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

Doct. ••. 〈…〉〈…〉, entire and constant 〈…〉〈…〉

Constancy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 abiding in 〈…〉〈…〉 he not only dwels with God, 〈…〉〈…〉, which implyes in∣tirenesse and 〈…〉〈…〉▪

〈…〉〈…〉 of God 〈…〉〈…〉 Apostle infers it, God is love, 〈…〉〈…〉, all the well placed love in that 〈…〉〈…〉 Chariot of God, whereby he con∣vey 〈…〉〈…〉 when he she is abroad his love in our hearts, and 〈…〉〈…〉 which extend as well to the soule as the 〈…〉〈…〉 Carnall love is neither of God, nor from Go•• 〈…〉〈…〉 love, which is indeed called charity, whe•• that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God com••••••••cates himselfe to such a soule, as the root to the 〈…〉〈…〉 the groun•••• of it is, from the immediate presence of God where 〈…〉〈…〉 such a presence as whereby the holy Ghost lives in the 〈…〉〈…〉, Gal. 5.22. Love 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a fruit of the Spirit, John 1••.34. 〈…〉〈…〉

〈…〉〈…〉 and aptnesse that 〈…〉〈…〉 such a sould to grow up by 〈…〉〈…〉 Love is of an edifying nature, 1 Cor. 〈…〉〈…〉 admonish, 〈…〉〈…〉, it edifiers much; especially if it be 〈…〉〈…〉 there 〈…〉〈…〉 on both sides, both in speaker and 〈…〉〈…〉 you 〈◊〉〈◊〉 savingly: it's love that puts life into 〈…〉〈…〉.

3. From the 〈…〉〈…〉 to 〈…〉〈…〉 his love there more abound∣antly, where he finds 〈◊〉〈◊〉 walking in love; no creature partakes of the bound∣lesse love of God, 〈…〉〈…〉 are grounded 〈◊〉〈◊〉 love, Eph. 3.17, 18, 19. Let but saith towards Christ, 〈…〉〈…〉 our brethren abound in us, and we shall have a large 〈…〉〈…〉 to us. According to the capacity of the receiver, so is the thing received: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 no grace is of so inlarging a nature as love is; so that if we abound in love, then we become of a fa∣thoming

and comprehending nature, so that we comprehend the height, and breadth, and length, and depth of Gods love towards us.

Ʋse 1. It exhorts us all not only to the love, but the constant love of our brethren, this is the benefit of it, you shall have constant and abiding fellow∣ship with God; we should not only grow in love, but grow rooted in love, let no grace be so eminent in you as love; if God had said he dwels in wise∣dome, how should it have provoked men to study for wisdome; but God doth not say he dwels in knowledge, for what then should the ignorant do? He dwels not in honour and riches; for what then should poor men do? But he dwels in such an house as the poorest may build to God, an house of love, therefore above all indowments and gifts of soul or body, have a speciall care, to grow rooted in love; a man may have a world of wit, and yet God not dwell in that wit; a man may have abundance of wealth, honours, and beauty, and yet God not in them; but if you ask where God dwels, I answer, God dwels in love.

There are four places wherein God is said to dwell;

• 1 In the highest holy place.
• 2 In an humble heart, Isa. 57.15.
• 3 Christ dwels in our hearts by faith, Ephes. 3.17.
• 4 God dwels in a loving heart; so that if you would know where God dwels, it's one of these three graces, humility, in faith, or love. How should this provoke us as David saith, never to give sleep to our eyes, or slumber to our eye∣lids, till we have built God an habitation of love in our hearts? Psal. 132.3, 4, 5. Set up a loving heart, and there will God dwell for ever; whereas if your hearts be envious, and hateful and bitter, little doe you know what an evill spirit dwels there, and instead of comfort, you shall find such horrour and anguish, that you may plainly discern, surely God is not in this place, Ephes. 4.26. if you sleep in wrath, the Devil rests with you.

Ʋse 2. Of consolation to every loving heart, if God hath given you an heart to love our brethren, with true spirituall love, take God home with you, God dwels in thy heart, and more then that, thou dwellest in Gods heart; so that hadst thou testimony of no other grace, yet canst thou find an hearty love in thee? thou hast a Tabernacle for the most High to dwell in.