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

Doct. The spotlesse innocency of Christ, is and ought to be an effectual motive to every hopefull Christian, to purge himselfe as Christ is pure, 1 Pet. 1.16. Mat. 5. ult.

Reas. 1. From the ends of Gods predestinating us, Rom. 8.28, 29. and God worketh all things according to the counsell of his will, Ephes. 1.11.

2 From the end of Christs spotlesse life and death, leaving us an example to follow his steps, 1 Pet. 2.21, 22. To justifie us from the guilt, and to purge us from the blot and staine of sin. If we sin, we sin against Gods predestination. and the end of Christs coming.

3 From the neer fellowship between Christ and us, he is our head and hus∣band, we must labour therefore to be suitable and conformable unto him, Eph. 5.26.

4. Christ taketh paines to cleanse and heale us, that so he might present us

without blemish to God. This is the scope of all his holy ordinances, and of Christs shedding his blood.

Ʋse 1. To reprove such as take pleasure in sin, and being reproved, justifie themselves, in saying, all are sinners, we must purge our selves as Christ is pure, in whom is no sin.

2. To stirre up all the children of God, to conforme themselves to Christ in life and death, 2 Cor. 7.1. Let us not sin against Gods predestination and Christs blood; Let us not be a dishonour and griefe to our head, and take Gods ordinances in vain.

How shall we doe this?

1. Beleeve stedfastly in the Lord Christ for justification, and get his blood sprinkled upon us to cleanse us for sanctification.

1. Set the pattern of Christ before thee, and wisely behold it, and view it. This will be effectuall to mould and fashion thee according thereunto, 1 Joh. 1.16. There is a supernaturall power in Christ, lookt upon by the eye of faith, to transfigure us into his likenesse, 2 Cor. 3.18. There is a power in the sight of Christ to convey his Spirit to transforme us.

2. Deale effectually with thine own heart, and pray to God for grace, that thy soule may abhor, and disallow, and condemn all sin in thee, Rom. 7.12, 13. Let thy judgment disallow it, and thy will abhor and hate it, and then it is not we that do it, but sin that dwels in us. God looketh at sin as thy enemy, and pityeth thee.