A34689:590
A34689:590
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.
Q. Do not Temptation, and Affliction, and Word, and Sacraments, and Faith, and other Graces, purge us from sin, and purify us? It is said of Afflictions, Heb. 12.11.
Q. Do not Temptation, and Affliction, and Word, and Sacraments, and Faith, and other Graces, purge us from sin, and purifie us? It is said of Afflictions, Heb. 12.11.
A. It is true, there are many means to purge us from sin, but no efficacy in any of them, except by virtue of Christs Blood; therefore those in Hell have no benefit, because Christs blood reacheth not thither, so that if any be bettered by Afflictions, or Word, or Sacraments, it is from the virtue of Christs blood, and if Christs blood be sprinkled on Purgatory, we will not reject it.
A. It is true, there are many means to purge us from sin, but no efficacy in any of them, except by virtue of Christs Blood; therefore those in Hell have no benefit, because Christs bloud reacheth not thither, so that if any be bettered by Afflictions, or Word, or Sacraments, it is from the virtue of Christs bloud, and if Christs bloud be sprinkled on Purgatory, we will not reject it.
Use 3. Of refutation of the opinion of many godly Divines, that hold we are purified from the sin of our Birth by the purity of Christs Birth; from Sins of Omission by his active obedience, from Sins of Commission by his passive obedience, but we must know there is thus much in the purity of his Birth, in his Obedience, in his Passion, that it makes us fit to be cleansed, but yet we must hold the Blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin, that brings this fitness to perfection. A Lamb defiled in the old Law was never accepted, though it were slain for a Sacrifice, and if it had been without spot and blemish, yet if it had not been slain it would not have been accepted neither; so had not Christ been a Lamb spotless and undefiled, his death would not have cleansed us from our sins, and though he were spotless and undefiled, yet he must be slain, or else we could not be cleansed ⟨p. 35⟩neither, the purity of Christs Nature doth not cleanse us from sin; but we must take all jointly together, all his active obedience was passive, and all his passive obedience was active, Gal. 4.4, 5. that he was obedient to the Law was part of his Passion, and by the obedience of Christ to the death, we are cleansed from all sin.
Ʋse 3. Of refutation of the opinion of many godly Divines, that hold we are purified from the sinne of our Birth by the purity of Christs Birth; from Sinnes of Omission by his active obedience, from Sinnes of Commission by his passive obedience, but we must know there is thus much in the purity of his Birth, in his Obedience, in his Passion, that it makes us fit to be cleansed, but yet we must hold the Bloud of Christ cleanseth us from all sin, that brings this fitnesse to perfection. A Lamb defiled in the old Law was never accepted, though it were slain for a Sacrifice, and if it had been without spot and blemish, yet if it had not been slain it would not have been accepted neither; so had not Christ been a Lambe spotlesse and undefiled, his death would not have cleansed us from our sins, and though he were spotlesse and undefiled, yet he must be slain, or else we could not be cleansed ⟨p. 35⟩neither, the purity of Christs Nature doth not cleanse us from sin; but we must take all joyntly together, all his active obedience was passive, and all his passive obedience was active, Gal. 4.4, 5. that he was obedient to the Law was part of his Passion, and by the obedience of Christ to the death, we are cleansed from all sin.
Use 4. To refute some that say we are justified by faith, as it is a work in us, they say we are justified not by the works of the Law, but by faith, Rom. 11.5, 6. but if we be justified by faith, as it is a work in us, how doth the blood of Christ cleanse us from sin? but it is faith as it lays hold on the blood of Christ.
Ʋse 4. To refute some that say we are justified by faith, as it is a work in us, they say we are justified not by the works of the Law, but by faith, Rom. 11.5, 6. but if we be justified by faith, as it is a work in us, how doth the bloud of Christ cleanse us from sin? but it is faith as it lays hold on the bloud of Christ.
Use 5. For comfort to all such as walk in the light, let them not be discomforted; you will say, your hearts are full of impatience, and covetousness, and uncleanness, these are great sins indeed, but the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin▪ there is no number nor measure limited.
Ʋse 5. For comfort to all such as walk in the light, let them not be discomforted; you will say, your hearts are full of impatience, and coveteousness, and uncleannesse, these are great sins indeed, but the bloud of Christ cleanseth from all sin▪ there is no number nor measure limited.
Object. He cleanseth not all men, how shall I know whether my sins be cleansed?
Object. He cleanseth not all men, how shall I know whether my sinnes be cleansed?
A. Why, do you walk in the light as God is in the light? if you do, then his Blood cleanseth you from all sin; therefore if a man would have comfort, he must consider whether he live in any sin voluntarily, and walk in darkness, if he do, he hath no part in Christs Blood; but if there be no sin, but he is willing to avoid it; no duty, but he desires to perform it, and amend all, it is a sign he walks in light; if you see what is amiss and labour to mend it, then you walk in the light, and then assure your selves the blood of Christ will cleanse you from all your sins.
