A34689:739
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.
Use 1. Of direction to Ministers, or such as intend the Ministry, what is it about which they are most to bend their endeavours? to be fruitful, to beget Children to God: it is meet for a Minister to look at the good respect of the people, and living, and maintenance, but he is chiefly to desire and bend his endeavours to beget Children to God, to beget such to God whom he may respect as Children, with like care and diligence; for a man to look at preferment, or credit, or wealth, these are but husks of his employment, the true end of his Calling is to beget Children.
Ʋse 1. Of direction to Ministers, or such as intend the Ministery, what is it about which they are most to bend their endeavours? to be fruitfull, to beget Children to God: it is meet for a Minister to look at the good respect of the people, and living, and maintenance, but he is chiefly to desire and bend his endeavours to beget Children to God, to beget such to God whom he may respect as Children, with like care and diligence; for a man to look at preferment, or credit, or wealth, these are but husks of his imployment, the true end of his Calling is to beget Children.
How may that be done?
1. He is to look that he grow strong himself, for weak men in nature are not prolifici, therefore Ministers must labour to grow strong in grace, a man without grace seldom begets any to God, therefore they must first mortify sin, and then increase in grace, Prov. 11.13.
1. He is to look that he grow strong himselfe, for weak men in nature are not prolifici, therefore Ministers must labour to grow strong in grace, a man without grace seldome begets any to God, therefore they must first mortifie sin, and then increase in grace,