Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 5 · Verse 13
1 JOHN 5.13.
Theſe things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that you may believe on the Name of the Son of God.
WE are now come to the beginning of the concluſion of this whole Epiſtle, wherein he ſets down the perſons to whom he writes;
Theſe things have I written to you, to you that believe.
2 The end wherefore he writes theſe things to theſe: the end is twofold.
1 That ye may know that ye have eternal life.
2 That ye may believe on the Name of the Son of God; which he amplifies in the verſes following.
Theſe words afford three Notes.
Doct. 1. This Epiſtle of John was written and delivered to believers only.
This is evident not onelyonly in the Text, but ſundry other places of the Epiſtle, cap. 1.4. He wrote it to ſuch, as by reading this Epiſtle might attain to full joy. This is evident likewiſe by recounting the ſeveral ſorts of perſons to whom he wrote, cap. 1.12, 13, 14. Which were of three ſorts, Babes, Young men, and Fathers, yet all believers ſo, cap. 4.4. Ye are of God little children. His ſecond Epiſtle was written to the elect Lady; and the third Epiſtle to his beloved Gaius, verſ. 1, 2. All his writings were directed to believers; ſo were all the Epiſtles of the reſt of the Apoſtles, directed to believers, to Saints, to the choſen of God, to their brethren, as will appear in all their firſt greetings; when our Saviour himſelf wrote, he wrote to ſuch in whom he acknowledged many ſpecial graces, yea even in the worſt of them, in the Church of Sardis, he acknowledged that ſhe had a few names. Now this gives us juſt occaſion to enquire; Why they were written to believers? 2 Why to them only.
To Believers, 1. In regard of the ſpecial help, and benefit their writings afford the Church; the benefits of their writing to the Church, were 1 Teaching, 2 Theſſ. 2.2. 2 Putting them in remembrance, 2 Pet. 1.22, 23. 3 Stirring them up to practice what they knew, 2 Pet. 1.2, 3. 4 To humble the ſpirits of them that were puft up, 2 Cor. 7, 8. 5 That they might be ſtrengthned in their faith, 1 John 5.13. 6 That their hearts might be filled with joy, 1 John 1.4. which was effected, Acts 15.31. 7 Theſe writings have bin the foundation of the faith of all Chriſtians to the end of the world, becauſe they have afforded matter of all the preaching of the Miniſters, for by them the men of God are fully furniſhed, and made perfect to every good work, 2 Tim. 4.16, 17.
2 He writes to believers only, the reaſon is taken from the little uſe or profit that unbelievers will make of theſe writings, till they be brought on to believe, which is ſo little, that not one of the Apoſtles directs any of their writings to them, but only for the believers ſake, amongſt them; it's with the Apoſtles writings, as with propheſies, and not miracles; Propheſies are not for them that believe not, but for them that believe; Miracles are not for them that believe, but for them that believe not; not but that Miracles may confirm believers; but believers ſhould chiefly attend to Propheſies. Take a company of unbelievers; it's little good they get by reading their writings, for no good is done without faith; now faith comes not by reading, but by hearing, had God ordained that reading ſhould be effectual to the converſion of men he would have confirmed it by Miracles, as he did the preaching of the Apoſtles. Again, had their writings been ſanctified for the converſion of men, they would have ſent them abroad to the moſt remo…e places of the world, where they were never likely to come, but we ſee they did not, but rather took pains themſelves to goe about the world, Rom. 10.15, 16, 17, 18.
Object. Sometimes God hath bleſſed the reading of the law to the converſion of men, Deut. 31, 10, 11, 12, 13. He bleſſed it not only to them that knew the law before, but to their little ones that knew nothing; and why then ſhould not the reading of the Goſpel be as effectual now, ſeeing of the two it's fuller of power?
Anſw. You ſhall not read that God bleſſed the ordinary reading of the law to this end, but the reading there ſpoken of Deut. 31. was a ſolemn reading of the law, at the years of ſolemn releaſe, which was but once in ſeaven years, and the reaſon of it was, becauſe that year of releaſe was an acceptable year, and typed out our redemption by Chriſt; for in one of thoſe years of releaſe, Chriſt was put to death; therefore to denote that God could give an extraordinary bleſſing to the reading of the law even to little children, and ſhew that thoſe that are releaſed by Chriſt, they ſhall read with underſtanding and profit, this ſolemne reading every ſeaventh year was inſtituted and bleſſed.
