Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 2 · Verse 20
1 JOHN 2.20.
But ye have an unction from the holy one, and ye know all things.
IN theſe words the Apoſtle preſcribes a means to preſerve them againſt ſeducements, and the firſt means is the unction they had received from the holy one, which is a compariſon from the legall oyntment; this ſpirit of Grace ſhould be as an Antidote againſt all Antichriſts.
Now we come to ſpeak of the vertue of this unction.
Doct. The little Children of God, by vertue of the oyntment of the ſpirit of Grace, they know all things.
So Verſe 27. ſo that there is an abiding oyntment, and ſo ſufficient, that they need not be taught more or better things than it will teach them.
For Explication,
1 Conſider the ſubject, yee know all things. This univerſality of Chriſtian knowledge is amplified by the ſubject, yee know all things.
1 For the deſire of their hearts, they deſire to know all things neceſſary to ſalvation, Acts 10.33. this is the frame and diſpoſition of a converted heart, to know all things, and ſo great is the deſire of Gods Children to know this, that they deſire to know thoſe things that are moſt againſt them, 1 Sam. 3.17. Eli knowing by Samuels lingring that he had ſome terrible meſſage, yet he would know it, and urged him by a curſe to declare it, and when he had told him, yet ſaith he, Good is the Word of the Lord; ſo that a godly heart deſires to know all the Will of God, eſpecially if it belongs to him, though it be never ſo bitter, it is contrary with a carnall heart; few are willing to know all things, eſpecially if they be againſt them, and croſſe their luſts, they would not know it, ſo Mark 6.12. in Herod, ſo Iſa. 13.10. they were men of that frame, that would have the Prophet ſpeak pleaſing things, Mal. 2.11.
2 As in their deſire, ſo in the preparation of their hearts they know it, ſo that if God reveal his Will at any time, they have hearts ready to hear it, and apprehend it better, Joh. 10.4, 5. there is a vertue in them, whereby they diſcern betwixt the truth of Chriſt, and falſe Doctrin, ſo the noble Bereans were more noble, becauſe they received the truth with all readineſſe and fear, Acts 17.11, 12. they ſearched the Scriptures, ſo that the Word falls into their hearts like good ſeed, but on the contrary, if any man conſent not to wholeſome words, but makes queſtions and contention about them, he knows nothing, 1 Tim, 6.3, 4, 5. becauſe he hath an heart unprepared to receive it, therefore contra, he that is ready to receive it, knows it; ſuch a one knows all things.
3 In regard of their humility and meekneſſe of ſpirit, whereby they think they know nothing, and more fooliſh than any, Prov. 30.2, 3. Agur ſaith, I am more brutiſh than any man, and have not the underſtanding of a man, yet as fooliſh as he was, and debaſed himſelfe before his Schollars, yet he exhorts them to fetch their knowledge from the high one; therefore the Holy Ghoſt ſeeing ſuch a deep ſelf-denyall in him, he ranks him with Solomon for his wiſdome, and puts his Proverbs among his, 1 Cor. 8.2. ſuch a man as thinks he knows any thing, knows nothing as he ought to know; therefore he that thinks he knows nothing, as weak Chriſtians do, ſuch a one knows all things, which God ſees meet for him, and this ſenſe of their own Ignorance, makes them ſtill thirſt the more after Knowledge.
2 For the Act, ye (know) all things, other men may know much, yet knowing they do not know, and underſtanding they do not underſtand, Prov. 9.12. he that knows not for his own ſouls good, is not wiſe, Prov. 24.5. a wiſe man increaſeth in knowledge: the difference is
1 His knowledge is more clear, one man ſees a thing by Candle-light, another by day-light, but he ſees moſt clearly, that ſees at noon-day; ſo a Chriſtian ſees things not only by the dimme light of nature, nor the day-light of the Word, but by the bright clear light of the ſpirit, that clearly manifeſts things.
2 His knowledge is more certain, he knows by his own experience the miſery of ſin; the excellency of Grace, he knows how Chriſt was formed in him, he hath conceived him in his ſoul, and ſo knows all the motions and operations of his ſpirit. Gal. 4.19.
