A34689:668
A34689:668
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. A ground of reproof to any that boast in sin, if it be as mire, or scum, or dung, or a vomit, how vainly do they glory, that glory in sin, they glory in their shame, Phil. 3.19. they glory in dung, in their vomit, in their base filthiness, Isa. 3.9. it is a woeful case to profess filthiness openly; if men do thus, woe be to them.
Ʋse 1. A ground of reproof to any that boast in sin, if it be as mire, or scum, or dung, or a vomit, how vainly doe they glory, that glory in sin, they glory in their shame, Phil. 3.19. they glory in dung, in their vomit, in their base filthinesse, Isa. 3.9. it is a wofull case to professe filthiness openly; if men doe thus, woe be to them.
Use 2. It should stir us up not to lie in sin, one day to an end; if a child should lie in its dung, or if we should, we would think we were unfit for civill company, yet such are we, as long as we lie in sin unpardoned; it should therefore spur us on to repentance, and not to rest, till we get sin pardoned, we shall then be washed from our filthiness.
Ʋse 2. It should stir us up not to lie in sin, one day to an end; if a child should lie in its dung, or if we should, we would think we were unfit for civill company, yet such are we, as long as we lie in sin unpardoned; it should therefore spur us on to repentance, and not to rest, till we get sin pardoned, we shall then be washed from our filthinesse.
Use 3. To move us to help one another out of sin, we should count it beastly and sluttish, if we should let a Child lie in its filth, so are we, if we let any that we can help, lie in their own defilements of sin; and were our minds as quick to smell as our bodies, we should as much loath the smell or presence of sin, as of filthy dung: it is for want of spiritual sense, that we are no more affected with it.
Ʋse 3. To move us to help one another out of sin, we should count it beastly and sluttish, if we should let a Child lie in its filth, so are we, if we let any that we can help, lie in their own defilements of sin; and were our mindes as quick to smell as our bodies, we should as much loath the smell or presence of sin, as of filthy dung: it is for want of spirituall sence, that we are no more affected with it.
Use 4. To provoke us to more earnest wrestling for cleansing from sin; when we have defiled our selves with sin, none can help us out but God, others may help the work forward, but none can effectually cleanse us but God, therefore we should come before God as the Saints of God have done, Ezra 9.6. Jer. 31.18, 19. Dan. 9.7. we must not come before God with extenuation, like Adam; we should be ashamed to come into company with defiled bodies, we should not say it is our infirmity or a looseness we are subject to, we have our spiritual looseness from God, from prayer, from our callings, from holy duties, this is a loathsome thing to pretend looseness or infirmity in filthy things, therefore let us take shame to our selves, and strive for cleansing, Psal. 51.7. he would be thoroughly cleansed.
Ʋse 4. To provoke us to more earnest wrestling for cleansing from sin; when we have defiled our selves with sin, none can help us out but God, others may help the work forward, but none can effectually cleanse us but God, therefore we should come before God as the Saints of God have done, Ezra 9.6. Jer. 31.18, 19. Dan. 9.7. we must not come before God with extenuation, like Adam; we should be ashamed to come into company with defiled bodies, we should not say it is our infirmity or a loosenesse we are subject to, we have our spirituall loosenesse from God, from prayer, from our callings, from holy duties, this is a loathsome thing to pretend loosnesse or infirmity in filthy things, therefore let us take shame to our selves, and strive for cleansing,
Use 5. It may stir us up to take heed of evil company without, and corruption within; a man should loath to keep company with base filthy unclean fellows, Drunkards, Swearers, &c. 2 Cor. 6.17. and the same Apostle exhorts to cleanse our selves from all filthiness within, 2 Cor. 7.1. we would be loath to have any filthy unclean thing about us, so we should cleanse our selves from all sin, because it is a remnant of filthiness.
Ʋse 5. It may stir us up to take heed of evill company without, and corruption within; a man should loath to keep company with base filthy unclean fellows, Drunkards, Swearers, &c. 2 Cor. 6.17. and the same Apostle exhorts to cleanse our selves from all filthinesse within, 2 Cor. 7.1. we would be loath to have any filthy unclean thing about us, so we should cleanse our selves from all sin, because it is a remnant of filthinesse.
