Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 1 · Verse 7
1 JOHN 1.7.
But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have Fellowſhip one with another, and the blood of Jeſus Chriſt cleanſeth us from all our ſins.
THe ſcope of the Apoſtle St. John was to deliver what he had heard and ſeen from Chriſt, and to this end, that their joy might bee full.
His firſt Meſſage was, that God is light, verſe 5. and from thence hee deſcends to gather a certain ſine of our fellowſhip with God, or want of it, a ſigne of the want of it hee layes down, verſe, 6. he that walketh in darkneſs hath no Fellowſhip with him; now in the 7th verſe, hee layes down a ſigne of our injoying this Fellowſhip with God.
In the Verſe wee have two parts, 1 A certain ſigne of our Fellowſhip with God, namely if wee walk in the light.
2 The priviledge of ſuch an eſtate, the blood of Chriſt cleanſeth us from our ſins; ſo that here is the mark of a true Chriſtian … priviledge.
Doct. To walk in the light, is a certain mark o… true Fellowſhip with God, one with another, that is. God with us, and wee with him.
Light is ſometimes taken for light of Knowledge, Holyneſſe, Comfort, Glory.
1 It is taken for light of Knowledge, Mark. 4.16. Light is clear, and ſo is Knowledge.
2 For Light of Holyneſſe, Epheſ. 5.8. Light is clean, ſo is Holineſſe.
3 For Comfort, Pſalm 97.11.
4 For Glory; now Darkneſſe is contrary to all theſe; now therefore to walk in the light, is to walk in the waies of Knowledge, Purity, Comfort, and Glory: But what is it to walk?
It is commonly took for the whole courſe of a Chriſtian life, but in borrowed ſpeech there are ſome ſignifications therein.
1 It implies, That a Chriſtian courſe is a voluntary motion, a man is not ſaid to walk that is pulled and haled, no motion more voluntary than walking.
2 It is a continued motion, not a ſtep or two that makes a walk.
3 Walking gets ground, its motus progreſſivus, ſtanding ſtill rids no ground, but walking doth; ſo a Chriſtian, he goes about Chriſtian duties, not only voluntarily and continually, but he growes up therein from time to time; ſo that this ſenſe of the Doctrin is thus much; To lead a Chriſtian courſe, voluntarily, continually, and increaſingly, is a ſigne of fellowſhip with God; now that ſuch as thus walk have undoubted fellowſhip with God, appears, Epheſ, 5.8. Ye were ſometimes darkneſſe, but now are ye light in the Lord, walk therefore as children of light, that is, children of God, for God is light, thoſe that walk in truth and not in error and hereſie, and in holy wayes, they are children of God, Pſalm 1.1, 2. the Law of God is the way of holineſſe and truth, and if he that walks in the way be bleſſed, then he hath fellowſhip with God (for in his fellowſhip ſtands all bleſſedneſſe, Pſal. 119.1, 2.)
Reaſ. 1. From the inſufficiency of our nature to walk in theſe wayes, without the Spirit of God in us, and directing of us, Ezek. 36.27. Joh. 15.5. without Chriſt we can do nothing, Hoſ. 14.8. if any good fruit be growing in a Ch iſtan it is from the Spirit of God, otherwiſe the fruit of a carnal heart is carnal, Joh. 3.6. we cannot be holy without Gods Spirit, nor bring forth any good fruit.
2 As we cannot be good without his Spirit, ſo we cannot do good without him, 2 Cor. 3.5. and Chriſt thinks it an impoſſible thing for a Carnal man to ſpeak well, Mat. 12.34.
Reaſ. 2. Such as do walk in the light have recovered the Image of God, now his Image ſtood in light Joh. 1.4. light of Knowledge and Holineſſe, Col. 3.10. Epheſ 4.24. what fellowſhip Adam had with God in Paradiſe, the ſame have all ſuch as walk in the waies of truth and holineſſe.
Q Do you not ſee many true Chriſtians that have true grace, and yet walk in much darkneſſe, how then have they fellowſhip with God? Iſa. 50.10. he that feareth the Lord, and hearkens to the voyce of his Servants, that walks in darkneſſe, and ſeeth no light, &c. which ſhews that a man may fear the Lord, and hearken to the voyce of his Servants, and yet walk in darkneſſe?
Anſ. Such a one walks not in any groſſe ignorance, or error, and hereſie, or in darneſſe of uncleanneſſe, and prophaneſſe, but hee may walk in darkneſſe of diſcomfort, and diſhonour, and yet have true fellowſhip with God; no Chriſtian walks more in light than they that walk moſt in darkneſſe, thoſe that walk moſt diſcouraged, they walk more carefully and fearfully, whereas many that walk in more comfort, walk more looſely, and ſcandalouſly.
Q. What need they walk in diſcomfort if they walk in the light? doth not all diſcomfort ariſe from ignorance, that they do not know their own eſtate, and Gods nature and love towards them, &c?
