Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 2 · Verse 3
1 JOHN 2.3.
And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments.
THe Apoſtle St. John having ſhewed in the former Verſes that Chriſt is our Advocate, and Propitiation, here might his little Children reaſon, But how ſhall I know that Chriſt is my Advocate, and Reconciler? though he be both, yet how ſhall it appear that it is ſo to me? Why, hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments.
Saint John here ſpeaks of ſuch a knowledge as we call acquaintance, and familiarity; and fellowſhip, I know you not, Matth. 7.23. that is, I have no acquaintance and fellowſhip with you, hereby we know we have fellowſhip with Chriſt, if we keep his Commandments, you may know whether you have fellowſhip with Chriſt or no by this. This third Verſe therefore ſhews our fellowſhip with Chriſt in his mediation.
Doct. 1. A man that knows Chriſt, may, and ought to come to know that he doth know him, or hath fellowſhip and communion with him.
Doct. 2. Such as do keep his Commandments may ceme to know that they do know Chriſt, that they have true fellowſhip with him.
1 For the Firſt, a man that knows Chriſt, may, and ought to come to know that he knows him, or hath fellowſhip and communion with him; hereby we know that we know him, here is actio reflexa, the Senſes they do not reflect themſelves, the eye ſees other mens faces, not its own, but by reflection in a Glaſſe, but in our Spiritual knowledge we may more ſenſibly diſcern our Spiritual eſtate, than our faces in a Glaſſe, for we ſee not that, but in another Me…lium, but a man knows his knowledge of Spiritual things directly, he not onelyonly knows, but knows that he knows what is meant by theſe.
To know Chriſt, is not only to know his Nature, and Perſon, and Offices, that he is God man, and that he is our Advocate, and Reconciler, and Propitiation, the Devil knows thus much; ſo that a Spiritual knowledge is not ſuperficial, but ſuch a knowledge as is opprative, not dead, but lively, not naked, but ſuch a knowledge as is joyned with acquaintance, ſuch a knowledge as works us to obedience, Pſal. 9.10. Iſa. 53.11. and that works us to Mortification, Gal. 6.14. ſuch a knowledge as makes all the World dead to us; As a man that hath ſet his affections on a woman, it deads his affections to all others, 1 Sam. 2.12. the Sons of Eli knew not the Lord; and Exod. 5.2. Who is the Lord, ſaith Pharaoh, I know not the Lord, neither will I let Iſrael go; they knew not the Lord, that is, they had not this lively operative knowledge joyned with obedience, ſo then true knowledge is operative, begets truſt, and confidence, and joy in God, Jer. 10.23. and is likewiſe joyned with obedience, 1 Chron. 28.9. ſo then we ſee it is ſuch a knowledge as makes us truſt in him, fear him, honour him, ſerve him, cleave to him, and yeild obedience unto him; and no wonder, for verba ſenſus accipienda ſunt cum effectu & affectu; I have ſeen the oppreſſion wherewith the Egyptians oppreſſe my people Iſrael, Exod. 3.9. I have ſeen, that is, not only looked on it, but have compaſſion, and intend to deliver them; ſo, Remember thy Creator, &c. that is, bend thy affections to him, and honour him, ſo to know Chriſt is to affect him, to honour him, to cleave to him, to obey him, to acquaint our ſelves with him, for by knowledge is here meant acquaintance, and familiarity.
What is this Knowledge, to know that we know him?
It is an Act of Underſtanding, by which, upon good ground, he doth diſcern that he doth know God, and hath fellowſhip with him, no man calls that Knowledge which is only a Conjecture, nay this Knowledge is more than a true faith, for they are two diſtinct things though they ſtand together, 1 John 4.16. We have known and believed, &c. ſo that this Knowledge is more than a true faith, for faith is a perſuaſion or truſt a man takes upon the credit of Divine teſtimony, if I take it upon mans teſtimony, it is credulity, but when I take things on Gods authority, that is faith; but here is ſomething more, we know and believe, and we know that we know, which is an Actus judicii, and more than opinion, or faith; Knowledge is ſuch an acknowledgement as ariſeth Ex principiis ſcientificis, ſuch as proceeds from certain Principles, as I know that Fire burns from the light and heat, ſo then I know it by experience, all knowledge ariſeth either from cauſes or Effects, ſuch effects as cannot delude us, if it may, it is but conjecture, but what we know, it is upon ſure grounds and experience, that is Knowledge. So then we know that we know him, this implies, that a man that knows Chriſt may not only think ſo, and have ſuch an opinion, and believe ſo, but he may know he knows Chriſt, and that by two effects.
