Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 4 · Verse 12
1 JOHN 4.12.
No man hath ſeen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
IN theſe words the Apoſtle ſtirs us up to brotherly love, and that from the benefit of it, which is two-fold.
1 Fellowſhip with God, verſ. 13, 14, 15, 16.
2 From the perfection of his love to the end, both mentioned in the 12 Verſe. The fellowſhip we have with God is inviſible: No man hath ſeen God a any time.
How can we love God ſince we never ſaw him?
We never ſaw our own ſouls, nor ever ſhall; yet we know that ſuch we have and without ſuch we could not ſubſiſt. No man hath ſeen God.
Doct. That our fellowſhip with God and Chriſt, it is not outward and viſible, but inward, and conſiſts in love.
Joh. 1.18. No man hath ſeen God at any time, no man hath had ſpeech face to face with God the Father, the onelyonly begotten Son that lay in the boſome of the Father hath revealed him, 1 Tim. 1.16. He dwels in that light that no eye can attain unto, whom no man hath ſeen, nor can ſee; his light is ſo glorious, that no man can behold it; when Moſes deſired to ſee God face to face; God anſwered None could ever ſee him and live, Exod. 33.10.
Obj. Jacob ſaw God when he wreſtled with him, Gen. 32.24,
Jacob ſaw not God the Father, but Jeſus Chriſt, he is called an Angel, and Hoſea cals him an Angel, Chap. 12.4.
2 No man hath ſeen the Son in his glorious preſence, in the preſence of his Nature and Eſſence.
But Moſes ſaw God face to face, Exod. 33.11.
Anſw. He did not ſee his glory, verſ. 18. though in ſome ſence he ſaw his face: Moſes ſaw Gods back parts, but his face he could not ſee, verſ. 23.
What is meant by Gods back parts?
That is ſpoken of God according to the manner of men, Numb. 12.8.
Queſt. What was it that Moſes ſaw, when he ſaw Gods glory?
Anſw. That he ſhould ſee him in a glorious reſemblance, he ſhould ſee him in his attributes, which did wonderfully affect Moſes, that glorious ſimilitude was ſuch, as that it was wonderful glorious, ſo that it did make his face to ſhine verſ. 35. And as the out-ſide was glorious, ſo was the in-ſide of Moſes heart inlarged, which made him go in and out before the people: in this manner they ſaw Chriſt, Matth. 17.1. to 5. they were ſo affected: they knew not what they ſaid.
Queſt. Why cannot we ſee Gods face and live?
Anſ. Firſt, from the frailty of fleſh and blood: The preſence of God would ſwallow us up, we are not capable of beholding God the Father, Son, or holy Ghoſt; when we are in heaven, we ſhall be changed.
2 From the ſinful corruption of humane nature; his glorious preſence, which is a conſuming fire, would conſume us. When Iſaiah ſaw God in a ſimilitude, but in a glimpſe of his preſence, then ſaid he, Iſa. 1.5. Woe is me, for I am undone, becauſe I am unclean, he was afraid of his life, though he ſaw God but in a ſimilitude.
Ʋſe 1. To teach us how to underſtand many places of Scripture, that ſpeak of Gods manifeſting himſelf to any; underſtand not God the Father, but Jeſus Chriſt aſſuming a humane body, they ſaw him face to face, or ſpake mouth to mouth, or they ſaw a ſimilitude of God his glorious attributes.
2 Be willing to put off mortal infirmities, ſo ſhall we ſee God face to face, Phil. 1.23. 2 Cor. 12.1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
3 Of tryal whether we have communion with God or no?
1 You never heard God the Father, nor the Son; God hath now delivered all his counſell in his Word by his Son, yet we may have familiar, ſenſible, affectionate communion with God, Heb. 1.1.
2 We may finde God revealing himſelfe to our hearts and conſciences, Pſal. 73.24, 25. That he is the chiefeſt joy, other feares and cares take us not up, Heb. 11.27.
4 It ſtirs us up to the love of our brethren. No man hath ſeene God at any time, but have communion with him, and communion of love; God loves his people, we have communion with God, Pſal. 16.2, 3. The Papiſts ask for Images, can there be any better reſemblance of the Father then the Son his Image? and in loving and having communion with Gods Image that is like him? they kill his living Images to honour dead Images. It is the greateſt love we can ſhew to God, to love his Image.
Doct. Where love dwels, God dwels, for God is love, Verſ. 16.
What is it for God to dwell or abide in us?
God is ſaid to dwell, not where he is, but where he loves to be, and ſo doth a man. Now God loves to be where love is, God loves not to be where malice and diſcontent is; God being a God of peace, loves to dwell in a place of peace, or elſe he dwels not. God indeed is all the world over, if we go to Hell, he is there; if to Heaven, he is there; but yet he doth not dwell every where, Iſa. 57.15. If where the Devill dwels, all that he poſſeſſeth is in peace, much more God, who is the God of peace, loves to be where peace is, & keeps that peace which paſſeth underſtanding.
