Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 1 · Verse 3, 4
1 JOHN 1.3, 4.
That, I ſay, which we have ſeen and heard, declare we unto you, &c.
IN theſe two Verſes we have of the Apoſtles Doctrine,
1. The ſubject repeated, That which we have ſeen and heard.
2. And declared.
3. The end.
1 Subordinate, fellowſhip with the Apoſtles.
2 Supream, fulneſſe of joy.
The ſubject is repeated,
1. For Explication or plainneſs ſake, for the Parentheſis of the ſecond verſe would otherwiſe, by interrupting the courſe of ſpeech, have obſcured the ſentence.
2. For confirmation of what he had ſaid before, he thrice repeateth, that which we have ſeen, and doubleth, that which we have heard, to ſhew, that he doubted not of what he ſpake, but was moſt confident and reſolute therein.
Obſ. Obſerve hence the certainty and undoubted truth of the Doctrine of the Apoſtles.
Reaſ. 1. The Apoſtles taught nothing but what was manifeſt to their ſenſes. See 2 Pet. 1.16. Compare with him his Succeſſor, who ſeeing great ſums of Money brought in by Indulgences, Pardons, &c. ſaid to one of his Cardinalls, O quantum fabula iſta de Chriſto nobis proficit! Again, ſenſe took away doubting even from unbelieving Thomas, John 20.25, 27, 28.
2. The Apoſtle again and again ingeminates here, that what they taught was manifeſt to their ſenſe; now ingeminations are for confirmations, Gen. 41.32. Gal. 1.8, 9. Ezek. 7.6. this therefore doth ſhew again, how confident he was of it himſelfe, i. e. therefore no marvell of that ſpeech, John 21. penult. We know, &c. For,
3. The efficacy of that Doctrin, or the power of it, argueth the certainty of it; for that Doctrine which giveth us union with God, communion with the Saints of God, fulneſſe of joy in our ſelves, muſt needs be a moſt certaine Doctrin of heavenly truth, there is no perſwaſion to ſettle a mans own Conſcience anſwerable to this.
4. And for a fourth Reaſon, conſider another Branch of the power of this Doctrine, the Apoſtles that declared it were for the moſt part poor and ſimple men, and unlearned men, the Doctrine taught was but of a Crucified Saviour, harſh to carnall ears, 1 Cor. 1.23. the times were ſuch, wherein it was not onelyonly every where ſpoken againſt, Acts 28.22. but alſo grievouſly perſecuted throughout the Roman Empire, and that with exquiſite Torments, and yet it did ſo powerfully work,Plut in Apop. Priſ. Regum. that in Tertullians time (which was the next Age after Chriſt) there were more Chriſtians every where, than of all other Profeſſions beſides. Cyrus indeed allured many to be his followers; but he ſent out great men to make another kinde of Proclamation, Whoſoever will come and follow after me, if he be a Foot-man, I will make him a Horſ-man; if he be a Horſ-man, I will make him a Rider in a Coach; if a Farmer, a Gentleman; if he poſeſſe a Cottage, I will give him a Village; if he have a Village, I will give him a City; and if he be Lord of a City, I will make him Prince of a Region, or Country; and as for Gold, I will pour it out to him by weight and heaps, and not by number: But Chriſts Proclamation is contrary, Luke 9.23. & 14.26. and yet had he infinitely more followers.
All other Reaſons, as the teſtimony of the Church, &c. are but like the woman of Samaria, preparing us to believe, John 4.29. this convinceth us ſo ſtrongly, that in compariſon we reject other Reaſons moving us to believe, as they did, John 4.41, 42. How true is that of Picus in his Concluſions? as Faith, which is but a bare credulity, is in a degree of perfection inferior to ſcience, ſo that Faith which is wrought in us by the work of the Holy Ghoſt is greater, and more certain, than any ſcience, gotten by demonſtration.
Ʋſe 1 If the Apoſtles Doctrin were ſo certain, that they preached nothing but what they had ſeen and heard, then hence we ſee a reaſon, why they were ſo bold, and zealous, and diligent in preaching, Act. 4.20. 2 Pet. 1.15, 16. Fables are beſt at firſt hearing, but comfortable, ſound, and certain truths, the oftener they are heard, the more profitable.
Again, hence we ſee a reaſon of their certainty and conſtancy in all their wayes, for they and their Doctrine; were of the ſame nature, 2 Cor. 1.17, 18, 19, 20.
Ʋſe 2 Then all of us are to receive their Teſtimony, for upon this ground our Saviour complaineth juſtly, for not being received, Joh. 3.11. the like, doth John Baptiſt, Joh. 3.32.
Ʋſe 3 Then the Children of God that repoſe their hopes upon the Apoſtles Doctrin, we may hence comfort our ſelves, we build not upon uncertainties, as they Iſa. 28.15. if our faith and hope were built upon the Doctrines and traditions of men, we might juſtly fear and ſtand in doubt, leſt they might fail and deceive us in the end.
Ʋſe 4 If the Apoſtles preached nothing but what they were moſt certain of, then it muſt be our care alſo to preach unto the people of God no uncertainties.
And ſo in this we ſhall follow the Apoſtles, and this we may do by two means eſpecially.
