Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 3 · Verse 11 – Verse 12
1 JOHN 3.11.
For this is the meſſage that ye heard from the beginning, that we ſhould love another.
THe Apoſtle in the former verſe, had given us two manifeſt differences, between the children of God and of the Devill. The latter mark the Apoſtle proves to be a manifeſt difference. It is a meſſage, and an ancient one which we have received of God; as who ſhould ſay, He that is born of God, will hear the Word of God, But this is a meſſage. The duty of brotherly love is ſet out by a meſſage, and that by its adjunct, from the beginning.
Doct. That when we read or hear the Word of God, we ſhould look at it as a meſſage ſent from God.
This Phraſe is no where uſed, but in 1 John 1.5. And what ſaith Saint John of it? ſhewing what Chriſt delivered at large, The Apoſtle ſets the ſtamp of meſſage upon it.
Reaſ. 1. From the ſcope of all the Scripture; Whatſoever is written, is written for our inſtruction, Rom. 15.4. There is not in Scripture ſomething for ſome men of parts, and other things for meaner men, but all things are for our comfort and inſtruction. If we read the Magiſtrate to be called to ſuch and ſuch duties, it is for our inſtruction, for our comfort, that we may know what care God hath of us; no calling but redounds to our benefit, Whether I read threatnings, commandements, promiſes, they are all a meſſage to me; though every threatning belong not to me, yet thus far it doth, to keep me from ſuch and ſuch ſins, and terrifie others. And ſo, though promiſes belong not to thee, becauſe thou art not in the ſtate of grace, yet 'tis good for thee to know them, that thoſe promiſes may break thy heart, to ſee what mercies thou neglecteſt.
2. From the office and calling of the Pen-men of Scripture, Mal. 2.7. 2 Cor. 5.10.
Ʋſe 1. Of direction to thoſe that either hear or read the Word. Deut. 17.14. God calls the King to read it once a day. If thou takeſt up the Book of God, thou takeſt a bundle of meſſages; as if God ſhould round thee in the ears, Underſtandeſt thou what thou readeſt? Thou ſhalt read it in vain, if thou look not at it as a meſſ a ge. We are wont to receive the meſſage ſo much the better, by how much it comes from great men or friends.
2. In hearing or reading the Word of God, we muſt be led on to a twofold duty.
1. To receive all with reverence, Judg. 3.20. Acts 10.33.
2. Whenſoever thou heareſt the Word of God, conſider how far it pertains to thee; though all Scripture be for my comfort, to know, yet I muſt apply it to my ſelfe, ſo far as it concerns me, receive it as bread of my portion, chew upon it, Heb 4.3. God requires of us, that we doe mix the Word with faith.
Obj. The Miniſter doth not know the frame of my heart, therefore how ſhould he know what to ſay to me, I am a ſtranger to him?
Anſw. It is true. If he ſpeak out of his own minde and fancy, many times we think that things are ſpoken by ſuggeſtion from neighbours, true, oft-times it is ſo, but God knows better how ſuch a thing is uſeful to us then we do, 2 Kings 9.5
3: This ſhould teach us conſcionably to obey the Word, it is a meſſage ſent from God, therefore take it not ill at the meſſengers hands, nor cavil at it. For a Prince is not ſo to doe, though an Herald of Arms come and pronounce open Wars againſt him, he comes and goes peaceably, telling the meſſage of his Prince. The Lord makes this a cauſe of captivity, 2 Chron. 36.15, 16.
4. This ſhould exhort all to get them Bibles, if they have none, and if they have them, every day to read ſomething. There are two wayes of parley between God and our ſelves.
1. When we ſpeak to God in prayer.
2. When God ſpeaks to us in his Word. It is a fearefull thing, when there is ſuch ſtrangeneſſe between God and us, that he ſhould ſeldome hear of us, and we ſeldome hear of him.
Doct. The love of another, is an ancient meſſage that God hath ſent uſ and hath continued to ſend us, from the beginning.
He ſaith not in the beginning, but from the beginning, which implyeth a continuance of it, I Theff. 4.9. Rom. 15.10. Writing a Law, he wrote nothing elſe but a Law of God, Gen. 4.6. Thus God complains of Cain, why doſt thou lowre upon thy Brother? Gen. 13.8. When Abraham and Lot's Heardſmen were ready to fall out, this meſſage from heaven was ſent by Abraham a Prophet, we are brethren. This continued to Moſes, Lev. 19.18. Our Saviour is inſtant in preaching this love. John 13.34. Paul is earneſt in this, Rom. 13.8, 10. 1 Cor. 1.6.14. 1 Pet. 1.21, 22. & 18.4, 8.
