Christ the Fountain of Life

While serving his church in Boston, Lincolnshire, John Cotton preached a sermon series on First John. The exposition was so impactful that, in 1651, he thought it beneficial to publish his sermons on 1 John 5:12-17 under the title Christ the Fountain of Life. What makes Fountain so timeless is its beautiful and detailed focus on the person of Jesus Christ, as well as the fullness and assurance of life enjoyed by all true believers.

John Cotton (1585-1652) influenced the churches of New England, and pioneered what would come to be known as “The Congregational Way,” which would later be adopted by other Puritan ministers such as Thomas Goodwin and John Owen. Beyond his ecclesiological influence, Cotton was a formidable scholar, competent catechist, and dynamic expository preacher. In a day when many towns were struggling to sustain themselves spiritually, the Boston church was experiencing intense revival as hundreds of residents were coming to faith in Jesus Christ through Cotton’s labors.