Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 4 · Verse 18
Verſ. 18.
There is no fear in love, &c.
We come to the fourth thing, the exemption of perfect love from all fear.
Doct. 4. An heart poſſeſt with the love of God, is dispoſſeſt of feare of evill from God.
He ſpeaks of the fear of death and judgment; ſo much love as is in our hearts, ſo much freedome and boldneſſe againſt the day of judgement; a loving heart feares not wrath, nor jugement, nor hell, Pſal. 23.4. When once I look at God as my Shepheard, and love him, and follow him: Why? then though I walke through the vale of the ſhadow of death, I will feare none evill, though I walk in neer danger of death, for if the ſhadow follow me, the body is not farre off, yet I will fear no evill, Pſal. 49, 4, 5. David makes open proclamation to all men to hear and hearken, there is the ſolemnity of the audience: the matter is, It's a parable, and dark myſtery, and yet a word of wiſdome and underſtanding. Why, what is this parable that all the world ſhould take notice of? Why, this is it, Wherefore ſhould I be afraid, when the iniquity of my heels do compaſſe me about? that is, the iniquity of my foot-ſteps, the tripping of my ſteps, or the iniquity of my heels, that is, the fears and dangers that follow him at the heels; yet wherefore ſhould I feare? An heart poſſeſt with the love of God, is diſpoſſeſt of fear of evill from God. Pſal. 3.6. I will not be afraid of ten thouſand of people, that ſhall compaſſe me about. Why, what makes him ſo confident? Becauſe the Lord is my ſhield and lifter up of my head, verſ. 3. So that we ſee that a Chriſtian poſſeſt of the love of God, ſtands not in the feare of judgement or hell, nay more, not of his ſinfull failings, Pſal. 49.5.
Reaſ. 1. From the nature of fear, and the … oval of it, fear is a trobleſome affection in the expectation o… … evill: Now … the removal of feare, two things muſt be done▪
1 There muſt … evill towards him.
2 He muſt … this. Now to him that feareth God; no evill is towards ſuch a one, Pſal … There ſhall no evill befal thee. Now to whom is this promiſe made▪ … Becauſe he hath ſet his love upon me, therefore I will deliver him▪ I will ſet him on high, far above all dangers and evils; indeed ſickneſſes may befall him, and …, and impriſonments; but what ever befals under the nature of evill, that ſhall not come nigh him.
As no evill is towards him, … …e muſt know this, that no evill ſhall befal him; Now a Chriſtian that loves God, he knows that no evill ſhall befal him, Pſal. 56.3.9. What time I am afraid, I will truſt on thee. When I cry unto thee, thou ſhalt cauſe mine enemies to … their backs this I know, for God is for me: So that a Chriſtian not onelyonly finds ſecurity from danger, but knowledge of it too. Nay further, the childe of God is ſo farre from fearing any evill to come nigh him, that he knows all thoſe things that are counted evill, ſhall turn to his advantage, Rom. 8 28. So Phil ….1…. where he tels you what wrong falſe Apoſtles did him on purpoſe, to adde afflictions to his bonds; Well, ſaith he, I know this ſhall turn to my ſalvation, through your prayers, upon a double ground he comforts himſelf againſt all their malignities.
1 He knows the more they afflict him, the more will the Church pray for him.
2 That the more he is tempted, the more will God ſupply by his Spirit.
Queſt. How do they know that no evill ſhall befal them?
Anſw. 1. From the love of God ſhed abroad in their hearts, Rom. 5.1 to 6.
2 From the preſence of God for him in his worſt times, And if God be for him, who can be againſt him? Rom. 8.31.
3 From the intereſt he hath in the blood of Chriſt, which hath cleanſed him from all his ſins, ſo that he doth know that God will follow him as a deliverer from his ſins, ſo that the ſoule though burthened with many ſins, yet fears not, Pſal. 44.5.
4 From a knowledge he hath of all the promiſes as belonging to him, which are a ſtay and ſupport to his ſoul, Pſal. 56.3, 4 10, 11. Pſal. 84.11. he knows God will be a Sun and a ſhield to him.
5 From the knowledge that he hath from the integrity of his conſcience, which is as a brazen wall againſt all evils, 2 Cor. 1.12. For our rejoycing is this, the teſtimony of our conſcience.
