A34689:733
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.
Reas. From the resemblance betwixt them and Natural Parents, as they beget Children of that seed they infuse, so Ministers beget Children of the Immortal Seed of the Word, 1 Pet. 1.23, 24, 25. as in Natural Seed, so in Spiritual, there is a more Material, and a more Spiritual part, the Material part is the Letter of the Word, the more Spiritual part is the Spirit conveyed in it; now because Ministers together with the Word convey the Spirit, therefore they begetting Children of such a Word, they are called Fathers, and those so begotten, Children.
Obj. Mat. 23.9. Call no man Father, &c.
Ans. He doth not forbid to call such Ministers Spiritual Fathers, but he forbids the affectation of such Titles, many affect to be called Fathers of the Church, that never begat any to God, as the Pharises did; Non appellatio, sed affectatio prohibetur.