Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 1 · Verse 3, 4
1 JOHN 1.3, 4.
That which we have ſeen and heard declare we unto you, that ye alſo might have fellowſhip with us, &c.
IN handling theſe three ends of the Apoſtles Doctrin,
1 Communion with Saints.
2 Union with God.
3 Fulneſſe of joy; is to be ſhewed,
1 What each of them is in his order.
2 How the Apoſtles Doctrin procureth them unto us.
3 Some conſectaries for each one.
By fellowſhip with us, the Apoſtle meaneth himſelf, and all the Saints of God.
The communion of the Saints is a Spiritual conjunction of the Saints with Jeſus Chriſt, and one another, wherein Chriſt partaketh of our infirmities, and we in common partake of benefits, and communicate them one to another.
1 I call it [a Spiritual Conjunction,] to diſtinguiſh it from,
1 A Natural, as the three Perſons of the Trinity are joyned in one nature and eſſence.
2 Perſonal, as the two Natures of Chriſt are in one Perſon.
3 Moral, as Man and Wife are in Law one fleſh by Gods Ordinance.
For this is a Conjunction of mens Perſons, not by an outward bond (ſuch as Gods Ordinance is to Marriage) but by an inward bond, one Spirit reſting in Chriſt above meaſure, and in the Saints according to their meaſure, 1 Cor. 6.17. 1 Joh. 4.13. Rom. 8.9. Hence it is that the ſame minde is in us which was in Chriſt, Phil. 2.5. and all the members are alike affected, and diſpoſed towards God, Chriſt, their own ſins, good duties, one to another.
2 I ſay [of the Saints with Chriſt, and one another] where by Saints I do not mean only Saints Canonized by the Pope, nor only the Saints departed, but the Saints alſo on earth, whoſe conjunction with Chriſt, and one with another, is mentioned, 2 Cor. 1.2. Col. 1.2. Joh. 15 5. Epheſ. 5.30. 1 Cor. 12.13. Joh. 17.20, 21.
3 I adde [wherein Chriſt partaketh of our infirmities.] And infirmities wherein he partaketh with us are of three ſorts;
1 Of Nature, Fleſh, and Blood, Heb. 2.14. Phil. 2.7.
2 Of Corruption, all our ſins imputed, 2 Cor. 5.21. 1 Pet. 2.24.
3 Of Condition, all our afflictions and miſeries, Acts 9 4. Col. 1.24.
4 I adde [we in this communion partake of Chriſts benefits] which are Six.
1 Adoption, Gal. 4.4, 5, 6. hence we are ſaid to have fellowſhip with God in the text, the greatneſſe of this benefit; See 1 Sam. 18.23.
2 Righteouſneſſe of Chriſt imputed, 2 Cor. 5.21. Papiſts do deride this, thinking it all one to ſay, A man may be wiſe or learned by another mans wiſdom and learning, but Chriſt was not another man to us.
3 Holineſſe, 1 Cor. 1. penult. which ſtands in Mortification, Rom. 6.6. and in Vivification, or fruitfulneſſe, Joh. 15.5. Worms that are dead all Winter, live again, lying in the Sun at the Spring.
4 Protection of Angels, Pſal. 91.11, 12. Heb. 1. ult.
5 Dominion over the Creatures, Heb. 2.7, 8. 1 Cor. 3.22, 23. they hold in capite.
6 Right to a glorious Inheritance, Gal. 4.7. Col. 1.12.
The means of further conveying and confirming theſe benefits unto us, (beſides the Doctrin of the Prophets and Apoſtles) are the Sacraments; hence 1 Cor. 12.13. 1 Cor. 10.16, 17.
5 I ſay [we communicate them one to another] and that.
1 In heart, mutually praying for one another, Epheſ. 6.18. Hence a Chriſtian man, as a rich Merchant, hath Factors dealing for him with God, in every Country.
2 In voice, by
1 Mutual inſtruction, 2 Tim. 2.25, 26. Act. 18.25, 26.
2 Mutual reproof, Gal. 6.1, 2. Levit. 19.17.
3 Mutual conſolation, 1 Theſ. 5.14.
3 For Action, by
1 Good example of Chriſtian life, Matth. 5.16. good example edifieth much, Phil. 2.15. ſee Peter Martyrs teſtimony of Bucers Family in Epiſt. ad Eccleſiam.
2 Liberal beſtowing of outward things upon them, Gal. 6.10.
In regard that this Communion is.
1 A Spiritual conjunction of the Saints with Chriſt, and one with another, it is compared to the Conjunctions, Epheſ. 5.23.30. Joh. 15.5.
