Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John, Commentary 18
A COMMENTARY OR EXPOSITION VponUpon the firſt Epiſtle generall of S. IOHN.
CHAP. I. Verſe 1. That Which Was from the beginning]
CHriſt, the eternall God. See the Note on John 1.2.
Which we have heard, &c.] The man Chriſt Jeſus, the Arch-prophet.foreign.
Which we have ſeen] And what ſo ſure as ſight? See Luk. 1.2. This was denied to many Kings and Prophets, Luk. 10.24. To have ſeen Chriſt in the fleſh was one of the three things that Auſtin wiſhed: which yet Saint Paul ſet no ſuch high price upon, in compariſon of a ſpirituall ſight of him, 2 Cor. 5.16. See the Note there.foreign.
Which we have looked upon] Diligently, and with delight: How ſweet ſhall be the fight of him in heaven? With what unconceivable attention and admiration ſhall we contemplate his glorified body out-ſhining the brighteſt Cherub?
Verſe 2. For the life was manifeſted] Chriſt who is life eſſentiall ſwallowed up death in victory: and brought life and immor. tality to light by the Goſpel, 2 Tim. 1.10.
Verſe 3. Declare we unto you] That (Theophylus-like) ye may be at a certainty, fully perſwaded, Luk. 1.1. having a plerophory or full aſſurance of underſtanding, to the acknowledgement of the myſtery of Chriſt, Coloſ. 3.2. See the Note there.
And truly our fellowſhip] If any ſhould object: Is that ſuch a preferment to have fellowſhip with you? What are you, &c! He anſwereth, As mean as we are, we have fellowſhip with the Father and the Sonne: Union being the ground of communion, all that is theirs is ours.
Verſe 4. And theſe things Write We] Out of the Scriptures, thoſe wells of ſalvation, draw we waters with joy, Iſa. 12.4. ſuck theſe breſts of conſolation, and be ſatisfied, Iſa. 66.11. Nuſquam inveri requiem niſi in libro & clauſtro, Hom. in Geneſſaith one. Chryſoſtome brings in a man laden with inward trouble, coming into the Church: where, when he heard this paſſage read, Why are thou cast down my ſoul, &c? hope in God, &c. he preſently recovered comfort.
Verſe 5. That God is light] He is foreign, Light eſſentiall, and they that walk with him muſt be as ſo many chryſtall glaſſes with a ligh… in the midſt; for can two walk together, and they not be agreed? Am. 3.8.
Verſe 6. If … ſay that, &c.] As they doe that profeſſe to know God, but in works do deny him, Tic. 1.16. See the Note there.
And walk in darkneſſe] There is a childe of light that walks in darkneſſe, Iſa. 50.10. but that's in another ſenſe. I he wicked alſo, that are here ſaid to walk in darkneſſe have their ſparkles of light, that they have kindled, Iſa. 50.11. but it is but as a light ſmitten out of a flint, which neither warms, nor guides them, but dazelleth their eyes, and goes out, ſo that they lie down in ſorrow.
Verſe 7. We have fellowſhip one, &c.] That is, God and we: inaſmuch as we are made partakers of the divine nature, and are pure as God is pure, 1 Joh 3.3. in quality, though not in an equality.
And the bloud of Jeſus] That whereas Gods pure eye can ſoon finde many a foul flaw in the beſt of us (our righteouſneſſe being mixt, as light and darkneſſe, dimneſſe at leaſt in a painted glaſſe, died with ſome obſcure and dim colour, it is tranſparent and giveth good, but not clear and pure light) loe here a ready remedy, a ſweet ſupport, The bloud of Jeſus Christ his son cleanſeth us from all ſin.
Verſe 8. If we ſay that we have] If any ſhould be ſo ſaucy or rather ſilly, as to ſay with Donatus, Non habeo Domine quod ignoſcas, I have no ſinne for Chriſt to cleanſe me from, he is a loud lier, and may very well have the whetſtone.
