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

1 JOHN 1.3, 4.

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also might have fellowship with us, &c.

IN handling these three ends of the Apostles Doctrin,

1 Communion with Saints.

2 Union with God.

3 Fulnesse of joy; is to be shewed,

1 What each of them is in his order.

2 How the Apostles Doctrin procureth them unto us.

3 Some consectaries for each one.

By fellowship with us, the Apostle meaneth himself, and all the Saints of God.

The communion of the Saints is a Spiritual conjunction of the Saints with Je∣sus Christ, and one another, wherein Christ partaketh of our infirmities, and we in common partake of benefits, and communicate them one to another.

1 I call it [a Spiritual Conjunction,] to distinguish it from,

1 A Natural, as the three Persons of the Trinity are joyned in one nature and essence.

2 Personal, as the two Natures of Christ are in one Person.

3 Moral, as Man and Wife are in Law one flesh by Gods Ordi∣nance.

For this is a Conjunction of mens Persons, not by an outward bond (such as Gods Ordinance is to Marriage) but by an inward bond, one Spirit rest∣ing in Christ above measure, and in the Saints according to their measure, 1 Cor. 6.17. 1 Joh. 4.13. Rom. 8.9. Hence it is that the same minde is in us which was in Christ, Phil. 2.5. and all the members are alike affected, and disposed towards God, Christ, their own sins, good duties, one to another.

2 I say [of the Saints with Christ, and one another] where by Saints I do not mean only Saints Canonized by the Pope, nor only the Saints departed, but the Saints also on earth, whose conjunction with Christ, and one with ano∣ther, is mentioned, 2 Cor. 1.2. Col. 1.2. Joh. 15 5. Ephes. 5.30. 1 Cor. 12.13. Joh. 17.20, 21.

3 I adde [wherein Christ partaketh of our infirmities.] And infirmities wherein he partaketh with us are of three sorts;

1 Of Nature, Flesh, and Blood, Heb. 2.14. Phil. 2.7.

2 Of Corruption, all our sins imputed, 2 Cor. 5.21. 1 Pet. 2.24.

3 Of Condition, all our afflictions and miseries, Acts 9 4. Col. 1.24.

4 I adde [we in this communion partake of Christs benefits] which are Six.

1 Adoption, Gal. 4.4, 5, 6. hence we are said to have fellowship with God in the text, the greatnesse of this benefit; See 1 Sam. 18.23.

2 Righteousnesse of Christ imputed, 2 Cor. 5.21. Papists do deride this, thinking it all one to say, A man may be wise or learned by another mans wis∣dom and learning, but Christ was not another man to us.

3 Holinesse, 1 Cor. 1. penult. which stands in Mortification, Rom. 6.6. and in Vivification, or fruitfulnesse, Joh. 15.5. Worms that are dead all Winter, live again, lying in the Sun at the Spring.

4 Protection of Angels, Psal. 91.11, 12. Heb. 1. ult.

5 Dominion over the Creatures, Heb. 2.7, 8. 1 Cor. 3.22, 23. they hold in capite.

6 Right to a glorious Inheritance, Gal. 4.7. Col. 1.12.

The means of further conveying and confirming these benefits unto us, (besides the Doctrin of the Prophets and Apostles) are the Sacraments; hence 1 Cor. 12.13. 1 Cor. 10.16, 17.

5 I say [we communicate them one to another] and that.

1 In heart, mutually praying for one another, Ephes. 6.18. Hence a Christi∣an man, as a rich Merchant, hath Factors dealing for him with God, in every Country.

2 In voice, by

1 Mutual instruction, 2 Tim. 2.25, 26. Act. 18.25, 26.

2 Mutual reproof, Gal. 6.1, 2. Levit. 19.17.

3 Mutual consolation, 1 Thes. 5.14.

3 For Action, by

1 Good example of Christian life, Matth. 5.16. good example edi∣fieth much, Phil. 2.15. see Peter Martyrs testimony of Bucers Fa∣mily in Epist. ad Ecclesiam.

2 Liberal bestowing of outward things upon them, Gal. 6.10.

In regard that this Communion is.

1 A Spiritual conjunction of the Saints with Christ, and one with another, it is compared to the Conjunctions, Ephes. 5.23.30. Joh. 15.5.

