Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 4 · Verse 7, 8 – Verse 8
1 JOHN 4.7, 8.
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth, is born of God, and knoweth God, &c.
IN the words and the verſe following, the Apoſtle exhorts his hearers, and himſelfe to mutuall love one of another, the occaſion is from what he had delivered, verſe 6.
In the words, Firſt, An exhortation to mutuall love between Miniſters and people.
Secondly, A reaſon to preſſe this on them:
1 From the Originall of their love, that is, from God.
2 From the Eſtate of ſuch who love, they are born of God, and know God.
3 From the evill eſtate of ſuch as doe not love, they know not God: this is proved by an argument from Gods Nature, for God is love.
Doct. That it is the part of godly Miniſters, to exhort themſelves and their godly hearers to mutual love, both the people to love their Miniſters, and the Ministers their people.
When our Saviour was about to leave the charge of the ſouls of his people to Peter, he asked him three ſeverall times, whether he loved him, John 21.15, 16, 17. that ſo out of his aboundant love to Chriſt, he might feed his ſheep, 1 Theſ. 5.13. eſteeming him, they would love him for his work ſake. Heb. 10.24. the Apoſtle exhorts them to provoke one another to love, Heb. 13.1. whatſoever happens, he would have brotherly love to continue, ſo St. Peter exhorts, 1 Pet. 1.22.
Reaſ. 1. From the Covenant that ſtands between Miniſters and people, they are partakers of one baptiſme, members of one and the ſame body, 1 Cor. 10.17. & 1 Cor. 12.27. therefore they ſhould inlarge themſelves one to another, Eph. 4.16. they ſhould love one another, becauſe God hath incorporated them into one body.
2. Becauſe they doe not receive mutuall edification, except all be done in love, for all edification is wrought by love. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth, therefore let all things be done in love; mutuall love is both profitable and comfortable.
3. Want of love, is the ſowring of a Miniſters ſpirit, 2 Cor. 12.20. it ſaddens him when he ſees the people envying one another; when the body is full of ſwellings and inflammations, the medicines and plaiſters laid on doe not heal, a man muſt firſt allay the inflamations; ſo when a Miniſter ſees ſwelling amongſt his people, what he preacheth is ſpilt upon the ground.
4. If people walk not in mutuall love, the Miniſter ſhall loſe his portion 1 Theſ. 5.13, from them, he ſhall loſe his eſtimation among them, for they will not profi… by any Ordinance of God, but wax cold.
Ʋſe. 1. This exhorts Miniſters to make it their main and principall work to alla… ſwellings, and to knit together all the Members of a Congregation in one ſpirit, and mutuall love, as God knits them together in one body; as we deſire to grow up together in the graces of Gods Spirit, let us love one another; where there is no love, there is no edifying, all graces fall ſhort of edifying, where love is wanting, 1 Cor. 13.1, 2.
2 To exhort the people of God to receive this exhortation of love, not to ſuffer any diſſention to be found among them, Heb. 13.17. you cannot be inflamed with hatred, but your Miniſter ſhall loſe his portion of love.
Doct. That the springing of our love from God, ſhould move Miniſters and people to mutual love.
Love is the chiefe leſſon Chriſt gave to his Diſciples, when he went out of the world, John 13.35, 36. 2 Tim. 1.13. a man may aſſoon loſe his inheritance in the Lord Jeſus, as loſe his love to his brethren, if God ſet love in my ſoule, and man unſet it, I ſhall deſtroy the work of God in my ſoule.
Ʋſe 1. Take heed of wrath; if love be of God, whence then is hatred? that is from the enemy of God, Eph. 4.26, 27. if we keep leaven long, it will ſowre, ſo this anger will degenerate into hatred.
Obj. You will ſay, You will not hate your brother, but yet you will have nothing to doe with him.
Anſw. When a man affects not Communion with his brother, nor communication of good to him, ſuch a man doth hate his brother.
2. If we would have any comfort in our hearts, we muſt have a care, that nothing that befalls betwixt us and our brethren ſhould take away our love from them; if we ſuffer a fire of wrath to kindle in us, we doe as much as in us lies to deſtroy our own ſouls, Cant. 7.7, 8. Much water cannot quench love, therefore love is an heavenly fire, hatred a fire from hell. Majus lumen extinguet minus.
Doct. That the love to our brethren, is a pledge of our birth-right, John 13.34.
Reaſ. 1. It is the nature of God, and by this means thou partakeſt of the D…vine Nature, Rom. 5.5.
