A34689:843
A34689:843
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.
Q. But how shall I know whether I lay hold on Christ?
A. 1. No man lays hold on Christ, but he takes him for better, for worse, he takes him to be a Ruler, as well as a Saviour, you must give up your selves to be guided by his will, as well as to receive any benefit by him.
A. 1. No man layes hold on Christ, but he takes him for better, for worse, he takes him to be a Ruler, as well as a Saviour, you must give up your selves to be guided by his will, as well as to receive any benefit by him.
2 If you find your hearts wholly resting on Christ, and none but him, if this be the frame of your heart, that there is none in Heaven or Earth that you desire in comparison of him, Psal. 73.25. then you have laid hold upon him.
2 If you finde your hearts wholly resting on Christ, and none but him, if this be the frame of your heart, that there is none in Heaven or Earth that you desire in comparison of him, Psal. 73.25. then you have laid hold upon him.
Use 5. For Christians that have their sins pardoned, and are in Christ, though it be thus with you, yet you are not to think that you have no need of Christ, for were you as St. John, and the Apostles Pillars, yet you have need of an Advocate, and Propitiation still, for in many things you sin daily, and fall out with God, so that if God should fall out with us as often as we with him, we should never have peace, therefore still go to Christ, entreat him to be your Atonement from day to day, Christ is not only a Peace-maker, but a Peace-keeper; we daily offend God, or others, or our selves, and therefore stand daily in need of Christs mediation.
Ʋse 5. For Christians that have their sins pardoned, and are in Christ, though it be thus with you, yet you are not to think that you have no need of Christ, for were you as St. John, and the Apostles Pillars, yet you have need of an Advocate, and Propitiation still, for in many things you sin daily, and fall out with God, so that if God should fall out with us as often as we with him, we should never have peace, therefore still goe to Christ, intreat him to be your Attonement from day to day, Christ is not only a Peace-maker, but a Peace-keeper; we daily offend God, or others, or our selves, and therefore stand daily in need of Christs mediation.
We have much need of Christs Spirit to help us in our prayers.
We have much need of Christs Spirit to helpe us in our prayers.
Use 6. Of consolation to every Christian soul, to consider in the midst of our sins, that we have Christ for our propitiation, to keep our peace with ⟨p. 56⟩God, there is not a day passeth over our heads wherein we fall not out with God, and if Christ should not put in, what would become of us? but here is the comfort, Christ is our propitiation, and therefore it is certain and sure that he is more able to keep our peace than we are to break it; and besides, he hath taken it upon him, he hath made it his Office to be an Atonement between God and us; and here is also further comfort, that he hath not only been a means of reconciliation, but he hath manifested it unto us, he hath brought us to see Gods face with comfort.
Ʋse 6. Of consolation to every Christian soul, to consider in the midst of our sins, that we have Christ for our propitiation, to keep our peace with ⟨p. 56⟩God, there is not a day passeth over our heads wherein we fall not out with God, and if Christ should not put in, what would become of us? but here is the comfort, Christ is our propitiation, and therefore it is certaine and sure that he is more able to keep our peace than we are to breake it; and besides, he hath taken it upon him, he hath made it his Office to be an Attonement between God and us; and here is also further comfort, that he hath not only been a means of reconciliation, but he hath manifested it unto us, he hath brought us to see Gods face with comfort.
But this is not all, but here is matter of further comfort, in that he being made a propitiation for the whole world, the whole World shall be at peace with us, there is a reconciliation betwixt me and all the Creatures, I have comfort from every blessing, from Christs Propitiation, Job 5.19. and 23. so that whatsoever a Christian meets with, whether good deeds or bad, persecution, &c. why this is his comfort, that the whole world shall be for his good, though I meet with crosses and afflictions it shall be for my good, from this ground, that Christ is a propitiation for the whole world.