1 By feeling in his own heart, that having been oppreſſed with ſinne, hee finds his ſoul comfortably pacified, if hee find Chriſt pacifying his ſoul, he knows that he knowes Chriſt, ſuch a man whoſe ſpirit hath been oppreſſed with the conſciouſneſſe of ſin, if this mans ſoul be comforted and pacified, then he knows that he knows Chriſt, he is now acquainted with Chriſt, one that was never troubled with ſin, knows not the worth and vertue of Chriſt, but a man that hath been afflicted in conſcience for ſin, and is now pacified, now he knows that he knows Chriſt, he had hold of him before, but he now plainly ſees him, Job 42.5. I have heard of thee, by the hearing of the Ear, but now mine Eyes ſee thee, as if all his knowledge before, had been but as the hearing of him; but now he comfortably finds Chriſts preſence, he now ſees his worth and excellency, Cant. 5.10. a man knows that this is Chriſt, becauſe he knows that nothing in Heaven or Earth could pacifie him but Chriſt.
2 He knows that he knows Chriſt, not only by the pacifying of his conſcience, but by the purifying of his conſcience, Act. 15.9. purifying it from the luſts of ſin, whereas before we were covetous; we are now heavenly minded; whereas before vain, now ſerious in ſerio, and look at Trifles as Trifles; before unclean, now holy and chaſte; before intemperate, now temperate; before diſordered, now our hearts are caſt into another mould and frame, both the inward man is purified, and the outward, the words and actions are purified; thus we know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments, ſo that they that know Chriſt, may ſay, I know that I know him.
Ʋſe 1. To refute that Popiſh Doctrin that teacheth, that none can be certain of his Salvation, nay they ſay it is Heretical preſumption, and many worldly men think it is impoſſible, and others think it is needleſſe to be attained, but ſuch may be convinced from this Doctrin, and what ſaith the Apoſtle Peter, Give all diligence to make your calling and election ſure, 2 Pet. 1.10. how ſhall we make it ſure, if we know that we know it? 1. Cor. 2.12. God gives us his Spirit, that we may ſee the grace he hath given us, Joh. 3. ult. St. John ſpeaks it here of little Children, that they may know it, ſo that this Knowledge is both poſſible, neceſſary, and may be certain.
They ſay, we may have a conjectural Knowledge, but no certainty of faith; it is a ſpeech which implies a contradiction, if it be conjectural it is no Knowledge, that which I only conjecture, I know not; we do not know that we onelyonly conjecture, if I ask you if you know ſuch a one? If you ſay you think you know him, you do not know him; ſo that when they ſay, we cannot have knowledge of faith, we do not ſay they may only believe it, but they may have certainty of feeling, Faith may admit much doubting, but Knowledge excludes much doubting.
Ʋſe 2 To conſider whether we can ſay thus, we know that we know him; do you know that you have acquaintance and fellowſhip with Chriſt? do you believe it? How do you believe it, on what ground?
1 Have you found Chriſt purifying your Conſciences by his blood? If you have found that, then you know that you know him, Phil. 4.7.
2 Do you finde your Conſciences purified? Do you finde your Corruptions mortified? Do your Luſts grow abominable? Do you finde your hearts cleanſed from wrath and impatience? &c. certainly then you know that you know Chriſt, for none elſe could have pacified and and purified your hearts? If it be ſo that you dare not ſin, you ſeek peace and enſue it, then you may know that you have Chriſt, but if theſe ſigns be wanting, eſpecially purifying, then you know him not.