3 It is more particular, he can apply all he hears and reads to himſelfe, how farr this promiſe belongs to him; he thinks the command belongs to him, the threatnings to him, the promiſes to him, he thinks the Word was pend for him; another man he reads and hears, and never applies it to himſelf, nunquid ego talis, when he hears a Chriſtian may be aſſured of his ſalvation, am I ſo? Chriſts death is not only ſufficient but effectuall to them that beleeve, but do I beleeve? he hears that young men overcome the World, but do I ſo, aad overcome? thus it is with a Chriſtian another man reſts in the Theory.
4 Their knowledge is effectuall, it makes them ready to obey, the law is a light to my feet, and a Lanthorne to my paths, ſaith David, it is not a light to the underſtanding only, but it a light to my ſteps, to my practice, all the underſtanding they have, is true knowledge, if a man ſhould walk in ſuch a ſoil where he ſhould certainly ſinck in, and be ſwallowed up, would you think he knows the danger? it is a ſign he knew it not; ſo we ſay, if we meet with one of our acquaintance, and he paſſeth by us without obſerving, we ſay, he would not know us.
3 For the object (all things) that is, all things pertaining to life and godlineſs, 2 Pet. 1.3. for they do not know the motions of the Heavens, the influences of the Stars, the nature of the Creatures, but they know all things belonging to life and godlineſſe.
1 They know all things neceſſary to Salvation, no fundamental point but God reads it to them, which is neceſſary to Salvation, Joh. 17.3.
2 They know all things that are expedient in their Callings, and places to know, and there is a manifold expediency.
1 It is expedient, ſome men in ſome Callings ſhould know more than others, as Miniſters, Jer. 3.15. Mal. 2.7. it is fit that they ſhould know more than others, and God hath promiſed their lips ſhall preſerve knowledge; ſo it is not enough for a Magiſtrate to know as a private Chriſtian, but he ſhould know how to adminiſter Judgment, 1 King. 3.9. & 12. as Salomon prayed for Wiſdom, ſo Husbands ſhould know more than Wives, 1 Pet. 3.17. ſo Parents than Children Epheſ. 6.4.
2 There is an expedience and meetneſſe in regard of the preſent condition of Gods people, if God ſee that his Children he puft up with knowledge, he is pleaſed to leave them in much ignorance; but if he finds their hearts humble, and prepared to hear, he doth delight to poure out his Spirit on them, Pſ. 25.9. as long as the Woman had an empty Veſſel, the Oyl run, but when it was ful, it ceaſed; ſo as long as we come with empty hearts this Oyl runs upon them, but as ſoon as they think they have enough, and reſt content, their knowledge ſtands at a ſtay.
3 There is expediency for the preſent practice in any buſineſſe, a man that hath preſent need of direction, in ſome preſent buſineſſe that muſt preſently be done, if men have humble hearts, and look up to God why the Spirit is pleaſed to whiſper into their hearts, there is your way walk in it, Iſa. 30.21.
4 There is a further expedience for the preſent condition of the Church, for ſundry things are expedient in ſundry Ages, it had been an hindrance of many providences of God, had they known the ſinfulneſſe of Poligamie in the firſt ages of the world; ſo, many Chriſtians were ignorant of the Death and Reſurrection of Chriſt, but after the Aſcenſion of Chriſt they had the clear knowledge thereof, 2 Pet. 1.18. the dayes of the Old Teſtament were but as a dim light, now it is more clear: the Fathers of the Church of Old had little of the Revelation of Saint John, and as the Church hath now need to know more than at other times, ſo God reveals himſelfe accordingly: had thoſe ſeven thouſand in Iſrael which bowed not their knee to Baal, been endued with the ſpirit of Elias, certainly the Church had been diſſipated, had they ſpoken with the ſame ſpirit and power that he did, they had been diſſipated: but they knew as much as God ſaw fit for their preſent condition, and ſo what God ſees meet for you to know, as farre as you ſtand in need to know the ſpirit of Antichriſt in th…ſe times, ſo farre ſhall knowledge be revealed to you, ſo that you may be preſerved.
