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

Doct. God hath his children among all sorts of Ages of men, some of them are aged, some young, some Babes in Nature, and in Grace.

He hath his Children out of old age, Youth, and Child-hood, out of all he hath elected some to doe him service: these old men, he doth not tell you when they came on, but whensoever they came they had strength of grace; so Young men, he tells you not when they came on, whether in Child-hood or no, but they had strength of grace, sure they had overcome the wicked one; and for Babes they came on in child-hood, and yet had strength of grace, and it may be some old men might in their old age come on to the knowledge of the ancient of days, so that there is strong grace found in all sorts of men, Wisdome in Old men, Spiritual vigour in young men; and he speaks of Babes, as know∣ing their Father in heaven, as well as their Parents on earth; God hath a company of all ages calling on him, justified, and sanctified: Amongst old men and women we read of Abraham and Sarah, an old couple stricken in years, of Isaac and Rebecca, an old couple also, and knowing the promises made of Christ, Joh. 8.56. Your Father Abraham saw my day and rejoyced; so did Sarah rejoyce in the promised Seed. We have also the examples of Moses, and David, and Zachary, and Elizabeth, that continued till they were old both in age and grace; there were some such among the Priests, as Aharon, and Hojadah 2 Cron. 24.15. some among the Souldiers, there were some old Souldiers of Christ, old Kings, old Nobles, &c. which knew him which was from the beginning.

For young men, famous is the example of Phineas, Numb. 25. in his youth he was full of zeal; such was Josiah, 2 Chron. 34.1, 2, 3. we read that at sixteen years of age he sought the Lord God of his Fathers, and at twenty years he grew so strong that he wholly carried before him the whole State, though they were then strongly corrupted, and given to Idolatry, yet being strong in the Spirit, he carryed them on to Justice, and reformation strongly, he cleansed the Land from Dan to Beersheba; a notable encouragement to youth, to be vigorous in zeal and grace.

And for Children, Samuel, when he was but a child ministred to the Lord, 1 Sam. 2. so John the Baptist was filled with the holy Ghost from his Mothers wombe, Luke 1.15. and of Timothy it is said, that he knew the Scrip∣ture from a childe, 2 Tim. 3.15. & 2 Tim. 1.5. so that in this Family there

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were in degrees, his grand-mother Lois, an old woman, his mother Eunice, a young woman, and Timothy almost a child, Lois teacheth Eunice, and both teach Timothy, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 from a very Babe he knew the Scripture.

But why will God have some of all sorts to be servants to him, old men, young men, and children?

Reas. 1. That the grace of Christ might be as largely extended to all sorts of men, as the sin of Adam was extended to all degrees and ages, Rom. 5.12. to 18. if Adam had defiled all sorts and Christ had restored but some sort of men, only young men, then Adams sin had been more powerful to destroy, than Christs righteousnesse to save; it was meet therefore that as Adam defiled all Ages, all conditions, so Christ should restore all Ages, all conditions, and sanctifie them: as there are of all sorts that are defiled, Jer. 7.17, 18. all Ages wholly corrupted, the Father kindles the Fire, the Women kneads the Dough, and the children gather sticks, to make cakes to the Queen of Heaven; now as there are of all sorts thus corrupted, so it is meet there should be of all sorts sanctified; why should not God have all sorts to serve him, as well as the Queen of Heaven?

Reas. 2. From the honour that is returned to God by the several ages.

1 For old men, they bring this honour to God, whether they be called in old age, or before, and hold on.

1 Herein God glorifies the truth of his promise, that length of dayes is in the right hand of Wisdom (by Wisdom is meant the fear of the Lord) on this ground he encourageth his Son to Wisdom, that it will be a means to lengthen his dayes, Prov. 3.16. therefore that God might justifie this pro∣mise, he will have some old men stand up before him, it doth not make them so melancholly that they shorten their days, Religion distempers no man, godly sorrow never wasted our days, but worldly sorrow: Haman the Ezra∣hite, was wonderfully addicted to godly sorrow, yet he grew up to his old age, Psal. 88.8. Riches, and honour, and long life are the reward of god∣linesse, Prov. 22.4. Wealth and credit, and length of dayes happen oft to them.

2 When you see old men continue in their profession to their old age, they put an honour on Religion; if young men and children only should professe Religion, you would take it as indiscretion and hotnesse of Spirit, but doe you see any grave wise old man take up a Christian course? none doe it but young Punies that know not what they doe, this would be a great disparage∣ment, but that God may make it known, that wisdom and discretion is to be found in the wayes of grace, therefore he will have some old men walke in those ways, Prov. 16.31. that grey hairs may honour Religion, and Religi∣on may be a crown to them; Eighty six years, said old Ignatius, have I served God, and yet never found him a hard master; so when Christians can say, so many years have I served God, and if it had been such a wearisome course they would have shaken it off, but when we see they hold out in it, it implies they find some comfort and joy therein, and if old men come on, it will be said, they now see by experience the vanity of all other courses, they see it is best dying a christian, and spending our last days in christianity, old men would never fall into it, unlesse they saw there is no way so comfortable and peace∣able as that is.

