A80611:72
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.
And as at all times we are to sit loose from the Ordinances in respect of our trust, and confidence, so sometimes we must be content to forgo the Ordinances of God for Christs sake;1 if we cannot enjoy the liberty of the Ordinances, but with sin against our souls, in this case the Ordinances of God are to be neglected, and omitted, if he ⟨p. 23⟩cannot have them with innocency and purity to his soul, he must let them go. All the good Priests that were wont to minister before the Lord in the Synagogue, throughout the ten Tribes, when they could not enjoy their places, but must worship the Calves, (though the Calves were very like the Cherubims) when they could not do their service to God, but they must serve such Images as God had not set up there, thereupon all the honest and true-hearted Priests left their places, and would no more minister there, rather then be compelled to minister at Dan and Bethel, 2 Chron. 11.14. Jeroboam cast them out because they would not do so, and they were content to be cast out, and sold their Livings, and went up to Jerusalem; To show you, that sometimes when Christ cannot be had, but we must forgo the very Ordinances of God, because we cannot have the Ordinances without impure mixtures of humane invention; then let them go, rather then defile our own hearts and hands with sin against God. And so, Cant. 1.7.8. Tell me where thou dwellest, and feedest thy flocks at noon; after the separation was made between Israel and Judah, when the Mother Church of Israel was angry with the Church of Judah, and cast her off; tell me where thou lyest and feedest thy flocks, &c. How should I go to the golden Calves at Dan and Bethel? and worship there where God had never put his Name to be worshipped? why, Christ answers them; If thou knowest not, O thou the fairest among women, (as all such Christians are the fairest among women) If thou knowest not where I rest, go forth by the foot-steps of the flocks, and by the Shepherds tents, and feed there. Have they not removed their tents to Jerusalem? why go after them, and feed with them; and this was fulfilled, 2 Chron. 11.16. The people left all, and went up to feed themselves there, by the tents of the Shepherds.