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

Doct. Perseverance in the Doctrin of the Apostles, is a certain pledge of per∣severance in grace, and attaining of glory.

Both these benefits are joyned together; perseverance in the Doctrin of the Apostles, is an undoubted pledge of our fellowship with the Father and the Son, and of Eternal Life, 2 Joh. 9. he that abides in the Doctrin of Christ abi∣deth in the Father, and the Son; Acts 2.42. & 47. It is said of the Primitive Christians; that they clave to, and continued in the Doctrin of the Apostles, and 47. he tells us, they were such as should be saved; (That which ye have heard from the beginning) that is, the Doctrin that was preached at first by Christ, and after by his Apostles, Luke 1.2.

There are three Graces especialy whereby Gods Word is said to continue in us, for it is not enough for a Christian to have it rest in his judgement and as∣sent, the Devil himself knows and beleeves that Antichristian Doctrin is a lye, and he knows the truth, yet because he continues not in the truth, he hath nei∣ther fellowship with the Father, nor the Son, nor any hope of Salvation; therefore there are some more speciall Graces, whereby the Word is said to continue in us, as David saith, I have hid thy word in my heart, Psal. 119.11.

1 By faith, 1 Thess. 2.13. when ye received the Word, ye received it not as the word of man, but of God, &c. men then receive the Word aright, when they beleeve it, and when they think it effectuall to Salvation able to save their souls, Jam. 1.21. when we receive it as the word of life, when we receive it as our stock and portion, then it dwels in our hearts by faith; let a man re∣ceive the Word as true only, and not as good, it will not continue in him; the Devils receive it as true, but do not receive it as good, but think it mischie∣vous to them, and therefore they get no good by it.

2 It dwels in our Consciences by an holy awe and fear of this Word; unless the Word awe us, and rule in our hearts, we have no fellowship with it, Psal. 119.161. the heart is taken for the Conscience; in the Old Testament we read not of the word Conscience: although his heart stood in awe of Princes, as when he cut off Sauls skirt, yet it was the Word that over-awed him that he would not hurt him; this awe of the Word, over-awes that authority we

might use to evill, so Job, when he had it in his hand to do wrong, yet the fear of God kept him from doing any wrong, Job 31.13, 14, 15. even to the least servant or maid he had, Jer. 32.40.

3 Obedience keeps the Word in our lives, and our lives in the Word; Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes, and I shall keep it to the end, Psal. 119.32. if a man take liberty to live, sometimes by the Word, sometimes beside it, he will break off from fellowship. Herod for a while kept an awe of John, but in his life he would not exercise it, therefore he shaketh off John, and his word, and cleaves to his lust; so that the Word abides in us, by faith, fear, and obedience.

Q. What is meant by continuing in the Son, and in the Father?

A. 1. It implies communion with them: a man cannot continue in them without communion with them.

2 It implies perseverance in them for ever, so that he that hath the Word abiding in him, hath fellowship with the Son, he hath Christ for his Saviour, his Brother, his King, Priest, and Prophet, and he hath God for his Father, an All-sufficient God blessing him with all blessings.

He shall persevere in this estate for ever.

What are the Reasons why such continue in the Son, and in the Father.

Reas. 1 From the intercession of Christ, Joh. 17.20, 21, 22. without which we neither could have fellowship, with them, nor eternal life. Christ himselfe hath prayed for this, and doth, and he was heard alwayes, Joh. 11.42. therefore when he prays, that all they that believe in his Word may be one with him and with the Father, they shall have union with them, and glory everlasting, and so vers. 24.

Obj. You will say, Christs intercession for himself was not sometime heard; did not he pray that the Cup of his Passion might passe from him?

A. He prayed against it, and yet did drink it, but he prayed conditionally, if it might stand with his Fathers Will, therefore he had his desire, because he fulfilled Gods will, Hebr. 5.