2 For young men, it is a great bonour to Religion if they come on, they make the power of Christs grace manifest, that is able to overcome the heat and violence of youthful lusts, no age so violent and boysterous in corrupti∣on, so head-strong, so indiscreet and rash, so that what for unrulinesse, stub∣bornesse, vanity, pleasure, they are most indisposed to grace, and will not hold on: if God therefore take hold of their Spirits, and stablish their Spirits, when they by Gods Grace shall be able to rule their Spirits, their lusts, to rule their hearts, this argues the strength of grace, in that, when neither wise coun∣sel, nor Magistrate can rule them, yet the grace of Christ can rule them, rule

their passions, so that they can put forth their strength against the enemy, ei∣ther against their own corruptions, or abuses of others, so that when the El∣ders sit still, sometimes a young Phineas rises up, and shews his zeal for Christ, what an honour is this to Christs grace? Psal. 119.9. Eccles. 11. ult. Childe∣hood and youth are vanity, so that if Gods grace can lay hold on them, and restrain them, the power of Gods grace is hereby magnified, Psal. 110.2, 3. 2 Cor. 12.7. youth is only strong in weakness, if Gods grace therefore shall be so strong as to subdue all these, and make them like unto Josiah, who at six∣teen years of age set himselfe to seek God, and compelled the whole Land to do so, 2 Chron. 34.33. (he compelled them at least to outward Reformation) it is a great glory to God, when young men thus give up their young dayes to God

2 Another Honour they bring to God, is by their boldnesse and courage in a good cause; old men sometimes, though wise yet are too cautelous and backward, but young men, what is wanting in experience they have in zeale, they are forward in any service for God.

3 And for Babes and Children, if they be brought to grace, God hereby casts shame on elder men, Psal. 8.7. when they see Bahes come off with more savoury words than old men, sometimes God confounds the folly of ancient men by the wisdome and grace in Children; when Christ came riding to Jeru∣salem, the Children cried out, Hosanna, and praised him, the High Priests dis∣dained it; but, Mat. 21.16, 17. Christ told them, have ye not read, that out of the mouthes of Babes and sucklings thou hast perfected thy praise? This is to still the enemy and revenger; they shame you that are Elders and Priests; in regard of your backwardnesse. Thus we see, God will have of all sorts and ages of men stand up to doe him service.

Ʋse 1. May serve to teach all sorts of men.

1 Old men; If God hath his number among all ages and conditions of men, then God looks to have his number amongst you that are old men; say not, I have now long lived in another course, but come on to a Christian course, or if you began before, goe on; I write unto you Fathers▪ because you have known him that was from the beginning; it may well beseem you to talke of the ancient Promises and Mercy of God; God looks that you should take away the reproach of Religion, that they may not say, none but young he••ds take up this course; doe you this, remember that Religion is no poynt of indiscretion; no, an hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in a way of righteousnesse; would you not think it a great misery if it should befall a Mariner after all Tempests, to suffer Shipwrack in the very havens mouth? so is it with old men, when you have run on through all the difficulties of this Life, in your last days, when you should arrive at the Haven of Peace, and Hope, and eternall Happinesse, if you should sink and faile, what a misery were it? Tit. 2.1, 2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Paul did consider that old age was an old crazy time; their he••ds unhealthfull, their stomacks unhealthfull, their hearts unhealthful, how should old age get healthful hearts again? why get an healthfull spirit, a sound heart, an upright spirit; what a staffe would this be to weake age? to have sound faith, to be sound in love, sound in meeknesse and patience? what a support will it be to them, to uphold all diseases and distempers? how will they be able to bear al•• the Sicknesses of this age, when their spirits are lively, and their hearts comfortable, and Gods Spirit upholding them? that will be the staffe and crown of old age; as therefore you desire to honour God, to support your old age, as you desire to goe to the Grave with a Crown, give up your selves to God, that so the Apostles and Elders may acknowledge you as Fathers in Christ.

Ʋse 2. For young men, think it not too soon for you to enter on a Chri∣stian course, and if you have begun, grow up in grace; what an honour will it be, As you have been strong in outward strength, so now to be strong in Grace, strong in the Spirit? what an honour will it be to see you strong, to

subdue your corruptions? what an honour will it be to see your zeale and cou∣rage, stirring up old mens discretion, so that what is wanting in them, may be supplied by you? how many strong temptations are incident to young men, from evill company, from beauty, from pleasure, &c. what an honour will it be to Gods grace, to see your strength turned against sin and lust; to see you sober, and temperate, and chast; to see you zealous and quickned in Grace? I write unto you young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. Remem∣ber thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth, Eccle. 12.1. God takes pleasure then in thy service; if you remember him then, he will be most ready to remember you in your old age.

Ʋse 3. And for little children, if God have his number amongst Babes, then you that are Parents say not, it is too soon to learn them any thing, they are too young, they cannot understand, why, cannot you learn them to know their Father? you learn them nothing, till you learn them to know you, and express joy in you, but teach them to know what an happy thing it is to have God for their father; tell them, that he is able to doe more for them; and give them better things than you can do. Levit. 23.10. to 15. take no comfort in them, till they take comfort in God; train them up to know God, to know his ways, that they may be able to rejoyce, and solace themselves in God and good things, that the first fruits of their age may be consecrated to God; and if you do so, you consecrate the whole lumpe, if the first fruits be holy, so will the whole Vintage be, if the root be holy so will the branches; consider, these Babes are flexible and easily bowed; it is far more easie to train them up to good things now, than in their youth and riper years; therefore labour now to incline them unto God and good things; take speciall care to train them up to know God their Father, train them up to come to the ordinances with re∣verence and diligence, and this will be their honour, God will make them in∣struments to confound elder, stronger men.

Thus we see God hath among all sorts and ages of men, some that belong unto him, whose sins are remitted, whose spirits are sanctified.

2 Now in that St. John applies himself to all their conditions and ages, observe,