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

Doct. Such Young-men as have their sins forgiven them, have the Word of God abiding in them.

Q. What is meant by the Word of God abiding in them?

1 He means not part of the Word, but the whole Word abides in them, both Promises, Commands, and Threatnings; Commands to bind them, Threat∣ning to awe them, Promises to comfort them; good examples to encourage them, bad examples to discourage them; therefore for men to be carvers and choosers of the Word, is not to have the Word abiding in them. Herod would have some of Johns words abide in him, hut not all, but this is the commenda∣tion of good young men, that not only every kind, but every parcel of the Word abides in them.

2 When he saith, the Word of God, it implyes, that they receive it as the Word of God, and not as the word of man, 1 Thes. 2.13. and a man then re∣ceives the Word, as the Word of God, when he looks at the Commandments, as Gods Commandments, and so the Promises and Threatnings as Gods, he looks at them as of highest authority, so as no word of man shall stand against it, all falls to the ground before it; it swayes all.

3 When he saith, the Word abideth, it implyes, that this Word did not on∣ly flash in suddenly, and continued for a time, but it abideth in them continu∣ally, Joh. 5.35. Heb. 2.1, 2.

4 (In you) that implyes the whole man, in their judgment they understood the word, in their wills they embraced it, in their affections they rejoyced in it, in their lips, the law was in their mouths, in the whole man the word of God abode, and that not for a time, but continually.

Q 2 What is the reason why those that have their sins forgiven them, have the Word of God abiding in them?

Reas. The ground of this is, because whose sins soever are forgiven them, their eyes have been opened to see the weight and danger of sin, the VVord hath opened and affected the heart, and hath made such deep impression, that it cannot be rooted out, Psal. 119.93. those promise that have com∣forted his soul, he shall never forget, Psal. 119.129. and hence he looks at them as sweeter than the honey and the honey combe; and those threat∣nings that have awed his soul, he still trembles at them; because he hath found the VVord wonderful to humble him and to comfort him, therefore he still keeps it.

Ʋse 1 Of tryal unto us, whether our sins be forgiven us or no; nothing

more necessary to know, nor nothing more comfortable; how then shall I know this? Why, onsider what place the Word of God takes, if the Word of God abide in you, the whole Word, there is no Commandment but you would obey it, no Threatning, but you humble at it, no Promise, but you look at it as the Word of God; do you find your whole man submitting to it, your minds understan∣ding it, your wills embracing it, your affections rejoycing and delighting in it, as the Word of God? it is an evident signe of the remission of your sins; this could not have been, had not the Word of God been wonderfull to humble you and comfort you.

Obj. I have a brittls memory and cannot retain the Word, therefore how can the Word be said to abide in me?

Ans. Dost thou remember other things well, and not the Word? then it is dangerous, but if thy memory bebrittle in other things, then it argues the lesse danger, though the Word do so also; but though it slip out of thy memory, doth it not abide in thine heart? dost thou not delight in, and desire more and more after it? if it be so, it may be said to abide in thee.

Ʋse 2 Of exhortation to young men, whosoever have found your sins for∣given, this God requires of you, that you give up your hearts to the whole word of God, to be wholly guided by it for ever, if you sit loose from the word, you shall find the pardon of your sins sit loose from your souls, he will take a∣way the comfort of the pardon of your sins; therefore let the Word of God a∣bide in you richly and plentifully, that so you may have the comfort of such a benefit as pardon of sins.