A34689:519
A34689:519
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.
Quest. Who can say his heart is clean? have not the best of Gods Children their failings?
Answ. It is true, they have their failings, but do they walk therein? It is one thing to step into a way, and another thing to walk in that way, David stepped into the way of Adultery and Murder. but he walked not in it; a man that walketh in a good way, may be turned out of it by a wild Beast, or a Storm, or Carelessness, but when he sees he is wrong, he turns into the right path again; so is it with a godly heart, he may be carried out of the way, by the violence of Temptation, &c. but he returns again as soon as he sees his error.
Answ. It is true, they have their failings, but do they walk therein? It is one thing to step into a way, and another thing to walk in that way, David stept into the way of Adultery and Murther. but he walked not in it; a man that walketh in a good way, may be turned out of it by a wilde Beast, or a Storm, or Carelessenesse, but when he sees he is wrong, he turns into the right path again; so is it with a godly heart, he may be carried out of the way, by the violence of Temptation, &c. but he returns again as soon as he sees his error.
Use 3 To teach men, as ever they desire to have fellowship with God, to cleanse themselves from Ignorance and Ungodliness; if you desire to have Fellowship with God, you must, 1 Avoid Ignorance, and labour for Knowledge, desire to know his will, and they that love light, God loves them.
Ʋse 3 To teach men, as ever they desire to have fellowship with God, to cleanse themselves from Ignorance and Ungodlinesse; if you desire to have Fellowship with God, you must, 1 Avoyd Ignorance, and labour for Knowledge, desire to know his will, and they that love light, God loves them.
2 Turn not aside to any dark crooked ways, Psal. 125 6. the Israel of God have no crooked ways to walk in, 2 Cor. 6.17, 18. with chap. 7.1. showing us, if we would have fellowship with God, that God might acknowledge us for Sons, and we him for our Father, we must look into all dark corners, and cast out all uncleanness, and if you do thus strive to reform your selves, you are not in darkness; if you cleanse your selves from dark, and crooked, and unclean ways, you may assure your selves you have fellowship with God.
2 Turn not aside to any dark crooked wayes, Psal. 125 6. the Israel of God have no crooked wayes to walk in, 2 Cor. 6.17, 18. with chap. 7.1. shewing us, if we would have fellowship with God, that God might ackowledge us for Sons, and we him for our Father, we must look into all dark corners, and cast out all uncleanesse, and if you do thus strive to reform your selves, you are not in darknesse; if you cleanse your selves from dark, and crooked, and unclean wayes, you may assure your selves you have fellowship with God.
1 JOHN 1.7. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have Fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all our sins.
The scope of the Apostle St. John was to deliver what he had heard and seen from Christ, and to this end, that their joy might be full.
THe scope of the Apostle St. John was to deliver what he had heard and seen from Christ, and to this end, that their joy might bee full.
His first Message was, that God is light, verse 5. and from thence he descends to gather a certain sine of our fellowship with God, or want of it, a sign of the want of it he lays down, verse, 6. he that walketh in darkness hath no Fellowship with him; now in the 7th verse, he lays down a sign of our enjoying this Fellowship with God.
His first Message was, that God is light, verse 5. and from thence hee descends to gather a certain sine of our fellowship with God, or want of it, a signe of the want of it hee layes down, verse, 6. he that walketh in darkness hath no Fellowship with him; now in the 7th verse, hee layes down a signe of our injoying this Fellowship with God.
In the Verse we have two parts, 1 A certain sign of our Fellowship with God, namely if we walk in the light.
In the Verse wee have two parts, 1 A certain signe of our Fellowship with God, namely if wee walk in the light.
2 The privilege of such an estate, the blood of Christ cleanseth us from our sins; so that here is the mark of a true Christian […] privilege.
2 The priviledge of such an estate, the blood of Christ cleanseth us from our sins; so that here is the mark of a true Christian 〈…〉 priviledge.
Light is sometimes taken for light of Knowledge, Holiness, Comfort, Glory.
Light is sometimes taken for light of Knowledge, Holynesse, Comfort, Glory.
1 It is taken for light of Knowledge, Mark. 4.16. Light is clear, and so is Knowledge.
2 For Light of Holiness, Ephes. 5.8. Light is clean, so is Holiness.
2 For Light of Holynesse, Ephes. 5.8. Light is clean, so is Holinesse.
3 For Comfort, Psalm 97.11.
4 For Glory; now Darkness is contrary to all these; now therefore to walk in the light, is to walk in the ways of Knowledge, Purity, Comfort, and Glory: But what is it to walk?
4 For Glory; now Darknesse is contrary to all these; now therefore to walk in the light, is to walk in the waies of Knowledge, Purity, Comfort, and Glory: But what is it to walk?
It is commonly took for the whole course of a Christian life, but in borrowed speech there are some significations therein.