6 The prayers both of his own ſoule and other Chriſtians are for him, ſo that through them he is confident no evill ſhall befal him, Pſal. 56.9. Phil. 1.19.
7 He is imboldned againſt dangers, from the ſupportance of Gods Spirit in his worſt times, Phil. 1.19. Pſal. 5. So Pſal. 46. God is a preſent help in the time of trouble; when trouble is near at hand, yet God is nearer; as it was ſometimes with Eliſha, he ſaw the Mountain full of Chariots and Horſe-men, 2 King 6.17. Though there were not ſuch a multitude conſtantly about him, yet when an Army of the enemies come; an Army of Angels come as ſoon.
It hath been an ancient opinion, that every true Chriſtian hath a particular Angel to deliver him; why, this is certain, when dangers come, there never want Angels without, nor Gods Spirit within, nor the prayers of his ſervants for us, and therefore we have no cauſe to fear.
Ʋſe 1. This is a notable ground upon which that heavenly truth is built, of the perſeverance of Saints; and a bulwark againſt Apoſtaſie; if a loving heart be without fear of the day of judgement, he is without fear of falling away.
Obj. True, as long as he keeps perfect to his love, but may he not fall off from his love, and ſo from his good eſtate?
Anſw. The Apoſtle …ith, there is no fear in love; then if there be no fear, there is no fear of falling away.
Ʋſe 2. Of direction to poor ſouls, againſt thoſe … and fears of their hearts, if we would be quit… of all thoſe cares and grie… … g… …p in love to God, & to your brethren, for there is no fear in love … therefore from all hatred of God; learn to take all Gods d…g… in good part as proceeding from his love to your ſouls; Look at all th…ſe fears and anguiſhes he puts you to, as wholſome for your ſpirits, and the very apprehenſion of Gods love to you in theſe will quiet your conſciences, and ſcatter thoſe fears. Grow up likewiſe in love to your brethren, lay aſide all wrath and revenge, be tender-hearted and merciful unto them; and thus growing in love, you ſhall grow in fearleſneſſe.
Ʋſe 3. Shews the fearful eſtate of a hateful heart; as there is no fear in love, ſo there is nothing but fear in hatred; he that findes his heart eſtranged from God, and … love to his brethren, why when troubles comes, fears increaſe. What is … reaſon natural men are ſo afraid of death and judgement? Why, becauſe they have hateful ſpirits, whereas a loving ſoule prays for the haſtning of the day of judgement, Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly: But an hateful ſpirit knows, the Lord Jeſus comes to take vengeance on all his hateful carriages, and hard ſpeeches, and therefore he trembles at judgement. Yea, this hatefull diſpoſition is more dangerous to the ſoule then any ſinne beſides. Let a godly man be defiled with many ſins, fall into divers weakneſſes and frailties; yet becauſe he maintains a loving heart to God and his people, they do not eclipſe his boldneſſe. David confeſſeth, That the iniquities of his heels compaſſed him about: yet becauſe he kept his heart ſincere and upright to God, he dares be confident, wherefore ſhould I be afraid? whereas on the contrary, let a man walk never ſo juſtly and honeſtly, and do many good things, yet if the heart be eſtranged from God, have no fellowſhip with him, nor his Saints, let death and judgement come, becauſe his heart is not poſſeſt of Gods love, therefore he is oppreſt with many fears and anguiſhes.
Ʋſe 4. Of conſolation to every loving heart, if thou findeſt thy heart poſſeſt with love to God and his Saints, that there is none in heaven or earth, that thou deſireſt in compariſon of him, and for the Saints they are the …ly men of thy delight; if thou beeſt afraid, thou art much too blame: If thou diſcerneſt …ods love in thy heart, bid farewel to groundleſſe fears.
Object. But will a loving heart ſay, Have not I juſt cauſe to fear, do you not ſee how looſely I walke, how often I trip and fall in my Chriſtian courſe?
Anſw. There is no cauſes of fear, Wherefore ſhould I feare in the day of evill, when the iniquities of my heels compaſſe me about? Theſe are cauſes to make me love love God the more that pardons theſe fallings, and to hate ſin the more, but they ought to weaken thy confidence, for there is no fear in love.