A34689:613
A34689:613
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.
Secondly, It is a wilful error, a man doth not learn it from others, but he persuades himself so.
Secondly, It is a wilfull errour, a man doth not learn it from others, but he perswades himselfe so.
1. Because if any read the Scriptures, he shall find it contrary, Psal. 130.3. Psal. 143.2.
2. Though a man never read the Scriptures, he shall meet with daily crosses, now a mans own heart will tell him it is for his sin, Job 14.1.
3. None but finds he hath need of craving pardon for sin, Zech. 11.4. John 16.9. he shall convince the world of sin, not a man in the world but he is convinced to be a sinner, therefore none can say he hath no sin, but it must be wilful Error.
3. None but findes he hath need of craving pardon for sin, Zech. 11.4. John 16.9. he shall convince the world of sin, not a man in the world but he is convinced to be a sinner, therefore none can say he hath no sin, but it must be wilfull Errour.
Thirdly, It is a dangerous Error,
Thirdly, It is a dangerous Errour,
1. Because it evacuates all truth of Grace, where this conceit is, there can be no truth of grace, because all truth of grace expresseth it self in Three things;
1. Because it evacuates all truth of Grace, where this conceit is, there can be no truth of grace, because all truth of grace expresseth it selfe in Three things;
1 In something about sin, every godly man first renounceth all his own righteousness, Phil. 3.7, 8.
1 In something about sin, every godly man first renounceth all his own righteousnesse, Phil. 3.7, 8.
2 He complains bitterly of sin, Rom. 7.24.
3 He fights against sin to the death, Heb. 12.4. Now if every godly man do thus, how can any truth of grace be, where a man either thinks or professeth he hath no sin?
3 He fights against sin to the death, Heb. 12.4. Now if every godly man doe thus, how can any truth of grace be, where a man either thinks or professeth he hath no sin?
2. Where there is truth of Grace, it expresseth it self in some things that respect the blood of Christ.
2. Where there is truth of Grace, it expresseth it selfe in some things that respect the bloud of Christ.
1 He prizes it above all blessings in the World, Gal. 6.14. 1 Cor. 2.2. now what need he prize it so much, if he have no sin?
2 Every godly man desires to bath himself daily in that blood, Zech. 13.1. now what need that, if he had not sin?
2 Every godly man desires to bath himselfe daily in that bloud, Zech. 13.1. now what need that, if he had not sin?
3 Take a Christian mans carriage towards perfection of holiness. He strives after perfection earnestly every day, Phil. 3.12, 13, 14. what need Mortification, if there were no sin, or vivification?
Use 1. It convinceth many sorts of people to be in a dangerous estate, devoid of grace.
Ʋse 1. It convinceth many sorts of people to be in a dangerous estate, devoyd of grace.
1 Such were the Pharisees, that counted themselves just and holy. Such were the Essaeans, that counted themselves strict observers of the Law of ⟨p. 37⟩Moses. Such a one was that young man that came to Christ, Mat. 19.20. but Christ convinces him that he was not perfect. Such were the Catharists of old, a sect in the Church that thought themselves pure from all sin.
It reproves likewise the Libertines, that counted themselves perfect keepers of the Law.