A34689:767
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 what course to take.
Ʋse 1. Of direction to Ministers what course to take.
Two points of Wisdom are hence to be learned.
Two points of Wisdome are hence to be learned.
First, If any misconstruction may arise from your Doctrine, wisely to prevent it, St. John saw there would arise an encouragement to sin, from one Doctrine he had delivered, and a discouragement from fighting against sin from another, therefore he tells them, These things I write, that ye sin not, but if any man sin, &c.
Secondly, Another direction is, to frame your selves to dispense Milk to Babes; Saint John was a Son of Thunder, and a Pillar among the Apostles, Gal. 2.9. yet he writing to little Babes, tells them thus, My little Children; these things I write unto you, that you sin not; it seems a weak line for such a man, but he tempers his Doctrine according to their strength; we should be ready to think it poor homely stuff to say thus, who could not have said as much?