A80611:297
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.
Quest. You say unto me, may not a good Christian man have his heart so dead, that he is unfit to pray; or preach, or to instruct his Family, or for the duties of his calling; fit, and good for nothing: And is a soul in such a case as this altogether void of spiritual life, and sanctification? is there not sometimes a kind of a coath come upon a Christian, that so benumbs his spirit, that he performs no duties at all, but if he might have his own mind, he would not pray at all, nor receive Sacraments? Is not this sometimes the case of Christian? and will you say that such an one is a dead soul, because he is altogether listless, and dead-hearted to move to any spiritual duty?
Quest. You say unto me, may not a good Christian man have his heart so dead, that he is unfit to pray; or preach, or to instruct his Family, or for the duties of his calling; fit, and good for nothing: And is a soule in such a case as this altogether void of spirituall life, and sanctification? is there not sometimes a kind of a coath come upon a Christian, that so benumbs his spirit, that he performes no duties at all, but if he might have his owne mind, he would not pray at all, nor receive Sacraments? Is not this sometimes the case of Christian? and will you say that such an one is a dead soule, because he is altogether listlesse, and dead-hearted to move to any spirituall duty?
Answ. It is true, there may fall such a deadness upon the heart of Christian men, that they are both unable and unwilling to any spiritual duty. Which commonly God leaves his servants unto, when he hath found them acting and moving in their own strength, and upon their detaining of the graces of God in unrighteousness,1 and diverting them rather to their own praise in the world, then the edifying of the people of God, or the glorifying of his own name, when God sees we are much of our selves, and think we can do much by the strength of grace we have received, then God is wont to leave us cold and dead, so as we know not in ⟨p. 133⟩