2 This his partaking of our infirmities, and ours of his benefits, it is compared to a Marriage, Hoſ. 2.19, 20.
3 A communicating of our goods one to another, it is a Brother-hood, Coloſſ. 1.3.
2 How doth the Apoſtles Doctrine procure and preſerve this union and communion? By theſe means;
Means 1 1 By making known to us, that by nature we were ſtrangers and enemies to God, Col. 1.21. Acts 26.18. Epheſ. 2.2. 2 Tim. 2.26. This fellowſhip which all natural men have with Satan (to omit the fellowſhip which Conjurers have with him by League, Pſal. 85.5. and that which Witches have with him by carnal copulation) ſtanding in three things.
1 In reſemblance, both ſin with one continued Act, 1 Joh. 3.8. (ſinneth) Joh. 8.44. Acts 13.10. and ſo all foreign, have a fellowſhip one with another.
2 In ſubjection of the Natural man to the government and guidance of Satan, Epheſ. 2.2. 2 Tim. 2. ult. all Gods children are led by his Spirit, Rom. 8.14. ſo are Natural men by that wicked Spirit, he firſt worketh upon the mind, deluding and blinding them, 2 Cor. 4.4. John 13.2. and then he carrieth the heart and affections whither it pleaſeth him, John 13.27. Epheſ. 2.2.
3. In under-going the ſame puniſhment, Mat. 25.41.
Means 2 2 By working upon our hearts a remorſe of Conſcience, with the ſenſe of this, Acts 2.37 (this word is uſed in a contrary ſenſe, Rom. 11.8. where it ſignifies not compunction, but the deep ſlumber wherein Natural men feel no compunction) Rom. 7.9, 10. this is called a wounding, or the ſpirit thus afflicted is called wounded, Prov. 18.14. broken-hearted, weary, Pſalm 51.17. Matth. 11.28. This remorſe is not alike to all, to ſome it is more terrible, and maketh a deeper impreſſion, Job. 6.2, 3, 4, & cap. 13.24. to others it is not ſo grievous, as in Lydia, Acts 16.14, 15. her readineſſe to entertain them, ſheweth that the Wound was made and healed in the Sermon-time. I conceive Lydia's Converſion to be like the Thiefs upon the Croſſe, he firſt had fear of God, Luke 23.40. yet aſſured of Salvation ſoon after, verſ. 43. In the Jews, Acts 2.37. to 42. at the next Exhortation. In John Glover, not for many years, five in all, yet it is found in all, Rom. 8.15. all do receive the Spirit of bondage to fear, though they receive it not to fear again, Luke 4.18.
The Reaſons of this are three.
1 To make us like unto Chriſt, he was ſo, Mat. 26.37. Luke 22.44. Mat. 27.46. and we muſt be like him, Rom. 8 29.
2 To make us value Chriſt and his benefits, at an higher rate, Mat. 9.12. (need not) Prov. 27.7. the want of this is the reaſon why Chriſt is ſo little eſteemed of the moſt.
3 To tame our wanton hearts, and make us more pliable and tractable to the yoke of Chriſt, and any courſe of obedience he ſhall ſhew us, Acts 9.6. & 16.30. & 2.37. Our Saviour can ſoon perſwade heavie laden, and weary ſouls, to think that his yoke and burthen is light, when they have felt the burthen of ſin; which how heavie it is, ſee Pſal. 38.4. but an hard matter it is to perſwade others to think ſo.
Means 3 3 By revealing Chriſt unto us, and working in our harts a ſound and earneſt neſt deſire to ſeek and enjoy him, Mat. 5.6. and becauſe Chriſt is not ours but by faith, John 3.16. and Faith is not ours but by the Holy Ghoſt; therefore we reſt not, till by pouring out our earneſt deſires to God, we have obtained him, Luke 11.13.
Means 4 4 The ſame Doctrin worketh faith, whereby we are united unto Chriſt, Rom. 10.17, Gal. 3.7.
The Conſectaries, or the Uſes are three,
Ʋſe 1. Hence then it is eaſie to diſcern what eſtate Natural men be in, out of fellowſhip with God and his Saints; If by nature we had fellowſhip with them, what needeth the Apoſtles Doctrin to bring us unto it, they who defie the Devil, and cannot abide to hear that they have had any fellowſhip with him, have as yet none with God.
Ʋſe 2 Then fellowſhip with God and his Saints is a thing that may be attained.
The conceit of the contrary, Satan uſeth as an effectual means to keep men from ſeeking it. See Fol. praeced.
Ʋſe 3 Then all have great cauſe with diligence to attend on the Apoſtles Doctrin, it is Gods power to ſalvation. Rom. 1.16.