A80611:564
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.
Secondly, As we must not behold their falls with a partial eye,1 so neither must we observe them with a curious or censorious eye, for there is such an in-bred vanity in the hearts of men, that we love to be prying into other mens frailties, and love to be busy in finding fault with other men, not out of a desire to amend them, but to reprove them, and to have something against them, Jam. 3.1, 2. Be not many Masters, for in many things we offend all. What is his meaning? his meaning is, Be not of a masterly spirit, be not masters of many persons, to be every mans master is out of censoriousness, our natures are ready to sift into every mans failings, and would ever be taxing of them, and that is the utmost end such men aim at, not so much the healing and cleansing of our brethren's sins, but to be masters over them; but my brethren, be not many masters: As if this were the frame of our spirit, to be busy as Masters in an imperious manner.
Secondly, As we must not behold their falls with a partiall eye,1 so neither must we observe them with a curious or censorious eye, for there is such an in-bred vanity in the hearts of men, that we love to be prying into other mens frailties, and love to be busie in finding fault with other men, not out of a desire to amend them, but to reprove them, and to have something against them, Jam. 3.1, 2. Be not many Masters, for in many things we offend all. What is his meaning? his meaning is, Be not of a masterly spirit, be not masters of many persons, to be every mans master is out of censoriousnesse, our natures are ready to sift into every mans failings, and would ever be taxing of them, and that is the utmost end such men aime at, not so much the healing and cleansing of our brethrens sins, but to be masters over them; but my brethren, be not many masters: As if this were the frame of our spirit, to be busie as Masters in an imperious manner.
- 1Censorious eye.