Anſ. It is true, they walk in darkneſſe, and that is the reaſon why they walk ſo uncomfortably, for if they were truly enlightned in the Nature of God and their own eſtate, they would have more comfort; but yet this is no affected ignorance, but of infirmity and weakneſſe, and want of experience, it is one thing to be in a way, and another thing to walk in that way, ſuch a man doth not walk in that darkneſſe becauſe it is not voluntary, he doth not deſire to walk in darkneſſe; neither is it continual, but he at length grows to be further enlightened.
Ʋſe 1. Of refutation of the Papiſts, that ſay we deny Works, and maintain the Doctrin of the Solifidians.
Anſw. We diſclaime all Works as any cauſe or merit of Juſtification, Pſalm 130.3. but we do not diſclaim good Works in themſelves, we do not diſcourage any from good Works, but encourage them thereunto; is this no encouragement to walk in the light, when we ſay ſuch ſhall have fellowſhip with God, and be cleanſed by the blood of Chriſt? theſe are ſtrong motives to good works; we maintain good works (as the Apoſtle ſaith) for neceſſary uſes, Tit. 3.13. What are theſe neceſſary uſes?
1 For our own parts, that we may have fellowſhip with God.
2 To glorifie God, Matthew 5.16. Let your Works ſo ſhine before men, &c.
3 To ſtop ſlanders of vain men, 2 Pet. 2.5.
4 That by our good Works others may bee led on to a Chriſtian courſe; a good converſation is a good means of the converſion of others.
We further ſay, That good Works juſtifie us, in St. James his ſenſe, Jam. 2 14. There is a double Juſtification.
1 A juſtification of a man from ſin in the ſight of God.
2 Of a Chriſtian from Hypocriſie in the ſight of both God and Man; the firſt way a man is juſtified onelyonly by the blood of Chriſt; the ſecond way by good Works; for we muſt know a mans Conſcience hath two burthens.
1 My Sins are great, and liable to Damnation, how ſhall I be acquit of that? From this our own works cannot juſtifie us, it is done onelyonly by the blood of Chriſt.
2 I, but the blood of Chriſt cleanſeth only true Chriſtians that are in Chriſt, and have true grace, but you are an Hypocrite, how ſhall I now be quit from the imputation of Hypocriſie? In that I am juſtified by my works let it appear to my ſelf and others, that I have lived in all uprightneſſe, 2 Cor. 1.12. ſo that juſtification from Hypocriſie before God an Man, is from the witneſſe of my upright and unblameable life, ſo that I am juſtified from a double accuſation, from the one by one way, from the other by another way. I am a ſinner, that I cannot deny, my beſt works are ſinful, therefore from that I am juſtified only by the blood of Chriſt.
But Chriſts blood belongs not to you, you are an Hypocrite, now how ſhall I know the ſincerity of Faith but from the fruits, which is an holy and righteous life, ſo that if I walk ſo, I juſtifie my ſelf from that imputation. How doth Hezekiah help himſelf, when God ſpake bitter things? Remember how I have waled before thee with an upright heart, 2 Joh. 3. Iſa. 53.11. how do I know that I know him? Why if I keep his Commandments; therefore we ſay, that an holy life is an evident ſign of our fellowſhip with God, it glorifies God, it ſtops ſlanders, and brings on others; and beſides all this, a godly life will juſtifie us from hypocriſie.
Ʋſe 2 For trial, whether we have fellowſhip with God or no: why if we walk in the light we have fellowſhip with him, Col. 3.3. Iſa. 50.10. if a man walk in light of truth and holineſſe, in knowledge of Gods Will, and obedience to it, if a man walk in ſuch a way (I ſay) that is, if he do willingly give up himſelf to the knowledge and obedience of the Will of God, if he continue therein, and grow in grace, and go forward from ſtep to ſtep, from ſtrength to ſtrength, Pſal. 84. it is a true ſigne of fellowſhip with God, there is no corrupt nature that can have ſuch deſires, at leaſt not continue and grow up in them.
Q. May not a Chriſtian be carried out of his way as David into Adultery, Noah into Drunkenneſſe, Peter into Denial of Chriſt?
Anſ. They were indeed wayes of Darkneſſe, but they did not turn into them voluntarily, but through violence of Temptation and corruption, 2 They continued not in them, 3 They grew not up in them, they took no pleaſure in them.