A. Why, do you walk in the light as God is in the light? if you do, then his Bloud cleanseth you from all sin; therefore if a man would have comfort, he must consider whether he live in any sin voluntarily, and walk in darknesse, if he doe, he hath no part in Christs Bloud; but if there be no sin, but he is willing to avoyd it; no duty, but he desires to perform it, and amend all, it is a signe he walks in light; if you see what is amisse and labour to mend it, then you walk in the light, and then assure your selves the bloud of Christ will cleanse you from all your sins.
Use 6. For instruction, if Christs blood cleanseth from all sin, then no sin is venial, is that sin venial that cannot be cleansed but by Christs blood?
Ʋse 6. For instruction, if Christs bloud cleanseth from all sin, then no sin is venial, is that sin venial that cannot be cleansed but by Christs bloud?
Use 7. To show us the reason why the blood of Christ is called precious, 1 Pet. 1.19. it is more precious than the blood of Bulls and Goats, &c. so all silver and gold in the world cannot remit one sin, or save one soul from Hell, Psal. 49.6, 7, 8. Heb. 12.24.
Ʋse 7. To shew us the reason why the bloud of Christ is called precious, 1 Pet. 1.19. it is more precious than the bloud of Bulls and Goats, &c. so all silver and gold in the world cannot remit one sin, or save one soul from Hell, Psal. 49.6, 7, 8. Heb. 12.24.
Use 8. To teach Christians notwithstanding all former sins, to walk boldly in a Christian course; we are much troubled in our spirits by reason of our sins, the multitude and greatness of them; why in consideration of this, let us be bold, Heb. 10.19. to 23. we may be bold to approach to Gods Throne, bold to enter into Heaven, let no sin discourage us, for his blood cleanseth from all sin.
Ʋse 8. To teach Christians notwithstanding all former sins, to walk boldly in a Christian course; we are much troubled in our spirits by reason of our sins, the multitude and greatnesse of them; why in consideration of this, let us be bold, Heb. 10.19. to 23. we may be bold to approach to Gods Throne, bold to enter into Heaven, let no sin discourage us, for his bloud cleanseth from all sin.
Use 9. If his blood cleanse from all sin, let us make use of his blood, Zech. 13.1. it is even this Fountain of Christs blood, let us therefore bath our selves often in this Blood, that we may be thoroughly purged from all sin, from the stain and guilt of sin.
Ʋse 9. If his bloud cleanse from all sin, let us make use of his bloud, Zech. 13.1. it is even this Fountain of Christs bloud, let us therefore bath our selves often in this Bloud, that we may be thorowly purged from all sin, from the stain and guilt of sin.
Use 10. All Ordinances, Word, Prayer, Sacrament, Communion of Saints, all holy duties will do no good without his blood, therefore desire God that every Ordinance may be sprinkled by his blood; as Water alone cleanseth not without Soap, so it is not all the waters of Jordan that can cleanse us from dead works without the blood of Christ strike in with it; let us not rest in any Ordinance or performance, in any Prayer, or Fast, or in all of them; if you would spend your blood to cleanse your Souls from sin, all will be in vain, except it be mixed with Christs blood, therefore pray that the Word and Sacrament, and every Ordinance may be sprinkled with Christs blood to justify, and sanctify: the blood of Christ hath procured sentence of absolution from God, and virtue from the Spirit of Grace, to wash away all our sins, therefore lay hold on it: this is to lay hold on the Horns of the Altar, therefore in all Christian consideration and duties, look chiefly and principally to him, or else all will be in vain.
Ʋse 10. All Ordinances, Word, Prayer, Sacrament, Communion of Saints, all holy duties will doe no good without his bloud, therefore desire God that every Ordinance may be sprinkled by his bloud; as Water alone cleanseth not without Sope, so it is not all the waters of Jordan that can cleanse us from dead works without the bloud of Christ strike in with it; let us not rest in any Ordinance or performance, in any Prayer, or Fast, or in all of them; if you would spend your bloud to cleanse your Souls from sin, all will be in vain, except it be mixt with Christs bloud, therefore pray that the Word and Sacrament, and every Ordinance may be sprinkled with Christs bloud to justifie, and sanctifie: the bloud of Christ hath procured sentence of absolution from God, and vertue from the Spirit of Grace, to wash away all our sins, therefore lay hold on it: this is to lay hold on the Horns of the Altar, therefore in all Christian consideration and duties, look chiefly and principally to him, or else all will be in vain.
1 JOHN 1.8, 9. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive our selves, and the truth is not in us, &c.
From the former Verse S. John gathers a two-fold mark of our estate; First in this verse, If the blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin, then they are liars that say they have no sin, If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves, &c. The second mark is verse 9. If we acknowledge our sins, &c.
FRom the former Verse S. John gathers a two-fold mark of our estate; First in this verse, If the bloud of Christ cleanseth us from all sin, then they are lyars that say they have no sin, If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves, &c. The second mark is verse 9. If we acknowledge our sins, &c.
The first in this Verse, It is a dangerous sign of an evil estate, if we say we have no sin, for we deceive our selves, and the truth is not in us.
The first in this Verse, It is a dangerous signe of an evill estate, if we say we have no sin, for we deceive our selves, and the truth is not in us.