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

Doct. The Ministers of Christ are to acknowledge, even their little Children as their Brethren.

Compare this Verse with the first, there he calls them, little Children, and here Brethren; so Paul doth expresse himself thus, Rom. 15.14. 1 Cor. 2.1. 2 Cor. 3.1.

Reas. Because he and they do partake in all things wherein Natural Brethren partake.

1 They have the same God and Father that begets them, Ephes. 4.6. Jam. 1.17, 18.

2 They have one Mother, the Church, Gal. 4.26. and he speaks of Jerusa∣lem on earth, though he calls it Jerusalem which is from above, because it is above an earthly condition, and John himself was a little Childe to some, as they were to him, Gal. 4.19. And so sometimes private Christians they do la∣bour and travel in begetting children to God; it is a wonder to see many times, how some are put to pangs to beget their friends to God, sometimes by Prayer, by exhortation, by reproof, by all means, they use much pains, therefore the Church is called, The Mother of us all, because some in the Church beget us.

3 They all partake in one Immortal Seed, by which they are begotten un∣to God, 1 Pet. 1.23. this immortal Seed, for the Materiall part, it is the Word, for the Spiritual part, it is the Spirit of God, Joh. 3.5. so it is not so much the Letter of the Word, as the Spirit of God, whereby all are begot to God.

4 They are all begotten to the same eternal inheritance, 1 Pet. 1.3. and so they are all, both Ministers and People called Brethren.

Ʋse 1. To teach Ministers so to look at their Spiritual Fatherhood, as not to forget their Spiritual Brotherhood, ver. 1. he calls them little children, not that Ministers should shew dominion over them, as Lords over them, 2 Cor. 1. ult. 1 Pet. 5.2, 3, 4. so then their Fatherhood must not make them Lords, but the name of Brotherhood must binde them to communion, they have in∣deed a kinde of power, but not to subdue their Spirits to them, not to believe as they do, or walk as they do, only so far as they are like unto Christ, 1 Cor. 11.1. otherwise Christians are not to be led by them.

Ʋse 2 This must teach both Ministers and People to maintain brotherly love and affection, if you be Brethren, Let brotherly love continue, Heb. 13.1. 1 Pet. 2.17. therefore what kinde of desire and comfort there is in brotherly Communion, what mutual joy when they meet, the same should be in Christi∣an Ministers and People.

Now the fruits of Brotherly love are chiefly three;

1 Unity, that they should keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, Col. 3.14. Ephes. 4.3.

2 Equality, (not to take away different respects) but to make our selves e∣qual to others in affection, to conceive that though we have more gifts, yet they may have lesse corruption, they may not have so much grace, but they may make better use of it, Phil. 3.13. we should always conceive of others as equal, or better than our selves.

3 Spiritual Communion, that is, mutual dispensing of help one to ano∣ther, of Exhortation, Admonition, Consolation, and Reproof, Levit. 19.17. 1 Thes. 5.14. and for temporal things we should be helpful one to another, take up quarrels, 1 Cor. 6.5, 6. pardon one anothers failings, be helpful to the poor brethren, Rom. 15.15. we must not neglect, or despise one another, or carry our selves as strangers one to another, is this brotherly love, to carry our selves strangely towards them, or not care for their communion or company, never to help them? this is not brotherly love. And indeed the Sacrament invites us to brotherly love, for we are moulded as it were up into one Loaf, and drink of the same Cup, 1 Cor. 10.17. therefore if there be any strangeness, or quarrelling, or contempt between us, it is to sin against this Ordinance; if God be the God of peace, then Satan is the author of discord; how comely a thing is it for brethren to live together in unity? Psal. 133.1, 2, 3. he com∣pares

it to the most precious Oyntment that was poured on the head, and ran down upon Aarons beard, and the skirts of his garments; and so what grace is poured on the eminentest Christian, must run down to the lowest, and as the Mountains let the drops of Dew which fall upon them to fall down upon the Vallies, so where God hath mounted any blessing, where God hath bestowed eminent Gifts, every one should so use his Gifts, as the lower Vallies may be the more fruitful, they the more helpful.

Ʋse 3. It reproves Ministers that dishearten, and make sad those that God would not have made sad, many times Ministers are most bitter against their best Hearers, Ezek. 13.22. nor let people make sad the hearts of their Mini∣sters, brethren should not thus carry themselves, but rather comfort one an∣other.

It also reproves the aptnesse of many to affect natural carnal men, their only delight is in them, and they only hate the Seed of the Woman, that is contrary to St. Johns precept.

I write no new Commandment, &c.