
1. Keep constant fellowship with Gods servants, and forsake them not, for that is the rise of the sin, Heb. 10.25. As long as God keeps in thy heart a love to Gods people, and a reverent esteem of his grace, its impossible thou should fall into this sin.
2. Be diligent to add one grace to another, for so thou shalt make thy calling and election sure, and shalt never fail, 2 Pet. 1.5, 10. Psal. 73.27, 28.
2. Be diligent to adde one grace to another, for so thou shalt make thy calling and election sure, and shalt never fail, 2 Pet. 1.5, 10. Psal. 73.27, 28.
3. Deck thy heart with an humble and awful respect towards God and his ways, Prov. 28.14. Jer. 32.40.
3. Deck thy heart with an humble and awefull respect towards God and his wayes, Prov. 28.14. Jer. 32.40.
4. Take heed of turning aside to crooked ways, Psal. 125.4, 5. One sin will draw another. Heb. 12.13. Make straight steps to your feet, lest that which ⟨p. 428⟩is same be turned out of the way. Sauls once straining his conscience, brake the back of his profession.
4. Take heed of turning aside to crooked wayes, Psal. 125.4, 5. One sin will draw another. Heb. 12.13. Make straight steps to your feet, lest that which ⟨p. 428⟩is same be turned out of the way. Sauls once straining his conscience, brake the back of his profession.
Use 4. To such as fear they have committed this sin, which is the case of two sorts of Christians.
Ʋse 4. To such as fear they have commited this sin, which is the case of two sorts of Christians.
1. Of such who having found much enlargement, after fall into deadness, and slack-heartednesse, and all is damped, and therefore they fear they have sinned against the holy Ghost.
1. Of such who having found much inlargement, after fall into deadnesse, and slack-heartednesse, and all is dampt, and therefore they fear they have sinned against the holy Ghost.
2. It is the case of such as have sinned against their consciences.
For the first sort, its true, a man may sin against the holy Ghost, by vexing, and despising, and damping the Spirit, but yet this is not the sin against the holy Ghost, unless it be done with spite and scorn against Gods Spirit.
For the first sort, its true, a man may sin against the holy Ghost, by vexing, and despising, and damping the Spirit, but yet this is not the sin against the holy Ghost, unlesse it be done with spight and scorn against Gods Spirit.
For the second sort, such indeed as have sinned against their consciences, they have wronged their own souls, and brought much mischief upon themselves; but yet a man may sin against his conscience, and not sin against the holy Ghost; for it may either be done out of infirmity, or boldness, as Peters and Davids sins were, they sinned not out of spite and malice; if therefore thou fear thou hast committed this sin, this fear argues thou hast not committed it, because thou art afraid and sorry for it.
For the second sort, such indeed as have sinned against their consciences, they have wronged their own souls, and brought much mischiefe upon themselves; but yet a man may sin against his conscience, and not sin against the holy Ghost; for it may either be done out of infirmity, or boldnesse, as Peters and Davids sins were, they sinned not out of spight and malice; if therefore thou fear thou hast committed this sin, this fear argues thou hast not committed it, because thou art afraid and sorry for it.
Again, some answer thus, and say its not a sin against the holy Ghost unless it be joined with an universal apostasy from the whole Gospel of Christ. Indeed that was a good mark in the primitive Church, when the Church censures were so hot, that such were cast out, and so being cast out, turned open Pagans and enemies to Christ, being admitted into the Common-wealth; but now this is not so sure a mark in our times, wherein such a man should not only be excluded from the Church, but from the Common-wealth too; and therefore now they keep themselves from open blaspheming Christ, and so would those former Apostates, had they lived in our days, and others would do as they did, fly out as openly, had they lived in their days; and therefore judge not so much by that, as how thy heart stands affected to Christ. This is certain, they that are born of God sin not this sin, for they that sin this sin cannot avoid everlasting death, whereas they that are born of God shall live for ever.
Again, some answer thus, and say its not a sin against the holy Ghost unlesse it be joyned with an universall apostasie from the whole Gospel of Christ. Indeed that was a good mark in the primitive Church, when the Church censures were so hot, that such were cast out, and so being cast out, turned open Pagans and enemies to Christ, being admitted into the Common-wealth; but now this is not so sure a mark in our times, wherein such a man should not onely be excluded from the Church, but from the Common-wealth too; and therefore now they keep themselves from open blaspheming Christ, and so would those former Apostates, had they lived in our dayes, and others would doe as they did, fly out as openly, had they lived in their dayes; and therefore judge not so much by that, as how thy heart stands affected to Christ. This is certain, they that are born of God sin not this sin, for they that sin this sin cannot avoid everlasting death, whereas they that are born of God shall live for ever.