There is a two-fold peace that paſſeth underſtanding.
1 The peace of that ſoule whoſe ſins are pardoned, Phil. 4.7.
2 The peace of that ſoule whoſe ſinnes are mortified; now where God is, where God keeps the ſoul, there is peace that paſſeth underſtanding, both pardoning ſin, and mortifying corruption: When Jacob was with Laban, and Joſeph in Potiphars houſe, all was well; much more will all be well, where God himſelf is.
Reaſ. 1. From Gods nature, for God is love, where ſparks flye out of the Chimney, there is fire; ſo where you ſee love in the lips, carriage and heart of a man there is the preſence of the bleſſed God.
2 From Gods operations: Where God dwels, he pardons ſin, and purifies the conſcience, or proſpers the outward man, and there is a ſpirit of love in that mans heart; where God freely pardons, there is much forgiven, & where is much forgiven there is much love, Luk. 10.43.47. where we have a thouſand forgiven, we ſhall be ready to forgive an hundred, Epheſ. 4. ult.
2 He purges filth: If our hearts be purified from uncleanneſſe and ſinfull diſtempers, there the heart runs clear in love, and there dwels, 1 Pet. 1.21. But if the heart be full of mud, it will run foul in hatred.
3 He works love. If we love our brethren, it muſt be from the love of God in us, if there be love, it is from God; if there be hatred, it is from the Devill, Judg. 9.23. it is ſaid, That he ſent an evill ſpirit between Abimilech and the men of Shechem. Where Satan dwels, he will ſet all on fire, all hatred and wrath is from hell, and it will ſo kindle that it will conſume one another; Fire from hell doth not warm, it ſcorcheth, Epheſ. 4.17. If we give way to ſinful wrath, we give place to the Devil; Love cannot be from the Devil.
2 This love is not from the world, Jam. 4.4.
3 This is not from our fleſh, Jam. 4.5.
Therefore it muſt ſpring from God, who makes peace, pardoning our ſins, and mortifying our corruptions.
Queſt. But may there not be peace where Satan is? Luk. 11.21.
Anſw. He dwels in peace, but a falſe peace, for the wrath of God lyes on that ſoul, as a mans houſe when it is on fire, he being aſleep, he ſleeps, but not ſecurely.
2 This peace is a peace of a mans own conception.
Obj. There may be much peace and much love, and I have known much true hearted love amongſt men, that have nothing but the light of Nature, much more where is the light of Gods common grace, ſhall we ſay, God dwels not here?
Anſw. The Spirit ſpeaks not of civill love, but of ſuch a love as wherein God dwels, pardoning ſin, and mortifying ſin, which he never doth in natural men; there may be found good nature in men, but that love which evidences pardoning and healing of ſin, is not found in natural men, this love differs from carnal love.
1 This love reacheth not to the body onelyonly, but to the ſoul, Lev. 19.16, 17. If we love not the ſoul of our brother, our love is not true love.
2 Chriſtian love reacheth to ſtrangers and enemies, as well as neighbours and friends; good natured love may reach to ſtrangers, but not to enemies.
3 Chriſtian love will be ſtronger to our brethren then worldly love, though Chriſtian love may be damped, yet it will over-flow; good natured love that comes from a little fountain, a little thing will ſtop it; but Chriſtian love ſprings from heaven, and no man can make a dam to ſtop it.
Ʋſe 1. Of tryal of Gods fellowſhip with us, whether God dwell in our hearts or no, where God once dwels, he always dwels, John 10.27.28. who ſhall put him out? he is ſtronger then all.
Queſt. How ſhall I know whether God dwell in my heart or no?
Anſw. Ask thy ſoul whether God dwell in thee or no: not good natured love; but that love which deſires peace of conſcience, and purity of thy owne heart, and of thy brothers, 2 Cor. 7.8, 9, 10.
2 This ſhould teach us all to walk in a frame of brotherly love, to abound in tenderneſs of ſpirit to one anothers ſouls, not to provoke one another to wrath, and ſeduce from ways of ſalvation, but to be helpful one to another in our ſpiritual eſtate: God loves to lye in a bed of love, God will not dwell where love dwels not, therefore keep open houſe for the ſpirit of love; God is where he loves, and he loves to be where love is: wrath, malice, and hatred ſmoaks God out of doors; a man performs no duty pleaſing to God while wrath is in his heart.
Doct. That ſuch as love in brotherly love, the love of God is perfect in ſuch, verſ. 16, 17.
His love is perfect in us, he doth not mean, that love which God hath ſhed abroad in our hearts, for there is no love of God, but is perfect in every man, but his love is perfect, that is, that love by which we love God: If our love be not wanting to our brethren, our love is perfect towards God.
What is meant by perfect?
