A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first Epistle generall of John by ... John Cotton ...

Doct. Christ in himselfe, and to us, is the word of life.

Here is to be shewed in what respects he is called

1 A word, 2 A word of life.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Here is a metaphor, and every metaphor is a short similitude, and it must not be expected that any similitude should agree in all poynts.

But Christ is called the word of God in four respects, as he is the wisdome, image, interpreter, and promise of the Father.

First, The wisedome of the Father; as reason floweth from the soul, or minde of man, and is not any accident to it, but of the same nature with it, (though there is an accidentall wisdome in us, which is habituall, yet there is also an essentiall wisdome in us, namely, our Reason which is naturall) so Christ (who is the reason and wisdome of the Father) flowed from the Father, was begotten of him, and is of the same nature with him, hence he is called the wis∣dome that dwelleth with God, Prov. 8.1, 22, 24, 25. 1 Cor. 1.24. and the Holy Ghost may seem to have reference to this place, John 1.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. be∣cause the description which he maketh of the world, it seemeth he took from that description of wisdome, if you compare these places. Prov. 8.1. with John 1.1. Prov. 8.3. with John 1.2. Prov. 24. to 30. with John 1.3. Pro. 8.34. with John 1.4. Prov. 8.35. with John 1.5. and chap. 1.22, 24, &c.

Secondly, As the words or speech of the man, is a character of his minde, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, a rotten heart be∣getteth and streameth forth unsavoury speeches, an holy heart breatheth

out gracious words, so is Christ the character, or engraven forme of the Fa∣thers person, Heb. 1.3.

Thirdly, As the speech or word of a man doth declare the will and mea∣ning, and Counsell of the speaker, so doth Christ of the Father, John 1.18. Mat. 11.27.

Fourthly, Christ may very well be called the word of God, or the speech of God, because he it was of whom the Lord spake from the beginning, that is, the word of promise which he made to Adam, to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob, to David, &c. hence Christ is called the Promise, Heb. 11. hence he who is called a Servant, 1 Chron. 17.19. is called the word, 2 Sam. 7.21. that is, a servant spoken of or promised.

Secondly, Christ is called a word of life.

1. Because he hath especiall life in himselfe, John 1.4. John 5.6.

2. Because he communicateth life, and he communicates, 1 Naturall life, which to us men is the light of Reason, Joh. 1.4. this former we have from him as an author, these following as an head or root.

2 He communicates spirituall life, and that he doth, 1. By dying for us, for his death is our life; as by his wounds we are healed, Isa. 53.5. so by his life we live, now the life we live by Christs death, is

1 Justification, that is forgivenesse of sins, Col. 1.14. Ephes. 1.7. therefore he is called the justification of life, Rom. 5.18. we without his death were dead, meer Children of death, as condemned persons, and Christs death procuring us pardon, procured us life.

2 Mortification; it is the first part of spirituall life (inherent in us) to die to sin; and that was procured by Christs death, Rom. 6.6. Gal. 2.19.

2. He communicates spirituall life to us, by rising for us, for as we have been like him in dying to sin by his death, so doe we live to God by his life, Rom. 6.5, 10, 11. now the life we live by his Resurrection, is

1 Vivification, or newnesse of life, Christ now living in us by his Spirit, Gal. 2.20. 1 Cor. 6.17. Hence as living trees of Righteousnesse we bring forth fruit unto God, John 15.5. 2 Resurrection to glory, Rom. 8.11. hence he is called a quickning Spirit, 1 Cor. 15.45.

Ʋse 1. If Christ be a word of life, then men out of Christ have no life in them, they have neither the life of justification, nor mortification, nor vivifica∣tion, nor resurrection to glory, but are stark dead men to grace and glory.

2. If Christ be a word of life, then we who professe our selves to be Christians, to be Members of Christ, are to live no life but this; now for the better conceiving of this, know that we live a threefold life, 1. Naturall, 2. Spirituall, 3. Carnall; whereby we live the life, 1 Of Reason, 2 Grace 3 Sin.

The two former we may live, and are so to doe, because we receive both these lives from Christ the word of life; the last we are not to live, for the Members can live no life but the life of their head, the branches live no life but the life of the root; Hence Paul lived not, but Christ in him, Gal. 2.20. Now that we may doe this, we must esteem and carry our selves as dead men to all things else; that we may wholly live, and move, and have our being to him: and from hence arise three duties.

First, We are not to live to our old sins at all, but to be as dead men to them, Rom. 6.11. and therefore to have no Member to stir at their command, Rom. 6.13. old lusts when they now call upon us, we are to lend the deaf Ear to them; when we were dead to Righteousnesse, we did not one li∣ving action but sinfull; so now being dead to sin, let us doe no li••ing action but righteous.

Secondly, We are no longer to live unto friends, to riches, honours, or pleasures, but to the Lord; we once were wedded to such things, but now being dead, we are free from them, Rom. 7.1, 2. if these call for any motion

or action of a living man at our hands, not agreeable to the Will of Christ, we are dead; hence Wives are to obey their Husbands in the Lord, Col. 3.18. and Children their Parents, Ephes. 6.1. and Servants their Masters, Ephes. 6. so Psal. 45.10, 11.

3. We are to be as dead men to our own reason and will, and all the affe∣ctions of our hearts, and to yeeld to them onely in the Lord, Luke 9.23. He that would live to God when he is dead, must die to himselfe while he is alive.

Ʋse 3. If Christ be a Word of Life, a living and a quickning word, then when we finde our hearts dead and dull, and indisposed to good duties, run we and seek unto him for life and quickning, Psal. 119.37, 40. If we be af∣flicted in Conscience, and esteem our selves as dead men, in regard of the ap∣prehension of Gods Wrath, and the want of the life of Justification, then let us seek to him, Psal. 119.107. & 28. If we fear, that though we finde some life of grace, yet we shall be unfruitfull, and dead unto God, except we be strengthened and quickned more then ordinary, here againe let us seek unto this Word of Life, Luke 17.5. Mark 9.24. In the midst of our entertain∣ment of many of our acquaintance (as Hezekiah did) 2 Kings 20.13. who might have taken an excellent opportunity of sanctifying Gods name, consi∣dering the occasion of their coming, 2 Chron. 32.31. he might have wrought on them to have embraced the true worship of such a God, Deut. 32.31. And so indeed did Moses upon Jethro, Exod. 18.8, 9, 10, 11, 12. and in the liberall use of Gods Creatures, an easie matter it is to forget God, and to be dead and unfruitfull unto him; here then seek to this Word of Life, but al∣wayes seek we in humility, and consciousnesse of our own weaknesse, and then God will delight to quicken us.