A man is not judged by a ſtep or two, but according to his walk, what is his courſe; a man may take a ſtep or two out of the way, but yet if he recover himſelf, we ſay that is his way, God judgeth not of a mans Spirit by a ſtep or two, for then who could be juſtified? No Chriſtian, but ſometimes he ſteps a wry, and it may be three or four ſteps, as David, 1 Into Idleneſſe, 2 Into Adultery, 3 Drunkenneſſe, 4 Murther, 2 Sam. 11. he went into four wicked ſteps, foul ſteps, but you muſt not judge a man for two or three or four ſteps, for ſo on the contrary, a wicked man may take a ſtep or two into a godly courſe, he may read ſome good Book, pray, hear the Word, this is to bring about ſome end of his, he hath another way to go, only he is turned out of his way for ſome conveniency as he thinks, ſo that there is no judging of a man, on either part by a ſtep or two, but we muſt judge of men by their walks; will you judge a man to be good, that is good in good company? Many a man for company ſake, will go out of his way, ſo we muſt not judge what they do by a ſtart, but what is their conſtant voluntary growing courſe, what way they hold to, that is their way, a good man in evil company, his heart is not quiet, it is no voluntary motion, and ſo contra, we often fail in judging ſome men by ſome few ſteps, but obſerve what is his voluntary conſtant courſe, ad what doth he thrive and grow upon, if a mans Chriſtian courſe be voluntary, conſtant, and growing, it is not the going out a ſtep or two that will condemn us, the wiſe men they came a long journey to ſeek Chriſt, and they went out of their way to Jeruſalem to enquire, but then the Star left them, but they ſtaid not there, but went into their way again, and then the Star appeared to them again, ſo a godly man goes to ſeek Chriſt, and God gives him the light of his Word, yet upon ſome error, he may turn out of the way, and then they leave Gods Word, but they ſtay not there, but go into the way again, and then they have the light of Gods Word to direct them.
Ʋſe 3 May teach men not to content themſelves in any Ignorance, or Uncleanneſſe, or Wicked courſe, you cannot walk in Darkneſſe and have Fellowſhip with God, therefore as you would claim Fellowſhip with God, diſclaime Fellowſhip with ſin, you cannot continue and grow up in any ſin voluntarily, but you diſclaim Fellowſhip with God, yea and with the blood of Chriſt, no Fellowſhip with Chriſt as long as you have any Fellowſhip with ſin.
Ʋſe 4 To teach Chriſtians, that it is not enough to be holy and true, but God requires you ſhould walk in Light and holineſſe, Epheſ. 5 8. Gal. 5.25. if you would be men of Knowledge and Piety, it is needful that you walk in that courſe, it is not enough to ſet an inſtrument in tune, but it muſt ſound forth, it is not enough to have our hearts in a good frame, but we muſt walk in that frame, Pſal. 119. Thy Word is a light unto my feet, and a Lanthern to my pathes; Gods Word was a light to his feet; what, to look on? No, but to be a guide to his ſteps; we ſhould order our ſteps according to his Word; the Church is compared to a Garden, Cant. 4.14. full of ſpices and flowers; is ſhe content that ſhe hath theſe? No, but verſe 16. awake O North-wind, and blow upon my Garden, that my ſpices may flow forth, and yeild a fragrant ſmell; a Chriſtian muſt not only have gifts and Graces, but walk accordingly, a Chriſtian that hath good parts and gifts, if he doth not walk according thereunto, what good doth he? It is a gouty foot that dares not walk, ſo he is a diſtempered Chriſtian, that hath the feet of a Chriſtian, and yet walks not, he is only the image of a Chriſtian, an image hath the exact parts of a man, but makes no uſe of them, it hath eyes and ſees not, ears and hears not, feet and walks not, Pſal. 115.4. ſo he is but the image of a Chriſtian, that hath parts and gifts, and walks not accordingly, therefore whatſoever Spirit God hath given thee, walk in it, if thou haſt a Spirit of Meekneſſe uſe it, if a Spirit of Humility, Patience, &c. uſe it, if a Spirit of Prayer, uſe it, walk in it, elſe you are but images and no true Chriſtians. The more you walk in good duties and a Chriſtian converſation, the more you feel Fellowſhip with God, otherwiſe if you go out of the way, you loſe the Light, the Star, as the wiſe men did; when you walk in the wayes of Pride, and Impatience, and Covetouſneſſe, and Uncleanneſſe, you loſe your way and your light too, which ſhould direct you; therefore what gifts you have, walk in them.
Ʋſe 5. Of comfort to ſuch Chriſtians, as are walking and doing, though they cannot go on ſo faſt as they would; a man that walks, goes not ſo faſt as he that gallops, but yet if you do but walk in a good way, you make a progreſs, and ſhall come to your journeys end at laſt.
What if Judas gallop faſter than the reſt of the Apoſtles, as it is likely, becauſe they did leaſt ſuſpect him, he gallopped, but he ſoon ſtopped his courſe, and turned into the way of perdition: Therefore it is no diſcouragement, if in a Chriſtian courſe you be but going on, though you go on but ſlowly, yet if you rid ground and ſtand not at a ſtay, nor go backward, that is comfort, for you ſurely have Fellowſhip with God.