A80611:478
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.
First, when he saith, according to his will, it implies first, That we pray for such things as God wills, such things as are not according to his secret will, for so we cannot guide our actions, for secret things belong to the Lord our God; but of things revealed, it is according to his revealed will, and it implies, that we should ask him nothing but what he gives us Commandment to ask, all that he commands us to do, as to ask that we may ask, and for that we are to pray for expressly; As for the glory of his Name, the coming of his Kingdom, and the building up of his grace in any, the doing of Gods will, for our daily bread, &c. These are the things he hath given us warrant to pray for.
First, when he saith, according to his wil, it implyes first, That we pray for such things as God wills, such things as are not according to his secret will, for so we cannot guide our actions, for secret things belong to the Lord our God; but of things revealed, it is according to his revealed will, and it implyes, that we should aske him nothing but what hee gives us Commandement to aske, all that he commands us to doe, as to aske that we may aske, and for that we are to pray for expresly; As for the glory of his Name, the comming of his Kingdome, and the building up of his grace in any, the doing of Gods will, for our daily bread, &c. These are the things he hath given us warrant to pray for.
Secondly, According to Gods will, this is evident; That whatsoever we ask, we should ask it with submission to the will of God; so our Saviour saith, Matth. 26.39. He asked that which was a lawful thing, and yet because he would not trench upon that which might cross the will of his Father, he would not put forth any the least affection of his soul to the over-ruling the Counsel of God, and therefore he expresseth himself thus; Nevertheless not my will, but thy will be done. So that whensoever we ask any thing that is lawful, it must be with subjection of our own wills to the will of God. But for more full clearing of this point see it thus enlarged.
Secondly, According to Gods will, this is evident; That whatsoever we aske, we should aske it with submission to the will of God; so our Saviour saith,