Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 4 · Verse 4 – Verse 5, 6
1 JOHN 4.4.
Ye are of God little children, and have overcome them: becauſe greater is he that is in you, then he that is in the world.
AS you had before in the former Verſe, a ſign of the ſpirit of teachers; ſo in theſe Verſes you have a ſign of the ſpirit of hearers, which is double.
Firſt Sign taken from victory, which good hearers have got of bad teachers, a good hearer is not overcome of bad teachers, but he ſoon findes them out, and overcomes them, and this is argued from a double cauſe.
Firſt, They are of an higher off-ſpring then corrupt teachers are.
Secondly, From the ſtrength and excellency of their ſpirits, above the ſpirits of worldly teachers, Greater is he that is in you, then he that is in the world. Falſe Teachers are ſet forth,
1 By their Originall.
2 By their falſe Doctrine.
He that knoweth God, heareth us; there is another ſign of good hearers, they did hear good teachers; on the contrary, He that is not of God, heareth us not. You ſee here,
Firſt, A difference between good and bad teachers, good and bad hearers; good teachers and good hearers are of God; on the contrary, bad teachers and bad hearers are of the World.
Secondly, Here is a combat between good and bad teachers, and a victory alſo; Good hearers doe overcome bad teachers.
Thirdly, You have the iſſue of the conflict; good hearers overcome.
Fourthly, The cauſe of the victory, is the divine deſcent and excellency of their Spirit; greater is he that is in good hearers, then in bad teachers.
Fifthly, Here is a congratulation; little children you are of God.
Doct. That there is in the Church of God two ſorts of teachers, and two ſorts of hearers, ſome of God, ſome of the world.
Queſt. Why are good teachers and good hearers ſaid to be of God?
Anſw. 1. They are of God, becauſe they are of a divine Originall, they are born from on high, from the ſeed of the eternall God, John 8.23. I am from above, ſaith Chriſt; and ſuch are thoſe that are regenerate, they are deſcended from God: whereas thoſe that have no higher off-ſpring then fleſh and blood are of the world.
2. They both ſavour and reliſh that doctrine, Rom. 8.15. They that are of the Spirit of God, ſavour the things of God, ſuch as hold forth the mighty power of God veiled in humane frailties, they are of God.
3. He that is of God, hath a place in the Church of God, 1 Cor. 12.28. God ſets the members of Chriſt in the Church, this is a work of God, ver. 18. not any member of Chriſt, but the Lord hath ſet him in that place, as all men in the world cannot fit one member to the body, but it would be both unprofitable and burthenſome, except God joyn it to the body; ſo all the men in the world cannot put one member into the ſpirituall body, except God put it in; indeed thoſe that are of the world, they have a place in the Church too, but yet they are not of the Church, they are ſuperfluous humors, as Chriſt ſpeaks of the Phariſees, Mat, 15.13. As it is never well with the body till the noyſome humors be purged out, ſo the Church will never be well till thoſe ſuperfluous humors are cut off.
Ʋſe. This ſhould teach us all, not to comfort our ſelves, becauſe we are members of the Church, that we live under ſuch a Miniſter, and are baptized, we muſt not here reſt, as if we were of God, for all this while we go no further then fleſh and bloud, and worldly reſpects lead us, we ſavour all this time of the world: we may live civilly and painfully in our Calling, and yet have no higher plantation in the Church, no higher Offices then worldly: but what are we the better for this? What doe noyſome humors in the Church, what though we be ornaments and ſupportants, we are not the better for this, we are not all this while members of the Church, but labour we to be ſo in the Church as we may be of the Church, that we be in that place in which God hath ſet us, that we doe daily derive ſap and ſtrength from the root Chriſt Jeſus; we muſt thus try our hearts, and the ſpirits of others, and except this frame of ſpirit be in us, we are not true members of the Church.
And have overcome: They overcome, therefore there is a conflict.
Doct. That godly hearers and worldly teachers have a conflict, Jude v. 3.
He ſhews them, that when corrupt teachers ſhould break into the Church, he would not have godly hearers ſit down, but contend and wreſtle earneſtly for the faith. Paul ſtirs up Timothy to war a good warfare, to hold faith and a good conſcience, 1 Tim. 18, 19. Which ſhews there are two things which good Miniſters and people, and worldly Miniſters and people doe contend for, viz. faith and a good conſcience; elſe of faith thou mayſt make ſhipwrack, and a good conſcience you may turn away.
