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

Doct. That many false Prophets even in the dayes of St. John the Apostle, were gone out into the world.

There 〈◊〉〈◊〉 severall false Prophets as Ecclesiastical stori•• relate.

What is a false Prophet?

He is not every one that teacheth false doctrine, for we know but in part, and prophesie but in part, 1 Cor. 13.9. to 12. 〈…〉〈…〉 ••art we may prophesie falsly. A false Prophet then is such a one that preac••••h some doctrin that o∣verthroweth the doctrine of the Christian faith; when he doth seduce others to believe false doctrine, who•••• words fret as a Canker, 2 Tim. 2.17, 18.

1. When men preach such doctrine as cannot be delivered without peril, without damnation: except they afterwards repen•••• 2 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 2.1, 2, 3. Such are called ravening Wolves, ••atth. 7.15. they destroy both the souls and bodies of those that believe them, they root up the Church of God like wild Boars.

2. They seduce others to believe the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 2 Pet. 1.1, 2, 3. they sell such mens souls for nought 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it's said, They should deceive if 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were possi∣ble the very elect. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 24.24▪

3. Such as 〈…〉〈…〉 of their errours, and yet will not yeeld, Tit. 3, 10, 11. such are to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 being perverted, and sin being damned of their own souls, a man i•• ••hen convinced when he will ••light the poi••••••n which he is convinced, and if you hold him to it, that he cannot start 〈◊〉〈◊〉, he will fall out with you, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Apostle ••sheth that such men were even cut off, Gal. 5.17.

〈…〉〈…〉 only have divisions among Christi∣ans, that so the spirits of his fait•• ••es may ••e discerned, but also he will have heresies, that so they may be ••e••••ed in judgement as well as in affections. 2. That so 〈…〉〈…〉 made manifest; as by the wind you may ••ee the difference betwe•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and ••haffe.

2. From the envious man who sowed tares, while the husbandman that sowed good seed in the field slept, Matth. 13.24, 25.

3. From the ignorance and darknesse of the minds of professors, Rev. 9.2. those Locusts were false teachers, which came out of the smoake of the bot∣tomlesse pit.

Ʋse 1. If in St. Johns time there were so many mists 〈…〉〈…〉 re∣proves such men, as when they see such variety of opinio•• in Religion•• do s••t down till, all men be agreed but do•••• St. John make this 〈…〉〈…〉 Prophets are gone out into the world, therefore sit down 〈…〉〈…〉 true Teachers? No, but rather makes this use of i•• to 〈…〉〈…〉 of their Ministers, because many false Prophets are gone out 〈…〉〈…〉.

2, This may teach us not to wonder, although many also Prophets be gone out in these dayes in the light of the Gospel, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they durst look such ••lorious sight in the face as were St. J•••••• and Paul 〈…〉〈…〉 dayes, there is not such power of godlinesse in the hearts 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Profe•••• but Chri∣stians now are given to much worldlinesse, and many rest in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, there∣fore wonder not though the ••••ce of the earth be 〈…〉〈…〉 with here∣sies.

3. This should teacheth of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to take heed of opening a door to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Prophets. Take heed of ignorance in your judgement, of ambition and sensu∣ality this is the smoak of the bottomelesse pit.

4. Try the spirits of false Prophets in these dayes, and take not up every instruction at the first blush, but try them; there are sundry spirits o•• false Prophets, you shall find in Popery a spirit of presumption, doubt, despaire, hypocrisie, not one point in Popery but is carryed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 some of those wings.

1. They teach a man cannot be assured of salvation, this is doubting, yet a man may merit salvation, this is presumption, they worship stocks and stones.

2. The sp••••••ts of Arminians are a spirit of bitternesse 〈…〉〈…〉 the bre∣thren, a spirit of emulation, of disloyalty to ••••••ir Prince, of liberty and secu∣rity.

3. Among the 〈…〉〈…〉 shall find a spirit of unconformity and whoredome.

4. There is a doctrine of faith and 〈…〉〈…〉, which doth and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the doctrine of Jesus Christ, Rom. 8.2, 3. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doctrin•• of free grace is maintained to free a man from prayer, preaching, and an•• Christian duty that God ••ath ordained to maintain grace 〈…〉〈…〉 not David pray God 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cre∣ate in him a 〈…〉〈…〉, and to renew a ri•••• ••••irit, within 〈…〉〈…〉 there∣fore a man ought to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that he 〈…〉〈…〉 of God q••uickened in him; this doctrine of faith and 〈…〉〈…〉 secretly withdraw a man from the Ordinances of God.

Lastly, There is a spirit 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••om•• on Prot••••••nt which fashion their Re∣ligion according to the 〈…〉〈…〉 their profit and case they follow •• course of the Court and 〈…〉〈…〉.