A80611:189
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.
you know how affectionate our Saviours speech is, Matth, 23.37. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thee under my wing of salvation, but y u would not be gathered? The body of the Church of God, though some was gathered, yet others of them would not be gathered; and if it was thus with Jerusalem, it is no wonder if you read the like of Babylon, Jer. 51.9. We would have healed Babel, but she would not be healed. God sent his Church, and kept it there seventy years among them, that some of them at least might embrace the salvation of God, but she would not be healed; we have used the best means we could to heal her, but it will not be, she will not be healed of us, and therefore let us be going home again. God would not send his Church among them for nothing, but he looks for some fruits among them, but since either none were gathered, or so few, as that they were not a considerable number, therefore God will send his people home again, when they say, Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us; then God will take no further pains, Psal. 2.3. It is a notable place that in Jer. 2.25. God calls upon his people most affectionately that they would be healed, but they snuff up their iniquities as the wind, and like unto wild Ass colts, would be at liberty, and take pleasure in their running at random; and God said, With-hold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirsting after such vanities, 1but thou sayest desperately, There is no hope, I have loved strangers, and after them will I go. What a marvellous speech is this in Gods own Servants, when God would with-hold them from running for salvation elsewhere, and from such other sins as they thirsted after; no, there is no hope but the course they had taken they would take, and no means should save or draw them from their haunts; so that you see it is no easy matter for a man to be willing to be saved by Christ, and though many would be saved by him, yet few there be that would look for all salvation ⟨p. 81⟩from Christ, and are not willing to be saved from all their sins, but are willing to keep some sins still alive in their souls; Are they not ready in their hearts to say as they said,