Commentary on 1 John, To the reader 1 – Affidavit
READER,
TO ſatisfie the importunity of ſome Friends, rather then out of any preſumption that my Teſtimony can prove any credit to this excellent piece, I have ventured to give thee my poor judgment conſcerning it. Ʋpon peruſall I obſerved in the whole ſuch a bleſſed marriage between Piety and Art, ſuch a ſweet condeſcenſion to the meaneſt capacities, ſuch a ſpirituall handling of ſpirituall truths, ſuch clear diſcoveries of the ſtate of Nature, and the ſtate of grace; as I could not but conclude, the Author (though the work had not born the name of Cotton) was a workman that need not be aſhamed. Withall let me tell thee by experience, ſuch a bleſſed Gale of the Spirit of grace (who aſſiſted the Author in inditing) doth accompany the religious peruſal thereof, that I am very confident, if there be the leaſt ſparke of grace in thy heart, it will make thy ſmoaking flax breake forth into an heavenly flame of Light and Love. While I peruſed it to correct the many and manifold errours of the former Impreſſion, the heavenly matter therein contained, both poynted at, and I hope corrected more and greater errours in my heart. If thou be bad*The Reverend Author is peremptory that the word read doth not convert: In this I muſt at leaſt foreign, if not diſſent. it may make thee good, but if thou be good, I am ſure it will make thee better, which is the hearty prayer of him who is,
Feb. 26. 1657. Thy ſoules Friend, and the Servant of thy Faith, Roger Drake.
Place this before the Title,
A Practicall Commentary, OR AN EXPOSITION WITH Obſervations, Reaſons, and Vſes UPON The Firſt Epiſtle Generall of JOHN.
By that Pious and worthy Divine Mr. JOHN COTTON, Paſtor of Boſton in New-England.
The ſecond Edition much corrected and inlarged, with the Addition of an Alphabeticall Table not in the former Edition.
LONDON, Printed by M. S. for Thomas Parkhurſt, and are to be ſold at his ſhop at the Three Crownes over againſt the Great Conduit at the lower end of Cheapſide, M.DC.LVIII.
TO THE READER,
CHRISTIAN READER,
THeſe following Notes upon the Firſt Epiſtle of St. John, falling by providence into my hands, I was unwilling to detain them by me, and make only a private advantage of them, but delivered them into the hands of my Friend, Mr. Thomas Parkhurſt, a Bookſeller in London, that if by the judgmenr of Reverend Divines (to whom he intended to communicate the ſame) they might be found uſefull for the Publick, they might ſee the light: And having communicated thoſe accorddingly to ſuch men whom the whole Nation may juſtly honor for piety and ability, and finding their approbation, as to their worth, their uſefulneſſe, and conſequently their publiſhing, I have thought good to prefix an Epiſtle; in which miſtake not, I neither intend a commendation of the Author or the Work; if I ſhould undertake it as to the Author, I might be anſwered as Antalcidas did in the like caſe, to one, who having prepared a Book, he asked of him the argument of it, who anſwered, it was Herculis Encomium; to whom Antalcidas, Quis illum vituperat? Supervacaneum exiſtimans in eo laudando ſumere operam quem uno ore praedicarent omnes: And the like might juſtly be retorted upon me, ſhould I goe about to magnifie the Author of this following Expoſition. What needs this? Who ever diſpraiſed, or durſt under …alue him▪ He was a burning and ſhining light, famouſly … abroad and at home, as an inſtrument of great glory to his God, great good to many ſouls; and (which is an honor that all preachers reach not) with the expiration of his Miniſteriall breath, he finiſht not his Miniſteriall work; for though he be dead, yet he ſpeaketh, as in this, ſo in divers other excellent Treatiſes.
And as not of the Author, ſo neither to the Work it ſelfe, ſhall I ſay ought this way. I judge it ſufficient to render it deſirable, to tell you it was the Work of that learned man; yet more, of that gracious man, and faithfull Servant of Chriſt, Mr. John Cotton, as is aſſured me by a reverend and godly neighbor, Mr. Tho. Oresby Miniſter of Hackwell in Eſſex, who well knew him, and heard him preach much of it: Such was the Author, that it commends the Work to atteſt it his; and yet ſuch is the Work it ſelfe, that though the Author were unknown, it could not however but meet with reverent and ready entertainment for its own ſake. Had his own hand put it forth, doubtleſſe it had been more poliſht then now it is, more inlarged and refined: But Chriſtians know how to be charitable, & to deale with the Works of Gods ſervants, brought into the world after themſelves were taken out of the world, as we doe by little Orphans whoſe Father is dead, if we ſee them any wayes miſuſed, or ſubjected to any wants, we reproach them not, but pity them, becauſe their Carers for, are taken from them: And yet for the Work as it is, let me be bold to ſay, It may ſtand amongſt none of the meaneſt helps to ſaving knowledge.
It's true, we live in a curious and carping age, an age wherein much knowledge, but (ſhame and griefe to ſpeake it) little obedience. Oh England! great are thy helps, thy means high, as to grace, and the things of thy peace, as to the knowledge of God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent, whom to know is eternall life; but who is he (except he hath bowels of braſſe, and an heart of iron) that mourns not at thy requitall? Are not unthankfulneſſe, diſobedience, contempt, wantonneſſe, together with other ſins, (whoſe name put them together is legion, for they are many) and at the beſt, a brain and notionall knowledge; the fruits, that if God come to ſearch thee with candles, he ſhall find thee only laden with.
Take heed yet a little while, and you ſhall hear a voyce, Give an account of your ſtewardſhip; all talents and prizes of this nature muſt be one day accounted for, with which no people ſtored like thy ſelfe. What week almoſt paſſeth thee, wherein God affords thee not ſome additionall ſupply or other to thy old ſtore? Loe here another price put into thy hand to get wiſdome, in the ſearch and reading whereof thou ſhalt not be diſtracted with vain, unneceſſary, and unedifying, controverſies; but they are plain, ſound, and ſaving truths that here preſent themſelves, and thoſe ſtomacks that ſtand affected to ſuch meat, are invited.
But I have done, it being all my Work to atteſt whoſe Work this was; and being credibly informed that it will come forth recommended to thee by a more skilfull and artificial hand, abler to judge, and judging to ſet forth the worth and workman; therefore commending thee to him, and him wth thy ſelfe to Gods bleſſing, I reſt
From my Study in Much wakering in Eſſex, Octob. 15, 1655. A Servant to both, in Chriſt, and to the Church of Chriſt, Chr. Scott.
IT is ſufficiently evident by the preceding Epiſtle, and by many other arguments, that the enſuing Sermons were preached by Mr. John Cotton, whoſe name is ſo deſervedly precious among the Saints of God, that it cannot but incourage them to read them, and hath invited me to allow them to be printed for the publick good.
Edmund Calamy.