A80611:348
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.
Where there is any life, there is some kind of pliableness,1 whereas dead carcasses are cold and stiff, and unsavoury though never so sweet before, this is a certain truth, the more you keep a dead corps above ground, the more it stinks and is unsavoury; It shoots out at length, and you may sooner break him then bend him any way, but while he is alive you may bend him which way you will; now therefore consider thus much, if there be any truth of grace in you, you are gentle and easy to be entreated, Jam. 3.17. but if not,2 then you are of a stiff spirit, inflexible and implacable, for to be gentle, and easy, is the true nature of life; but if not, then have you lost your life; then either you never had life, or else it is a swoon, and so evaporated that there is no bending or bowing of it, but they are fit to be buried as a dead carcass.
Where there is any life, there is some kind of plyablenesse,1 whereas dead carcasses are cold and stiffe, and unsavoury though never so sweet before, this is a certain truth, the more you keep a dead corps above ground, the more it stinkes and is unsavoury; It shoots out at length, and you may sooner breake him then bend him any way, but while he is alive you may bend him which way you will; now therefore consider thus much, if there be any truth of grace in you, you are gentle and easie to be intreated, Jam. 3.17. but if not,2 then you are of a stiffe spirit, inflexible and implacable, for to be gentle, and easie, is the true nature of life; but if not, then have you lost your life; then either you never had life, or else it is a swound, and so evapoured that there is no bending or bowing of it, but they are fit to be buryed as a dead carcasse.
- 1Pliableness of spirit.Pliablenes of spirit.