A80611:411
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. But you say, This is marvellous uncharitable, to say, that they who have but reading fall short of faith in Christ, and of the fruits of faith that accompany salvation?
Ans. Whether is it more uncharitableness to let such as live under such means know their danger, that they might come to salvation, then to flatter them with a false opinion of their own safety, to speak peace to them, and yet they to live without God in the world; Gods people are in an unsafe condition without God, while they are without a teaching Priest, 2 Chron. 15.3. A long time they had been without God, why had they not the Word of God read in their Synagogues? Do you think Jeroboam's Priests did not read the Law? Was there no mention of the Law of God among them? Had they not so much form of godliness, as to read the writings of the Law? Yes sure, their Civill Law, in which their civill Government stood, and by which they ⟨p. 185⟩executed Justice, was the Law of Moses, and did they not then understand the letter of the Law? doubtless these books being their Law, they were known among the body of the people; and what did the Priests, if they did not read the books of the Law, were they only to offer sacrifice to the Calves? I doubt not the people did not do it, neither was it usual to offer any of their Oblations in their Synagogues, but at Dan and Bethel only, and therefore they were not wanting to hear the Prophets read, and yet notwithstanding all that reading, it is said Israel, hath a long time been without God, they had a Priest to read, but not a Priest to teach, and so were without God, and without the Law; that is, the sentence God gives of the people at that time, and think not that God was uncharitable in so speaking of them, for God expresseth his love in showing the people their dangerous estate, Joh. 15.14, 15.
Ans. Whether is it more uncharitablenesse to let such as live under such meanes know their danger, that they might come to salvation, then to flatter them with a false opinion of their owne safety, to speake peace to them, and yet they to live without God in the world; Gods people are in an unsafe condition without God, while they are without a teaching Priest,