Queſt. In what manner is this conflict acted between bad Miniſters and good people?
A. 1. When bad Miniſters contend with good people to pervert their faith, 2 Tim. 2.18, 19. or elſe they labour to deſtroy their good conſcience; if they ſee good Chriſtians make a conſcience of keeping the Sabbath, of performing family duties, and abſtaining from ſin, bad Miniſters will doe as much as they can to pervert their faith, to deſtroy their good conſcience; now the people of God contend for both.
1 They wreſtle with God for a better faith, and a better judgement, Rom. 15.30, 31. if they did ſo for Paul, then much more for themſelves.
2 They doe obſerve ſuch as doe corrupt their faith, and ſo are better armed againſt them, Rom. 16.17, 18. and ſo are the better able to overcome.
3 Good hearers doe admoniſh bad teachers, to look better to their doctrine, Col. 4.17. and converſation.
4 If none of thoſe will prevaile, they argue with them, and deale ſeriouſly with them, as the blind man (and therefore no great Schollar) did reaſon with the Phariſees about Chriſt, and affirmed that he was a good man, becauſe he did open the eyes of the blind, John 9.7. to 34. if all this will not prevaile, then they avoid their doctrine, Mat. 22.3, 4. and their leaven, Luke 12.1.
2. They have a care either to remove altogether from their Congregations, or elſe depart from them on the Sabbath day. The Levits left their Suburbs and Poſſeſſions, and came to Judah and Jeruſalem, 2 Chron. 11.14. and thoſe that could not ſell their poſſeſſions, took horſes, and rid whither the Word was faithfully and ſincerely taught; when the Shunamitiſh woman asked her huſband an Aſſe and a man to goe with her to the Prophet, he ſaid, Wherefore wilt thou goe to him to day, it is neither new Moon, nor Sabbath day, 2 Kings 4.22, 23. which ſhews you, that if it had been either new Moon or Sabbath day, ſhe ſhould have had liberty to goe: And ſo ſhould men that live under bad Miniſters, take their horſes, and ride to ſuch places where the Word of God is faithfully taught; not that people muſt goe from their Miniſters, when they preach the Word of God in truth.
Ʋſe 1. This ſhews how much people are left without excuſe, who are ignorant and graceleſſe, when their Miniſters are ſo; the worſe your Miniſters are, the more ſhould you contend to hold faſt faith and a good conſcience: you muſt not plead that you are ignorant men; are you more ignorant then the blind man? he was never book-learned, if you would ſhew your ſelves to be Chriſtians, you muſt hold forth faith and a good conſcience.
2. To exhort people to contend with their Miniſters, when they are not of God.
Ye are of God little children, and ye have overcome them.
Doct. As there is a conflict between godly hearers, and worldly teachers, ſo godly hearers doe overcome.
Who ſo is born of God doth overcome the world, John 5.4. the world not onelyonly of vain glory and reproaches, of covetouſneſs, injury, and loſſes, but the world of falſe Teachers alſo.
In what doth this victory ſtand? A godly Hearer overcomes worldly Teachers,
Firſt, By trying and examining their doctrine, and finding it to be falſe; if he doe diſcover him he overcomes him, Rev. 2.2. by this means he puts them to ſhame, as thoſe that have loſt the field.
Secondly, When they ſtand faſt in the doctrine of Gods truth and liberty of Chriſtian profeſſion, whatſoever thoſe falſe teachers ſay, James 4.7. Reſiſt the Devill and he will fly from you, ſo thoſe falſe teachers, if you yeeld not to their doctrine, you overcome them, Gal. 2.4, 5.
Thirdly, When Gods ſervants grow ſo much the more fervent, reſolute, and zealous Chriſtians, by how much the more they ſee themſelves oppoſed, as David when he danced before the Ark of the Lord, Michal the daughter of Saul, laughed at him, but ſaith David, I will yet be more vile then, thus 2 Sam. 6.20, 22.
