A80611:551
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.
John Answers to this Objection, vers. 17. and saith, though all unrighteousness be sin, yet there is a sin that is not unto death. It is true the deserved wages of all unrighteousness is unto death, but there is a sin that is not unto death, not that there is any sin, which doth not deserve death, but not that which doth undoubtedly cut off a man from all hopes of life, but notwithstanding that sin he may be converted. As sometimes our Saviour said of the sickness of Lazarus he is sick, but not irrecoverable, John 11.4. So that the meaning of the Holy ghost is, that there is a sin unto death, which doth not only kill the soul, but irrecoverably, out of which there is no hope of recovery or salvation, and that sin they must forbear to pray for.
Iohn Answers to this Objection, vers. 17. and saith, though all unrighteousnosse be sin, yet there is a sin that is not unto death. It is true the deserved wages of al unrighteousnes is unto death, but there is a sin that is not unto death, not that there is any sin, which doth not deserve death, but not that which doth undoubtedly cut off a man from all hopes of life, but notwithstanding that sin he may be converted. As sometimes our Saviour said of the sicknesse of Lazarus he is sick, but not irrecoverable, Iohn 11.4. So that the meaning of the Holy ghost is, that there is a finne unto death, which doth not onely kil the soule, but irrecoverably, out of which there is no hope of recovery or salvation, and that sin they must forbear to pray for.
This promise thus opened will afford us three notes.
First, That a faithful Christian (or which is all one) a believer on the name of Christ, is not to hide his eyes from observing, and discerning the sins, and slips of their brethren. If any man see his brother sin a sin, which is not unto death, which he cannot see if he neglect to observe them.