2 He doth not ſpeak of bare reading, but of expounding and applying it likewiſe, which ordinarily accompanyed their reading… of the law, for ſo we read expreſſely that they did at that very feaſt, Neh. 7. ult. & cap. 8.4, to 9. Ezra ſtood up and read, and then gave the ſenſe, whereat they were ſo much affected, that they all wept abundantly.
Ʋſe 1. May ſhew us the reaſon, why ſo many good books, written by learned godly men, have ſo little prevailed to bring on any of the Papiſts, few or none converted by any of our writings; and no wonder, for the writings of the Apoſtles themſelves were not ſanctified to this end; it's true, writings have ever been uſeful to the convincing of ſome, to the eſtabliſhment of others, to the ſatisfaction of others, but none have prevailed to the converſion of any,
Ʋſe 2. The like may be ſaid of our reading Miniſters, look at all the good that hath been done in ſuch Congregations, where they have only readings, you ſhall find them as ignorant of Chriſt, and empty of grace, as if they had never heard of ſuch things. You will ſay, this is an uncharitable ſaying: But I would know whether is more uncharitableneſſe, to flatter you in your woeful condition to your deſtruction, or to tell you of your danger? 2 Chron. 15.2, 3. Now for a long time Iſrael had been without the true God, and without a teaching Prieſt, it cannot be conceived, but that they had the law read in their Synagogues, for the very Judicial law of Moſes, was the form of the Government, which they could not be ignorant in, but yet they are ſaid to be without God, becauſe they had not a Prieſt to teach.
Object. Acts 15.21. For Moſes of old time hath in every City them that Preach, being read in their Synagogues every Sabbath; Doth not that imply that reading is preaching?
Anſw. No, it implyes that when he is read, he is alſo preached, for they uſed with the reading to expound, and lay open the law to them, Amos 8.11, 12, 13. God threatneth a famine of hearing his Word; never was there a famine of reading▪ ſince the Church was in any meaſure eſtabliſhed, but it's threatned as a grievous curſe to want the word preached Hoſ. 4.6. My people periſh for want of knowledge; becauſe thou haſt rejected knowledge, I will alſo reject thee: Now wherein they did refuſe knowledge, did they refuſe to read? That cannot be conceived, but becauſe they refuſed knowledge to inſtruct and comfort the ſouls of the people.
Ʋſe 3. May teach all that are believers, diligently to be converſant in the reading of the writings of Saint John, and the other Apoſtles. Shall the holy Ghoſt have an hand to write, and ſhall not we have an hand to receive, or an eye to read? To us were thoſe Epiſtles written, even to all that believe to the end of the world, Rom. 15.4. How much then is the Church of Rome to blame that lock up thoſe writings from the people, that they may not hear them, but in an unknown tongue which they underſtand not? nay ſometimes the Prieſts underſtand not the Latine they read, much leſſe are they able to expound it.
Ʋſe 4. Of direction to carnal men, what will you ſay they have no benefit or profit by reading the Word? Yea ſurely.
1 By hearing the Word expounded, they may be brought on to faith.
2 The very reading it ſelf is uſeful to beget knowledge, to ſtir up their memory, to quicken their deſires.
3 They ſerve to diſcover to the people what ſin is, what moral works be; ſo that they have a power to keep men in civil conformity, ſo that there is good uſe of them to morall men; but they were chiefly directed to believers. But yet for unbelievers, how ſhould this ſtir them up to be diligent in hearing the Word preached; for may I read much, two or three times a day, and yet little the nearer ſalvation? How ſhould it provoke them then, to give diligent heed to hearing? that ſo wherein reading prevails not, hearing may.
Ʋſe 5. To teach all thoſe that are believers, not only to read, but to expect and look for in reading, thoſe benefits before mentioned; if you do not find thoſe benefits by reading, you read unprofitably and take Gods Ordinance in vain.