Fourthly, A man gets ground when he is able to prevail, either by avoiding them, or by being content to ſuffer extremity under them; by avoiding them, as the Levits left their poſſeſſions, and went to Judah and Jeruſalem, 2 Chron. 11.15, 16. when a man cannot overcome them, to hold conſtant to the death, and ſo vincit qui patitur.
Reaſ. 1. From the bloud of Chriſt, whereby we are ſprinkled, Luke 1 74. we are delivered from the hand of our enemies, verſe 68. they overcome by the bloud of the Lambe, Rev. 12.11. Col. 2.13, 14. Chriſt hath triumphed over them openly; ſo that we come to fight with wounded enemies, Chriſt hath broke the Serpents head; we come to finiſh the victory that Chriſt hath begun for us; were the Devill and ungodly teachers let looſe in their great ſtrength, they would be too ſtrong for us, but now their teeth are broken.
2. From the mighty power of God that dwells in Gods children, I write to you young men (ſaith St. John) becauſe you have overcome the wicked one, they are ſo balaſted with promiſes and threatnings as that they doe not ſin againſt God; if the Devill or the world promiſe them earthly things, they have a great many better promiſes.
3. From the glories of him that dwells in godly hearers, in reſpect of him that dwells in wicked teachers: Who is he that is greater in them? It is the Spirit of God, Eph. 1.22. 1 Cor. 3.16. the Lord dwells in his children by his Spirit, he is greater then he that dwells in the world.
Queſt. Wherein is he greater?
Anſw. In all thoſe things whereby men atchieve victory, Iſa. 26.5. To the obtaining of a victory there are required three things, wiſdome, ſtrength, and watchfulneſſe.
Firſt, For wiſdome, David ſaith, I have more wiſdome and underſtanding then all my teachers, Pſal. 119.98, 99, 100. God had ſo taught him by his Word, that he came to get more underſtanding then his old teachers, he doth not ſpeak this in way of arrogancy, onelyonly he doth comfort himſelfe hereby, God teacheth wiſdome ſecretly, Pſal. 51.6.
Secondly, God puts a renewed ſtrength and power into their ſouls, by which they are mighty to overcome all their enemies, Eph. 6.10. Phil. 4.13. and whereby they are able to doe and ſuffer all things.
Thirdly, They are greater in watchfulneſſe, which when it is wanting then they fall; they never want wiſdome and ſtrength, but then it is the fault of Gods ſervants to wax fat, and to kick up the heel againſt God, and to forget the great things he hath done for them; and then though they have their armour about them, yet are they beat back by worldly teachers, and beat almoſt dead, ſo that you ſhall ſcarce ſee them pant: but now at this time, greater is he that is in them, then he that is in worldly teachers, for they doe riſe again, and get greater ſtrength, and overcome mightily, Mark 14.37, 38. Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation, ſo that when we have moſt need of watching and prayer, then we are leaſt able; becauſe Peter could not watch with our Saviour, therefore he fell away moſt grievouſly; which ſhews when Gods ſervants put on a careleſſe ſpirit, and doe not make uſe of their wiſdome and ſtrength they have received, they come to be foyled, yet there is a ſeed in them, by which they doe overcome all their enemies, yea themſelves alſo. Hence David breaks forth into praiſing of the Name of the Lord, Pſal. 144.1. the people of God are bleſſed with the bleſſings of God, Gen. 49.19. they ſhall overcome at the laſt, in which reſpect they may well be ſaid to be of his Tribe. How comes a man to overcome at his firſt converſion? God puts forth ſuch a mighty arm of watchfulneſſe, wiſdome and ſtrength, as that he overcomes the Devill, Luke 11.21. thus he overcomes the world, Gal. 1.4. John 15.19. he is crucified to the world, and the world to him. He doth then crucifie the fleſh, with the affections and luſts, Gal. 5.24. ſo that he looks at them all as ignominious and deadly enemies, and if Chriſt ſhews himſelfe thus ſtrong when a man comes on to grow, what will he doe when Chriſtians grow more ſtrong in wiſdome, grace, ſtrength, and watchfulneſſe.
