Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 4 · Verse 3
1 JOHN 4.3.
And every ſpirit that confeſſeth not that Jeſus Chriſt is come in the fleſh, is not of God; and this is that ſpirit of Antichriſt, whereof you have heard that it ſhould come, and even now already is it in the world.
Doct. THat the ſpirit of every Prophet, that holds not out the mighty power of Chriſt veiled with humane frailties and infirmities, is not of God but of Antichriſt.
He doth not ſay every Prophet, or every Perſon, for a good Prophet may expreſſe much weakneſſe, but he ſaith every ſpirit; whatſoever ſpirit is in a Prophet that doth expreſſe Chriſt Jeſus; if any ſpirit ſhall not acknowledge Chriſt come in the fleſh, as the ſpirit of Menander did not, ſuch a ſpirit is not of God, but of Antichriſt.
1. If a man doth not expreſſe the truth of the Lord Jeſus in his Miniſtry, but breaths ſuch errour in his doctrine as doth overthrow the Lord Jeſus, ſuch is not of God, John 14.17. & 16.15. If a man ſpeak truth, and not ſaving truth, but only moral truths, he doth not preſſe the ſaving power of the Lord Jeſus, he expreſſeth a ſpirit of morality, which is not to be diſliked; but he doth not hold forth the ſaving power of the Lord Jeſus; and a man muſt not only expreſſe the ſaving power of Chriſt, but the ſaving power of Chriſt come in the fleſh; doe you ſee a man revealing Chriſt in Moral writings, in tinckling cymbals of mans wiſdome, if his ſpirit reliſh nothing but affected eloquence, his ſpirit is of Antichriſt.
2. Doe you ſee the ſpirit of a Prophet ſavour of ambition, pomp, and delicacy? this is the ſpirit of Popery, this doth not hold forth the Lord Jeſus.
3. If a mans doctrine do hold forth the Lord Jeſus in a tyrannicall manner, making the hearts of thoſe ſad whom God would not have made ſad, ſuch doe not hold forth Chriſt.
Reaſ. Becauſe the whole carriage of the frame of ſpirit is clean contrary to the Spirit of the Lord Jeſus; for though he be vailed with humane frailties, John 14.6. Yet he is the way, the truth, and the life, Chriſt Jeſus came riding upon the Colt of an Aſſe, he came not in any outward magnificence; when the people would have made him King, he ſaid, My Kingdome is not of this world, he did not tyrannize over his people, but he gathers into his armes thoſe that goe aſtray.
Why doth the Holy Ghoſt ſay, That that ſpirit that doth not confeſſe Chriſt Jeſus, is the ſpirit of Antichriſt? He is called Antichriſt, quaſi anti Chriſtum, It is called the ſpirit of Antichriſt, becauſe it is againſt Chriſt, contrary to Chriſt; and this ſpirit makes way to the errours of Antichriſt.
2. Becauſe it doth make cold the ſpirits of people, it makes iniquity to abound, Matth. 24.11, 12.
3. Becauſe while Miniſters doe pump out the doctrine with Heatheniſh rights, they have a ſpecial care to feed themſelves as Demas.
Ʋſe 1. This ſhould teach Miniſters what frame of ſpirit they ſhould hold forth, when they take upon them ſuch an holy and heavenly profeſſion; if they would approve their hearts to God and his people, they muſt hold forth the Lord Jeſus Chriſt in humane ſimplicity, though men cannot ſo well try the doctrine of their Miniſters, yet they may try their ſpirits; Paul deſired to know nothing, 1 Cor. 2.2. that is, to expreſſe nothing in his life and doctrine, but Chriſt Jeſus vailed with humane frailties.
Ʋſe 2. A ground of much conſolation, when their hearts can bear them witneſſe, that God hath given them a Spirit of ſaving Truth, not to deliver their doctrine in carnal excellencies, ſeeking high matters but in humane ſimplicity.
3. This reproves men of an Antichriſtian ſpirit, who content themſelves with outward flouriſhings, they know not what hurt they do to the Church of God in ſo doing.
4. This may direct the people of God, narrowly to watch the ſpirits of the Miniſters, as they would be freed from Popery, affect not flouriſhing Eloquence, affect not him that hath a tyrannical ſpirit, or him that delivers only Morall truths; and let the people of God labour to have their hearts filled with a ſpirit of truth, and the ſaving graces of Gods Spirit.
Doct. That the ſpirit of Antichriſt was come into the world in St. Johns time, and as in St. Johns time, ſo in St. Pauls time alſo:
He ſpeaks of the myſtery of Iniquity, that Antichriſt did work in his time, 2 Theſſ. 2.7.
There are three things in the body of Popery:
1. A ſpirit breathing in it's doctrine, worſhip, and diſcipline; the ſame was viſible in the Apoſtles time.
1. For the doctrine, there was a ſpirit of errour in their foundation, and wrought mightily at that time in their hearts, ſo that men durſt not truſt the grace of Chriſt, a… if there were not ſafe holding upon naked Chriſt; but the Apoſtle doth utterly inveigh againſt ſuch, Gal. 5.3, 4, 5. ſaith he, either truſt God for all or nothing, diſtruſting of grace, or depending on ſomething in nature or grace received, are the rocks upon which ſo many ſouls ſuffer ſhipwrack in Religion at this day.
