A34689:749
A34689:749
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.
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.
For here the Apostle answers an Objection which might arise, If the blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin, then we may be bold to sin, it is but running to Christs blood and we shall be cleansed from our sins; but he saith; I write these things that ye sin not, therefore it implies that neither Law nor Gospel should encourage us to sin, but restrain us.
The Law, that shows us the impossibility of not sinning, but doth not teach us how to sin, Rom. 3.20. it shows us sin, and to show sin, is not to learn us how to sin, but how to avoid it.
The Law, that shews us the impossibility of not sinning, but doth not teach us how to sin, Rom. 3.20. it shews us sin, and to shew sin, is not to learne us how to sin, but how to avoyd it.
And for the Gospel, that teacheth that the blood of Christ cleanseth us from all our sins.
1 It shows a remedy against sin, the blood of Christ, and the means, If we confess our sins, &c. but it shows withal that if we shall hereupon willingly commit sin, we do most ingratefully, and profanely tread underfoot the blood of Christ, Heb. 10.29. we account it prodigality to despise precious things, how much more desperate is it to despise the most precious blood of Christ.
1 It shews a remedy against sin, the blood of Christ, and the meanes, If we confesse our sins, &c. but it shewes withall that if we shall hereupon willingly commit sin, we doe most ingratefully, and prophanely tread underfoot the blood of Christ, Heb. 10.29. we account it prodigality to despise precious things, how much more desperate is it to despise the most precious blood of Christ.
2 The Gospel teacheth us so to use the blood of Christ, as that we may mortify sin, and not only get it pardoned, but cleansed, for the use of the Gospel is to mortify sin, therefore it leads us not to the commission of sin.
2 The Gospel teacheth us so to use the blood of Christ, as that we may mortifie sin, and not only get it pardoned, but cleansed, for the use of the Gospel is to mortifie sin, therefore it leads us not to the commission of sin.
3 The Gospel begets those graces that cleanse us from sin;
First, It begets faith, which purifies the heart, Act. 15.9.