Secondly, He prayed not so much that he might not taste of it, as that he might not be over-whelmed by it, and so he was supported by his eternall God-head, so that he was saved in death, and from death: therefore Christ having prayed for our union with him, and eternall glory, we shall attaine it.

Reas. 2 From the effectuall power of found heavenly Doctrin: it is the power of God to Salvation, it is called the arm of the Lord, Joh. 12.38. it is called the glorious ministration of the Spirit, 2 Cor. 3.8. 2 Corinth. 10.4, 5. Jam. 1.21. so that this Doctrin, is the Ministration, the mighty power of God to conveigh to us the Spirit of God, which gives us fellowship with the Father, and the Son, and eternal life, the breath of the Word, breathes the Spi∣rit of God into us, and makes us live spiritually here, and gloriously here∣after.

Ʋse 1 May shew us what an hard thing it is to persevere and abide in the Doctrin of the Apostles, which appears from this strong exhortation: one would think that the honesty and purity of the Word should prevail with us, to cleave and abide in their Doctrin, but yet we see that is not enough, but the Holy Ghost useth as strong motives here as any can be, he knows the World might over-reach us: some come and tell us, if we continue in the Word, we shall lose our Friends, and Goods, and may be our Life, and why then will you be singular? now seeing that the World offers so largely to with-draw us, therefore he gives a farre larger offer, such an offer as all the World cannot give, he out-bids the World, and even promises Fellowship with the Father, and the Son, or Eternall life: therefore that we might be e∣stablished against all the subtilties of the World, he offers us such Promises as may eternally establish us in the truth.

Ʋse 2 Exhorts us to take hold of this Doctrin while we may have it: if we

preach no other Doctrin, but what hath been delivered from the beginning; why then, if you would have fellowship with the Father, and the Son, and eternall glory, cleave to this Word, abide in it, receive it with Faith and fear, and expresse it in obedience; Lord thou hast the words of eternall life, there∣fore whither should we go from it? Prov. 19.16. he that keeps the Commande∣ment, keeps his own soul, but he that regards not his wayes, whether he walk according to this rule, or no, he shall dye. What encouragement would it be to keep a Pill, if the Physician should say, keep this, and you keep your life, cast it up, and you dye? why truly such is the Word of Christ, keep it, and you keep your life, but if you despise the Commandement, care not how you live, you shall certainly dye; this is the promise, that if, we receive and keep this word, we shall not only keep a long life, but even a life for ever and ever; that is a promise God hath given you, even eternall life, why this is more than all the World can give; this is an argument that countervails all other Argu∣ments.

Ʋse 3 Of consolation to all such as lose any thing by keeping the A∣postles Doctrin; whether they lose goods, or friends, or life, or liberty, here is a comfort that over-ballances all discomforts.

Two things chiefly discourage a Christian, he may either loose fellow∣ship with the Church, and be excommunicate, or else he may lose his na∣turall life; here is comfort against both these, what though you be excom∣municated from society with the Church, you shall yet notwithstanding keep fellowship with the Father and the Son; Joh. 9.34. the blind man gave such a strong Testimony to Christ, that the Pharisees cast him out, (that is, excom∣municated him) well, when Christ heard that he was cast out, he found him out; and so though this poor man, was cast out of the Church, by a clavis errans, wrong excommunication, yet he had fellowship with Christ; what if a Christian be cast out? why here his comfort, a man is no sooner shut out from Fellowship with the Church, but he is sent to Christ, this poor man, Christ came and instructed him; though he were cut short from instru∣ction in the publick ordinances, yet Christ instructed him, and he never spake more powerfully and effectually, so that he gave him Faith to beleeve, and Grace to worship him; so that though a man in a good cause should be cast out from the society of the Church; yet he shall find more near communion with Christ.

2 A man by professing Christ may be delivered up to the powers, and so may lose his life; why this is the promise, even eternall life, he may lose a temporary life, but he shall gain an eternall life.