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

Doct. 1. There are some in the Church, which may depart from the Church.

That may leave the Doctrin, Fellowship, and Practise of the Church, Heb. 10.25. 2 Thes. 2.3. 1 Tim. 2.4.

Q. How comes it to pass that men in the Church, and in some measure affecting the ways of Religion, depart from the Church?

A. 1. This comes from want of thorow and entire fellowship with the Lord Jesus, for though they may have much joy and comfort in the Members of the Church, yet it is but a Land-flood, all that joy and grace may be dried up, un∣lesse they partake of that Fountain which never fails, and as the Lord told Sa∣muel, They have not rejected thee, but me they have rejected; so, see you any de∣parting from the Church, they departed from Christ, and union with him first, Dan. 11.34, 35. many cleave to him but feignedly, Heb. 12.13. when a man haults between falshood and truth, or God and his lusts, he will be turned out of the way.

2 From the stumbling-blocks they meet with, in

1 The Church, first persecution, Matth. 13.21. that makes some offen∣ded.

2 Hard Doctrin, Joh. 16.66. the Doctrin of Purity seems harsh Doctrin to them, so the Doctrin of Predestination offends some.

3 There fall out some admonitions, or reproofs to be dispenced to the Members of the Church; now if they come with proud unmortified spirits, they will be offended at them, and fly back again; this was the cause of Simon Magus his Apostacy, when Peter reproved him sharply, he could not brook it, but fell off, and set up a false Doctrin, and lying miracles, to subvert the Apostles Doctrin; some depart from others, because they think themselves more holy than others, Isa. 65.5. either they give offence to others, or others to them.

Ʋse Shews us our duty, not to rest our selves satisfied, in that we are Mem∣bers of the Church; we may live in the Church, and partake of the ordinances yet after fall off; therefore be sure that you give up your selves first to the Lord, and then to the Church, otherwise keeping any pride or covetousnesse in our hearts, it will make us fall off, pride will make us take offence at others, and others at us; and covetousnesse will make us fall off when we meet with perse∣cution, and losse of goods, and liberty, for Christ; therefore come with humble and mortified hearts, and give up your selves to Christ, and then you shall not easily give offence to others, and will be content to part with any thing for Christ, and so will continue Members of the Church.