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

1 JOHN 1.7.

THe main Scope of this Epistle, is to comfort tender consciences, that their joy may be full, for this end he tells them certain messages which he heard from Christ, the first message is, verse 5. whereupon he inferres a note of Fellowship with God, Negatively, verse 6. Affirmatively, verse 7. If we walk in the light, &c.

Doct. Such as walk in the light, the blood of Christ purgeth them from all their sins.

The Verse sets down two Priviledges of them that walk in the light, they have not onely Fellowship with God, but with Christ, and that in his mediati∣on, and that in cleansing them from all their sins.

Quest. 1. What is meant by the blood of Christ?

A. The blood of Christ, is here put, not onely for that blood shed on the Crosse, but for his whole death, set out by blood, which was the effect of his death, for blood powred out after his death, John 19.33, 34. for it is said of the death of Christ, Rom. 5.8. And the death of Christ is not all, for he suffered many things beside, so that it comprehends all his sufferings, 1 Pet. 3.18. yet there is a further Synecdoche, sometimes his passion is put for his whole obe∣dience, Rom. 5.18, 19. Luke 22.44. for that is attributed to his obedience, that it makes us righteous, that is, free from sin; all his Spirituall desertions, were sufferings of Christ, tending to cleanse u•• from sin; bloud includes all his sufferings and obedience; And indeed the very bloud of Christ, had it not been done in obedience and humility, it would have done no good, for the promise is to him that doth something, Doe this and live, John 10.18. his passion was done in obedience, Phil. 2.7, 8.

Quest. Why is our cleansing from sin ascribed most to his blood, seeing it reach∣ed to his whole death, and passion, and obedience? why is his bloud most instanced in, Mat. 26.28. Rom. 3.35.5.9. Heb. 9.14. 1 Pet. 1.19. why is it most at∣tributed to his bloud?

Ans. It was meet,

1. Because death was the wages of Sin, Rom. 6. ult. Gen. 3.17. therefore we must satisfie that or our Surety for us.

2. His death is most stood on, because the whole Covenant stands in that; the Legacy is of no force, without the death of the Testator, Heb. 9.17.

3. Bloud is most mentioned, because it is an evident Testimony of death, because in bloud is life; 2 because it accomplished all the legall types, Heb. 9.22.

Quest. 2. Why is it called the blood of Jesus Christ his Son?

Ans. Because that Christ that shed his bloud, was the Son of God, and that added efficacy to it, Heb. 10.4. not the bloud of sinfull man, Heb. 2.26, 27. it must be therefore the bloud of an infinite power, Acts 20.28.

Quest. 3. How is this blovd said to cleanse?

Ans. 1 As it Justifies; 2 As it Sanctifies.

1. As it Justifies us, by his bloud are we cleansed, Rom. 5.9. Ephes. 1.7.

we are justified by it, because it frees us from the guilt and punishment of sin.

1 From the guilt of Sinne, guilt is that whereby we are liable to the Curse.

2 It frees us from the punishment of sin, so that now there is no condemna∣tion to us, Rom. 8.1. Rom. 4. ult. 1 Pet. 2.24.

2. We are cleansed from Sin by a sactifying power in the death of Christ, that is it whereby our Consciences being sprinkled, we are freed from the stain and lust of sin, Heb. 10.29. and are endued with supernaturall grace, so that we are afraid to commit any sin.

Q. What is meant by all Sin?

A. That is, from original, and actual sins, from sins of Omission, and Com∣mission, it cleanseth us from the sins of our Birth, and of our Life, of Youth, and of riper years, Rom. 5.9. now we could not be justified, if any sin were unpardoned, Heb. 9.14. if it be a dead work, or sin of Omission, our Consci∣ence is purged from it, for if the bloud of Bulls and Goats cleansed from all sins of the flesh, much more the bloud of Christ from all sin; no sin but we are cleansed from by Christs bloud, except the sin against the Holy Ghost, Heb. 10.26. because, v. 29. they tread under foot the bloud of the Covenant. For the proof of this point, see Rom. 8.1, 2. Rom. 6.6.

Reas. 1. From the wonderfull efficacy of Christs bloud, in respect of the Di∣vinity of his Person; the reason why it is so effectuall is, because it is the bloud of the Son of God, Heb. 9.14.

Reas. 2. Because he stood in our Persons on the Crosse, through the accep∣tation of God, God accepted him as a Surety for us, Heb. 7.22. Isa. 5. ult. 1 Pet. 2.24. therefore it is as much as if we had done it in our own persons, John 10.11. He had no need to shed his Blood for himselfe, for he had never sinned.

Ʋse 1. To reprove the Papists, who teach that the Masse, being celebrated for the dead and living, justifies from sin, but if the bloud of Christ cleanse us from all sin, there is no need of the Masse to cleanse us from any sin; and they teach that the Masse is an unbloudy Sacrifice; now it must be a bloudy Sacri∣fice that must cleanse, Heb. 10.10. & 14. but if it be often offered, it doth not exceed the Sacrifices of the Law, Heb. 10.1. to 5.

