Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 3 · Verse 13
1 JOHN 3.13.
Marvell not my Brethren, if the world hate you.
THe Apoſtle having told us of Cain's hatred to his Brother, he takes away an objection. It might be ſaid, It was a wonder, there were but two Brethren, and Abel ſo innocent, it is a wonder he ſhould ſlay him. But he bids them not wonder at it.
Doct. The world is given to hate Gods children.
By world he means worldly men:
1. Becauſe their originall is the world, John 8.23. & 15.19.
2. Becauſe they are the greater part of the world, 1 John 5.19.
3. Becauſe they are wholly converſant about the world, minds, hearts, ſpeeches, actions, Phil. 3.19. Col. 1.3, 4. They ſerve the god of this world, 1 Cor. 4.4, 5. They have their portion in this world, Pſal. 17.14. such men hate Gods children, Mar. 13.13. Luke 6.22.
Reaſ. 1. Ignorance of them, 1 John 3.1. The world knows you not. For a man to be diſcourteouſly uſed when he is unknown, though he be a Prince, it is no great matter, John 16.2.
2. The ſeparation of Gods people from the world, John 15.19. I have choſen you out of the world.
3. Becauſe Gods ſervants are deſirous to draw others out of the world, which they cannot endure, whan a man will be ſaving all that he can.
Ʋſe 1. To reprove the unthankfulneſſe of the world, that will requite evill for good, and hatred for good-will. They run not with the world into the ſame exceſſe of ryot, Heb. 11.38. 2 Pet. 3.9. 1 Cor. 3.22. The world hath its ſtanding for their ſakes, 2 Kings 3.14. Acts 18.9.10, 11. If your worldly eſtates proſper, it is for the ſakes of Gods people, Gen. 30.27. & 39.5. Pſalm 106.23. Gen. 19.22. God would have poured out his wrath, had not Moſes ſtood in the gap.
2. To teach us not to enter upon Chriſtianity, if we cannot ſwallow bitter pills, the hatred of the world; if it be too churliſh for your ſtomachs, keep your hearts and hands from it, Luke 14.26.
3. Comforts to Gods people, that though the world hate them, yet they are but the world, they have no higher breath then the world.
Marvell not.
Doct: Gods people are wont to marvell at this.
Reaſ. Three cauſes of marvell.
1. Ignorance of the cauſe.
2. Some eminent and good thing, Mat. 8.10.
3. Some rare and new thing, 2 Sam. 26: Mat. 1.27.
And ſo Gods people are apt to marvell at this:
1. Becauſe they know not the cauſe, Pſal. 69.4.
2. The hatred ſometimes is extreame and deadly.
3. It is new and rare, becauſe they have been wonted to no ſuch thing.
Ʋſe: Let the world know that Gods people have more cauſe to think ſtrange of the world, then the world of them, they give the world no cauſe to hate them, Acts 17.6.
Doct: Gods children are not to marvell at the worlds hatred, 1 Theſſ. 3.3.
Reaſ. 1. God hath appointed you to it, you muſt take notice of it, God hath done it for many ends, How elſe ſhould you ſhew forth your patience? how ſhould you be kept off from bad company? God will lay bitter pills to the breaſts of the world, that ſo you may be weaned from it, Pſalm 119.115.
2. The world many times doth it out of ignorance: The world knows it not, therefore we may take it the better that we are ill dealt withall. A King takes it not ill to be badly dealt withall at ſtrangers hands.
3. The world hated Chriſt, therefore no marvell if it hate us.
4. It is no new thing, it hath continued from Cain.
5 From the inclination of your own hearts, if you were in the worlds caſe, you would doe the like. Therefore marvell not, Tit. 3.2, 3.
Ʋſe 1. Of inſtruction to ſuch as live in places of Religion. If we be hated, wonder we not at it. We ſhall condemne the generation of Gods people. The cauſe is partly from the tempter, partly from the wickedneſſe of the world.
Ʋſe 2. Do not lay down Religion for fear of the worlds hatred. This is not the way, fear not the hatred of the world. Some Subjects will not feare the body of a State, ſo they may have the Kings favour. Much leſſe ſhould Gods ſervants fear though the whole body of a Countrey ſhould fall foule upon them.
3. This ſhould teach Gods ſervants to walk ſo much the more circumſpectly, humbly, lovingly. If a man were to walk amongſt his friends, he would care the leſſe, but if he live among his enemies, he will looke to every ſtep; ſo ſoon as you trip, you ſhall have mouthes enough open againſt you. Therefore Daniels courſe was notable, he ſo walked that they could not taxe him, Daniel 6.1, to 7.