Verſe 9. If we confeſſe] Home agnoſcit, Dew ignoſcit. Aug.And Conſeſſio p…cca…i eſt vomitus ſordium animae. Judah (his name ſignifies confeſſion) got the kingdome from Reuben.
He is faithfull] And yet Bellarmin… ſaith,De …uſtific. l. 1. cap 21. That he cannot finde in all the book of God, and promiſe made to confeſſion of ſin to God.
From all unrighteouſneſſe] All without exception: why then ſhould we put in conditions, and as it were enterline Gods Covenant?
Verſe 10. We make him a liar] For the Scripture hath concluded all under ſin, Rom. 11.32. See the Note there.
CHAP. II. Verſe 1. That ye ſinne not]
PReſuming upon an eaſie and ſpeedy pardon. The worſer ſort of Papiſts will ſay: when we have ſinned we muſt confeſſe; and when we have confeſſed, we muſt fin again, that we may confeſſe again: ſo making account of confeſſing, as drunkards do of vomiting. But we have not ſo learned Chriſt.
And if any man ſin] Being taken afore he is aware, Gal. 6.1. See the Note there.
We have an Advocate] Who appears for us in heaven, and pleans our cauſe eff…ctually. See Heb. 9.24.
Jeſus Chriſt the righteous] Or elſe he could not go to the Father for us. See the Note on Joh] 16.10.
Verſe 2. He is the propitiation] Heb. Copher: He coffers up, is it were, and covets our ſins, Pſal. 78.38. See the Note on Rom. 3.25.
Verſe 3. We know that we know him] By a reflex act of the ſoul: hence the aſſurance of ſaith, the fruit of fruitfulneſſe, 1 Cor. 15.58.
That we know him] with a knowledge not apprehenſive only, but affective too.
Verſe 4. He that ſaith I know him] Here he diſputeth againſt Verbaliſts and Solifidians. See Jam. 2.14. with the Note there.
Verſe 5. That we are in him] In communion with him, and in conformity to him.
Verſe 6. To walk even as he walked] This is the ſame with that Col. 2.6. to walk in Chriſt, and with that 1 Pet. 2.21. to follow his ſteps, See the Note there.
Verſe 7. I write no new commandment] The Apoſtle ſtudiouſly declineth the ſuſpition of novelty. We ſhould ever ſet a jealous eye upon that which is now, and ſtand in the old way, Jer. 6.16. in the ancient paths, Jer. 18.15. Gods people are called the ancient people, Iſa. 44.7. And Idolaters are ſaid to ſacrifice to new gods, that came newly up, Deut. 32.17. Truth, and wine, is better with age, Luke 5.39. And of witneſſes Ariſtotle well ſaith,foreign. the older they are, the more credible, becauſe leſſe corrupted.
Verſe 8. A new Commandment] See the Note on John 13.34.
Verſe 9. And hateth his brother] As Paul preſſeth faith, and Peter hope, ſo John love, thoſe three cardinall vertues, 1 Cor. 13.13.
Verſe 10.foreign. None occaſion, &c.] Gr. No ſcandall: i. e. no occaſion of ſpirituall falling, whereby a man is made any manner of way worſe, and back warder in goodneſſ:, Quod fieri poseſt vel dicto, velfacto, ſive exemplo in moribus ſaith learned Lyſerus, which may be done by word, deed, or evil example.
Verſe 11. He that hateth, &c.] There is a paſſion of hatred (ſaith a famous Divine) This is a kinde of averſeneſſe and riſing of the heart againſt a man, when one ſees him; ſo that he cannot away with him, nor ſpeak to, nor look courteouſly or peaceably upon him, &c. 2. A habit of hatred, when the heart is ſo ſettled in this alienation and eſſ…rangement, that it grows to wiſh and ſeek his hurt. This is man-ſlaughter, 1 John 3.5.
Verſe 12. I Write unto you little children] A Chriſtian hath his degrees of growth; childe-hood, 1 Cor. 3.1, 2. Youth or wellgrown age, when he is paſt the ſpoon, as here: old age, Au, 21.16.
