Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 4 · Verse 1
1 JOHN Chap. IV. Verſ. 1.
Beloved, believe not every ſpirit, but try the ſpirits whether they are of God: becauſe many falſe Prophets are gone out into the world.
THis Chapter conſiſts of two parts;
1. A preſervative againſt falſe Teachers, to verſe 6.
2. A renewed exhortation to Brotherly love.
The argument fals by the way on the tryal of ſpirits, for he had ſaid, Thereby ſhall you know that Chriſt abideth in you, by the ſpirit that he hath given you. Now leſt the people of God ſhould be deceived by the ſpirits of their Miniſters; he bids them therefore to try their ſpirits: and that by the Spirit which Chriſt hath given them, For he which is ſpiritual diſcerneth all things, 1 Cor. 2.15.
Theſe words are an Exhortation to the people of God, how to order themſelves towards the ſpirits of their Miniſters; which exhortation is laid down,
1. Negatively, Believe not.
2. Affirmatively, But try the ſpirits.
The negative duty and affirmative, are both confirmed by an argument taken from the multitude of falſe Teachers, There are many falſe Prophets gone out into the world, which ſhews he ſpeaks chiefly of the tryal of their Miniſters, or elſe you may be deceived in your judgement; as if a friend ſhould bid his friend take heed what piece of gold he takes, becauſe there are many ſlips and counterfeits gone abroad. In that St. John bids his hearers not to believe every ſpirit, hence obſerve;
Doct. That every Miniſter is carryed away with one ſpirit or other; or elſe why doth St. John exhort them to try the ſpirits?
He ſpeaks of ordinary Prophets, ſuch are ſubject to the judgement of the people, 1 Cor. 14.23. as for Paul, he was an extraordinary Prophet, 1 Cor. 4.3. What is meant by Propheſie?
Such as a man may attain to by uſe, hence Miniſters are called Prophets: they were wont to foretel ſundry things to come, look what they ſpeak on earth is confirmed in heaven; though they cannot foretell things beſides the Scripture, yet they may things out of the Scripture; ſo that you may ſee that God is in them of a truth. Every good Prophet ſo far as he propheſieth according to God, is carryed by the holy Ghoſt: but when he doth not ſpeak according to God, he is carryed with an evill ſpirit, Numb. 11.25.26. 1 Sam. 18.10. an evil ſpirit came upon Saul, ſo that every Prophet propheſieth either by the Spirit of God, or by a wicked ſpirit; an evill man may ſometimes propheſie well, and then it is by the ſpirit of God, it is a ſpirit that comes upon them; as Baalam, Numb. Ch. 23. & 24 a good man is ordinarily led by the Spirit of God, but ſometimes he is tranſported by an evill ſpirit, and then he ſpeaks not by the Spirit of God, he perverts the Word, and he miſſeth the text and application of it. Peter he will tell our Saviour, this thing ſhall not be unto thee, Mat 16 22. what ſaith Chriſt to him? verſ. 23. Get thee behinde me Satan; There is not the worſt debauched Miniſter, but when he comes to preach, one ſpirit or other comes upon him, therefore well doth St. John ſay, Believe not every ſpirit, but try the spirits.
What is the ſpirit of the Prophets?
1 Theſſ. 5.23. There are three things in a man, body, ſoul, and ſpirit; the ſoul of a man is the breath of God, by which he is made a living creature; by the ſpirit of a man here is meant, the inclination of the mind, which is called a ſpirit in divers places, as a ſpirit of fornication, a ſpirit of ſlumber, a ſpirit of jealouſie, every good or evill inclination is called a ſpirit, Be renewed in the ſpirit of your minds, Epheſ. 4.23. that is, the diſpoſition of your mindes. What is the reaſon ſome are more juſt, ſome are more painfull then others? the good or evill ſpirit comes upon them.
Why is thy inclination called a spirit?
1. It alwayes comes from ſome ſpirit.
2. It hath ſome vehemency in it, to bow the will one way or other, either to better or worſe, as the ſpirit leads him; it is poſſible a man may preach well in the morning, and badly in the afternoone.
Try the ſpirits, what variety of ſpirits are there?
Try all things, ſaith the Apoſtle, and keep that which is good, 1 Theſ. 5.21. There be three ſorts of ſpirits, of the World, of the Devil, and of God, every Miniſter is led by ſome of theſe; of every one of theſe ſpirits there is a great variety.
1. Sometimes the ſpirit of God comes upon a man, as it did on the ſeventy Elders, Numb. 11.25, 26. The Spirit of God is like the ſpirit of new Wine, which ripens the wits; ſo when the ſpirit of God comes upon a man, he doth better underſtand the Word of God, and the hearts of the people, The ſpirit ſearcheth all things, yea the deep things of God, 1 Cor. 2. There are two ſorts of deep things of God, ſome lye hidden in the word of God, ſome in man.
2. There is a ſpirit of the world, which doth not ſhine for the uniting of the hearts of Gods people; but this is a ſpirit of pride, when a man would be counted a learned man; or when a man ſeeks his own profit or honor; the Spirit of God ſeeks to know the things that are given him of God, 1 Cor. 2.12.
