A80611:159
Christ the fountain of lifeChrist the fountaine of life
Christ the fountain of life: or, Sundry choice sermons on part of the fifth chapter of the first Epistle of St. John. Preached by that learned judicious divine, and faithful minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. John Cotton B.D. now preacher at Boston in New-England. Published according to Order.Christ the fountaine of life: or, Sundry choyce sermons on part of the fift chapter of the first Epistle of St. John. Preached by that learned judicious divine, and faithfull minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. John Cotton B.D. now preacher at Boston in New-England. Published according to Order.
London: printed by Robert Ibbitson, 1651
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.
Now as there is by the Spirit in the heart of the Child of God, liberty from all fear of sin,1 so he hath liberty from all the power and dominion of sin; he is not subject to the dominion and bondage of sin, sin hath not that power over him as to carry him captive to it; but he walks at liberty, Psal. 119. and therefore at liberty, because he is not under the law, but under grace, Rom. 6.14. And notable is that speech in Chap. 8.2. The law of the spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus, hath freed me from the law of sin, and of death: The spirit of life, viz. That spirit of life which hath a legal power in it, a power like a law, and hath a ruling power over me as the law hath; and in both these respects called, A Law of God; A kind of spiritual life, because there is a lively spirit in him: And this law of the Spiritual life of Grace hath freed me, set me at liberty from the law and trade of sin, and of death; sin and death set him a course and trade, which this Law of the Spirit of life hath set him free from, so as that he is but a bungler in sin now; not now learned in the law of sin, as sometimes he hath been; but the Law of the Spirit of life hath freed him from the skill of sin, and from the command of sin; the law of sin hath had a sovereign power over him, but now he is freed from the act and trade of sin, and now he walks at liberty, even from the dominion, and usurpation of sin; time hath been when nothing would withhold him, and he could have followed evil company, and unlawful games, they were as lawful to him as to any, and he had no power to resist them; but now the Law of the Spirit of life hath helped him against them all, this is another part of the spirit of liberty, a liberty from the bondage and dominion of sin, and it is a marvellous comfortable liberty indeed; many a valorous spirited man, hath so little fear of death, that he rushes upon the Pikes as the Horse into the Battle, as if it were their meat and drink; but yet he wants this liberty, he is not at liberty from fear ⟨p. 68⟩of danger by the redemption of the Lord Jesus Christ, but as Aristotle saith, valiant, because ignorant of the danger.
Now as there is by the Spirit in the heart of the Childe of God, liberty from all feare of sinne,