Verſe 13. Him that is from the beginning] The Ancient of d…ie…, Ol… men love to ſpeak of ancient things. Theſe are ancient things, 1 Chron. 4.22.
Becauſe ye have overcome the wicked one] The glory of young men is their ſtrength, Prov. 20.29. The Hebrew word there …endered young men, ſignifieth choice men, ſe. for military implo… ments: neither can they better ſhew their valour, then by reſifting the devil, that he may flee from them.
Becauſe ye have known the Father] We ſay,Hom. O…ib. 1. He is a Wiſe childe that knows his father (and the Greeks have a Proverb to the ſame purpoſe) but God hath no childe ſo young, that more or loſſe knoweth him not, The baſtardly brood of Rome are all for their mother,
Verſe 14. Becauſe ye have know him] The ſame again, as Verſe 13. which to a carnall heart may ſeem ſuperfluous. Et certè ſihumano ingenio conſcripti eſſent libri illi, quos pro ſacris (ita us veriſſimè ſunt) agnoſcimus & veneramur, bonum alicubi dormitaſſe Homerum diceremus, ſaid one. But far be it from us to reprehend what we cannot comprehend.
Verſe 15. Love not the World] You fathers, and you young and ſtrong men, let me caution you (before I ſpeak again to the little children, verſ. 18.) to beware of worldlineſſe. A man may be very mortified, and yet very apt to dote on the world.
If any man love the world] Have it he may, and uſe it too, as the traveller uſeth his ſtaffe (which either he keeps or caſts away, as it furthers or hinders his journey) but love it he muſt not, unleſſe he will renounce the love of God. See the Note on Mat. 6.24. Col. 312.
Verſe 16. The luſt of the fleſh, the luſt of, &c.] That is,Luk. 4. pleaſure, profit, preferment; the worldlings trinity, as one faith. Compare here with Chriſts three-fold temptation.
But is of the world] Baſe and bootleſſe, Nec verùm, nec veſtrum, To know the vanity of the world (as of a miſt) you muſt go a little out from it.
Verſe 17. And the World paſſeth away] As the ſtream of a ſwift river paſſeth by the ſide of a City. Animantis cujuſ que , vita in fuga eſt. Life it ſelf wears out in the wearing, as a garment: all things below are mutable and momentary. Wilt thou ſet thine heart upon that that is not? ſaith Solomon.
And the luſt there of] So that although thou wert ſure to hold theſe things of the world, yet they may be ſuddenly loſt to thee, becauſe then canſt not make thine heart delight in the ſame things ſtill. Not the world only, But the luſt thereof paſſeth away: there is a curſe of us ſatis…iableneſſ… lies upon the creature▪ foreign, ſaith the Oratour: There is a ſatiety of all things, The worlds comforts are ſweeter in the ambition hen in the fruition: for after a little while we loath what we lately luſted after, as Amnon did Tamar. Men first itch, and then ſcratch, and then ſmart. Dolor eſt etiam ipſa voluptas.
Verſe 18. Little children] Children may be eaſily cozened, and made to take a ſheep-counter for an angel, becauſe broader and brighter: ſo young Chriſtians are ſoon ſeduced: hence they are here cautioned.
Verſe 19. But they were not of us] No more were our Antitrinitarians, Arrians, Antiſcripturiſts, ever of cur Church, other-wiſe then as wens or botches whatever our adverſaries averre and cavil. So of old, becauſe the Waldenſes and Manichees lived in the ſame places, and were both held heretikas, the Papiſts maliciouſly gave out that the Waldenſes (thoſe ancient Proteſtants) were defiled with the errours of the Manichees and Cathariſts, which yet they ever abhorred,
Verſe 20. But ye have an Ʋnction] that oil of gladnes, the holy Ghoſt, In deriſion hereof, Domi…ian the tyrant caſt S. John into a caldron of boiling oil, but he by a miracle came forth unhurt.
Me know all things] Not all things knowable, but all things needfull to be known.
