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

Doct. It is the duty of all such as professe Fellowship with Christ, to walk as Christ walked; or the profession of Fellowship with Christ, ought to be joyned with imitation of Christ.

Q. What is it to walk as Christ walked?

A. Christ hath walked in some wayes as God, in some wayes, as Meadiator, God and man, and in some wayes, as man.

1 Then he wrought some works as God, he fasted forty dayes and forty nights, he fed five thousand with five loaves and two fishes, he walked on the water, &c. God never calls us to imitate him in these works, but he calls, learn of me for I am meek and lowly.

Q. 2. Doth he call us to walk in those ways which he walked in as Mediator?

A. He doth not call us to walk in the same kind, but in resemblance to them, as hee dyed for us and rose again, so in resemblance hee calls us to dye unto sin, and to rise again to the life of Grace, so to dye to the World as he dyed to nature, and to rise to newnesse of life as he arose from the dead, Rom. 6.16.

2 As he was a King, Priest, and Prophet unto God, so he would have us Kings to over-rule our temptations, to rule over our families, to rule over our Tongues, to rule over our Hearts; he hath called us likewise to be Priests, to offer up sacrifices of prayer and praise, and alms, and to offer up our bodies and souls, an acceptable sacrifice unto him, Hos. 14.3. Heb. 13.16, 17. Rom. 12.1, 2. and to be as Prophets to teach our Children, and Servants, and Families, and instruct them, Act. 2.17.

3 Some works he wrought as man, and so he was either a Minister of Cir∣cumcision, or as a Servant of God, a good man; and in these we are to imitate him, 1 As a Minister, so Ministers should follow him.

1 In undertaking his Calling from him, as he did his from God, he saw Gods call, he was sent by his Father, so we should see his call, otherwise to undertake it without a call from him, is the way to bring a curse upon our selves.

2 In his Calling he performed his Ministry with all Faithfulnesse, he did bring in the stray, heal the sick, instruct the Ignorant, &c. Ezek. 34.16. and his in∣ward care was, that they might have life, and have it more abundantly, Joh. 10.10, 11. so should Ministers dispence the word of life, strive to beget the life of Grace in the hearts of their people, to help the weak, comfort the distressed, inform the Ignorant, &c.

2 As a private Christian, a good man, we must imitate him in his doing and suffering.

1 For the matter of his doing, it was alwayes Gods command, Joh. 14. ult.

2 The manner of his doing, 1 It was in obedience to Gods command, Joh. 5.30.

2 He did it with chearfullnesse, it was his meat and drink to do Gods will.

3 The end of his work was Gods Glory, Joh. 17.4.

1 So for his suffcrings, 1 They were all in Innocency, 1 Pet. 2.21.

2 With much patience, 2 Pet. 2.23.

3 He suffered with much profit, he learned obedience by his temptations and sufferings, Heb. 5.8. he profited by his Agony, by his despising, by his buf∣fettings, by his crucifying, and in these things we should labour to imitate and follow him.

Q. Why should we be like him?

A. 1 From Gods predestination, Rom. 8.29. he hath decreed that we should be like him.

2 From the near Fellowship we have with him; it is meet the Members should be conformable to the Head, the Branch to the Root.

Ʋse 1 An evident conviction of that Popish Doctrin of the merit of works, and satisfaction, and super-errogation; if so bee when we have done all that we can, and walked as Christ walked, as perfectly as hee did if wee could, then wee had done no more than our duty, God hath no cause to thank us, and we deserve nothing, Luke 7.9.16. Now what is our duty? We ought to walk as he hath walked; now a Servant looks not for thanks for

his dayes work, so we have not merited thanks for the works me have done; and if when we have done what we can, we have done but what we ought to do, then we cannot do more than we ought, and so are far from superarrogation; and for satisfaction, if our best works be our debts, then we cannot satisfie for our sins by our duties; suppose a man owed another a great debt, and besides owed him all service for some great benefit, for redeeming him from Captivity, &c. the doing of his service would not satisfie his debt, because he ow∣ed him that besides; so we were all Captives unto Satan, and God through Christ delivered us, and for that we owe to God all we have, and if we were in debt besides by our sins, all our service will not satisfie for our sins, for wee owe that besides, now one debt will not pay another.

Ʋse 2 Of direction and exhortation to all that desire to walk answerable to that knowledge they have, do you desire to be in Christ and know you are in Christ? Why, conform your selves to walk as Christ walked, if thou dost so, thou maist keep a good Christmas all thy life, thou shalt keep Christs honour all thy life in remembrance, if thou walk as Christ walked; therefore Christ di∣ed; that we might dye unto sin, 1 Pet. 4.1, 2. whatever corruption is in you, let it die in you, mortifie pride, and anger, and uncleannesse, and covetousnesse, &c. learn to dye to these, and live to God; make it your chiefest pleasure to do Gods will, rise from all deadnesse, and sluggishnesse of Spirit; have you been unable to rule over your Spirits? Now put on the Spirit of Kings, over-rule your passions and corruptions, rule your Families, be as Priests to offer up sacrifices of prayer and praise, and alms; to offer up body and soul to Gods ser∣vice, every work do it in obedience to Gods Commandment, do it with chear∣fullnesse and meeknesse, do it to Gods glory, and if you be called to suffer, suffer Innocently, not for any sinful carriage, not for murther or theft, &c. but for Righteousnesse sake, and then suffer patiently and meekly, and whatever you suffer, be sure that you profit by it, by temptation, by crosses, by persecution, &c. learn obedience, and so you shall walk as Christ hath walked; be stirred up to walk in imitation of Christ, 1 Cor. 11.1. set this pattern before you, to imitate him both now, and all the year; look upon Christ, aime at him. work as he did, suffer as he did: and so for Ministers, walk faithfully, help the weak, bring back the stray, comfort the distressed, walk as Christ hath walked.