A34689:957
A34689:957
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.
2 There is a perfection without falsehood, hypocrisy, dissimulation, or guile, and such a perfection is found in all true Believers that keep Gods Commandments, the love of God is perfected in them; that is, without hypocrisy, dissimulation, or guile. Gen. 6.9. Noah was a perfect man, and Asa 1 King. 15 his heart was perfect; that is, sincere, though he had many and great failings; 1 King. 20 3. Remember, saith Hezekiah, how I have walked before thee with a perfect heart. This phrase is usual in Scripture, to call that perfect which is sincere and true.
2 There is a perfection without falshood, hypocrisie, dissimulation, or guile, and such a perfection is found in all true Believers that keep Gods Commandments, the love of God is perfected in them; that is, without hypocrisie, dissimulation, or guile. Gen. 6.9. Noah was a perfect man, and Asa 1 King. 15 his heart was perfect; that is, sincere, though he had many and great failings; 1 King. 20 3. Remember, saith Hezekiah, how I have walked before thee with a perfect heart. This phrase is usual in Scripture, to call that perfect which is sincere and true.
Reas. 1. Sincerity of obedience is called perfection, because whatsoever is wanting is covered in the blood of Christ, and if a mans sin be covered, it is as if he had no sin, Psal. 32.1, 2. Blessed is the man whose wickedness is forgiven, and whose sin is covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile; when there is so much uprightness in a mans heart that he walks without any guile, to him the Lord imputes no sin.
Reas. 1. Sincerity of obedience is called perfection, because whatsoever is wanting is covered in the blood of Christ, and if a mans sin be covered, it is as if he had no sin, Psal. 32.1, 2. Blessed is the man whose wickednesse is forgiven, and whose sin is covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile; when there is so much uprightnesse in a mans heart that he walks without any guile, to him the Lord imputes no sin.
Q. Is there any in whose heart there is no guile?
A. There is none that they tolerate or justify, none that they nourish or maintain, if they have any they strive against it, are not well till they be rid of it, no guile but what their judgments disallow, and their wills consent not to, blessed are such to whom no sin is imputed, in whose spirit there is no guile.
A. There is none that they tollerate or justifie, none that they nourish or maintain, if they have any they strive against it, are not well till they be rid of it, no guile but what their judgments disallow, and their wills consent not to, blessed are such to whom no sin is imputed, in whose spirit there is no guile.
2 Such are said to be perfect, because they strive after perfection, and if they have a willing mind the Lord accepts of it, according to that a man hath, and not according to that a man hath not, 2 Cor. 8.12. See how Christ approved the two Mites of the poor Widow, because she had an heart to give all her estate, Christ saith, She gave more than they all; so if a man gives all his heart to God, and if he had more he would give more, why, God accounts it as perfect.
3 God accounts of any sincere truth of grace as perfect, because in time it will be so, and he looks at things to come as present, he that hath begun a good work will also perfect it, Phil. 1.6. 1 Thes. 5.23, 24.
Q. But how comes it to pass, that such a keeping of the Commandments argues love to be perfect?
Q. But how comes it to passe, that such a keeping of the Commandments argues love to be perfect?
A. A thing is said to be perfect three ways,
1 When there is Perfectio partium, a perfection of all parts, none wanting, Gen. 2.1.
2 A man is called perfect, that is ready, and skilful, and nimble at any business.
2 A man is called perfect, that is ready, and skilful, and nimble at any businesse.
3 A thing is said to be perfect that will hold, that is constant, as we call ⟨p. 68⟩them perfect colours that will hold their hue in every weather, now such a true perfection of love to God is in all keepers of Gods Commandments.
3 A thing is said to be perfect that will hold, that is constant, as wee call ⟨p. 68⟩them perfect colours that will hold their hue in every weather, now such a true perfection of love to God is in all keepers of Gods Commandments.
1 There is a perfection of all the parts of love in all such men, there is none of the parts wanting; and the parts of love are,
1 An affection unto fellowship with Christ.
2 An affection to be doing good to him.
What we love completely, First, We desire communion with it.
What we love compleatly, First, We desire communion with it.
Secondly, We desire communication of good thereunto; if we have it we rejoice in it, if we want it we earnestly desire it; how doth a man know his love to his friend, but by desire of communion with him, and communication of good to him, now such a man as keeps Christs Commandments thus loves Christ.
Secondly, We desire communication of good thereunto; if we have it we rejoyce in it, if we want it we earnestly desire it; how doth a man know his love to his friend, but by desire of communion with him, and communication of good to him, now such a man as keeps Christs Commandments thus loves Christ.