Verſe 21. Because ye know not, &c.] Becauſe ye are utterly ignorant: for God hath no blinde children, but they all know him from the leaſt to the greateſt. Howbeit, the Angels know not ſo much, but they would know more, Epheſ. 3.10. Should not we?
Verſe 22. That denieth that Jeſus] Papiſts deny him as a King, in ſetting up the Pope; as a Prieſt, in ſetting up the Maſſe; as a Prophet, in piecing their humane traditions to the holy Scriptures.
Verſe 23. The ſame bath not the Father] See the Note on Job. 5.23. Mahomet ſpeaks very honourably of Chriſt, but denies his Divinity, and that he was crucified. He acknowledgeth that he was the Word and power of god, and that all that believe in him ſhall be ſaved, &c.
Verſe 24. Hi Let that therefore abide] Perſevere and hold faſt the ſaith of the Goſpel without wavering in it, Epheſ. 4.14 or ſtarting from it, 2 Pet. 2.20. Be as the center, or as mount Sion, ſtedfaſt and unmoveable.
Verſe 25. Even eternall life] Hold therefore the doctrine of ſaith ſound and entire by the hand of faith, that ye may receive the end of your faith, the ſalvation of your ſouls.
Verſe 26. That ſeduce you] That carry you into by-waies, high waies to hell.
Verſe 27. But the anointing] See verſ. 20. It was an aggravation, of the fall of Saul, 2 Samuel 1.21. as though he had not been anointed: ſo for the Saints, to fall their own ſtedfaſtneſſe.
Verſe 28. Little children, abide in him] q d. Your enemies are many and crafty; therefore keep home, keep home: this ſhall be no grief unto you, nor offence of heart, as ſhe ſaid, 1 Sam. 25.31.
Verſe 29. Is born of him] And exactly reſembles him, as a childe doth his father. See 1 Pet. 1, 17. and the Note on Match 5.9.
CHAP. III. Verſe 1. Behold What manner]
QƲalem & quantum, as 2 Pet. 3.11. See the Note on Joh. 1.12. If Jacob was at ſuch pains and patience to become ſon in law to Laban; if David hold it ſo great a matter to be ſon in law to the king, What is it then to be ſons and daughters to the Lord Almighty? 2 Cor. 6.18.
The World knoweth us not] Princes unknown are unreſpected; Unkent, unkiſſ, as the Northern Proverb hath it. After the ſentence was pronounced upon Mr Bainham the Martyr,Act. and Mon. ſol 939. he was counſelled by M. Nicolas Wilſon to conform himſelf to the Church: To whom he anſwered, I truſt I am the very childe of god, which ye blinde aſſes (ſaid he) doe not perceive.
Verſe 2. What we ſhall be] Great things we have in hand, but greater in hope; much in poſſeſſion, but more in reverſion. Let this comfort us againſt the contempts caſt up on us by the world, blinde and beſides it ſelf in point of ſalvation.
For we ſhall ſee him as he is] Now we ſee as in a glaſſe obſcurely,1 Cor 13.1…. as an old man through ſpectacles, as a weak eye looks upon the Sun: but in heaven we ſhall ſee him as he is, ſo far as a creature is capable of that bliſſefull viſion.
Verſe 3. Purifieth himſelf] That's true hope that runs out into holineſſe. Faith and hope purge, and work a ſutableneſſe in the ſoul to the things believed and hoped for.
Even as be is pure] In quality. though not in an equality.
Verſe 4. Sin is the tranſgreſſion] As there is the ſame roundneſſe in a little ball, as in a bigger, ſo the ſame diſobedience in a ſmall ſin as a great.Concil Trident. Papiſts tell us that concupiſcence is not truly and properly a ſin: but S. Paul ſaith otherwiſe, Rom. 7. There are amongſt us, that ſay, That originall ſin is not forbidden by the Law: but ſure we are it is curſed and condemned by the law, as that which hath in it a tacite conſent to all ſin.
Verſe 5. To take away our ſins] Shall ſin live that killed Chriſt? Shall I drink the bloud of theſe men? ſaid David of thoſe that but ventured their lives for him. O… that each Chriſtian would turn Jew to himſelf, and kill the red cow, &c.
