A34689:4995
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.
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.
But how shall we discern when they are inlightned and convinced? We may indeed discern their malignity, and opposition, but it may be they doe 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 doe this out of ignorance, pray heartily for them.
But how may we discern they commit this against the light and knowledge of the truth?
But how may we discerne they commit this against the light and knowledge of the truth?
Answ. If they do express in their speech and conversation, that they are affected with Christ, and the ways of his grace, and convinced that those are the right ways, and yet afterwards they maliciously oppose those ways, then pray not for them, Mat. 21.28. The Pharisees knew Christ to be the heir, and yet said, Come let us kill him; and in the mean time they said he was a Conjurer, and cast out devils through Beelzebub the Prince of devils, when as they knew he was the Son of God and did it by his own power, therefore Christ tells them, their sins should never be forgiven them. But if they shall go further, and affect the society of Christians, delight to do them good offices, and take the like from them, if such after fall off, and maliciously oppose those ways, they more plainly manifest themselves to have sinned this sin, and therefore pray not for them.