A34689:741
A34689:741
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.
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, Prov. 11.13.
2. There may be strength in Ministers, yet there may be a disproportion betwixt them, and their people, therefore Ministers and people must strive to keep a proportion and correspondence, he must see how he may accommodate himself to the temper of his people, they must with Paul, become all to all, that they may beget some: in any thing that is lawful he must accommodate, but he must by no means comply to the evil humours of his people, Jer. 15.19. for then he brings contempt upon his Life and Doctrine.
2. There may be strength in Ministers, yet there may be a disproportion betwixt them, and their people, therefore Ministers and people must strive to keep a proportion and correspondence, he must see how he may accommodate himself to the temper of his people, they must with Paul, become all to all, that they may beget some: in any thing that is lawfull he must acommodate, but he must by no means comply to the evill humours of his people, Jer. 15.19. for then he brings contempt upon his Life and Doctrine.
3. Look that your Seed be Spiritual, that is, the pure Word dispensed in the Spirit and Power, mingle no Traditions or Tricks of your wit with it, if you do, your Seed is corrupt, and wants vigour, a velvet scabbard dulls the edge of the Sword, so the Word decked over with Human eloquence is like a Sword in a velvet scabbard, it hinders the power of it, what hath the Chaff to do with the Wheat? Jer. 23.28, 29. you must not mingle the Word with the dreams and fancies of men, but dispense the Word in the power and evidence of the Spirit, and labour to have the Word sealed in your hearts, that you may speak out of the heart and inward affection; that Word which comes from the heart, sooner goes to the heart.
3. Look that your Seed be Spirituall, that is, the pure Word dispensed in the Spirit and Power, mingle no Traditions or Tricks of your wit with it, if you doe, your Seed is corrupt, and wants vigour, a velvet scabbard dulls the edge of the Sword, so the Word deckt over with Human eloquence is like a Sword in a velvet scabbard, it hinders the power of it, what hath the Chaffe to doe with the Wheat? Jer. 23.28, 29. you must not mingle the Word with the dreams and fancies of men, but dispence the Word in the power and evidence of the Spirit, and labour to have the Word sealed in your hearts, that you may speak out of the heart and inward affection; that Word which comes from the heart, sooner goes to the heart.
Use 2. It may teach Hearers how to hear the Word of God aright, if Ministers are so to dispense the Seed of the Word that they may beget Children to God, then Hearers must learn how to apply themselves towards their Ministers, not to content themselves in having gotten good Ministers, and their respect to them (though these be very good) till you be Children to him whom he hath begot if you were not so before, or if you were, yet Children to be nursed by him; suck nourishment from him, grow in grace under him, labour to receive stronger meat from him, that you may become Fathers to others, Heb. 5.12. it yields much comfort to the spirit of a man, when he can say, the seed of such and such a Sermon converted him, it often fills a man with many doubts, because he hath not discerned the power of the Word.
Ʋse 2. It may teach Hearers how to hear the Word of God aright, if Ministers are so to dispense the Seed of the Word that they may beget Children to God, then Hearers must learn how to apply themselves towards their Ministers, not to content themselves in having gotten good Ministers, and their respect to them (though these be very good) till you be Children to him whom he hath begot if you were not so before, or if you were, yet Children to be nursed by him; suck nourishment from him, grow in grace under him, labour to receive stronger meat from him, that you may become Fathers to others, Heb. 5.12. it yeelds much comfort to the spirit of a man, when he can say, the seed of such and such a Sermon converted him, it often fills a man with many doubts, because he hath not discerned the power of the Word.
Use 3. It may teach both Ministers and people so to carry themselves one towards another, as Fathers and Children; as many times a Mariner carries a King over Sea, but though he be a Prince, yet in that case he must be ⟨p. 48⟩ruled by the Mariner; so a Minister may teach Princes and great men, and they in this case must be as Children to him.
Ʋse 3. It may teach both Ministers and people so to carry themselves one towards another, as Fathers and Children; as many times a Marriner carries a King over Sea, but though he be a Prince, yet in that case he must be ⟨p. 48⟩ruled by the Marriner; so a Minister may teach Princes and great men, and they in this case must be as Children to him.
1. People are to give their Teachers such kind of respect as Children owe to Parents, Gal. 4.14, 15.
1. People are to give their Teachers such kinde of respect as Children owe to Parents, Gal. 4.14, 15.
2. Children owe to Parents imitation in any good carriage, and the more they see the Image of God in them, the more they are to imitate them; so people are to follow their Ministers in any good counsel or carriage, that is the duty of Children to their Spiritual Fathers, 1 Cor. 4.15, 16. it will lie upon the Consciences of people to imitate any virtues they see in their Teachers, because they are their Fathers, as Children do imitate their Parents.
2. Children owe to Parents imitation in any good carriage, and the more they see the Image of God in them, the more they are to imitate them; so people are to follow their Ministers in any good counsell or carriage, that is the duty of Children to their Spirituall Fathers, 1 Cor. 4.15, 16. it will lie upon the Consciences of people to imitate any vertues they see in their Teachers, because they are their Fathers, as Children doe imitate their Parents.