Firſt, By preaching nothing but what we have good warrant for from Scripture; for the Scriptures are of certain Truth, 1 Cor. 4.6. Acts 26.27.
Secondly, By having our hearts eſtabliſhed with Grace, Heb. 13.9. 2 Pet. 1. two laſt verſes, where he ſaith, No Scripture is of any private motion of interpretation, becauſe being penned at firſt by the Spirit, by him beſt interpreted; hence, 1 Cor. 2.11. & 2 laſt. If theſe means were ſufficient, how comes it to paſſe that the Children of God having theſe means, have yet differed one from another by not attending to theſe means? but leaning to their own judgment, or the opinions of men, are carried with ſome ſiniſter reſpect of their own credit and eſtimation in the world; ſee Luthers example of defending Conſubſtantiation, and therein diſſenting from others of his Brethren.
The end of the Apoſtles writings followeth, which are
1 Subordinate, Fellowſhip with the Apoſtles and Diſciples. 2 Union with God, verſe 3. 2 Supream, Fullneſſe of joy, verſe 4.
Before we come to ſpeak of theſe ſeverally, ſome things more may be gathered from all theſe joyntly, touching the nature of the Scriptures, as
1 For the perfection of the Scripture; for if the Apoſtles declared what they had heard and ſeen, to the end that we might have fellowſhip with God and them, and fulneſſe of joy, then either they failed of their end, or elſe wee by their Doctrine (written for that purpoſe, verſe 4) may have all things neceſſary for ſalvation, yea what is ſalvation it ſelfe, but theſe very ends? Our Saviour calls it (which was a good concluſion of the whole Bible, for the Goſpel was written laſt of all, to ſtop the mouths of Ebion, Corinthus, &c. who then began to urge the traditions of the Apoſtles in time of his baniſhment, ſee Euſebius) eternal life, to know him, and what more comfortable knowledge of him than this? Joh. 17.3. hence alſo John 20. 2 laſt. 2 Tim. 3. 2 laſt; away then with Popiſh traditions which the Papiſts alledge, they are either falſe Doctrines, as invocations of Saints images, tranſubſtantation, &c. or certainly true, as Baptiſme of infants, truth of Scripture, &c. and theſe may be proved by Scripture; or ſuch as ſeem not neceſſarily to procure us Felloſhip with the Saints, as the perpetuall Virginity of the Virgin Mary, whether the Hebrew womens children had any Sacrament to initiate them into the Church, and yet the Papiſts elſe where prove all theſe by Scripture.
2 The profit of the Scripture; that Doctrin by which we come to have ſuch comfortable and excellent benefits (ſuch as than which none are greater) muſt needs be of ſingular profit and commodity, yea no profit like to this, Mat. 16.26. Hence Pſal. 19.10. and therefore we are never to make account we have profited by their Doctrin, when we can ſpeak and diſcourſe of it, but when we have found it to have wrought theſe heavenly things in us, he that will be converſant in it, to practiſe it indeed, muſt labour for theſe things by it.
2 And again, if the Word be ſo profitable, they loſe not their labour, who ſeek it from Sea to Sea, and from Eaſt to Weſt, as Amos 8 12. if by ſeeking they find it, Mat. 15.32. Luke 10. ult. it is no vain gadding humour this deſire to hear the Word.
3. The power of the Apoſtles Doctrin, of the Scripture; that which muſt bring us from having fellowſhip with Satan, and the unfruitful works of darkneſſe, to have fellowſhip with the Saints, yea God himſelf, and to enjoy fulneſſe of joy, what admirable efficacie muſt it needs be of? Hence Romans 1.16. 2 Cor. 10.4. this word muſt needs be ſtronger than Satan, Luke 11.21, 22.
Ʋſe 1 This reproveth the practiſe of thoſe who will profeſſe that the Word of God taketh place in them, and hath power upon them, yet they ſtill keep their old fellowſhip with Satan with the wicked of the World, with the unfruitful works of darkneſſe. See John 5.38.
Ʋſe 2 Then fellowſhip with God, and with the Saints, and fulneſſe of joy may be obtained, elſe why did the Apoſtles preach, and write of Chriſt to that end? It is a let by which Satan keepeth many from ſeeking theſe things, becauſe they think them impoſſible to be attained, as it was with the Jews, John 6, 52, 66. ſo it is common in this caſe with many, but Nicodemus, though at firſt he conceived not ſuch a like myſtery as this, yet at length having it explained, he came to Jeſus by night, and his Doctrin took place in him, Iohn 3.9. & Iohn 7.50, 52. & Iohn 19.39.
Ʋſe 3 Then great reaſon have we all to attend to the Doctrin of the Apoſtles; art thou a man yoaked under the bondage of Satan, and canſt not free thy ſelf from his fellowſhip? attend to the Doctrin of the Apoſtles, it will give thee fellowſhip with God, and the Saints, Acts 26.18. Art thou in the eſtate of Grace, yet feeleſt thy ſelf in heavineſſe through manifold temptations? 1 Pet. 1.6. attend to the Apoſtles Doctrin, it will give thee fulneſſe of joy, Pſal. 19.8.
Miniſters alſo for the ſame cauſe are to be painful and diligent, 2. Tim. 4.2. preach the Word, he in ſeaſon, &c. Eccleſ. 21.6. in the morning ſow thy ſeed, &c.