2. Love is a fruit of faith, by which we receive Chriſt, Gal. 5.6.
Ʋſe 1. This condemns ſuch of deep prodigality as ſuffer love to decay; ſo much you loſe of your love to your brethren, ſo much you loſe of your love to God, and ſo much you loſe of the evidence of your inheritance.
2. Preſerve your love to your brethren, and you preſerve your inheritance; your brotherly love is a pledge of your inheritance.
3. Of comfort to ſuch ſouls, as abound in their love to their brethren; ſo much love, ſo much grace, ſo much hope of an everlaſting inheritance: if your love decays, your faith and hope of ſalvation decays.
Obj. But a little thing frets my ſoul, and I am not ſo ſoon healed being fretted; ſome fleſh is hard to heal, ſo is it with ſome mens spirits: What ſhall I doe to uphold my brotherly love?
Anſw. 1. Keep your love to God, and ſo you ſhall preſerve your love to your brethren; forgive your brethren, and God will forgive you, Mat. 18. ult.
2. Keep your hearts clean; love will not long reſt in an unclean heart, 1 Pet. 1.22. becauſe love is an heavenly fire.
1 JOHN 4.8.
He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love.
Doct. THat according to our love, or want of love to our brethren, ſuch is our knowledge, or want of knowledge of God.
What is it to know God? The Apoſtle bears witneſſe of the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 1.5. that they abound in knowledge, ſo that they fall ſhort of no gift, yet 1 Cor. 1.10. he complains that there is ſchiſm among them; therefore there may be knowledge of God, and yet want of love to our brethren.
Anſw. 1. The knowledge that is there ſpoken of, is a knowledge that enlightens the underſtanding, that puffes up and ſwims in the brain, it ſinks not into their hearts and affections.
2. There is a knowledge that reacheth to the heart and life of a man, a man is ſaid not to know, when he doth not acknowledge, Pſal. 1.6. The Lord knows the way of the righteous, the Lord approves, affects and delights in their way; when a man doth not regard, he is ſaid not to know, Mat. 7.23. Known unto God are all his works, Acts 15.18,
3. There is a knowledge that doth expreſſe its ſelfe in action, Know you the God of thy Fathers, 1 Chron. 18.9. 1 Sam. 2.12. the Sons of Eli they knew not God, though Prieſts, yet knew not the way of Religion, becauſe they were wicked children without yoak, they are not acquainted with the wayes of the Lord.
Reaſ. 1. From the nature of God both in his attributes and works, both expreſſe in abundance, that thoſe that know God, cannot but love their brethren; for no attribute doth ſo much expreſſe the nature of God, as this of love.
2 If we know God, and be acquainted with God, there will be ſome likeneſſe between God and us; if we ſee God loving godly Miniſters and hearers, ſo will we, Gal. 6.10.
3. From the impreſſion which the love of God makes in our hearts, Rom. 5.5. our hearts are like to a ſtone-wall in a cold day, the wall is cold always, but warmed on a Sun-ſhine day.
4. From our love to God: What cauſeth you to love God? if for this, becauſe he pardons your ſins, and ſaves your ſoules, this a man may doe by a ſpirit of falſe love; he that loves God truly, will love him for his goodneſſe, not onelyonly to us, but to others.
Ʋſe 1. This may be a ground of tryall of our love and fellowſhip with God; if you find in your hearts an unfeigned love to godly Miniſters; if you make Gods ſerv…nts the men of your delight, you need no better evidence from Heaven, that you are beloved of God.
Obj. I am acquainted with many godly Miniſters and good men.
Anſw. Conſider, whether thou loveſt them for thy own ſake, becauſe they may be helpfull to thee, this is from ſelf-love; but doſt thou love a Miniſter or a Chriſtian for his goodneſſe ſake, for his likeneſſe to God, for his graces and vertues? this is a ſigne thou loveſt him not for thy ſake, but Gods.
2. This exhorts every ſuch ſoule as deſires fellowſhip with God, to be acquainted with God, to love their brethren; you come to the Ordinances of God, and you finde not Chriſt; you come into Chriſtian Communion, and find little comfort; know this, that according to your love to your brethren, ſuch is Gods love to you; if there be any ſtrangeneſſe in you to any brethren, this will make God ſtrange to you, all the affections we find in prayer, in reading, preaching, or any Ordinance of God, they will prove but deluſions, if we love not our brethren.