Ʋſe 3 To exhort us never to reſt till you know that you have acquaintance with Chriſt, if a man had all the knowledge in the World, what comfort would it afford him, if he knew not that he had fellowſhip with Chriſt, never count you know any thing if you know not Chriſt, Si Chriſtum diſcis, ſatis eſt, &c. and yet reſt not there till you know that you know him; Beaſts ſee, and hear, but they know not that they do ſo, becauſe they are irrational, and want the faculty of reflection, and in ſprituals a carnal heart is blinde; but it is for a Chriſtian to know Chriſt, and not only ſo, but to know that he knows him, we muſt not reſt either in mens good perſwaſions, that they hope and are perſwaded well of us, or that they ſpeak well of us, but we muſt never reſt till we know that Chriſt dwels in us, and we in him, which we may know by his pacifying and purifying of our conſciences.
Ʋſe 4 Of Conſolation to ſuch as do ſin, and fall daily, and find their own emptineſſe, their knowledge is but ſmall, their experience little, their outward comforts ſhallow, yet this is a mans comfort, that he knows Chriſt, and not only ſo, but knows that he knows Chriſt; God never gives us a bleſſing but he is willing that we ſhould know it, if he ſet up a light in our minds he would have us diſcern that light, and walk in the light thereof; therefore let us thankfully acknowledge it, and comfort our ſelves therein.
We come now to the Evidence whereby we come to know that we know Chriſt, hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments; for the underſtanding of this, we muſt know that there is a perfect keeping the Commandments without ſin, and that St. John diſclaimed before, Cap. 1. Verſ. 8.10.
2 There is another keeping the Commandments, that is, not perfect without ſin, yet perfect without diſſimulation or hypocriſie, and that is here meant.
Doct. Sincere obedience, or keeping the Commandments of Chriſt, is a ſcientifical argument, and ſign of our undoubted and known fellowſhip with Chriſt.
Q. What is it to keep his Commandments?
A. The keeping of his Commandments is uſually in Scripture expreſt by divers compariſons.
1 Sometimes it is expreſt by keeping his Commandments, as a man would keep his way, turning neither to the right hand, nor to the left, Joſh. 1.7. and then we muſt look at the Commandments as our way, as a Travellor doth not go out of his way, if he doth, it is beſides his intention.
2 Sometimes it is expreſt by keeping Jewels, we ſhould keep them as our Treaſure, ſet our hearts on them, Prov. 6.20, 21. binde them about thy heart. Which implies, they are to be lookt at as our greateſt treaſure, and worne about our neck, he would have us look at them as our Ornaments; many men would be rich, but they would not always have it known, but a Chriſtian is not only to look at Chriſts Commandments as his Treaſure, but as his ornaments and credit; a man is then ſaid to keep the Commandments; when he looks at them as his Treaſure and Ornaments, he fears not to ſhew himſelf, and let it appear that he keeps Chriſts Commandments, he is not aſhamed to wear them about him openly.
3 It is compared to the keeping of the apple of a mans eye, Prov. 7.1, 2. keep them as the apple of thine eye; a man keeps the apple of his eye very tenderly, every moat is ready to trouble him, therefore he would not have the leaſt moat come into his eye; ſo, that is true keeping of Gods Commandments when the leaſt offence or ſcruple againſt Gods Commandments is b…tter and noyſome to him, as moats to the apple of his eye, he cares not what the World thinks of it, if it be againſt the the Law of God it is noyſome unto him.
4 It is expreſt by keeping the Commandments as a man would keep his Soul, Prov. 19.16. as if it come to this pinch, either keep the Commandments or loſe your life; a Chriſtian will loſe his life, and keep the Commandments, nay of the two, he would rather loſe his Soul, Luke 14.26. a man muſt be willing to ſit looſe from his life for Chriſt; now if we thus keep his Commandments, it is an evident ſigne that we know that we know him.
Obj. But ſuch a keeping is very ſtrict, and hardly to be attained, who can do this? in many things we offend all, and who is it that goes not aſtray?
Anſ. A Chriſtian may keep the Commandments as his way, when he intends to go on, and if he be out it is beſides his intention, he may keep them as his treaſure, though ſometimes upon ſome temptation he may part with ſomething thereof, yet after he knows it he mourns for it, and it is the grief of his heart; and though a Chriſtian may ſometimes be aſhamed of his Profeſſion, yet afterwards he is aſhamed of his Fact, as Peter, and though a Chriſtian may ſometimes offend the Commandment, yet he is never well till he hath got out this moat; ſometimes a man may rather chuſe his life as Peter, but afterwards he grieves, and weeps bitterly, and would rather part with his life than the Commandment; and if it be thus with thee, it is a ſigne thy keeping is ſincere.
