A80611:445
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.
1First, For Preaching, there is a mighty power in the Scriptures preached, for he writes these things that they may be preached, and to be read, and to make use of them in conference, and meditation, and in them all there is a mighty power. But first for preaching, Rom. 1.16, 17. The Gospel is the power of God to salvation, for therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith. By the Gospel of God preached, the Righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, to lead on believers to believe, and not to rest growing in believing, till they reach unto salvation; it is the mighty power of God to salvation, to every one that believes, such an one, while he lives shall be of the thriving hand in faith. And when the Apostle prayed so earnestly, night and day to come again to the Thessalonians. Doth he not therein imply, though there may be a mighty power in the word read to increase faith where it is already wrought, yet his personal presence would help it much more, whether by conference or by preaching, and therefore he prays much to see them again. An evident argument, though the word read may be of much use to establish us; yet much more the personal presence, and conference and preaching of the Gospel of Christ, else that prayer of his had been something impertinent.
1First, For Preaching, there is a mighty power in the Scriptures preached, for he writes these things that they may be preached, and to be read, and to make use of them in conference, and meditation, and in them all there is a mighty power. But first for preaching, Rom. 1.16, 17. The Gospell is the power of God to salvation, for therein is the righteousnesse of God revealed from faith to faith. By the Gospel of God preached, the Righteousnesse of God is revealed from faith to faith, to lead on beleevers to beleeve, and not to rest growing in beleeving, til they reach unto salvation; it is the mighty power of God to salvation, to every one that beleeves, such an one, while he lives shall be of the thriving hand in faith. And when the Apostle prayed so earnestly, night and day to come againe to the Thessalonians. Doth hee not therein imply, though there may be a mighty power in the word read to increase faith where it is already wrought, yet his personal presence would helpe it much more, whether by conference or by preaching, and therefore he prayes much to see them again. An evident argument, though the word read may be of much use to establish us; yet much more the personal persence, and conference and preaching of the Gospel of Christ, else that prayer of his had been something impertinent.