Ʋse 2. To refute the Popish Purgatory, if Christs bloud cleanse us from all sin, what need a Purgatory to expiate any sin? This is a Blasphemy against Christs bloud.

Q. Do not Temptation, and Affliction, and Word, and Sacraments, and Faith, and other Graces, purge us from sin, and purifie us? It is said of Afflictions, Heb. 12.11.

A. It is true, there are many means to purge us from sin, but no efficacy in any of them, except by virtue of Christs Blood; therefore those in Hell have no benefit, because Christs bloud reacheth not thither, so that if any be bettered by Afflictions, or Word, or Sacraments, it is from the virtue of Christs bloud, and if Christs bloud be sprinkled on Purgatory, we will not reject it.

Ʋse 3. Of refutation of the opinion of many godly Divines, that hold we are purified from the sinne of our Birth by the purity of Christs Birth; from Sinnes of Omission by his active obedience, from Sinnes of Com∣mission by his passive obedience, but we must know there is thus much in the purity of his Birth, in his Obedience, in his Passion, that it makes us fit to be cleansed, but yet we must hold the Bloud of Christ clean∣seth us from all sin, that brings this fitnesse to perfection. A Lamb defiled in the old Law was never accepted, though it were slain for a Sacrifice, and if it had been without spot and blemish, yet if it had not been slain it would not have been accepted neither; so had not Christ been a Lambe spotlesse and un∣defiled, his death would not have cleansed us from our sins, and though he were spotlesse and undefiled, yet he must be slain, or else we could not be clean∣sed

neither, the purity of Christs Nature doth not cleanse us from sin; but we must take all joyntly together, all his active obedience was passive, and all his passive obedience was active, Gal. 4.4, 5. that he was obedient to the Law was part of his Passion, and by the obedience of Christ to the death, we are cleansed from all sin.

Ʋse 4. To refute some that say we are justified by faith, as it is a work in us, they say we are justified not by the works of the Law, but by faith, Rom. 11.5, 6. but if we be justified by faith, as it is a work in us, how doth the bloud of Christ cleanse us from sin? but it is faith as it lays hold on the bloud of Christ.

Ʋse 5. For comfort to all such as walk in the light, let them not be discom∣forted; you will say, your hearts are full of impatience, and coveteousness, and uncleannesse, these are great sins indeed, but the bloud of Christ cleanseth from all sin▪ there is no number nor measure limited.

Object. He cleanseth not all men, how shall I know whether my sinnes be cleansed?

A. Why, do you walk in the light as God is in the light? if you do, then his Bloud cleanseth you from all sin; therefore if a man would have comfort, he must consider whether he live in any sin voluntarily, and walk in darknesse, if he doe, he hath no part in Christs Bloud; but if there be no sin, but he is wil∣ling to avoyd it; no duty, but he desires to perform it, and amend all, it is a signe he walks in light; if you see what is amisse and labour to mend it, then you walk in the light, and then assure your selves the bloud of Christ will cleanse you from all your sins.

Ʋse 6. For instruction, if Christs bloud cleanseth from all sin, then no sin is venial, is that sin venial that cannot be cleansed but by Christs bloud?

Ʋse 7. To shew us the reason why the bloud of Christ is called precious, 1 Pet. 1.19. it is more precious than the bloud of Bulls and Goats, &c. so all silver and gold in the world cannot remit one sin, or save one soul from Hell, Psal. 49.6, 7, 8. Heb. 12.24.

Ʋse 8. To teach Christians notwithstanding all former sins, to walk bold∣ly in a Christian course; we are much troubled in our spirits by reason of our sins, the multitude and greatnesse of them; why in consideration of this, let us be bold, Heb. 10.19. to 23. we may be bold to approach to Gods Throne, bold to enter into Heaven, let no sin discourage us, for his bloud cleanseth from all sin.

Ʋse 9. If his bloud cleanse from all sin, let us make use of his bloud, Zech. 13.1. it is even this Fountain of Christs bloud, let us therefore bath our selves often in this Bloud, that we may be thorowly purged from all sin, from the stain and guilt of sin.

Ʋse 10. All Ordinances, Word, Prayer, Sacrament, Communion of Saints, all holy duties will doe no good without his bloud, therefore desire God that every Ordinance may be sprinkled by his bloud; as Water alone cleanseth not without Sope, so it is not all the waters of Jordan that can cleanse us from dead works without the bloud of Christ strike in with it; let us not rest in any Ordinance or performance, in any Prayer, or Fast, or in all of them; if you would spend your bloud to cleanse your Souls from sin, all will be in vain, except it be mixt with Christs bloud, therefore pray that the Word and Sacrament, and every Ordinance may be sprinkled with Christs bloud to justifie, and sanctifie: the bloud of Christ hath procured sentence of absoluti∣on from God, and vertue from the Spirit of Grace, to wash away all our sins, therefore lay hold on it: this is to lay hold on the Horns of the Altar, there∣fore in all Christian consideration and duties, look chiefly and principally to him, or else all will be in vain.