Queſt. How is ſuch obedience a certain ſigne of our acquaintance with Chriſt?
Anſ. 1 This ſincere keeping of the Commandments our Saviour looks at it, as an act of friendſhip in him, Joh. 15.14. then are ye my friends, if ye do whatſoever I command you, as we take it for a point of ſpecial friendſhip when a man is ready at our command, and willing to do what we would have him; nay, Joh. 15.10. our Saviour takes it not only as love, but as abiding conſtant love, and if it ſpring from our love to Chriſt, it muſt needs ſpring from Chriſts love to us, for we could not have loved him except he loved us firſt, 1 Joh. 4.19. 1 Joh. 5.3. no man keeps any thing that is grievous, a man may have fire about his houſe, or a moat in his eye, but he keeps it not, it is grievous; a man may be out of the way, but it is grievous, but when he keeps the Commandments as his way, his treaſure, his eye, his life, this is not grievous to him; every Office, be it never ſo bad, it ſeems eaſie, becauſe he loves Chriſt dearly; as Jacobs ſeven years ſervice for Rachel ſeemed but a little ſpace, becauſe he loved her, Gen. 29.20. if there be ſuch mutual love, it is a certain ſign of acquaintance.
2 This keeping of his Commandments is a ſign of our abiding in Chriſt, and ſo of our acquaintance with him, Joh. 15.1. Hoſ. 14.8. upon me is thy fruit found, otherwiſe we are barren, it is Chriſt that puts forth any fruit in us, Ezek. 36.27. how comes it to paſſe; a man keeps Gods Laws and Judgements, but becauſe he hath his Spirit within him; he keeps us, and then we keep his Commandments?
Ʋſe 1 To refute that Popiſh Error, that a man may keep the Commandments perfectly without ſin.
2 That though he can thus keep them, yet he cannot be ſure of his Salvation. But this is contradictory, hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments; ſo that it is either certain they keep not his Commandments, or if they do, they may be certain of their fellowſhip with Chriſt, and ſo of Salvation by him.
2 It refutes them in this, in that they ſay we are wont to diſcourage men from good works; we ſay indeed, none can be juſtified by the works of the Law, but we do not diſcourage them from good works; for we ſay thus, if men keep Gods Commandments, which is to perform good works, hereby we ſay we may come to know that we know Chriſt; we ſay more, not only a perfect keeping, but a ſincere keeping of them, though imperfectly, with reſpect and care, though this doth not juſtifie us, yet we ſay, it doth juſtifie the truth of our Eſtate, and that is no ſmall matter; we challenge them for diſcouraging of men from good works, for they will not grant that hereby we know that we know him, but ſtill leave a man in doubt, but we grant much comfort from good works, for though they do not juſtifie us, yet hereby we know that we are juſtified.
Ʋſe 2 To confute the Arrians, this ſhews a certain ground of the divinity of Chriſt, becauſe by keeping his Commandments we may come to know him; now this would not hold, if he had not the ſame authority to command with God himſelf, Iam. 4.12. there is but one Law-giver: therefore if Chriſt be our Law-giver, he is one God with the Father, his Commandments are of like benefit and uſe with the Fathers Commandments.
Ʋſe 3 Shews the cauſe why many men do not know that they know Chriſt, none can know Chriſt but ſuch as keep his Commandments.
1 Therefore ſuch cannot know Chriſt that do not know his Commandments, for if they do not know them, how can they keep them? Gods ways are too hard to be found in the night, in Ignorance or Darkneſſe.
2 Though a man do know them, yet if he divide them, ſome he will keep; and ſome he will not keep: if he do thus, he cannot come to know that he knows Chriſt, becauſe he doth not keep his Commandments: there are ſome Commandments he doth not keep, if you take liberty to break the Sabbath, and will not keep it, though you know it is Gods Commandment, it is impoſſible you ſhould come to a ſaving Knowledge of your Eſtate in Chriſt: if you be content to live in the leaſt known ſin, if you do not as gladly root out any ſin as you would pull a moat out of your eye, you cannot know Chriſt, or come to know that you know him.
