A34689:777
A34689:777
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.
If any man sin, &c. there were no use of an Advocate to plead for us, if we had none to accuse us, and plead against us; we no sooner sin, but we have accusations put up in heaven against us, and so our Advocate puts in for us; what be these adversaries?
1 Our own sins, they plead against us, and accuse us day and night, some sins do in a special manner plead against us, and those are crying sins, Gen. 4.10. the murder of Abel was a crying sin, Gen. 18.20. the sins of Sodom cried, and Ezek. 16.49. there are four things of Sodom mentioned, which cried to heaven for Vengeance, Pride, Idleness, Intemperance, Unmercifulness to the poor; so sometimes detaining the labourers wages, James 5.4. so also oppression, Exod. 22.22.27. these are special crying sins, because they will give God no rest, till he hath revenged them in this World, they will not stay till the last judgment, but call for present judgment; but all sins do speak in the Lords ear, and call for vengeance against us.
1 Our own sins, they plead against us, and accuse us day and night, some sins doe in a speciall manner plead against us, and those are crying sins, Gen. 4.10. the murther of Abel was a crying sin, Gen. 18.20. the sins of Sodom cried, and Ezek. 16.49. there are four things of Sodom mentioned, which cryed to heaven for Vengeance, Pride, Idlenesse, Intemperance, Unmercifulnesse to the poor; so sometimes detaining the labourers wages, James 5.4. so also oppression, Exod. 22.22.27. these are speciall crying sins, because they will give God no rest, till he hath revenged them in this World, they will not stay till the last judgment, but call for present judgment; but all sins doe speake in the Lords ear, and call for vengeance against us.
2 Another Adversary that accuseth us, is the righteous Law of God, which we have broken, that the word may not be in vain, Joh. 5.45.
3 The third Enemy is Satan, that accuseth us night and day, Rev. 12.10. so he did, Job Chap. 1.9, 10, 11. he accused him of hypocrisy, because he had no real reason to accuse him, therefore he surmiseth one.
3 The third Enemy is Satan, that accuseth us night and day, Rev. 12.10. so he did, Job Chap. 1.9, 10, 11. he accused him of hypocrisie, because he had no reall reason to accuse him, therefore he surmiseth one.
4 Our own conscience accuseth us, and that is as a thousand witnesses, Rom. 2.15.
Use 1 To take heed how we make bold with any sin, you may put upon them a pretence of pleasure, or profit, or credit, but there is no sin we commit, but pleads against us, yea and stirs up the Law and Satan, and our own consciences to plead against us too.
Ʋse 1 To take heed how we make bold with any sin, you may put upon them a pretence of pleasure, or profit, or credit, but there is no sin we commit, but pleads against us, yea and stirs up the Law and Satan, and our own consciences to plead against us too.
2 It teacheth us the miserable Estate of a poor sinner that goes on in sin, and never takes any care to get Christ to be an Advocate for him, he may hope that Christ pleads for him in Heaven, but this is a vain hope, so long as he goes on in sin, but he may be sure that sin, and Satan, and the Law, and his conscience accuseth him, and he having none to plead for him, what a woeful case is he in?
2 It teacheth us the miserable Estate of a poor sinner that goes on in sin, and never takes any care to get Christ to be an Advocate for him, he may hope that Christ pleads for him in Heaven, but this is a vaine hope, so long as he goes on in sin, but he may be sure that sin, and Satan, and the Law, and his conscience accuseth him, and he having none to plead for him, what a wofull case is he in?
3 It may stir us up to get an Advocate that may plead for us against our accusers.
If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous, he doth not say every man that sins hath an Advocate, but we have an Advocate, that is, I and you, and such as we are; the children of God, Rom. 8.34. he makes intercession for us [Greek or Hebrew] interpellat pro nobis, he interrupts the accusation, and strikes in for us, Heb. 7.25. because he hath not only dyed for us, and risen for us, but he follows the business to the utmost, till it be accomplished.
If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous, he doth not say every man that sins hath an Advocate, but we have an Advocate, that is, I and you, and such as we are; the children of God, Rom. 8.34. he makes intercession for us 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 interpellat pro nobis, he interrupts the accusation, and strikes in for us, Heb. 7.25. because he hath not only dyed for us, and risen for us, but he follows the buisinesse to the utmost, till it be accomplished.
How doth he make intercession for us?
1 He doth not fall down at his Fathers feet▪ but he acts the part of an Advocate by his presence, at the Throne of Grace, so that his presence cuts off many accusations, it being known he is our friend, and stands for us, they dare not be so bold, Heb. 9, 24.
2 He not only pleads for us by his presence, but he intercedes for us by the merit of his blood, and that pleads more powerfully for us, than either sin, or the Law, or Satan, or our own consciences can plead against us, Heb. 12.24. His blood speaks better things then the blood of Abel; that cried for condemnation, this for absolution.
2 He not only pleads for us by his presence, but he intercedes for us by the merit of his blood, and that pleads more powerfully for us, than either sin, or the Law, or Satan, or our own consciences can plead against us, Heb. 12.24. His blood speakes better things then the blood of Abel; that cryed for condemnation, this for absolution.
3 He pleads for us, in giving us leave to use his name for our help, and his Spirit to plead for our selves, he sends his Spirit to draw our petitions for us, and help us in his name ro plead for our selves, he is our chief Advocate, he sends the Spirit, Joh. 16.23, 24. and he promises, Zach. 12.10. so that though the Spirit be an Advocate, yet he is sent by Christ, Joh. 14.16, 17.
3 He pleads for us, in giving us leave to use his name for our helpe, and his Spirit to plead for our selves, he sends his Spirit to draw our petitions for us, and helpe us in his name ro plead for our selves, he is our chiefe Advocate, he sends the Spirit, Joh. 16.23, 24. and he promises, Zach. 12.10. so that though the Spirit be an Advocate, yet he is sent by Christ, Joh. 14.16, 17.