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

Doct. That our fellowship with God and Christ, it is not outward and visi∣ble, but inward, and consists in love.

Joh. 1.18. No man hath seen God at any time, no man hath had speech face

to face with God the Father, the onely begotten Son that lay in the bosome of the Father hath revealed him, 1 Tim. 1.16. He dwels in that light that no eye can attain unto, whom no man hath seen, nor can see; his light is so glorious, that no man can behold it; when Moses desired to see God face to face; God answered None could ever see him and live, Exod. 33.10.

Obj. Jacob saw God when he wrestled with him, Gen. 32.24,

Jacob saw not God the Father, but Jesus Christ, he is called an Angel, and Hosea cals him an Angel, Chap. 12.4.

2 No man hath seen the Son in his glorious presence, in the presence of his Nature and Essence.

But Moses saw God face to face, Exod. 33.11.

Answ. He did not see his glory, vers. 18. though in some sence he saw his face: Moses saw Gods back parts, but his face he could not see, vers. 23.

What is meant by Gods back parts?

That is spoken of God according to the manner of men, Numb. 12.8.

Quest. What was it that Moses saw, when he saw Gods glory?

Answ. That he should see him in a glorious resemblance, he should see him in his attributes, which did wonderfully affect Moses, that glorious similitude was such, as that it was wonderful glorious, so that it did make his face to shine vers. 35. And as the out-side was glorious, so was the in-side of Moses heart inlarged, which made him go in and out before the people: in this man∣ner they saw Christ, Matth. 17.1. to 5. they were so affected: they knew not what they said.

Quest. Why cannot we see Gods face and live?

Ans. First, from the frailty of flesh and blood: The presence of God would swallow us up, we are not capable of beholding God the Father, Son, or holy Ghost; when we are in heaven, we shall be changed.

2 From the sinful corruption of humane nature; his glorious presence, which is a consuming fire, would consume us. When Isaiah saw God in a similitude, but in a glimpse of his presence, then said he, Isa. 1.5. Woe is me, for I am un∣done, because I am unclean, he was afraid of his life, though he saw God but in a similitude.

Ʋse 1. To teach us how to understand many places of Scripture, that speak of Gods manifesting himself to any; understand not God the Father, but Jesus Christ assuming a humane body, they saw him face to face, or spake mouth to mouth, or they saw a similitude of God his glorious attributes.

2 Be willing to put off mortal infirmities, so shall we see God face to face, Phil. 1.23. 2 Cor. 12.1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

3 Of tryal whether we have communion with God or no?

1 You never heard God the Father, nor the Son; God hath now delive∣red all his counsell in his Word by his Son, yet we may have familiar, sensible, affectionate communion with God, Heb. 1.1.

2 We may finde God revealing himselfe to our hearts and consciences, Psal. 73.24, 25. That he is the chiefest joy, other feares and cares take us not up, Heb. 11.27.

4 It stirs us up to the love of our brethren. No man hath seene God at any time, but have communion with him, and communion of love; God loves his people, we have communion with God, Psal. 16.2, 3. The Papists ask for Ima∣ges, can there be any better resemblance of the Father then the Son his Image? and in loving and having communion with Gods Image that is like him? they kill his living Images to honour dead Images. It is the greatest love we can shew to God, to love his Image.