Now for the ends of his writings, which were two:
1 That they might know that they had eternal life.
2 That they might believe on the Name of the Son of God.
Doct. 2. Such as doe believe on the Name of Jeſus Chriſt, by reading the Epiſtles of John, may come to know they have eternal life.
1 Becauſe he ſets before them, where eternal life is to be found, and that is in Jeſus Chriſt, as verſ. 12.
2 He directs them to certain means, whereby they may attain eternal life. As 1 Confeſſion of ſins, 1 John 1.9. 2. By looking up to Chriſt as our Propitiation and Advocate, cap. 2.1, 2. 3. By walking in the light. cap. 1.8, 9.
3 He gives certain ſigns, whereby we may know whether we be in an eſtate of eternal life. As 1 Walking in the light, cap. 1.7. 2 Keeping his Commandements, cap. 2.3. 3 Purifying our ſelves from ſin, cap. 3.3. 4 Love of our brethren, cap. 3.14, 5 Boldneſſe towards God, cap. 3.21.
Ʋſe 1. This may be a juſt refutation of the Popiſh Doctrine, that ſaith we cannot know that we have eternal life, but if that be true, then St. Johns end in writing theſe Epiſtles is diſappointed, and not onelyonly St. John, but the holy Ghoſt himſelf is deceived: Whereas they tell us we cannot have a certain, but conjectural knowledge only, there is a contradiction; for if a man ſaith he knows ſuch a thing, it implyes he is certain of it, or elſe he ſpeaks ſafely: and were it for nothing elſe, this doctrine of doubtings were a ſufficient diſcouragement againſt their Religion; that Church, that trains up her ſelfe and children to be ignorant of their Father, is not the true Spouſe of Chriſt, but an Harlot; a ſign the Church of Rome hath mixt her ſelfe with ſo many falſe gods, that ſhe knows not of whom her children are begot.
Ʋſe 2. It condemns their excluding the vulgar ſort from reading the Scriptures, for if by them we may come to know Chriſt, and that we have eternal life, then take away them, and you take away a principal means of ſalvation.
Ʋſe 3. For ſuch Chriſtians as are doubtful of their eſtate, above all the writings of the Apoſtle read this Epſtile, it was the main ſcope of St. John, in this Epiſtle, that their joy might be full, and that they might know they had eternal life, here you ſhall finde a good ground-work of your good eſtate.
Ʋſe 4. To teach all believers to know what they have profited by reading: it's an uſual thing to content our ſelves, if we do but read a chapter, and pray every morning, and our conſcience is not ſatisfied if we omit it, but a man may read and pray, and yet get no good, but if you would read profitably, ſo read that you may know that you have eternal life, & when you have ſo read, then you have read to purpoſe, therefore in reading learn to ſearch out diligently the knowledge of your eſtates.
This verſe declares a double end of St. Johns writing this Epiſtle, one was, that believers might know they have eternal life, of which before; the ſecond end was, That they might believe on the Name of the Son of God.
Doct. 3. It's one of the holy ends, and ſcope of the holy Scripture, that believers might belive.
St. John when he wrote his Goſpel, it was for this end, That they might believe, John 20.31. For though believing be already wrought, yet they that do believe had need to believe more, the Word is the mighty power of God to lead believers from faith to faith, Rom. 1.17. that is, from one degree of faith to another, Phil 1.25 as that is not only faith, but increaſe of faith, ſo 1 Theſſ. 3.10. there is not any of Gods ſervants, even the moſt exemplary Chriſtians, but there is ſome defect in their faith, which had need to be ſupplyed, and this may be the firſt reaſon.
Reaſ. 1. Taken from the defects that are found in believers, the ſupply whereof they had need to increaſe and grow up to. 1 They had need to grow up to the belief of ſome principles which they believed not before, and this is a defect in the objects of faith; many of the Apoſtles believed not the Reſurrection of Chriſt; nay Thomas ſaid, he ſhould not believe, except he ſhould ſee the print of his nayles, John 20.25. So many of the Corinths believed not the Reſurrection from the dead, a main Article of Faith: the Theſſalonians lacked this in their Faith, they thought Chriſt would then have come ſuddenly, and therefore began to lay aſide all care in their outward callings, which Paul informs them in, 2 Theſſ. 2. The Galatians are wanting in believing juſtification by faith, and therefore Paul writes that Epiſtle to them.