Ʋſe 1. This reproves every one that excuſeth himſelfe, and thinks he may lawfully grow worſe under bad and worldly teachers, they cannot doe as they have done, they cannot walk on in that power and ſtrength, which they did before; what is the reaſon, hath a worldly teacher overcome you? What a ſhame is it for a Chriſtian man that hath the ſeed of God in him, to ſuffer himſelfe to be overcome of worldly teachers? It is an ill ſign for Chriſtians to grow worſe becauſe of bad teachers: it is a great ſhame, that God ſhould give place to the Devill, that the children of God ſhould give place to the children of the world, and of the Devill.
2. This ſhould teach all Gods children to war againſt all worldly teachers, with the wreſtlings of God, with ſtrong wreſtlings, and not give over the conflict, for they are upon certain grounds of victory; if you ſtand but out, you ſhall overcome, for Chriſt hath overcome, and his promiſes and threatnings are greater then thoſe of the world and of Satan.
3. A ground of much conſolation and aſſurance to Gods children of perſeverance, for if any thing could ſeparate them from God, then it muſt be, either the world, the Devill, or luſts of their own fleſh, but none of theſe can. Ergo, Rom. 8.15. to the end.
1 JOHN 4.5, 6.
They are of the world, therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
We are of God: he that knoweth God, heareth us; he that is not of God, heareth not us: hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of errour.
Doct. THat according to the ſeveral deſcents of Miniſters, ſuch are their ſeverall doctrines and ſeverall hearers.
Queſt. What is it to be a worldly teacher?
Anſw. 1. Teachers are ſaid to be of the world, becauſe it is their naturall frame and temper to be worldly, John 3.23. There be ſeverall deſcents of Miniſters, ſome have no other ſpirits then that they draw from their Parents, but the Spirit of God comes down from God upon ſome Miniſters, and makes them walk by another rule then worldly men doe.
2. Worldly men ſavour the things of the world; if a man be of a divine Spirit, he reliſheth divine matters, the ſaving of the ſouls of Gods people, he reliſheth the danger of ſin; but a worldly teacher, he reliſheth preferment and houſe-keeping, his ſpirit reacheth no higher.
3. The end of worldly teachers are worldly. And
Firſt, To draw diſciples after them, Acts 20.30.
Secondly, They have reſpect to their wages of unrighteouſneſſe, they love onelyonly to live in pleaſure, and keep a good houſe, 2 Pet. 2.13. But godly Miniſters labour to make Diſciples for God, Mat. 28.19, 20. they make not diſciples for themſelves; for what is Paul? or what is Apollos? They doe not ſeek their hearers goods, but their ſouls good, they look for their pleaſure in another world, 2 Cor. 12.15. According to the deſcents of Miniſters, ſuch are their doctrine, and ſuch are their hearers; wordly teachers ſpeak of the World, and from worldly principles, and from worldly helps, and to worldly ends.
Queſt. What is meant by the world?
Anſw. 1. The world is a maſſe of mankind, that lies in a ſtate of corruption, ſuch as fell in Adam, and never riſe again, of whom it is ſaid, you are of the world, John 15.19. wicked men are called the world, becauſe they are but fleſh and bloud, John 3.6.
2. They ſavour of thoſe things that are of the world, every man ſpeaks of matters in his own element.
3. Becauſe moſt of the world are ſuch, 1 John 5.19. the world lyeth in wickedneſſe, take up their reſt therein.
4. Becauſe they have their portion in this world, Pſal. 17.14. but a childe of God looks for another inheritance, immortall and undefiled, 1 Pet. 1.4. Again, thoſe that are of the world would not have their conſcience troubled, they would goe home in peace, and poſſeſſe all they have in peace; but thoſe that are of God, they doe reliſh the things of God, they cannot reliſh worldly teachers, becauſe they ſpeak not to the conſcience, nor ſhew how to lay hold of eternall life, and to make their calling and election ſure, and if they ſpeak of heavenly matters at any time, they ſee ſuch ſpeak but with a cold affection, and therefore they goe home, and not affect them; but when a godly Miniſter preaches in an heavenly manner, he being moved by a godly principle, his converſation is in Heaven, Phil. 3.20. he talks of Heaven, Mat. 12.35. A good man out of the good treaſure of his heart, bringeth forth good things.
Ʋſe. If Miniſters would know their own ſpirits, let them conſider what doctrine they deliver, what end they aime at, and what are their hearers, and ſo by this means, they will eaſily diſcern their own ſpirits.