3. There is the ſpirit of the Devil, which guides a man into errour in his doctrine, as Peter ſaid to our Saviour, This ſhall not be unto thee; this ſpirit ſearcheth not the deep things of God, but of the Devil; this ſpirit ſeeks to make the hearts of thoſe ſad, whom he would not have made ſad, 2 Cor. 11.2.13. to 15. to pervert the Scripture, and drive out the care of Gods ſervice, and the power of godlineſſe.
Ʋſe 1. This ſhould inſtruct Miniſters, when they come into the preſence of God, and enter into the Miniſtry, to labour to prevail with God, that they may be acquainted with the deep things of God, that they may lead the people of God by the ſtill waters of comfort and conſolation, ſuch a man will goe out conquering and to conquer, and in proſpering to proſper.
2. This ſhould inſtruct the people of God to ſearch the Scriptures daily, that ſo they may be the better able to try the ſpirits of their Miniſters; labour they alſo to try their own hearts.
3. To exhort people to be earneſt with God, that they may be endued with his Spirit.
Try the ſpirits.
Doct. That the people of God are firſt … try the ſpirits of th…r Miniſters, before they truſt them; they muſt firſt try the …
Beloved, Try the ſpirits, as if he would take them by … exhort them to try the ſpirits of their Miniſters, try how they …, whether they do… … mighty power of God in human… …ties Def … not propheſie, try all thing… … la… …ſt that which is good, 1 … you … your hearts from … Spirit.
1. By trying the … …ut honour upon it; … doth not try a ſmall piece of money, but if … a great piece, he will try this.
2. In ſo doing you …ll keep your hearts from … …he Spirit. Acts 17▪ … of Berea, when they … heard Pau… …, (whom they might have believed, if they had known him) … they … the Scriptures daily, … ſuch things as he preached … ſo or no, finding his doctrine true they believe it, and … of them belived; it was not … counted a Conventicle for them to meet together, to ſee what they could …member of of what they had heard … was it counted any diſgrace for great men to be converſant in good dutie… ▪
What is it … Spirits … …heir Miniſters?
They muſt try the ſpirit of a mans Perſon, Calling, Doctrine, Appl…ions.
1. There may… a falſe ſpirit of a mans perſon▪ Matth. 7.15, 16.
2. … ſpirit of their Callings▪ Chriſt ſaith to John and James, You know not of what ſpirit you are, Luke 9.55, 56. yet they were pillars of …e Church, Gal … 9. men of excellent gifts and graces, one of them was this John, which wrote this Epiſtle▪ you know not what ſpirit you are proving, of what calling you are of your calling is the ſame with mine; now he tels them, That he came not to deſtroy but to ſave, as for Eliah and Eliſha they were Miniſters of veng…e, Miniſters of the law, they might curſe, but … ſeek to ſave.
…ry the ſpirit of their doctrine for they may be ſometimes carryed away with … truth, … ſpirit of errour, Mat. 16.16. compared with … receive … the Kingdome of Heaven, was he therefore kept from …? No, he ſpake with a … ſpirit in the morning, … with … ſpirit in the afternoon, he rebuke… … Maſter; and what ſaith Chriſt to him then? Get thee behinde me Satan.
4. You muſt try the ſpirit of …eir application. Bad Miniſters … miſapply the … …od, they will make … hearts of … God would not ha… made … Ezek. 13.2…. … miſ-apply the Word of God, like Job▪ … 47.…, 7, 8. they ſpake from a ſpirit of truth, but not from a ſpirit of … when you ſhall ſee a man to … like courſes, … apply the pr…miſes, but rather … to him; and … you may not apply …reatnings to …ounded conſcience, for … ſpeak a right of God.
Belie… …
Anſw▪ … believe, is … of the truth, Heb. 11.… ▪
2. To apply … 1 John. 1.21.
3. W… …uſt to it, … There are two things in a promiſe … truth, and truſt upon the g…eſſe, Pſa… …. …4.
Reaſ. 1. Taken from … of God, by the neglect of this duty, 1 Kings 20.3… … the Prophet ſpake, whether he ſpake in the name of the Lord or … hearkned not to the word of the Prophet, therefore a Lyon ſlew him, 1 Kings 13.15. to 25. on the contrary.
2. From the danger in regard of the Prophets themſelves, Matth. 7.15. 2 Pet. 1.2, 3. Rev. 18.13.
Reaſ. 2. From the eaſineſſe of Prophets to delude Gods people.
1. Becauſe the … great ſtore of falſe Prophets, 1 Kings 22.21, 22, 23. a man is eaſily dece…d by a multitude.
2. They may delude by their calling, many men may think ſurely their Miniſter is right.
3. From the hy…criſie of their Miniſters, Matth. 7.15. They come to you in ſheeps cloathing, but inwardly are ravening Wolves.
Ʋſe 1. To refute the Doctrine of the Church of Rome, they would keep men in ignorance thinking it to be the Mother of Devotion.
