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

Doct. 3. It's one of the holy ends, and scope of the holy Scripture, that believers might belive.

St. John when he wrote his Gospel, it was for this end, That they might be∣lieve, John 20.31. For though believing be already wrought, yet they that do believe had need to believe more, the Word is the mighty power of God to lead believers from faith to faith, Rom. 1.17. that is, from one degree of faith to another, Phil 1.25 as that is not only faith, but increase of faith, so 1 Thess. 3.10. there is not any of Gods servants, even the most exemplary Christians, but there is some defect in their faith, which had need to be supply∣ed, and this may be the first reason.

Reas. 1. Taken from the defects that are found in believers, the supply whereof they had need to increase and grow up to. 1 They had need to grow up to the belief of some principles which they believed not before, and this is a defect in the objects of faith; many of the Apostles believed not the Resurrection of Christ; nay Thomas said, he should not believe, ex∣cept he should see the print of his nayles, John 20.25. So many of the Corinths believed not the Resurrection from the dead, a main Article of Faith: the Thessalonians lacked this in their Faith, they thought Christ would then have come suddenly, and therefore began to lay aside all care in their out∣ward callings, which Paul informs them in, 2 Thess. 2. The Galatians are wanting in believing justification by faith, and therefore Paul writes that E∣pistle to them.

2. There is something wanting in the habit, or in the grace of faith, therefore the Apostle prays for the Colossians, that they might be rooted and establish∣ed in the faith, Col. 2.7. even as a young plant may be so weak, that the least rub may root it up; so a Christian may have some rooting in Christ, and yet want sound rootednesse and firmnesse of faith, there may be a want of that confidence and full assurance that is required.

3 Faith may be wanting in the sense of it, for a Christian may have at∣tained to a great measure of lively faith, and yet be in doubt whether he have any true faith or not; now that we may be assured of it, he had need to be built up in faith; as the poor man said to Christ, Lord I believe, help mine unbelief, he believed, and yet knew not well whether he should call it faith, or unbelief, therefore Phil. 1.25. Paul trusted that he should continue with them for the furtherance and joy of their faith; now so long as a Christian is doubtful of his faith, he hath little joy or comfort in it, therefore they had need to be brought on further, that their faith may be a joyful faith.

4 Faith had need to be increased in regard of the acts of it, which are perswasion and trust on Christ, those had need to be increased. Peter when he walked on the water, he was perswaded Christ would save him, but when the winds began to be boysterous, he was afraid and began to sink, but Christ reacheth forth his hand to help him, and reproves him, O thou of little faith, Matth. 14.30, 31. The two Disciples that went to Emaus, and were talking of Christs death, they said one to another, We trusted it had been he that should have delivered Israel, we so trusted, but now are afraid we are deceived, for they looked that the Messias should abide for ever, but what saith Christ to them? O fools and slow of heart to believe, so that faith had need to increase in the acts of it.

5 Faith had need to grow in the fruits of it, though faith may be of some strength and comfort, yet it may be much wanting in the fruits of it; one fruit of faith is love, Gal. 5.6. Now a Christian may leave his first love, and so far, that withall he may lose his first works, Revel. 2.2, 3. there∣fore

a Christian had need to grow in the increase of the fruit of faith, in their love and fruitfulnesse, that their love may abound, and that their last works may be more then the first▪

Reas. 2. From the marv••llous power that is in the Scripture to supply all those defects of faith in the Scripture, whether read, preached conferred, ex∣amined, or meditated on.

1. The Scriptures preached, they are the mighty power of God 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Salvation, Rom. 1.16, 17. All their writings are good helps this way▪ but yet their personal presence, their preaching much more effectuall. Therefore Paul prayes that he might come to the Thessalonians, that he might perfect what was lacking in their faith, 1 Thess. 3.10, 11.

2. The word conferred about is very effectuall to the increase of faith▪ Luke 24.27. When the two Disciples were conferring together, and their hearts were sad, Christ he comes in with them and warmed their hearts so that their faith who confirmed, that when they returned to Jerusalem; they told the Disciple••, The Lord is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 indeed. Now they made no more doubt of it. And you know how effectual Philips conscience was with the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, ••e was brought 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thereby to believed with all his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Act. 8, 37.

3 The word read 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of that force that by reading you may believe, John 20.3••. By reading th•• Scriptures believers are established in the Faith.

