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

Doct. 3. The purity of Christ is the pattern of every Christians purity. Or thus: Every hopefull Christian makes Christs purity the pattern of his, 1 Cor. 11.1. Heb. 12.12. Be ye followers of me, as I am of Christ.

Set before you a pattern of a cloud of witnesses, 1 John 2.6. He that abides in Christ, ought to walk as he hath walked.

Why should every Christian make Christ the pattern of his purity?

1. From the end of Gods predestination. He hath predestinated us to be con∣formed to the image of his Son, Rom. 8.29. And God in all things requires that we should grow up to the fellowship of the stature of Jesus Christ.

2. From the perfection of the pattern. All other patterns of godly men will fail us in some things, but Christ is a perfect pattern, he will fail us in no∣thing,

Ʋse 1. This should teach us to reject the society of such men as inwardly loath the name of Puritans; alas if they cannot endure the name of purity in poor weak Christians, how would they hate the purity of Christ? If they cannot endure the brightnesse of a candle, how will they endure the brightness of the Sun? and yet they say, they love Christ. But if they have not purity, how can they love Christ? and if they love not Christ, they are accursed for ever.

2. This reproves those, who though they do not hate purity, yet, they think themselves very well, if they exceed the worst sort of men; they are no whore-mongers, nor theeves, nor deceivers. Alas, if there be no more then morall honesty, they shall come far short of Hea∣ven.

3. This reproves the Romish Church, that think ordinary Christians are not bound to so strict a pattern as their regular Christians. Did ever any of them reach higher then Christ? and is not every Christian exhorted to set Christ as a pattern?

4. This reproves another sort of Christians, who if they have got but such a measure of grace, as they are assured to be in a state of grace, they never look further, but now they look out for themselves in the world, as if they might rest in what is behinde, and never presse forward to what is before them, contrary to Paul: Know, O Christian, it is not enough to get truth of grace, nor some purity, but you must grow pure as Christ is pure.

Ʋse 2. This may exhort us all, as we would maintain our hope to be made like Christ hereafter, so to strive to this exactnesse of purity, to purifie our selves as he is pure. If you would be hopefull Christians, you must be growing Christians, growing up to the measure of the purity of Christ; decay in growing▪ and you decay in hope. No Christian so full of joy and hope, as he that is every day getting something, and growing up to perfection, 1 John 2.6. Phil. 3.12, 13, 14.

Motives to stir us up to grow in grace.

1. So soon as you slack this care, your hope, faith, and grace waxeth weak. If we see our bodies do not voyd excrements for many dayes, we think our bodies are not in a good state but some diseases lye on us. How can we have an healthfull soul, when we purge not our corruption many a day?

2. From the great uncomelinesse that is in us, if we do not strive to be pure. Is it not an uncomely thing to see the head to be of gold, and the mem∣bers partly brasse, partly clay and dirt?

3. It's very grievous to the Spirit of God, that we should be no better for all it hath dwelt so long in us. When Christ had been long with his Disci∣ples,

and they were not bettered by him, he up braids them, O foolish and slow of heart to believe! how long shall I be with you? It was a griefe to Christ that he should be long with his Disciples, and they not to grow up to strength of grace.

Obj. But doth not virtue consist in a golden mean?

Ans. Virtue consists not in a mean between two degrees, but in a mean between two extreams. You may exceed the bounds of righteousnesse, and so be unrighteous; but you cannot exceed the degrees of righteousnesse, Christ saith, Be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect. Can you then be too pure and holy. No you cannot, though you were as full of g••ace and holinesse as Christ himselfe.

4. As ever you desire to be worthy partakers of the Sacrament, then labour to purifie your selves. The reason why many a christian comes to the Sacra∣ment, and finds no comfort, is, because they grieved the Spirit of God before they came, by neglecting to cast out those obstructions which hinder the influ∣ence of the head to the members, 1 Cor. 11.30, 31.

Means to help us to purifie our selves.

1. Be perswaded that you are not in a safe estate, till you are grown up to some good measure of purity. You would think him in a poor case, that should live 200 years, and yet for want of evacuation should live in sicknesse and weaknesse. And so a christian is in an uncomfortable estate unlesse he purge himselfe.

2. Be very watchfull over thy wayes.

3. Use the ordinances of God constantly. Say not after conversion, It is no matter whether we be alwayes conversant in Gods ordinances, but at some times, when the Spirit moves us. Labour we to carry our selves not as idle hearers, but as faithfull doers; labour we to see our spots and deformities, and strive to purge them, labour we to practise new duties, as they are renewed to us.