A80611:185
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.
This is livelily expressed in the example of good Jehoshaphat, 2 Chron. 20.3. he sought the Lord, and in the audience of the people he made a solemn prayer to God, and concludes with this, in the latter end of the twelfth verse; We know not what to say or to do, but our eyes are unto thee. Now this having our eyes upon him in time of distress, whether of War, or Pestilence, or famine, or anguish of conscience, or poverty, and yet we have our eyes towards the Holy one of Israel; we know not what to do, and our power will not reach us any help without Gods blessing, no not in outward things, but our eyes are unto him; this argues, that surely Jehoshaphat had the Lord for his Saviour, because he had such respect unto him. Notable is that expression, Psal. 121.1. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help; it cometh even from the Lord. The Lord dwelt upon mount Zion, and mount Moriah; there he manifested himself in his Ordinances, and therefore he put not his confidence in the valleys and pits of the City, but in him that dwells in the hills, and looks for salvation from thence, as he expounds himself in the next words; My help cometh even from the Lord: So then, if so be that we do indeed look up unto the Lord for salvation, and for help and preservation, and deliverance, and restoring of any comfort we have been deprived of; sometimes justly, and sometimes unjustly; whatsoever our condition be, if in all our distresses we can look up unto him, and our hearts wait for salvation wholly from him. This argues, that we have him for our Saviour, because we have such respect unto him, and elsewhere we look not, though we may use lawful means, yet our eyes are not upon the means, but we look a great ⟨p. 78⟩deal further, & no further expect deliverance from any means then we see the Holy one of Israel the God of our salvation, expressing and revealing himself in the means. And to add this one instance more of Jonah, Chap. 4. one that went away from God, and was unwilling to be directed by God, and therefore he was over-whelmed in the Sea, because he would not be ruled, and bowed to the will of the Lord Jesus, and therefore God sent forth the most unruly Creature that God hath, set aside the Devils in Hell, and it may be they have a hand in it too, in raising the horrible tempest that raged against them;