2. There is ſomething wanting in the habit, or in the grace of faith, therefore the Apoſtle prays for the Coloſſians, that they might be rooted and eſtabliſhed in the faith, Col. 2.7. even as a young plant may be ſo weak, that the leaſt rub may root it up; ſo a Chriſtian may have ſome rooting in Chriſt, and yet want ſound rootedneſſe and firmneſſe of faith, there may be a want of that confidence and full aſſurance that is required.
3 Faith may be wanting in the ſenſe of it, for a Chriſtian may have attained to a great meaſure of lively faith, and yet be in doubt whether he have any true faith or not; now that we may be aſſured of it, he had need to be built up in faith; as the poor man ſaid to Chriſt, Lord I believe, help mine unbelief, he believed, and yet knew not well whether he ſhould call it faith, or unbelief, therefore Phil. 1.25. Paul truſted that he ſhould continue with them for the furtherance and joy of their faith; now ſo long as a Chriſtian is doubtful of his faith, he hath little joy or comfort in it, therefore they had need to be brought on further, that their faith may be a joyful faith.
4 Faith had need to be increaſed in regard of the acts of it, which are perſwaſion and truſt on Chriſt, thoſe had need to be increaſed. Peter when he walked on the water, he was perſwaded Chriſt would ſave him, but when the winds began to be boyſterous, he was afraid and began to ſink, but Chriſt reacheth forth his hand to help him, and reproves him, O thou of little faith, Matth. 14.30, 31. The two Diſciples that went to Emaus, and were talking of Chriſts death, they ſaid one to another, We truſted it had been he that ſhould have delivered Iſrael, we ſo truſted, but now are afraid we are deceived, for they looked that the Meſſias ſhould abide for ever, but what ſaith Chriſt to them? O fools and ſlow of heart to believe, ſo that faith had need to increaſe in the acts of it.
5 Faith had need to grow in the fruits of it, though faith may be of ſome ſtrength and comfort, yet it may be much wanting in the fruits of it; one fruit of faith is love, Gal. 5.6. Now a Chriſtian may leave his firſt love, and ſo far, that withall he may loſe his firſt works, Revel. 2.2, 3. therefore a Chriſtian had need to grow in the increaſe of the fruit of faith, in their love and fruitfulneſſe, that their love may abound, and that their laſt works may be more then the firſt▪
Reaſ. 2. From the marv…llous power that is in the Scripture to ſupply all thoſe defects of faith in the Scripture, whether read, preached conferred, examined, or meditated on.
1. The Scriptures preached, they are the mighty power of God … to Salvation, Rom. 1.16, 17. All their writings are good helps this way▪ but yet their perſonal preſence, their preaching much more effectuall. Therefore Paul prayes that he might come to the Theſſalonians, that he might perfect what was lacking in their faith, 1 Theſſ. 3.10, 11.
2. The word conferred about is very effectuall to the increaſe of faith▪ Luke 24.27. When the two Diſciples were conferring together, and their hearts were ſad, Chriſt he comes in with them and warmed their hearts ſo that their faith who confirmed, that when they returned to Jeruſalem; they told the Diſciple…, The Lord is … indeed. Now they made no more doubt of it. And you know how effectual Philips conſcience was with the …, …e was brought … thereby to believed with all his …, Act. 8, 37.
3 The word read … of that force that by reading you may believe, John 20.3…. By reading th… Scriptures believers are eſtabliſhed in the Faith.
4 The word examined, that is, when h…rers bring things to the …llance of the Sanctuary; when they … the Maſters doctrine, by the Scriptures, whether it be ſound or not▪ This … uſe to father our faith; nay, to …get faith ſometimes in thoſe that … not before, as it did in the …reans, Acts 17.11, 12. Th… …king this c…efe, many of them believed, Many times when a Chriſtian … the Word of God, his hear… fails him, he is not well perſwaded of what …, his … examines it; why, oft-times the Word … works and … faith, when the Word preached did not.
