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

Doct. The Apostles writings were rather directed to such as know the truth, then such as know not the truth. Or thus, It is not the igno∣rance of the truth, but rather the knowledge of it, that occasioned the Apostles writings.

Observe all the Apostles writings, they were never written to any Coun∣try, or Town or person that did not know the truth before, but they were al∣ready brought on to the knowledge of the truth, Rom. 15.14. so the Corinths, he speaks to them, as to a Church of God, 1 Cor. 1.1.2 & 8, 9. so Gal. 2, 3, 4. and chap. 3. so Ephes. 4.21. Phil. 1.6. Col. 1.12, 13. so the Thessalonians, he blessed God for their election, 1 Thes. 1.9. so Timothy and Titus he writes to them, as to his naturall sons in Christ, Heb. 6.9.10, 11. so the Apostle James chap. 1.2, 3. so 1 Pet. 1.2, 3, 4. so this Apostle St. John, I write unto you, because you know the truth. 2 Epist. 1. and third Epistle, 2.3. so the E∣pistles, Christ wrote to the seven Churches of Asia, he wrote to them as such as knew the truth of Christ, and profest his name; so that this is an universall truth, that not the Ignorance of the truth, but the knowledge hath occasioned the Apostles writings.

Reas. 1. From God, who hath not sanctified their writings to this end, to the conversion of the Gentiles, but to their establishment, the Apostle here speaks of them that knew the main truth, though they were Ignorant of ma∣ny particular truths; if men be converted to the truth; and brought to prize Christ and walk in obedience, there may be great use of the Apostles wri∣tings to establish them in the truth, we never reade that they wrote to any Kingdomes where themselves had not been or sent; they wrote not to Persia, or Spaine, or France, but to such places as they had been at, and if God had sanctified their writings to the conversion of the Gentiles, it had been more fit to write to such places, where they were not likely to come, rather than such places as they came at, 1 Cor. 1.2. but we see that God hath so ordered it, that men should be called by the foolishnesse of preaching, Rom. 10 13, ••4, 15▪ and not of writing, it is not his writing to them, but he must be sent to them, so that the work of conversion is wrought by the preaching of the Gos∣pel.

Reas. 2. From the accompanying of their preaching of the Gospel with mighty signes and wonders, but we never read that God accompanied any of their writings with miracles, their writings laid upon any disease, healed none, but their presence healed many, and did many wonders, Heb. 2.2, 3, 4. 1 Cor. 5.22. tongues are not for them that beleeve, but them that believe not that is, the miracle of speaking with divers tongues, is not for them that be∣leeve, but for them that beleeve not; therefore we never read in any Histo∣ry, that their writings did work any miracle, and so he never intended that they should convert.

Obj. What then, is their writings in vain, seeing they are of no use to con∣vince?

A. No, there are singular uses of their Writings.

1 Sometimes to put men in remembrance of what they have heard, Rom. 15.14. 2 Pet. 1.15.

2 That they may be established in the truth, and confirmed in the know∣ledge thereof, 2 Cor. 13.1. Phil. 3.1. To write the same things, to me it is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

3 To stir them up to the exercise of such truth as they knew, but were slack in performing thereof; sometimes in liberality slack, sometimes in dispencing of the Ordinances, 2 Pet. 2.13. 1 John 1.4. 2 John 8. Revel. 2.4, 5. to stir them up to their first Love, to stir them up to take heed of false Doctrin.

4 To informe them in some particular truth which they were ignorant of; some were afraid that the Day of the Lord was so nigh that they neglected their particular Calling, 2 Thes. 2. so some were ignorant of the Resurrection, so he tells Timothy how to behave himselfe, 1. Tim. 3.15. so he informs the Corinthians how Husbands ought to carry themselves towards their Wives, in case of desertion, or present persecution.

Ʋse. 1. It shewes a reason of that little good which hath been done among the Papists, by any Writings that have been writ in defence of the truth, they have been means of much good to them that have known the truth, but a∣mongst Millions of Papists, it is hard to know whether any have been conver∣ted to the true Religion, after such evidet demonstration and conviction, the reason is, because Writings do not profit them that know not the truth, but such as know the truth, for else why did not Saint John write to Cerin∣thus, or other Heretiques in that time? but he tells them, I write to you, because you know the truth, had he writ to Cerinthus or Menander, his labour would have been lost; not but that it hath done much good, not only to them that have known the truth, but those that have not known the truth, it hath stirred them up to like the truth better, and some to seek out the truth in other Writings; but never to convert them to the truth; God hath many times blessed sudden speeches to convert some that have come to hear the truth, but it hath never been so effectual to them that have only read it in writings, for God never sanctified the Apostles Writings to the conversion of the unbelee∣ving Gentiles.

Obj. Why then do not our Divines spare their labour in writing?

A. Though they do not prosper to conversion, yet to establishment of many in the truth, and to stirre them up to stick closer to the truth.

Ʋse. 2. You may hence see the reason, why such as read the Word of God diligently, it may be once or more every day, yet notwithstanding not being accompanied with the preaching of the Gospel, few, or none such as are conver∣ted and brougt to the true knowledge of the truth, but such people are fit to be led into Popery or Heresie; no wonder, for God never blessed the Apo∣stles Writings, while they were living, to the conversion of unbeleevers, there∣fore we see the necessity of preaching to every Congregation, or else the body of the pleace will sit in darknesse and shadow of death; therefore it is a false Assertion of those that say, Reading and Preaching are of like efficacy, for it is certain, had the Apostles Writings been as effectual to conversion as their presence in preaching, they would have wrot most to such Churches as were most remote, 2 Chron. 15.3. a long time they were without a God, and with∣out a Teaching Priest; implying, they that are without a Teaching Priest are without God, 1 King. 13.33. the reason, because he set up base fellows, that wanted both learning and grace, and so only read, but they had not a Teach∣ing Priest, and therefore lived without God.

Obj. But you will say, what can be more said of pagans?

2 And what then, will you judge that all such as live under dumb Ministers are cast a-wayes?

A. Whether do you think it greater charity to tell them that they may be without a Teaching Minister, or to tell them, that without a Teaching Mi∣nister they live without God, and without the Law? we know, that many that live in such places go abroad, and light on good Sermons, and to Christ is found where he was not sought, and then they either remove themselves, or go many miles to hear the Word abroad, and God often blesseth private conference and helps, to do much good, Neh. 8.12. but men that go home from bare reading, their hearts go home as dead as their Minister was dumb, so that you shall finde many people as ignorant as Pagans and Turks.

Ʋ 3. It may serve for direction to such as God hath given a gift of writing unto, to know where their Writings may be of most use; if you writ to some, thinking to convert them, it will be labour in vain, but to writ to them that know the truth, may be of much use, to informe them, to reprove them, to stir them up, and so you may write with comfort to them.

Ʋse 4. May serve to encourage all Christians to be frequent in reading; to what purpose did the Apostles write, if others read not? it is good to be reading; put more fuel to fire and it grows hotter, so let people read after they have heard, and it will be very profitable; therefore we see the great abuse of the Papists, that deny the reading of the Scriptures in a Vulgar Tongue.

Let us therefore be stirred up, not to forbear the reading of the Scriptures, though you do know the truth, Deut. 17.19. if Kings might not be excused, much lesse private men.