3. Obedience in the Lord is required of Hearers, Phil. 2.22. speaking of Timothy, saith he, Ye know the proof of him, how as a Son with the Father he served with me in the Gospel, he makes it his commendation, he never commanded any duty to him, but he readily obeyed him as a Child his Father, he showed professed obedience to the Gospel of Christ; so people are to yield obedience to the Gospel of Christ, which they receive from their Ministers.
3. Obedience in the Lord is required of Hearers, Phil. 2.22. speaking of Timothy, saith he, Ye know the proof of him, how as a Son with the Father he served with me in the Gospel, he makes it his commendation, he never commanded any duty to him, but he readily obeyed him as a Childe his Father, he shewed professed obedience to the Gospel of Christ; so people are to yeeld obedience to the Gospell of Christ, which they receive from their Ministers.
Now on the other side, it also teacheth Ministers wherein to show their Fatherhood to their people, not only in begetting Children, for that is the least part of Paternity, but they are not then to leave them, for still there are some Corruptions cleaving to Children from the Womb, which if they be not helped against, they will perish, Ezek. 16.4. so Ministers will be but Murderers, if when they have begotten Children by the Seed of the Word, they leave them to their rawness, and corruptions of their own hearts, and do not help them against them, and help them to grow in grace, and make progress in Christianity.
Now on the other side, it also teacheth Ministers wherein to shew their Fatherhood to their people, not onely in begetting Children, for that is the least part of Paternity, but they are not then to leave them, for still there are some Corruptions cleaving to Children from the Wombe, which if they be not helped against, they will perish, Ezek. 16.4. so Ministers will be but Murtherers, if when they have begotten Children by the Seed of the Word, they leave them to their rawnesse, and corruptions of their own hearts, and doe not help them against them, and help them to grow in grace, and make progresse in Christianity.
2. Parents train up their Children in all knowledge, they can help them to, either in Learning, or Trades; Isa. 6.18. so Ministers are to adorn their people with such Graces and Ornaments that they may give them up to Christ, as Brides fitted for him, 2 Cor. 11.2, 3.
3. Ministers are to provide for them an eternal Inheritance, 2 Cor. 12.14. Parents lay up for their Children, they labour to get an Estate to leave to their Posterity; so Ministers are to lay up an eternal weight of glory for their people, not only to get them into Heaven, but to load them with an eternal weight of glory, fill them with patience and Humility, &c. and all the graces of Gods Spirit, for the Spirit of glory rests upon such, he should help them to grow in grace, that they might be filled with glory.
3. Ministers are to provide for them an eternall Inheritance, 2 Cor. 12.14. Parents lay up for their Children, they labour to get an Estate to leave to their Posterity; so Ministers are to lay up an eternall weight of glory for their people, not onely to get them into Heaven, but to load them with an eternall weight of glory, fill them with patience and Humility, &c. and all the graces of Gods Spirit, for the Spirit of glory rests upon such, he should help them to grow in grace, that they might be filled with glory.
1. And first, labour to help them to grow in Humility, a man must lay down all ambitious thoughts, or else he will never come to Heaven, Matth. 18.2, 3. David could not get a Kingdom till he had learned to be like a weaned child, Psal. 131. Jer. 45. ult. however we shall get but a poor piece of glory; the means to be exalted in Heaven, is to be humble here on Earth, an humble spirit shall be a glorious Soul; before Honour goes Humility.
1. And first, labour to help them to grow in Humility, a man must lay down all ambitious thoughts, or else he will never come to Heaven, Matth. 18.2, 3. David could not get a Kingdome till he had learned to be like a weaned childe, Psal. 131. Jer. 45. ult. however we shall get but a poor piece of glory; the means to be exalted in Heaven, is to be humble here on Earth, an humble spirit shall be a glorious Soul; before Honour goes Humility.
2. Labour to help them with patience and constancy, for if with well-doing they grow patient in suffering, and be ready to run through all conditions for Christs Cause, and the Gospel, great is their reward in Heaven, Mat. 5.10, 11. rest not when you have begotten them, and see some truth of grace wrought in them, but lay up for them a plentiful treasure in Heaven; help them to be rich in grace, that they may be rich in glory at length.
2. Labour to help them with patience and constancy, for if with well-doing they grow patient in suffering, and be ready to run through all conditions for Christs Cause, and the Gospel, great is their reward in Heaven, Mat. 5.10, 11. rest not when you have begotten them, and see some truth of grace wrought in them, but lay up for them a plentifull treasure in Heaven; help them to be rich in grace, that they may be rich in glory at length.
Three Graces especially go to the attaining of the excellency of Glory, Zeal in doing Gods Will, Patience in suffering, and Humility in both; and Zeal breeds fruitfulness, Luke 19.17. & 19. what was the reason, why he that gained more had a greater reward? because he was more fruitful with his Talents, therefore it should be the care of Ministers to help ⟨p. 49⟩their people (what in them lies) to grow in these Graces.
Three Graces especially goe to the attaining of the excellency of Glory, Zeal in doing Gods Will, Patience in suffering, and Humility in both; and Zeal breeds fruitfulnesse, Luke 19.17. & 19. what was the reason, why he that gained more had a greater reward? because he was more fruitfull with his Tallents, therefore it should be the care of Ministers to help ⟨p. 49⟩their people (what in them lyes) to grow in these Graces.
We come now to the second part, viz. the Declaration of the end of his writing, These things I write that ye sin not; now from this Declaration observe this Point.