Use 7. Seeing God hath made so large an Atonement for all, let us draw one another to take heed of sin, to run to Christ, make use of Christs Atonement, and take he•d of sin; this use old Eli made, 1 Sam. 2.25. If one man sin against another, t•• Judge shall judge it, but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall plead for him? If you fall out with God, and walk in sin, who shall make your peace with him; that is a work no friend you have can do, no means you can procure can make up that breach, none but Christ, and you must not presume upon Christs mediation, he will not be a baud to any ones sin that is a sign of Reprobation to turn Gods grace into wantonness, Jude 4. and take heed we do not offend Christ; it is notable counsel God gives to Moses to deliver to the people, Exod. 23.20, 21.22. Behold I send an Angel before thee (that is, Christ, the Angel of the Covenant) beware of him, provoke him not, he will not spare your misdeeds, for my name is in him; if you do willingly sin against him he will not pardon you, therefore encourage all the friends you have to make use of Christs Reconciliation, he is a propitiation for little children, vers. 1. for young men, for old men, in the following verses, for all that are willing to lay hold on him, this use Paul makes, 2 Cor. 5.19, 20, 21. this is the chief point of the Gospel, that God hath made Christ a propitiation for sin, therefore we beseech you to make use of it, take not Christs blood in vain, beware to offend his grace and mercy, and labour to bring on all to Christ, since the propitiation is so general, seeing there is such a Fountain set open, let us draw at it for our selves, and for our children, let us teach our children that Christ is made a propitiation for their sins.
Ʋse 7. Seeing God hath made so large an Attonement for all, let us draw one another to take heed of sin, to run to Christ, make use of Christs Attonement, and take he•d of sin; this use old Eli made, 1 Sam. 2.25
We have heard Christ described from his external Offices.
We have heard Christ described from his externall Offices.
1 He is an Advocate.
2 A Propitiation.
We come now to his internal virtue, or qualification; Jesus Christ the righteous.
We come now to his internal vertue, or qualification; Jesus Christ the righteous.
The Scripture much testifies this, Heb. 4.15. 1 Pet. 3.8. 1 Pet. 2.22. and Pilate that condemned him gave him this testimony, I am innocent from the blood of this just man, Mat. 27.24. yea from his birth he had this testimony, that holy thing, Luke 1.33. in opposition to all others, who are sinners from the very Womb, he was holy in his Birth, in his Life, in his Death, 2 Cor. 5. ult. He knew no sin; that is, he had experience of none, but the Father made him sinful by imputation, that we might be just by imputation.
The Scripture much testifies this, Heb. 4.15. 1 Pet. 3.8. 1 Pet. 2.22. and Pilate that condemned him gave him this testimony, I am innocent from the blood of this just man, Mat. 27.24. yea from his birth he had this testimony, that holy thing, Luke 1.33. in opposition to all others, who are sinners from the very Wombe, he was holy in his Birth, in his Life, in his Death, 2 Cor. 5. ult. He knew no sin; that is, he had experience of none, but the Father made him sinfull by imputation, that we might be just by imputation.
It was meet that he should be righteous without sin; 1. That he might be our Reconciler. 2 That he might be our Advocate, if he had had any sin, he could have been neither of these.
1 For the first, had he been sinful himself, he could not have made atonement for sin, it was required that all the Sacrifices should be without blemish, Lev. 3. and 10 else it had not been accepted, as the Lord tells them, Mal. 1.8. all things defiled with sin are abominable to God, Heb. 7.25, 26. unless some atonement be made, now had he been sinful, he had stood in need of Sacrifice for himself, and could not have been an atonement for our sins, 2 Cor. 5. ult. he that knew no sin, was imputed a sinner for us, that we might be imputed righteous for his sake.
1 For the first, had he been sinful himself, he could not have made attonement for sin, it was required that all the Sacrifices should be without blemish, Lev. 3. and 10 else it had not been accepted, as the Lord tells them, Mal. 1.8. all things defiled with sin are abominable to God, Heb. 7.25, 26. unlesse some attonement be made, now had he been sinfull, he had stood in need of Sacrifice for himself, and could not have been an attonnment for our sins, 2 Cor. 5. ult. he that knew no sin, was imputed a sinner for us, that we might be imputed righteous for his sake.