4 The word examined, that is, when h••••rers bring things to the ••••l∣lance of the Sanctuary; when they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Masters doctrine, by the Scrip∣tures, whether it be sound or not▪ This 〈…〉〈…〉 use to father our faith; nay, to ••••get faith sometimes in those that 〈…〉〈…〉 not before, as it did in the ••••reans, Acts 17.11, 12. Th•••• ••••king this c••••efe, many of them believed, Many times when a Christian 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Word of God, his hear•• fails him, he is not well perswaded of what 〈…〉〈…〉, his 〈…〉〈…〉 examines it; why, oft-times the Word 〈◊〉〈◊〉 works and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 faith, when the Word preached did not.

5 The Word meditated on 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of special use to increase our faith, to make 〈◊〉〈◊〉 more comfortable, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and rooted old his faith, Psal. 1.3. •••• When a man so delights in the Word, that he meditates there•••• on day and night, such a one shall be as a tree planted by the river side, well rooted, well watered, and so he becomes to be very fruitfull in every season, his leaf fades not, but in every condition of life he brings forth seasonable fruit.

Ʋse 1. Hence we may take a good tryal of a faithful Minister, and a faith∣ful Christian. We see St. John, when he had begun faith in them, he would not leave them so, as thinking that what he had begun, God would perfect; and therefore he would leave them and turn to others. This was far from St Johns practise, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it should be far from every faithful Minister, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 leave believers that they have began faith in them; but their care ought to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be desi∣rous first to grow themselves in faith, Lord increase our faith, Luke 17.••9. so to confirm and establish others in the faith. So for Christians; it's a signe of a good heart, not only to labour for truth of faith, but also for growth of faith; that ••s the Apostle prayed, so ought every Christian to pray, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 increase our faith; or as the poor man cryed to Christ, Lord I belive, help my unbelief••▪ •• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 need of a great deal of faith to be so plentiful in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and to heal of∣fences, as Christ requires, for on this ground the Apostle pray•••• 〈…〉〈…〉 faith, Luke 17.3, 4, 5. So we have many temptations to mee•• with, there∣fore a Christian had need of strong faith. Above al things take the shield of faith Eph. 6.6. the shield that covers the whole body. No man would willingly go into the field with a weak 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but that had need to be metal of proofe to supply a man at every turn, and every occasion, it's a signe of a lively faith, if it be a growing faith.

2 It reproves the sacrilegious, ungodly, and uncharitable practise of the Church of Rome, that take away the Scripture from the people. St. John writes those things that they might believe, why then take away the Scrip∣ture, you make them no better then Infidels, under the faith of Gods elect; And as they are injurious to the souls of the people, so they cast the imputati∣on of ignorance upon God, as if God had been mistaken when he sent his Word, that believers might believe, and they think that reading the Word would make them hereticks.

Ʋse 3. For you that do believe, be frequent in reading the Word, for to you it was written, that you might believe. Meditate there on day and night. The blessed will finde a time to meditate on Gods Word every day, and every night, and this you shall ••••••le very effectuall to the increase of your faith. The King himselfe, whose employments were greatest, the Lord ••aid a charge on him to read in the Book of the Law all the dayes of his life. Deut. 17.14. And much more is every private man bound to it. If these God hath sanctified, to help us in our belief, then as ever you would believe, ••e diligent in hearing, reading, conferring, examining, and meditating on the Word, all these are notable means to increase and inlarge our saith; therefore if thou ••e wanting in faith, consider whether thou hast not been wanting in this practise, take away the Word, and take away the fuel of your faith. And for you that believe not, though this Scripture was not so much written for you, yet be∣cause hearing is the only way of faith 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 10.17. be diligent in hearing the Word preached, Prov. 8.3•• ••5. Blessed it be that heareth ••••, for whose fin∣deth me, findeth life. And when you have heard, be careful to search and ••••a∣mine whether the things preached be agreeable to Gods Word. By this means many that believed not before, have been taught to believe, and be careful to conferre on the Word. The Lord hath sanctified the Word preached, and the Word examined, and the Word confer••ed aboue, to the begetting of faith, and the Word read to the increasing of faith; ••herefore be ste••u•••• in these, and withall joyn hearty prayer to God, 1 Tim. 4.4, ••. that he would open thine eyes, and cause thee to understand, and bow thine heart to imbrace every truth, that so every ordinance may be effectual to thee, to the 〈…〉〈…〉 and increasing of faith in thee.