2. There is a ſpirit of arrogancy, contempt of Magiſtracy and Government, Jude verſ. 8. looking at the Pope as the Sun in the Firmament; this was flouriſhing in the Apoſtles time, and now alſo.
2. There is a ſpirit that breatheth in their worſhip:
1. A ſpirit of ſuperſtition, Col. 2.18. men at that time worſhipped Angels, thus the Papiſts at this day; but they have more Angels and Saints, to which they cleave rather then to Chriſt, they did begin to worſhip Images, 1 John 5.21. Therefore John bleſſeth his babes from them: men departed from God, and clave not only to creatures, but the works of mens hands, the ſame ſpirit ruleth at this day: there was a ſpirit of hypocriſie, a ſhew of Religion, without the mighty power of the Lord Jeſus ſhewed is any performance, Col. 2.23. they had many things to draw their bodies and they durſt not come to the Lord Jeſus, but they muſt have ſome Saint or Angel to come to him by: they did invent courſes the Lord did not require; this the Apoſtle cals a ſhew of Religion, which is hypocriſie; and ſo at, this day among the Fryars, they have a ſhew of Religion, they take up worſhips, which God doth dot require, of which it may be ſaid, Who required thoſe things of you? the Galatians did obſerve dayes, and months, and years, therefore the Apoſtle is afraid that he hath beſtowed his labour in vain upon them, Chap. 4.10, 11.
3. What was the ſpirit of their diſcipline and government? they did affect primacy; the Apoſtles were no ſooner removed out of the world, but this ſpirit began to ſpring up, yea, while ſome of them lived, John 3.9.
2. That that ſpirit did affect and exerciſe tyranny, caſting out of the Church ſuch Miniſters as were more faithful, 3 Epiſt. John 9.10. Diotrephes would not receive John himſelfe, nor his brethren; nor would ſuffer thoſe that would; that ſpirit hath been in the Church of Rome from that day to this. A ſecond part of their tyranny was, in impoſing upon them unprofitable courſes, unprofitable they were becauſe they did periſh in the uſing Col. 2.20, to 22.
3. There was a ſpirit of coveteouſneſſe in Miniſters, they did not ſavour the things of God; but did reliſh wealth and ambition, Jude 11. they follow the wayes of ſin, as Cain did. In Cain there was firſt hypocriſie, he offers a ſacrifice, and when he ſaw his brothers ſacrifice accepted, being offered in faith, and his not, there aroſe in him a ſpirit of wrath, which ended in bloudſhed; ſuch was the ſpirit of Popery in Queen Maries days. Some walk in the wayes of Balaam, the wayes of coveteouſneſſe, putting ſtumbling blocks before the people, and that for covetouſneſſe ſake. Thirdly, ſome have the gainſaying ſpirit of Korah, they gainſay the Ordinances of God; like as he roſe up againſt M…ſes and Aaron; this ſpirit breathing in Antichriſtian teachers at this day, was hatched in the Apoſtles time. There was a ſpirit of Schiſm in the Apoſtles time, ſome ſaying, I am of Paul and, I of Apollo, &c. 1 Cor. 1.12. and ſo at this time among the Papiſts, Jude v. 19.
Ʋſe 1. See the diligence of Satan to ſow tares, even in the Apoſtles times, therefore Miniſters ſhould watch diligently over their people, that no ſuch ſpirit be ſown in their hearts; Satan will creep in by diſſenſion, the affections being once diſtempered, the judgement will ſoon be corrupted. Wherefore Miniſters and people ſhould have a ſpeciall care of diſſenſion; for if diſſenſion creep in, then ſoon will you have your worſhip ſhut up, and then there will be a wofull waſt of Religion.
2. See the impudence of Heretiques, that dare look God in the face, and riſe up among his many bright and glorious lights in the Apoſtles times; but let no Chriſtians be diſcouraged by this, but rather the more encouraged to contend and ſtrive for the faith of Chriſt.
3. This ſhould teach Schollars, not to take any ancient doctrine for truth till they have examined it; Though Peter was bleſſed for the teſtimony of Chriſt, one part of the day, yet he was ſharply reproved the ſame day; truſt not any doctrine almoſt in regard of the antiquity of it, for it may be Antichriſtianiſm, though in the Apoſtles times.
4. If we would be growing up in grace from day to day, take we heed of the ſpirit of Antichriſt; of taking up the worſhip which God hath not commanded, take we heed of hypocriſie, a ſpirit of Popery, a ſhew of devotion. Come we to the Sacrament, as if we would receive the power of the Lord Jeſus vailed in much ſimplicity: take we heed of the ſpirit of Cain, Balaam, and Korah, gainſaying the Ordinances of God; but walk we ſtedfaſtly in that Religion we have received.