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

About this Item

Title
A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first Epistle generall of John by ... John Cotton ...
Author
Cotton, John, 1584-1652.
Publication
London :: Printed by M.S. for Thomas Parkhurst ...,
1658.
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Subject terms
Bible. -- N.T. -- Epistle of John, 1st -- Commentaries.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A34689.0001.001
Cite this Item
"A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first Epistle generall of John by ... John Cotton ..." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A34689.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 13, 2024.

Pages

Page 228

Doct. 6. That the beholding and seeing of Christ face to face, shall fashi∣on us to be like him, for we shall see him as he is, 1 Cor. 13.12. Heb. 11.27.

This seeing of Christ did invest Moses with such glory and strength, as that he feared not the fiercenesse of the King; and so should the full assurance of seeing Christ in his Kingdome, arm us against all discouragements, or whatso∣ever the world would lay upon us.

Q. What is it to see Christ face to face?

Answ. The clear and perfect knowledge of God, which proceedeth on∣ly from Christ Jesus, for no man hath seen God at any time, 1 Tim. 6.16. Joh. 4.12. Tit. 1.8. opposed to the sight of Christ in the world, 2 Cor. 3.13, to 17.

1 Under the old Testament they saw Christ through a veyl of ceremonies, 2 Cor. 3.13.

2. In the New Testament we see Christ as in a glasse of Gods Word, Sa∣craments, Christian communion; afterwards we shall not onely see him with∣out ceremonies, but without ordinances also, we shall then see Christ more im∣mediately.

3. Then shall we see Christs Manhood, and all the glory he had before the world, 1 Cor. 13.12. Joh. 17.24.

Q. How shall this make us like him?

Answ. We shall see him in the glasse of the Gospel, 2 Cor. 3, 18. and so grow from one measure of grace to another. If the Gospel will do this, much more the presence of Christs body, and view of Christ.

2 Look as Moses, when he saw Gods back parts, his face did shine, Exod. 34.29. So our face then much more.

3. As Peter, James and John, when Christ was transfigured, Matth. 17.2, 3, 4, 5. Prov. 27.17. A man may learn something from the countenance of a Christian. When Christ did but look at Peter, it was enough to work him to repentance.

Ʋse 1. As ever you would have comfort on your death bed, labour to be like Christ, by seeing him in the glasse of the Gospel. If you be the worse by seeing him in the ordinances, what will you then be by seeing him face to face? Labour to feel a powerfull change by the Ordinances.

2. This may be an use of comfort to such as find benefit by the ordinances. If thou findest good by the ordinances, then how much better shalt thou be, by seeing Christ face to face? That which makes a Christian fear death, judge∣ment, distresses, is because he doth not see Christ.

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