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

Doct. 1. The promise of perseverance in the state of Grace, doth not open a gap to carnal liberty, but rather gives us cause of encouragement to abide in Christ.

Now he had promised they should abide in him, vers. 27. he doth not say, therefore take your ease, take no care, you are safe; no, he saith not so, but abide in Christ. In other places of Scripture, when the clearest promises of grace and perseverance are laid down, there is exhortation to carefull obedi∣ence, 1 Cor. 10.12, 13. though thou canst not fall finally, yet let him that standeth take heed lest he fall, Phil. 2.12, 13. not a carnal fear, but such a fear as is opposed to carnal confidence and pride, though God work both the will and the deed; Paul a man most confident of his good estate, so as he trium∣phed in his estate, Rom. 8. ult. Did this make him carnally secure? No, he is

now more vigilant and carefull than before, 1 Cor. 9.26, 27. so we see con∣fidence breeds not negligence, but rather diligence: so we read he renounced all for Christ, Phil. 3.7, 8, 9. yet ver. 12, 13. the more assurance he had, the more vigilant he was; and now little Children even now you have a promise to abide in Christ, abide in him.

Reas. 1. For the nourishment of those Graces (by these kinde of promises) whereby we most cleave to Christ, Faith feeds on these Promises, as it is bred by them, so it is nourished by them, now the more Faith, the more do you pu∣rifie your hearts, Faith purifies the heart, Acts 15.9. no Promise promises perseverance to us in our own strength, but all are made in Christ, and there∣fore make a Christian by Faith to cleave the faster to Christ.

2. These Promises breed Hope in us, and this Hope makes us purifie our selves, as Christ is pure, 1 John 3.1, 2, 3. A Maid that knows she shall be married such a day, will it make her the lesse carefull to adorn her selfe? no surely, so have any hope to meet the Bridegroom at the last day as their Hus∣band? do they go and soyl and defile themselves with base lusts? no, they adorn and beautifie their souls the more. When Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and he had now hope to make his suit known to the King, doth he now come in his poor Prison garments? no, he shaves himself, and puts on other garments; so those Maids that were to go in to King Ahasuerus, they spent twelve months in purifying themselves, Esther 2.12.

3. These Promises encrease love in us; the more beautifull God is in his Promises, the more doth the love of Christ constrain us.

Ʋse 1. To confute Popish spirits, that say, The doctrine of perseverance breeds security; to what purpose say they doe you presse people to abide in Christ, when they can doe no other: we see St. Johns practice here; it is true, if these new Promises were put into old Bottles, it would breed security in us; but a Christian spirit that is taught to believe in Christ, he is made the more watchfull by it, 1 Cor. 15. ult.

Ʋse 2. May stir up all to abide in Christ, and for that end, to make use of these Promises to stir you to it, Psal. 116.9. to 12. seeing God hath freed your souls from darknesse, and ignorance, and bondage, why, walk holily therefore in the sight of the Lord, none more dissolute and carelesse then those that are uncertain of their Salvation.