A80611:506
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.
Reas. 3 Thirdly, It is taken from Gods acceptance, not only of Christ, but of the Spirit, the Holy Ghost also; for that is much to be considered, for there is no prayer that is so wrought in this sort, nor any prayer thus put up, in sense, and feeling, and breathing of the Spirit in the name of Christ; but it is the prayer of the Holy Ghost himself, and God that knows the meaning of the Spirit, he hearkens to all the requests of the Spirit, Rom. 8.26, 27. The Spirit it self makes intercession for us, so that these prayers are not only received and gratified, because they are put up in the name of Christ, but also because the Spirit it self makes intercession for us, according to the will of God; and God knows the meaning and voice of his own Spirit, God knows that without this we could never be fervent for any spiritual blessing, according to the will of God; our dead hearts would soon make dead work of it, if there were no spirit in our prayer but our own, if our flesh be weak we ⟨p. 223⟩shall soon have done, and therefore when God sees us pray thus feelingly, & are not willing to leave him till he answer us in our desires, then God knows, there is a mighty power of a spirit that speaks in us, and God cannot deny the intercession of his spirit.
Reas. 3 Thirdly, It is taken from Gods acceptance, not only of Christ, but of the Spirit, the Holy Ghost also; for that is much to be considered, for there is no prayer that is so wrought in this sort, nor any prayer thus put up, in sence, and feeling, and breathing of the Spirit in the name of Christ; but it is the prayer of the Holy Ghost himselfe, and God that knowes the meaning of the Spirit, he hearkens to all the requests of the Spirit, Rom. 8.26, 27. The Spirit it selfe makes intercession for us, so that these prayers are not only received and gratified, because they are put up in the name of Christ, but also because the Spirit it selfe makes intercession for us, according to the will of God; and God knowes the meaning and voyce of his owne Spirit, God knowes that without this we could never be fervent for any spirituall blessing, according to the will of God; our dead hearts would soone make dead worke of it, if there were no spirit in our prayer but our owne, if our flesh be weake we ⟨p. 223⟩