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

Doct. That the spirit of Antichrist was come into the world in St. Johns time, and as in St. Johns time, so in St. Pauls time also:

He speaks of the mystery of Iniquity, that Antichrist did work in his time, 2 Thess. 2.7.

There are three things in the body of Popery:

1. A spirit breathing in it's doctrine, worship, and discipline; the same was visible in the Apostles time.

1. For the doctrine, there was a spirit of errour in their foundation, and wrought mightily at that time in their hearts, so that men durst not trust the grace of Christ, a•• if there were not safe holding upon naked Christ; but the Apostle doth utterly inveigh against such, Gal. 5.3, 4, 5. saith he, either trust God for all or nothing, distrusting of grace, or depending on something in nature or grace received, are the rocks upon which so many souls suffer shipwrack in Religion at this day.

2. There is a spirit of arrogancy, contempt of Magistracy and Government, Jude vers. 8. looking at the Pope as the Sun in the Firmament; this was flou∣rishing in the Apostles time, and now also.

2. There is a spirit that breatheth in their worship:

1. A spirit of superstition, Col. 2.18. men at that time worshipped Angels, thus the Papists at this day; but they have more Angels and Saints, to which they cleave rather then to Christ, they did begin to worship Im∣ages, 1 John 5.21. Therefore John blesseth his babes from them: men de∣parted from God, and clave not only to creatures, but the works of mens hands, the same spirit ruleth at this day: there was a spirit of hypocrisie, a shew of Religion, without the mighty power of the Lord Jesus shewed is any performance, Col. 2.23. they had many things to draw their bodies and they durst not come to the Lord Jesus, but they must have some Saint or Angel to come to him by: they did invent courses the Lord did not require; this the Apostle cals a shew of Religion, which is hypocrisie; and so at, this day among the Fryars, they have a shew of Religion, they take up wor∣ships, which God doth dot require, of which it may be said, Who required those things of you? the Galatians did observe dayes, and months, and years, therefore the Apostle is afraid that he hath bestowed his labour in vain upon them, Chap. 4.10, 11.

3. What was the spirit of their discipline and government? they did affect primacy; the Apostles were no sooner removed out of the world, but this spirit began to spring up, yea, while some of them lived, John 3.9.

2. That that spirit did affect and exercise tyranny, casting out of the Church such Ministers as were more faithful, 3 Epist. John 9.10. Diotrephes would not receive John himselfe, nor his brethren; nor would suffer those that would; that spirit hath been in the Church of Rome from that day to this. A second part of their tyranny was, in imposing upon them un∣profitable

courses, unprofitable they were because they did perish in the using Col. 2.20, to 22.

3. There was a spirit of coveteousnesse in Ministers, they did not savour the things of God; but did relish wealth and ambition, Jude 11. they follow the wayes of sin, as Cain did. In Cain there was first hypocrisie, he offers a sacrifice, and when he saw his brothers sacrifice accepted, being offered in faith, and his not, there arose in him a spirit of wrath, which ended in bloudshed; such was the spirit of Popery in Queen Maries days. Some walk in the wayes of Balaam, the wayes of coveteousnesse, putting stumbling blocks before the people, and that for covetousnesse sake. Thirdly, some have the gainsaying spirit of Korah, they gainsay the Ordinances of God; like as he rose up against M••ses and Aaron; this spirit breathing in Antichri∣stian teachers at this day, was hatched in the Apostles time. There was a spirit of Schism in the Apostles time, some saying, I am of Paul and, I of Apollo, &c. 1 Cor. 1.12. and so at this time among the Papists, Jude v. 19.

Ʋse 1. See the diligence of Satan to sow tares, even in the Apostles times, therefore Ministers should watch diligently over their people, that no such spi∣rit be sown in their hearts; Satan will creep in by dissension, the affections being once distempered, the judgement will soon be corrupted. Wherefore Ministers and people should have a speciall care of dissension; for if dissension creep in, then soon will you have your worship shut up, and then there will be a wofull wast of Religion.

2. See the impudence of Heretiques, that dare look God in the face, and rise up among his many bright and glorious lights in the Apostles times; but let no Christians be discouraged by this, but rather the more encouraged to con∣tend and strive for the faith of Christ.

3. This should teach Schollars, not to take any ancient doctrine for truth till they have examined it; Though Peter was blessed for the testimony of Christ, one part of the day, yet he was sharply reproved the same day; trust not any doctrine almost in regard of the antiquity of it, for it may be Antichri∣stianism, though in the Apostles times.

4. If we would be growing up in grace from day to day, take we heed of the spirit of Antichrist; of taking up the worship which God hath not com∣manded, take we heed of hypocrisie, a spirit of Popery, a shew of devotion. Come we to the Sacrament, as if we would receive the power of the Lord Jesus vailed in much simplicity: take we heed of the spirit of Cain, Balaam, and Korah, gainsaying the Ordinances of God; but walk we stedfastly in that Religion we have received.