A80611:455
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.
And a shield covers his whole body, and so differs from a buckler, that covers but one part, but a shield covers the whole man stands upon the ground, and covers him all over, and now faith being such a shield, it is of mighty force, and is able to repulse all the fiery darts of the Devil, and all the rest of the enemies of their salvation, so that the servants of God, that know what use they have of their faith, they know they have need of the growth and increase of it.
And a sheild covers his whole body, and so differs from a buckler, that covers but one part, but a shield covers the whole man stands upon the ground, and covers him all over, and now faith being such a sheild, it is of mighty force, and is able to repulse all the fiery darts of the Devill, and all the rest of the enemies of their salvation, so that the servants of God, that know what use they have of their faith, they know they have need of the growth and increase of it.
And so again, in regard of their daily employments, ⟨p. 205⟩the just man lives by his faith, Rom. 1.17. Gal. 2.20. A man doth nothing Christianly and spiritually, but by his faith,1 now when faith must be the instrument to help us to work all our works spiritually, we had need to grow to some life and fruitfulness in faith, and if our faith be not fruitful, we shall make but hard work of our daily employments, how shall we depend upon God, and do all in the name of Christ, and do all in obedience to a commandment, and live by a promise, for Gods presence and blessing in it? how shall a man do this if he have not faith, yea if he have not some dexterity of faith? A weak faith will then slug it, when a man stands in most need to use it: and therefore that a man may be ready to show his faith upon every occasion, in prayer in conference, in every thing both concerning this life and another. A man had need of a great deal of faith, and therefore this is an evident sign that a mans faith is well wrought, a sound, and a lively faith, if it be a growing faith: But if you hear men saying, they thank God they have a strong faith, and they always believed on Christ; and fie upon them that do not, let me say, this is a presumption of faith, but is no faith, yea, it is the badge of the want of faith, when therefore you see the Apostle writes to them that believe, that they may believe more certainly, and more strongly, that is a true faith, and it will grow.