Reaſ. 1. From Gods love to us. He walks in tender love to us, and therefore he never writes a letter to us, but he bids us love one another, Gen. 45.24. See that ye fall not out by the way, 1 Joh. 4, 8. It is an argument we are born of God, if we love one another.
2. From the great uſe of this grace. It is neceſſary above all graces, it is the band of perfection, knits all together in a family, in a congregation, Pſal. 133.1, 2, 3.
2. Love covers a multitude of ſins, both in me and thee, 1 Pet. 4.8. Cant 8.7, 8.
3. The excellency of love, it is the fulfilling of the Law, Rom. 13.20. When a man walks in love, there is no good duty but love will carry him through with cheerfulneſſe and comfort.
Ʋſe 1. Reproves all ſtrangeneſſe and enmity amongſt members of a family or congregation. If God ever ſend this meſſage, and we receive it not, there is no fellowſhip between him and u…, a ſpirit of ſtrangeneſſe, or the breach of the whole Law. If a man come not to Church in love, all is loſt; he never profits by any thing, neither Word nor Sacraments.
2. This exhorts us, whatſoever we learn, let us learn this leſſon ſo anciently taught us, ſo often preſſed upon us. If we ſhould ſee a childe that hath not learned a leſſon, which he hath been a long time plodding upon, we would ſay, he were a Non-proficient. If love have this efficacy, that it covers a multitude of ſins, that it is the fulfilling of the Law, we ſhall have this comfort to our ſelves, that we are born of God, and not of the devil.
1 JOHN 3.12.
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and ſlew his Brother: and wherefore ſlew he him? becauſe his own works were evill, and his Brothers righteous.
IN the tenth verſe, the Apoſtle makes it a manifeſt difference between the childe of God, and of the Devil, want of love to the Brethren. This he proves, Firſt, becauſe to love our Brother is the meſſage oſ God.
2. Becauſe he that wants love is of the Devil. This he proves by the pattern of the eldeſt Son of the devil, as he did, ſo will his younger Brethren do. Here is a pattern of hatred of our Brother, Cain, he is deſcribed by his ſpirituall originall, of the Devill.
3. By the clauſe of his hatred, Becauſe his Brothers works were good and his evill.
Doct. The example of any not loving his Brother, ſhould be an effectuall motive to us, to love every Brother.
Conſider what was the hatred of Cain to his Brother.
1. It was cauſeleſſe, Gen. 4.7: John 15.15. They hated Chriſt without a cauſe. So Cain Abel, Pſal. 69.4.
2. It was impious and wicked, he had juſt cauſe to love, and againſt that juſt cauſe he hated him for his righteouſneſſe.
3. It was a deadly hatred, ſuch as would not be ſlacked but with blood.
4. It was implacable, Gen. 4.8. for no counſell would abate the mood of his malice. God parlyes with Cain, Why is thy countenance caſt down? &c. The good counſell God gave him, was as bellowes to blow up his wrath.
5. It was an hypocritall hatred, for it is likely upon Gods ſpeech he had ſmoothed over his countenance and ſpeech, yet when he gets him in the field, and had opportunity, he ſlew him.
Ʋſe 1. This diſſwades us from the hatred of any one Chriſtian ſoul. If there be but one Abel whom we hate, it will tranſlate us into the Brothrhood of Cain. Therefore, either love your Brethren, or be as Cain.
Obj. But we do not ſlay our brother, though we hate him.
Anſw. That is no thank to you, that is becauſe your malice is curbed and reſtrained.
Ʋſe 2. To teach us all, as ever we deſire to be free from hating our Brethren, to love goodneſſe for goodneſſe ſake, Rom. 16.4, 5. Aquilla and Priſcilla would lay down their necks for Paul, 2 Pet. 1.7. If we ſay, a man loves the light well, it is a ſign of good eyes: So, if we love to ſee many lights about us, it is a ſign our eyes are good, Acts 11.22, 23. If we were evill, we could not but wink, and ſhut our eyes.