5 The Word meditated on … of ſpecial uſe to increaſe our faith, to make … more comfortable, and … and rooted old his faith, Pſal. 1.3. … When a man ſo delights in the Word, that he meditates there… on day and night, ſuch a one ſhall be as a tree planted by the river ſide, well rooted, well watered, and ſo he becomes to be very fruitfull in every ſeaſon, his leaf fades not, but in every condition of life he brings forth ſeaſonable fruit.
Ʋſe 1. Hence we may take a good tryal of a faithful Miniſter, and a faithful Chriſtian. We ſee St. John, when he had begun faith in them, he would not leave them ſo, as thinking that what he had begun, God would perfect; and therefore he would leave them and turn to others. This was far from St Johns practiſe, and … it ſhould be far from every faithful Miniſter, … leave believers that they have began faith in them; but their care ought to … to be deſirous firſt to grow themſelves in faith, Lord increaſe our faith, Luke 17.…9. ſo to confirm and eſtabliſh others in the faith. So for Chriſtians; it's a ſigne of a good heart, not only to labour for truth of faith, but alſo for growth of faith; that …s the Apoſtle prayed, ſo ought every Chriſtian to pray, … increaſe our faith; or as the poor man cryed to Chriſt, Lord I belive, help my unbelief… ▪ … … need of a great deal of faith to be ſo plentiful in …, and to heal offences, as Chriſt requires, for on this ground the Apoſtle pray… … faith, Luke 17.3, 4, 5. So we have many temptations to mee… with, therefore a Chriſtian had need of ſtrong faith. Above al things take the ſhield of faith Eph. 6.6. the ſhield that covers the whole body. No man would willingly go into the field with a weak …, but that had need to be metal of proofe to ſupply a man at every turn, and every occaſion, it's a ſigne of a lively faith, if it be a growing faith.
2 It reproves the ſacrilegious, ungodly, and uncharitable practiſe of the Church of Rome, that take away the Scripture from the people. St. John writes thoſe things that they might believe, why then take away the Scripture, you make them no better then Infidels, under the faith of Gods elect; And as they are injurious to the ſouls of the people, ſo they caſt the imputation of ignorance upon God, as if God had been miſtaken when he ſent his Word, that believers might believe, and they think that reading the Word would make them hereticks.
Ʋſe 3. For you that do believe, be frequent in reading the Word, for to you it was written, that you might believe. Meditate there on day and night. The bleſſed will finde a time to meditate on Gods Word every day, and every night, and this you ſhall …le very effectuall to the increaſe of your faith. The King himſelfe, whoſe employments were greateſt, the Lord …aid a charge on him to read in the Book of the Law all the dayes of his life. Deut. 17.14. And much more is every private man bound to it. If theſe God hath ſanctified, to help us in our belief, then as ever you would believe, …e diligent in hearing, reading, conferring, examining, and meditating on the Word, all theſe are notable means to increaſe and inlarge our ſaith; therefore if thou …e wanting in faith, conſider whether thou haſt not been wanting in this practiſe, take away the Word, and take away the fuel of your faith. And for you that believe not, though this Scripture was not ſo much written for you, yet becauſe hearing is the only way of faith …. 10.17. be diligent in hearing the Word preached, Prov. 8.3… …5. Bleſſed it be that heareth …, for whoſe findeth me, findeth life. And when you have heard, be careful to ſearch and …amine whether the things preached be agreeable to Gods Word. By this means many that believed not before, have been taught to believe, and be careful to conferre on the Word. The Lord hath ſanctified the Word preached, and the Word examined, and the Word confer…ed aboue, to the begetting of faith, and the Word read to the increaſing of faith; …herefore be ſte…u… in theſe, and withall joyn hearty prayer to God, 1 Tim. 4.4, …. that he would open thine eyes, and cauſe thee to underſtand, and bow thine heart to imbrace every truth, that ſo every ordinance may be effectual to thee, to the … and increaſing of faith in thee.