A34689:796
A34689:796
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 2. Of consolation to all whose consciences strike and gall them, and they are disquieted with the bitterness of their sins, when sin accuseth, and the Law accuseth, and Satan and conscience accuseth, what should comfort a poor soul in this case? why, consider we have an Advocate with the Father, so that though the Law, and conscience tell us we have been disobedient, yet Christ our Advocate hath fulfilled all obedience, though we sin, and our sins plead against us, yet Christ pleads for us, his blood cries for us, and speaks better things than the blood of Abel, and he sends his Spirit to help us to put up our petitions, and he himself puts in for us, and performs our prayers for us, Rev. 8.3. by the Angel there is chiefly meant Christ, he sweetens them, takes all the corruption out of them, so that they are a sweet smelling savour to God; let us accuse our selves to the lowest acknowledgement of our own unworthiness, and then let us with comfort look up to our Advocate that pleads for us.
Ʋse 2. Of consolation to all whose consciences strike and gall them, and they are disquieted with the bitternesse of their sins, when sin accuseth, and the Law accuseth, and Sathan and conscience accuseth, what should comfort a poor soule in this case? why, consider we have an Advocate with the Father, so that though the Law, and conscience tell us we have been disobedient, yet Christ our Advocate hath fulfilled all obedience, though we sin, and our sins plead against us, yet Christ pleads for us, his blood cries for us, and speaks better things than the blood of Abel, and he sends his Spirit to helpe us to put up our petitions, and he himselfe puts in for us, and performs our prayers for us, Rev. 8.3. by the Angel there is chiefly meant Christ, he sweetens them, takes all the corruption out of them, so that they are a sweet smelling savour to God; let us accuse our selves to the lowest acknowledgment of our own unworthinesse, and then let us with comfort look up to our Advocate that pleads for us.
How shall I know that he prays and pleads for me?
1 If you be little children to God, give up your selves to him, and to his Ministers, to be obedient to his Ordinances.
2 If he send his Spirit into your hearts, and that helps you to draw your Petitions, it is a sign that he himself is about the work, by our sins we damp his Spirit, but if God renew his Spirit in us, it is a sign that Christ hath our cause in hand.
2 If he send his Spirit into your hearts, and that helps you to draw your Petitions, it is a sign that he himselfe is about the work, by our sins we dampe his Spirit, but if God renew his Spirit in us, it is a sign that Christ hath our cause in hand.
1 JOHN 2.2: And he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole World.
IN these words we have Christ described by his function external, 1. Advocate, 2. Propitiation for our sin; and secondly by his inward qualification, righteous; Jesus Christ the righteous.
We have done with his office of Advocation, we come now to the second, He is the propitiation for our sins, and not ours only, but the sins of the whole World.
He is the Reconciliation as some translations render it, but that expresseth not the full meaning, we must know therefore that Propitiation [Greek or Hebrew] includes Three things.
He is the Reconciliation as some translations render it, but that expresseth not the full meaning, we must know therefore that Propitiation 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 includes Three things.
1 That he should expiate our sins, that is, make satisfaction for our Sins, a man may be a means of Reconciliation without satisfaction, but he cannot be Propitiation without offering satisfaction for the wrong done; now Christ did make satisfaction for our sins, Heb. 2.17. and to make satisfaction, he did offer a satisfactory sacrifice for our sins, 1 Pet. 2.24. he bearing the sin and punishment due thereunto, it is as much as if we had done it.
2 To be a Propitiation it is required, that he make peace and reconciliation, for though a man sometimes recompense and satisfy a wrong, yet the ⟨p. 53⟩Party wronged will not be at peace with him, and reconciled to him, but Christ hath taken upon him to reconcile God to us, so as that his wrath is turned from us, and favour restored to us, Col. 1.21. now this reconciling implies Three things.