Perfect, is diverſly taken, ſometimes it is taken for ſound and unfaigned; thus Amaziah did not that which was good in the ſight of the Lord, with a perfect heart, 2 Chron. 15.2. But David and good King Hezekiah did that which was good in the ſight of the Lord, with a perfect heart, 2 King. 18.3. that is, without hypocriſie and rottenneſſe, Let a man profeſſe love to God, and not love to his brother, his love is not true, but hypocritical; but if a man unfeignedly love his brother, he doth ſoundly love God: a man cannot finde God pardoning his ſins, healing his infirmities, but he will love his brethren, and do good offices to them.
2 Perfect is all one with entire, as a childe is then ſaid to be perfect, when he hath all the parts of a man; this perfectneſſe is oppoſed to that which is maimed, ſo his love is perfect, which is entire to God and man: All our duty is to love God, and to love our neighbour as our ſelves, 1 John 4.21. He hath ſhewed thee, O man, what is good, and what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to walk humbly with thy God? that is, to expreſſe thy love to God, and to do juſtice, and love mercy; that is, to our brethren, Mic. 6.8. This is perfection of ſpirit, Rom. 13.10. Therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, He that loves, fulfills the Law, the law of the firſt and ſecond Table, and God would have the chiefeſt part of our love to him expreſſed in our love to our brethren, 1 Cor. 13.12. the chiefeſt of thoſe is love; we do God more honour by faith and hope; but we edifie the Church more by love: ſo that God requires, as we ſee, 1 Cor. 13.1, 2, 3. our love to him to be expreſſed by doing good to the ſons of men, Hence our Saviour will reaſon with the ſons of men at the laſt day, Come ye bleſſed of my Father. Matth. 25.34. to the end; ſo that all the love God expects we ſhould ſhew to him, ſhould be poured out to our brethren; if thou be righteous, what doſt thou then give to God? Job 35.6, 7, 8. 1 Cor. 11.10. I have abounded more then they all, (ſaith St. Paul) by the grace of God, and that good was by doing many good offices to the Brethren; hence God would have all the ſons of men to ſerve him in their general callings, with ſuch graces, 1 Cor. 16.14. as they may ſhew forth in their particular callings in doing all their duties in love, when David was earneſt with God for the pardoning of his ſins, Pſal. 51.8. & verſ. 18. and 12.13. ſhewes you; that as he would ſpend himſelf in Gods praiſe, ſo he would labour to bring on others in the ways of grace.
3 Perfection of degrees, which he means here, and though no man is perfect in all degrees, yet he is more and more perfecting, he is on the growing hand, Epheſ. 4.15, 16. As no member can grow in the body, except it be knit to the body by joynts and ſinews, ſo Col. 3.14. in the body of Chriſt love is the bond that knits us together to God and our brethren, 1 Cor. 18. and 13.1, 2, 3.
4 A thing is perfect when it is expert; thus Ezra 7.8. ſo is a mans love to God perfect to any good office, a loving Chriſtian is a perfect Chriſtian, you cannot ſet him to any good duty, but he is perfect to it; love oyls the wheels of his affections, and ſets him on that which is helpful to his brethren, and hence it is, that when our Saviour would ſet Peter on to feed his lambs, he would lead him on to this work, by propounding this queſtion, whether he loved him or no? John 21.15, 16, 17. he preſſed upon him this love; every time he asked him, his love required him to feed his lambs, 2 Cor. 4.15. The love of Chriſts conſtraineth Paul to be ready for doing and ſuffering: A man that goes about a buſineſſe with ill will, he always bungles it.
5 A thing is then perfect, when it is durable; ſo is it with a mans love, it is durable if it be nouriſhed with love to our brethren; if it make a man ready to be doing good offices to his brethren; this will make it not onelyonly grow and continue, but alſo to abound for ever, Epheſ. 2.4, 5, 6, 7. If love continue not, the Church will not continue, that is, the whole body of Chriſtians, the body of faithful Miniſters and people; the Church will be removing, if love begin to remove.
Ʋſe 1. A ſigne of the truth of our love; we muſt have as great a care of the truth of our love to our brethren, as of faith and repentance from dead works: How ſhall we know our love is perfect to God? How ſtands your love to the brethren? If your love be cloſed up from your brethren, then your love is very unſound, or very ſick, ſo much love, ſo much life; and ſo much failing in your ſpiritual love, ſo much failing in your ſpiritual life, Gal. 5.6. Faith works by love, and that avails much with God: we muſt receive the Sacrament oft, that we may be ſtrong in love, according as our love works, ſo works our faith.
2 It exhorts us all to the love one another, for by this means God dwels in us, and his love is perfected in our hearts. As you deſire therefore that your love to God may be found entire, and thriving in your ſoules, give your ſelves to the unfaigned love one of another; edifie one another in love.
3 Comfort to ſuch a man as knows he is of a loving heart, his love to God is perfect; you may know your love to God is perfect, if your love be ſound to your brethren.