Verse 16. last part. I do not say you shall pray for it.
Verse 16. last part. I doe not say you shall pray for it.
I do not say; that is, I give you no warrant, nor any other of the Apostles, to pray for it, that is, for the good or salvation of them that have sinned this sin. Though Paul bide us pray for all men, 2 Tim. 2.1. yet St. John excepts them that have sinned this sin; and Paul himself is so far from praying for them that he prays against them, 2 Tim. 4.15. Alexander the Coppersmith hath done me much harm, the Lord reward him according to his works. No more dangerous curse, then to be dealt with according to our works. Indeed David sometimes desires to be dealt with according to his works, Ps. 18. but he means according to the innocency of his cause, not of his person; in case of some particular action he may plead so, but if it be spoken at large, in general, that the Lord would reward us according to our works, no more heavy curse; therefore when he prays so against Alexander, 2 Tim. 4.14. he means that God would confound him; whatever he was, no doubt he was a member of the Church, for Paul judged not them that were without, 1 Cor. 5. ult. Whether it were that Alexander spoken of, Acts 19, that bec••ed with the hand, as if he would have pleaded for Paul, and the people esteemed him an enemy to their superstition; or whether it were that Alexander, 1 Tim. 1.20. whom Paul delivered to Satan (as is likely) certainly he had formerly been a professor of the truth, who afterward ⟨p. 429⟩made shipwreck of faith and a good conscience, and withstood Paul, and therefore Paul prays against him. Some think he did it as discerning by extraordinary revelation that he was in a state of reprobation, but that is not likely, he leaving his prayer as exemplary to all after comers. Gal. 5.12. I would that even those were cut off that trouble you, that subvert or undermine you, those he wished they were utterly cut off from Church and Common-wealth. Those false Apostles they would have overthrown the Gospel of Christ, and brought in another Gospel; and because those false Apostles were all alike, the Apostle discerned them to be in a state of damnation, as being enemies to the Cross of Christ,
At the first they preached the Gospel, but afterwards turning aside to earthly things, they began to magnify themselves, and vilify the Apostles, and so hindered the preaching of the Gospel, and therefore he looks at them as deserving to be cut off, he looks at them as dogs, Phil. 3.2. 1 Cor. 16.22. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema maranatha; that is the greatest curse that can befall a man.
At the first they preached the Gospel, but afterwards turning aside to earthly things, they began to magnifie themselves, and vilifie the Apostles, and so hindered the preaching of the Gospel, and therefore he looks at them as deserving to be cut off, he looks at them as dogs, Phil. 3.2. 1 Cor. 16.22. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema maranatha; that is the greatest curse that can befall a man.
There was a threefold Excommunication in the primitive Church.
1 A mere restraint from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, of such as were ignorant, till they were better instructed.
I doe not say; that is, I give you no warrant, nor any other of the Apostles, to pray for it, that is, for the good or salvation of them that have sinned this sin. Though Paul bide us pray for all men, 2 Tim. 2.1. yet St. John excepts them that have sinned this sin; and Paul himselfe is so far from praying for them that he prays against them, 2 Tim. 4.15. Alexander the Coppersmith hath done me much harm, the Lord reward him according to his works. No more dangerous curse, then to be dealt with according to our works. Indeed David sometimes desires to be dealt with according to his works, Ps. 18. but he means according to the innocency of his cause, not of his person; in case of some particular action he may plead so, but if it be spoken at large, in generall, that the Lord would reward us according to our works, no more heavy curse; therefore when he prays so against Alexander, 2 Tim. 4.14. he means that God would confound him; whatever he was, no doubt he was a member of the Church, for Paul judged not them that were without, 1 Cor. 5. ult. Whether it were that Alexander spoken of, Acts 19, that bec••ed with the hand, as if he would have pleaded for Paul, and the people esteemed him an enemy to their superstition; or whether it were that Alexander, 1 Tim. 1.20. whom Paul delivered to Satan (as is likely) certainly he had formerly been a professor of the truth, who afterward ⟨p. 429⟩made shipwrack of faith and a good conscience, and withstood Paul, and therefore Paul prays against him. Some think he did it as discerning by extraordinary revelation that he was in a state of reprobation, but that is not likely, he leaving his prayer as exemplary to all after comers. Gal. 5.12. I would that even those were cut off that trouble you, that subvert or unddermine you, those he wisht they were utterly cut off from Church and Common-wealth. Those false Apostles they would have overthrown the Gospel of Christ, and brought in another Gospel; and because those false Apostles were all alike, the Apostle discerned them to be in a state of damnation, as being enemies to the Crosse of Christ, Phil. 3.18, 19.