2 To be a Propitiation it is required, that he make peace and reconciliation, for though a man sometimes recompence and satisfie a wrong, yet the ⟨p. 53⟩Party wronged will not be at peace with him, and reconciled to him, but Christ hath taken upon him to reconcile God to us, so as that his wrath is turned from us, and favour restored to us, Col. 1.21. now this reconciling implies Three things.
1 That sometimes we were friends with God.
2 That we fell out with God.
3 Being fallen out, we are reconciled again, and made at peace with him; Now this is procured by Christ, whereas we were once friends with God in Paradise and fell from him and his favour, Christ hath come and made up that breach, and reconciled us again.
Thirdly, When Christ is said to be a Propitiation for our sins, it implies, that he hath procured the manifestation of Gods favour to us, for suppose a Friend make satisfaction for another, and reconcilement with another with whom he is fallen out, yet if he know it not, his heart is as loose as ever, but Christ hath not only procured us Gods favour, but he tells us, his Father is reconciled with us, and at peace with us, Job. 33.23. and 26. there is the effect of Christs propitiation, that we shall see Gods face with joy, we shall pray to him with comfort, Joh. 14.21. He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, &c. which shows, that he will bring rhem together, and there shall be a mutual expression of love to one another, and refreshment in one another, God shall take comfort in us, and we in him, Rev. 3.20. for that Christ goes further in this case than any man can.
Thirdly, When Christ is said to be a Propitiation for our sins, it implies, that he hath procured the manifestation of Gods favour to us, for suppose a Friend make satisfaction for another, and reconcilement with another with whom he is fallen out, yet if he know it not, his heart is as loose as ever, but Christ hath not only procured us Gods favour, but he tells us, his Father is reconciled with us, and at peace with us, Job. 33.23. and 26. there is the effect of Christs propitiation, that we shall see Gods face with joy, we shall pray to him with comfort, Joh. 14.21. He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, &c. which shews, that he will bring rhem together, and there shall be a mutuall expression of love to one another, and ref••shment in one another, God shall take comfort in us, and we in him, Rev. 3.20. for that Christ goes further in this case than any man can.
Absalom had offended his Father, in slaying his brother Ammon, well, he flies away from his Fathers Court, Joab procures a Reconcilement, but yet he could not satisfy for the blood he had shed; he procured indeed so much that he was sent for home by the King but yet saith the King, Let him return to his own house, he shall not see my face, 2 Sam. 14.24. Joab could not satisfy for his blood, and the King would not see his face, so there wanted satisfaction and manifestation of the Kings favour; well, afterwards manifestation was procured, but yet there wanted Propitiation, because satisfaction could not be made; but Christ hath not only procured favour, but satisfaction, and hath declared his favour towards us. Now further, Christ hath done this, not only for the believing Jews, but all Christians all the World over, for to whom doth he speak here? why to little Children, and what were they? why they were Jews, as appears, vers. 7. who from the first giving of the Law were commanded to love one another; now besides these weak Jews, the Apostle saith, He is our propitiation, including the Ministers of the Gospel, and not only so, but for the sins of the whole World. Now the World is diversly taken in Scripture;
Absolom had offended his Father, in slaying his brother Ammon, well, he flyes away from his Fathers Court, Joab procures a Reconcilement, but yet he could not satisfie for the blood he had shed; he procured indeed so much that he was sent for home by the King but yet saith the King, Let him returne to his own house, he shall not see my face, 2 Sam. 14.24. Joab could not satisfie for his blood, and the King would not see his face, so there wanted satisfaction and manifestation of the Kings favour; well, afterwards manifestation was procured, but yet there wanted Propitiation, because satisfaction could not be made; but Christ hath not only procured favour, but satisfaction, and hath declared his favour towards us. Now further, Christ hath done this, not only for the believing Jewes, but all Christians all the World over, for to whom doth he speake here? why to little Children, and what were they? why they were Jewes, as appears, vers. 7. who from the first giving of the Law were commanded to love one another; now besides these weak Jewes, the Apostle saith, He is our propitiation, including the Ministers of the Gospel, and not only so, but for the sins of the whole World. Now the World is diversly taken in Scripture;