For the Reaſons of the Point.
Reaſ. 1. From the object of their Knowledge, and in him all things needful; 2 Cor. 2.2. in Chriſt they have enough, Col. 2.9, 10. therefore having got Chriſt, will he not give you all other things needful? ſince God hath given us Chriſt, our head underſtands all things, and the head will be ſure to guide the foot, when it hath need to go.
2 From the excellency of their Teacher, John 6.45. thy Children ſhall be foreign, Iſa. 48.17. and if God undertake to teach us to profit he is able to do more than any other teachers; they may teach, but they cannot give a dullard wit, but God can open our underſtandlngs, and enlarge our hearts with wiſdom, ſo that he will clear the object, the Medium and the faculty, Pſal 119.13. I have more underſtanding then my teachers, ſo verſ. 97.
Ʋſe. 1 A ground of ſingular comfort to any poor Chriſtian, that whatſoever is needfull for him, expedient for him, he hath a teacher; every poor Chriſtian hath a Counſellor within him; that teacheth him all things, and this is better than the Ʋrim and Thummim, and Ephod; to counſell at, we have an unction which is worth all, we have an oracle in our breaſts, which if we would but rub up, would reveal all things to us.
2 Here is ground of tryall to all, art thou a true Child of God? thou mayeſt know it by thy knowledge, doſt thou find thy heart prepared to receive Chriſts voyce? and doſt thou diſcern of things that differ? and doſt thou ſtill think thou knoweſt nothing? is thy knowledge clear, particular, and effectuall? doth God give thee knowledge according to thy calling, and preſent imployment? why then certainly thou art a Child of God, and haſt received an unction from the holy one; but if it be contrary with thee, thou canſt not be aſſured that thou haſt received an unction from the ſpirit, and ſo the leaſt in Gods Kingdome is greater, and hath received more knowledge than thou.
Ʋſe 3 May teach every Child of God, what courſe to take to get knowledge, and uſe it, and increaſe it; if you want knowledge, give up thy heart to God, labour for that ſpirituall eye ſalve; that may inlighten thine eyes; one dayes teaching in Chriſts School, is able to teach thee more than thou canſt learn all thy life time from other teachers, if you neglect this; though you ſhould ſpend much time in Schooles, and Univerſities, you ſhall not find ſo much, as the pooreſt Chriſtian can teach you.
And for you that have received this unction, make uſe of it, it is not for you to hide and ſmother this light, it is for you to conſult at this oracle; and take heed by all means that you grieve not this ſpirit by any vanity, or ſin you cleave unto, for then you ſhall find this oyntment very much ſtraitned, and you ſhall be put to great ſtraights; therefore keep your hearts empty and humble, hungring after the wayes of God, and gladly receive his motions, he will be ready to fill empty Veſſells, and to guide an humble ſoul in his wayes: Lead me O Lord in thy wayes, ſaith David: he ſpeaks as a blind man, that wants ſome body to lead him; ſuch ſouls are ſenſible of their own blindneſſe, and depend upon God, and are ready to walk according to the counſell he gives, the Lord will be ready to reveal all things to them, neceſſary and expedient, and yet think you ſtil have need of help, but yet take heed of truſting to any motion, but what comes from the ſpirit.
Ʋſe 4 Here we ſee of what uſe it is to conſult with Chriſtians in caſes of difference, 1 Cor 6 1. to 6. for the weakeſt Chriſtian is more able to diſcern than the greateſt heatheniſh Phyloſophers or Counſellors; God doth provide that there ſhall be ſome differences in the judgements of his Children, but in the main, they ſhall hold no error hurtfull; therefore let us ſearch more into this oyntment▪ and labour for it more than ever; we never had more need of knowledge, than in theſe dayes, and our Children will have more; therefore let us labour to eſtabliſh them and our ſelves in the truth.