Use 6. It may show us the wonderful preciousness of the blood of Christ, and the no less wonderful favour and love of God towards us; were not Christs blood of wonderful efficacy, it could not cleanse such base filthy sinful lusts, so Gods favour, were it not wonderful, he would not take upon him such an homely office: Women, if they were not Mothers, would not take such homely offices up, as to cleanse their Children from their filth; why if ⟨p. 41⟩God were not of the like affection to us, he would not cleanse us from our filthiness, we count it an homely office, to sweep sinks, and scum pots, &c, this is Gods office, if he did not sweep the Sink, and scum off the scum of our hearts, it would never be done; and therefore it shows the tender affection of God towards us, in that he is willing to take such an office upon him, to cleanse us from our filthiness, he pours clean water upon us; all other means will do no good without him; it is with us as it is with young Infants that would lie in their defilements, if their Mothers did not make them clean, and so would we even wallow in the defilements of sin, if God did not cleanse us, therefore admire Gods love and mercy towards us.
Ʋse 6. It may shew us the wonderfull preciousnesse of the bloud of Christ, and the no lesse wonderfull favour and love of God towards us; were not Christs bloud of wonderfull efficacy, it could not cleanse such base filthy sinfull lusts, so Gods favour, were it not wonderfull, he would not take upon him such an homely office: Women, if they were not Mothers, would not take such homely offices up, as to cleanse their Children from their filth; why if ⟨p. 41⟩God were not of the like affection to us, he would not cleanse us from our filthinesse, we count it an homely office, to sweep sincks, and scum pots, &c, this is Gods office, if he did not sweep the Sinck, and scum off the scum of our hearts, it would never be done; and therefore it shews the tender affection of God towards us, in that he is willing to take such an office upon him, to cleanse us from our filthinesse, he poures clean water upon us; all other means will doe no good without him; it is with us as it is with young Infants that would lie in their defilements, if their Mothers did not make them clean, and so would we even wallow in the defilements of sin, if God did not cleanse us, therefore admire Gods love and mercy towards us.
Use 7. It is a good help to mortification, if we consider what a loathsome thing sin is, and what pure eyes God is of, it would be an antidote against sin, shall we commit such filthiness in Gods sight, to make our selves so base and loathsome before him?
Ʋse 7. It is a good help to mortification, if we consider what a loathsome thing sin is, and what pure eyes God is of, it would be an antidote against sin, shall we commit such filthinesse in Gods sight, to make our selves so base and loathsome before him?
Sin and unrighteousness, the one explains the other, Rom. 6.13. yield not your Members weapons of Unrighteousness, that is, weapons of sin; sometimes Unrightnesse is properly confined to the sins of the second Table, as unholiness to the first, but sometimes righteousness comprehends the whole course of a Christian, and Unrighteousness comprehends all sins. [Greek or Hebrew].
Sin and unrighteousnesse, the one explains the other, Rom. 6.13. yeild not your Members weapons of Unrighteousnesse, that is, weapons of sin; sometimes Unrightnesse is properly confined to the sins of the second Table, as unholinesse to the first, but sometimes righteousnesse comprehends the whole course of a Christian, and Unrighteousness comprehends all sins. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
Reas. Because every sin doth either God wrong, or others, or our selves; Righteousness gives every one his due; if we sin in temperance, we debase and defile our selves, if we sin in theft or slander, we wrong others in their goods or good names, if we worship not God as God, if we keep not his Sabbaths, or profane his name, we wrong God.
Reas. Because every sin doth either God wrong, or others, or our selves; Righteousnesse gives every one his due; if we sin in temperance, we debase and defile our selves, if we sin in theft or slander, we wrong others in their goods or good names, if we worship not God as God, if we keep not his Sabbaths, or prophane his name, we wrong God.
Use 1. Shows the Error of those, who think if they pay every man his own, they are righteous men; why, do you no wrong? are you not sinners? yes they will say, why then you are not righteous, for every sin doth wrong to God, our selves, or others.
Ʋse 1. Shews the Error of those, who think if they pay every man his own, they are righteous men; why, doe you no wrong? are you not sinners? yes they will say, why then you are not righteous, for every sin doth wrong to God, our selves, or others.
Others say, if they wrong any, it is themselves; why, it is unrighteousness to wrong your selves.
Others say, if they wrong any, it is themselves; why, it is unrighteousnesse to wrong your selves.
2. As you love innocency, live righteously; do God no wrong, others no wrong, your selves no wrong, otherwise you are unrighteous.
2. As you love innocency, live righteously; doe God no wrong, others no wrong, your selves no wrong, otherwise you are unrighteous.
3. For Comfort to any that have their souls cleansed by the blood of Christ from all filthiness, we are holy, set at liberty from all filthiness, and all unrighteousness.
3. For Comfort to any that have their souls cleansed by the bloud of Christ from all filthinesse, we are holy, set at liberty from all filthinesse, and all unrighteousnesse.