Cartalyst\Sentinel\Users\IlluminateUserRepository::findByCredentials PHP Method

    public function findByCredentials(array $credentials)
    {
        if (empty($credentials)) {
            return;
        }
        $instance = $this->createModel();
        $loginNames = $instance->getLoginNames();
        list($logins, $password, $credentials) = $this->parseCredentials($credentials, $loginNames);
        if (empty($logins)) {
            return;
        }
        $query = $instance->newQuery();
        if (is_array($logins)) {
            foreach ($logins as $key => $value) {
                $query->where($key, $value);
            }
        } else {
            $query->whereNested(function ($query) use($loginNames, $logins) {
                foreach ($loginNames as $name) {
                    $query->orWhere($name, $logins);
                }
            });
        }
        return $query->first();
    }