2. This … …ir up all the people of God, to ſearch the Scriptures, that ſo they may … the ſpirit of their Miniſters: do not take every thing as true from your Miniſter, becauſe he is your Miniſter, no, though he be a man that fears God, but try his ſpirit, try every word, follow him from firſt to laſt; if you doe not try the Word, you will not truſt it, ſo that all that is delivered to you, is … water spite upon the ground.
How ſhall I try the ſpirit of our Miniſter?
1. Try them by the Word of God, Eſa. 8.20▪ acquaint your heart with the Word of God, Heb. 5. alt.
2. Labour for the oyntment of the Spirit of God.
3. Conſider whether it make you more conformable to the Word of God or no, whether it make you obey the Word of God more carefully then before, whether it make you more like to Chriſt; if it work theſe effects, it is the Word of God that is preached.
Doct. That many falſe Prophets even in the dayes of St. John the Apoſtle, were gone out into the world.
There … ſeverall falſe Prophets as Eccleſiaſtical ſtori… relate.
What is a falſe Prophet?
He is not every one that teacheth falſe doctrine, for we know but in part, and propheſie but in part, 1 Cor. 13.9. to 12. … …art we may propheſie falſly. A falſe Prophet then is ſuch a one that preac…h ſome doctrin that overthroweth the doctrine of the Chriſtian faith; when he doth ſeduce others to believe falſe doctrine, who… words fret as a Canker, 2 Tim. 2.17, 18.
1. When men preach ſuch doctrine as cannot be delivered without peril, without damnation: except they afterwards repen… 2 …. 2.1, 2, 3. Such are called ravening Wolves, …atth. 7.15. they deſtroy both the ſouls and bodies of thoſe that believe them, they root up the Church of God like wild Boars.
2. They ſeduce others to believe the …, 2 Pet. 1.1, 2, 3. they ſell ſuch mens ſouls for nought … it's ſaid, They ſhould deceive if … were poſſible the very elect. … 24.24▪
3. Such as … of their errours, and yet will not yeeld, Tit. 3, 10, 11. ſuch are to be … being perverted, and ſin being damned of their own ſouls, a man i… …hen convinced when he will …light the poi…n which he is convinced, and if you hold him to it, that he cannot ſtart …, he will fall out with you, … Apoſtle …ſheth that ſuch men were even cut off, Gal. 5.17.
… only have diviſions among Chriſtians, that ſo the ſpirits of his fait… …es may …e diſcerned, but alſo he will have hereſies, that ſo they may be …e…ed in judgement as well as in affections. 2. That ſo … made manifeſt; as by the wind you may …ee the difference betwe… … and …haffe.
2. From the envious man who ſowed tares, while the husbandman that ſowed good ſeed in the field ſlept, Matth. 13.24, 25.
3. From the ignorance and darkneſſe of the minds of profeſſors, Rev. 9.2. thoſe Locuſts were falſe teachers, which came out of the ſmoake of the bottomleſſe pit.
Ʋſe 1. If in St. Johns time there were ſo many miſts … reproves ſuch men, as when they ſee ſuch variety of opinio… in Religion… do ſ…t down till, all men be agreed but do… St. John make this … Prophets are gone out into the world, therefore ſit down … true Teachers? No, but rather makes this uſe of i… to … of their Miniſters, becauſe many falſe Prophets are gone out ….
2, This may teach us not to wonder, although many alſo Prophets be gone out in theſe dayes in the light of the Goſpel, … they durſt look ſuch …lorious ſight in the face as were St. J… and Paul … dayes, there is not ſuch power of godlineſſe in the hearts … Profe… but Chriſtians now are given to much worldlineſſe, and many reſt in …, therefore wonder not though the …ce of the earth be … with hereſies.
3. This ſhould teacheth of … to take heed of opening a door to … Prophets. Take heed of ignorance in your judgement, of ambition and ſenſuality this is the ſmoak of the bottomeleſſe pit.
4. Try the ſpirits of falſe Prophets in theſe dayes, and take not up every inſtruction at the firſt bluſh, but try them; there are ſundry ſpirits o… falſe Prophets, you ſhall find in Popery a ſpirit of preſumption, doubt, deſpaire, hypocriſie, not one point in Popery but is carryed … ſome of thoſe wings.
1. They teach a man cannot be aſſured of ſalvation, this is doubting, yet a man may merit ſalvation, this is preſumption, they worſhip ſtocks and ſtones.
2. The ſp…ts of Arminians are a ſpirit of bitterneſſe … the brethren, a ſpirit of emulation, of diſloyalty to …ir Prince, of liberty and ſecurity.
3. Among the … ſhall find a ſpirit of unconformity and whoredome.
4. There is a doctrine of faith and …, which doth and … the doctrine of Jeſus Chriſt, Rom. 8.2, 3. … doctrin… of free grace is maintained to free a man from prayer, preaching, and an… Chriſtian duty that God …ath ordained to maintain grace … not David pray God … create in him a …, and to renew a ri… …irit, within … therefore a man ought to … that he … of God q…uickened in him; this doctrine of faith and … ſecretly withdraw a man from the Ordinances of God.
Laſtly, There is a ſpirit … …om… on Prot…nt which faſhion their Religion according to the … their profit and caſe they follow … courſe of the Court and ….