A34689:4993
A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first…
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. To teach us, that sin unto death may be discerned even of common Christians, for else why doth he write to common Christians, to all believers in general, Verse 13. That if his Brother sin a sin unto death, then he should not pray for him?
Ʋse 1. To teach us, that sin unto death may be discerned even of common Christians, for else why doth he write to common Christians, to all believers in generall, Verse 13. That if his Brother sin a sin unto death, then he should not pray for him?
Use 2. It may therefore teach Gods people to learn the nature of this sin, left they pray unawares for such whom their prayers shall do no good. If therefore you see professors that have tasted of the grace of God, if afterward they malign and oppose those ways, and the servants of God, in this case, save your labour in praying for them, your prayers will do no good, but harm.
Ʋse 2. It may therefore teach Gods people to learn the nature of this sin, left they pray unawares for such whom their prayers shall doe no good. If therefore you see professors that have tasted of the grace of God, if afterward they maligne and oppose those wayes, and the servants of God, in this case, save your labour in praying for them, your prayers will doe no good, but harm.
But how shall we discern when they are enlightened and convinced? We may indeed discern their malignity, and opposition, but it may be they do it of ignorance. In this case our Saviour and Stephen prayed for their adversaries, because they knew not what they did; therefore three thousand after they were convinced that it was the Christ whom they had persecuted, they were pricked in their hearts and brought on to repentance. Therefore, if you discern they do this out of ignorance, pray heartily for them.