A80611:237
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.
A man that hath found something that is better then his life, he will loose his life rather then it, and much more any thing else; and therefore if you see God incline your hearts to be tender and chary of your peace, then God hath bestowed peace and pardon upon you; and it is evident; because you are so loath to break it. A man that never received this peace, he makes no conscience of sin, unless it blemish him in the eye of the World; he makes no great matter of conscience to run into any sin, because the old score is yet undischarged: Christ is not wont to discharge that score which we make no conscience to run into again.
A man that hath found something that is better then his life, he will loose his life rather then it, and much more any thing else; and therefore if you see God incline your hearts to be tender and chary of your peace, then God hath bestowed peace and pardon upon you; and it is evident; because you are so loath to breake it. A man that never received this peace, he makes no conscience of sinne, unlesse it blemish him in the eye of the World; he makes no great matter of conscience to run into any sinne, because the old score is yet undischarged: Christ is not wont to discharge that score which we make no conscience to run into againe.
And if they do, he can tell how to make them feel the smart of playing such Prodigals, but when God hath blotted all our sins out of his sight, that there is no more mention of sin between God and our souls, that the heart of a Christian will be marvellous chary and solicitous, that it sin no more against God; he that hath his sin pardoned, and knows what it hath cost, both on Gods part and on his own, he is very careful of running into sin any ⟨p. 104⟩more, and is very careful to walk more holily for ever hereafter, notable is that example, Gen. 39.9. When Joseph was tempted to a pleasing sin, oh (saith he) How shall I commit this great wickedness, and so sin against God, how should he now break his peace with God, and run upon a new score with God: It is certain, he had sinned before, and he had found pardon of it. And how should he now sin any more against God: this is the constant care of every Christian man, he is fearful of every sin.