A80611:406
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.
Object. You say, But sometimes God hath been pleased to bless in old time the reading of the Word to the conversion of souls; and ⟨p. 182⟩therefore why may we not expect the like blessing upon the reading of the Gospel in these days, as well as the Law in former times? in Deut. 31.11, 12, 13. (A place much stood upon in this case) it was commanded there that the people should come up to Jerusalem, and there the Law should be read before them, vers. 11. that they may hear, and learn, and fear, verse 12. and their children that knew not the Lord, may learn to fear the Lord their God: Where you see, God blessed the reading of the Law, not only for the benefit of them that knew it before, but their children also, that knew not any thing, may learn to fear the Lord: And if God did so bless the reading of the Law in former times, as a notable instrument to bring on them to believe that never knew any thing of Gods word before? Surely one would expect that the Gospel, which of the two, is rather the ministration of the spirit then of the letter, or then the Law, that it should be as mighty this way for the begetting of Gods fear in men, as ever the Law was.
Object. You say, But sometimes God hath been pleased to blesse in old time the reading of the Word to the conversion of soules; and ⟨p. 182⟩therefore why may we not expect the like blessing upon the reading of the Gospell in these dayes, as well as the Law in former times? in Deut. 31.11, 12, 13. (A place much stood upon in this case) it was commanded there that the people should come up to Jerusalem, and there the Law should be read before them, vers. 11. that they may heare, and learne, and feare, verse 12. and their children that knew not the Lord, may learne to feare the Lord their God: Where you see, God blessed the reading of the Law, not only for the benefit of them that knew it before, but their children also, that knew not any thing, may learn to feare the Lord: And if God did so blesse the reading of the Law in former times, as a notable instrument to bring on them to beleeve that never knew any thing of Gods word before? Surely one would expect that the Gospel, which of the two, is rather the ministration of the spirit then of the letter, or then the Law, that it should be as mighty this way for the begetting of Gods fear in men, as ever the Law was.