A80611:592
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. 1. It is taken from the pleasure that God takes to knit the Members of the Body of his Son together, and no better means to join us together, and so fitly to make us useful Members one to another then this, those members of the body that are most weak should be most helped this way, 1 Cor. 12, 21, 22. Every member should be of some use one to another, and it doth better compact the body together. God did not say to Jobs friends, Go you and pray for your selves, but, Go to my servant Job, and he shall pray for you He would have them beholden to Job, of whom they had spoken the thing that was not right, else God would not accept them.
Reas. 1. It is taken from the pleasure that God takes to knit the Members of the Body of his Son together, and no better means to joyne us together, and so fitly to make us useful Members one to another then this, those members of the body that are most weak should be most helped this way, 1 Cor. 12, 21, 22. Every member should be of some use one to another, and it doth better compact the body together. God did not say to Iobs friends, Goe you and pray for your selves, but, Goe to my servant Job, and he shall pray for you He would have them beholden to Iob, of whom they had spoken the thing that was not right, else God would not accept them.
Reas. 2. It is taken from the Intercession of Christ, who performs that office for every member of his body: This honour have all his Saints; though they do not merit this by their prayers, yet there is this efficacy in their prayers, not of merit, but of grace, to prevail with the Father in their brethren's behalf, Rom. 8.34. Intercession is such a part and kind of prayer as a man makes for other men, to procure favour from God to them, to be Mediators for them, to pray for others in the name and mediation of Jesus Christ, and that for his sake they may be accepted, God will then hear us for Christs sake in the behalf of our brethren.