3 There are others that know Chriſt, and yet do not know that they know him why? becauſe thy do not keep his Commandments as their way, do not look at them as their Treaſure, as their Ornaments, do not keep them as the Apple of their Eye, but ſwallow many moats, this doth very much hinder their ſouls: many would do much for Religion, but would not have it come to life, then no wonder if we ſee not our Eſtates, if moats be in our Eyes, we cannot ſee as otherwiſe we might, ſo if ſin lye on our ſouls, no wonder if we be ſo blinded, that we cannot ſee our Eſtate in Chriſt, nor know that we know him.
Ʋſe 4 It ſhews a ready way to peace of conſcience, would we have our conſciences pacified? Why, labour to know that we know Chriſt, and that will pacifie the conſcience when we come to know that wee are acquainted with Chriſt, this being peace of conſcience: but how ſhall we know that? Why, keep the Commandments of Chriſt, as our Way, as our Treaſure, as the Apple of our Eye, as our Life, then we may know that we know him, that we have Fellowſhip with him, and then our conſciences will be at quiet both in life and death, if we keep the Commandments as our way, and if wee bee out of the way it troubles us: if wee keep it as our Treaſure, and if we looſe any it grieves us, when we grieve for the loſſe of it, as for the loſſe of our Ornaments; if we cannot ſuffer any ſin to be in our ſouls, but it afflicts us, then our conſciences will be at peace; if we keep the Commandements careleſly, we keep the peace of our conſciences looſely, as we keep the Commandements, ſo we keep the comforts of our ſouls; it may be we walke in Gods wayes, but not ſo cloſely and charily as we ſhould, this hinders our own peace; it was a ſpeech of Jonah when he was now in a good temper and diſſembled not, Jonah 2.8. they that follow lying vanities, forſake their own mercies; they that follow lying vanities, any comfort of the World, if there be any way, any Treaſure, any Ornament, any life that we prize above the Commandements of God, theſe are lying vanities, deluding things, and then we forſake our own mercies, that is, the portion of mercy which God hath appointed us, and he ſpake it by wofull experience, he clave to his credit, a lying vanity, and thought he would prevent his diſcredit, but God found him out, and he found it by experience that they that ſtick to any pleaſure more than God they forſake their own mercies, he might have had mercy if he had been obedient, but now he ſaw no hope of mercy, in this world at leaſt; therefore it may teach us to take heed of truſting to any deluding vanity.
Ʋſe 5. Of conſolation to conſtant keepers of Gods Commandements, ſometimes a man may keep them, and yet be in feare and doubts of his Eſtate, why, goe on in that way ſtill, keep them as your Way, your Treſaure, and Apple of your Eye, your life, that is the way to comfort: be it known unto you if you doe thus that you doe know Chriſt, for did you not love God, you would never go on in a conſtant courſe of keeping his Commandments, and you could not love him except he loved you firſt, and you could not keep his Commandments but by his Spirit dwelling in you, and that argues acquaintance with him, Pſal. 19 11. in keeping of them there is great reward, greater than any gold or ſilver; a man may keep that and yet want a quiet Conſcience; but a man that keeps Gods Commandments ſhall not want peace of Conſcience, Pſal, 119.72. thouſands of gold and ſilver will not keep a mans heart warm and comfortable, but the keeping of Gods Commandments will; and be it that you be about your calling, no buſineſſe of your calling will hinder your peace, no Commandment of God hinders your Peace; indeed if you go about things without warrant from a Commandment, be it in the World, in your callings; if you look at your profit and pleaſure &c. and not at Gods Commandment to ſet you a work, you loſe your Peace, and you will want your Peace in that dayes converſation, but if you go about things in vertue of a Commandment, never fear, your calling will never hinder your Peace; keep the Commandment and keep your Peace: we hinder our Peace often, becauſe we go about buſineſſes without an eye to the Commandment, and ſo it is not acceptable to God, he finds no ſavour of reſt in it, and therefore no wonder if we loſe our Peace; but if any work, though never ſo mean, be done in obedience to Gods Commandments, we ſhall keep and maintain our Peace.