2 This his partaking of our infirmities, and ours of his benefits, it is compa∣red to a Marriage, Hos. 2.19, 20.

3 A communicating of our goods one to another, it is a Brother-hood, Coloss. 1.3.

2 How doth the Apostles Doctrine procure and preserve this union and communion? By these means;

[Means 1] 1 By making known to us, that by nature we were strangers and enemies to God, Col. 1.21. Acts 26.18. Ephes. 2.2. 2 Tim. 2.26. This fellowship which all natural men have with Satan (to omit the fellowship which Conju∣rers have with him by League, Psal. 85.5. and that which Witches have with him by carnal copulation) standing in three things.

1 In resemblance, both sin with one continued Act, 1 Joh. 3.8. (sinneth) Joh. 8.44. Acts 13.10. and so all 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, have a fellowship one with an∣other.

2 In subjection of the Natural man to the government and guidance of Sa∣tan, Ephes. 2.2. 2 Tim. 2. ult. all Gods children are led by his Spirit, Rom. 8.14. so are Natural men by that wicked Spirit, he first worketh upon the mind, deluding and blinding them, 2 Cor. 4.4. John 13.2. and then he carrieth the heart and affections whither it pleaseth him, John 13.27. Ephes. 2.2.

3. In under-going the same punishment, Mat. 25.41.

[Means 2] 2 By working upon our hearts a remorse of Conscience, with the sense of this, Acts 2.37 (this word is used in a contrary sense, Rom. 11.8. where it signifies not compunction, but the deep slumber wherein Natural men feel no compunction) Rom. 7.9, 10. this is called a wounding, or the spirit thus afflicted is called wounded, Prov. 18.14. broken-hearted, weary, Psalm 51.17. Matth. 11.28. This remorse is not alike to all, to some it is more terrible, and maketh a deeper impression, Job. 6.2, 3, 4, & cap. 13.24. to o∣thers it is not so grievous, as in Lydia, Acts 16.14, 15. her readinesse to en∣tertain them, sheweth that the Wound was made and healed in the Sermon-time. I conceive Lydia's Conversion to be like the Thiefs upon the Crosse, he first had fear of God, Luke 23.40. yet assured of Salvation soon after, vers. 43. In the Jews, Acts 2.37. to 42. at the next Exhortation. In John Glover, not for many years, five in all, yet it is found in all, Rom. 8.15. all do receive the Spirit of bondage to fear, though they receive it not to fear again, Luke 4.18.

The Reasons of this are three.

1 To make us like unto Christ, he was so, Mat. 26.37. Luke 22.44. Mat. 27.46. and we must be like him, Rom. 8 29.

2 To make us value Christ and his benefits, at an higher rate, Mat. 9.12. (need not) Prov. 27.7. the want of this is the reason why Christ is so little esteem∣ed of the most.

3 To tame our wanton hearts, and make us more pliable and tractable to the yoke of Christ, and any course of obedience he shall shew us, Acts 9.6. & 16.30. & 2.37. Our Saviour can soon perswade heavie laden, and wea∣ry souls, to think that his yoke and burthen is light, when they have felt the burthen of sin; which how heavie it is, see Psal. 38.4. but an hard matter it is to perswade others to think so.

[Means 3] 3 By revealing Christ unto us, and working in our harts a sound and earnest nest desire to seek and enjoy him, Mat. 5.6. and because Christ is not ours but by faith, John 3.16. and Faith is not ours but by the Holy Ghost; therefore we rest not, till by pouring out our earnest desires to God, we have obtained him, Luke 11.13.

[Means 4] 4 The same Doctrin worketh faith, whereby we are united unto Christ, Rom. 10.17, Gal. 3.7.

The Consectaries, or the Uses are three,

Ʋse 1. Hence then it is easie to discern what estate Natural men be in, out of fellowship with God and his Saints; If by nature we had fellowship with them, what needeth the Apostles Doctrin to bring us unto it, they who defie

the Devil, and cannot abide to hear that they have had any fellowship with him, have as yet none with God.

Ʋse 2 Then fellowship with God and his Saints is a thing that may be at∣tained.

The conceit of the contrary, Satan useth as an effectual means to keep men from seeking it. See Fol. praeced.

Ʋse 3 Then all have great cause with diligence to attend on the Apostles Doctrin, it is Gods power to salvation. Rom. 1.16.