Verſe 6. Sinneth not] Sin may rebell, it cannot raign in a Saint.
Verſe 7. Let no man deceive you] As if you might paſſe è caene in coelum, ſhe to heaven with dragons wings, dance with the devil all day, and ſup with Chriſt at night; live ail your lives long in Dalilah's lap, and then go to Abrahams boſome when you die. Theſe are the devils dire-dawbers, that teach ſuch doctrine, his upholtſers that ſow ſuch pillows. Ezek. 13.18.
Verſe 8.foreign. He that committeth ſinne] That makes a trade of it, and can art it (as the word properly ſignifieth) not act it only.
Is of the devil] Bears his image, wears his livery: is as like him as if ſpet out of his mouth.
That be might deſtroy the Works] The devil then hath his works in the very hearts of the elect, for whoſe cauſe Chriſt came into the world.
Verſe 9. For his ſeed] The new nature which cauſeth that ſin cannot carry it away, without ſome counter-buffs.
He cannot ſine] i.e. Sinningly, ſo as to be transformed into ſins image: cannot doe wickedly with both hands earneſtly, Mic. 7.
Verſe 10. In this the children of God] As Davids daughters were known by their garments of divers colours, 2 Sam. 13.18. So are Gods children by their piety and charity.
Verſe 11. That We ſhould love, &c.] this beloved diſciple was all for love. See the Note on Chap. 2.9.
Verſe 12. Who Was of that Wicked one] Tertullian calleth Cain the devils Patriarch. Cain is dead, faith another, but I could wiſh that he did not ſtill live in his heirs and executours,Bucbol. Qui clavam ejus ſanguine Abelis rubentem, u… rem ſacram circumf…runt, adorant & venerantur, who bear about and make uſe of Cains club, to knock on the head Gods righteous Abels.
And ſlew his brother] Gr. Cut his throat. Acerbiſſima ſunt odia (ut ita nominem) ſaith one,foreign. Theſe Divinity hatreds are moſt deadly.
Becauſe his own Works, &c.] The old enmity, Gen. 3.15. So Numb. 22.3, 4. Moab Was irked, becauſe of Iſrael, or did fret and vex at them, as Exod, 1.12. yet hey were allied, and paſſed by them in peace, and, by the ſlaughter of the Amorites, freed them from evil neighbours, which had taken away part of their Land, and might do more, as one bath well obſerved.
Verſe 13. Marvel not my brethren] Sith it was ſo from the beginning, and the very firſt man that died, died for religion: ſo early came martyrodome into the world.
Verſe 14. We know that we have paſſed] Not we thinke, we hope, &c.—fortunam rudentibus op… If we would not have with the Merchant an eſtate hanging upon ropes, and depending upon uncertain windes, let us make ſure work for our ſouls. This is a jewell that the Cock on the dunghill meddles not with. Senſum electionis ad gloriam. in hac vita nullum agnoſco, ſaith Greevinchovius the Arminian, I know no ſuch thing as aſſurance of heaven in this life. Papiſts allow us nothing beyond a conjecturall confidence, unleſſe by ſpeciall revelation, Miſerable comforters!
Verſe 15. Whoſoever hateth his brother] Not to love then is to hate, as not to ſave a man is to kill him, Mark 3.4.
Is a murtherer] Becauſe he wiſheth him out of the world, as Caracalla did his brother Geta, of whom he ſaid, Divus ſit, mod… non ſit vivus, I would he were in heaven or any where, ſo that I were rid of him. By like reaſon we may ſay that ſin is God-murther: foraſmuch as ſinners are God-haters, Rom. 1.30. and could wiſh there were no God, that they might never come to judgement. The godly man on the contrary cries out with David, Vivat Deus, Let the Lord live, and bleſſed be the God of my ſalvation, &c. Pſ. 18 46.
Verſe 16. Becauſe he laid down] See the Note on Joh. 15.13 Rom. 5.8.
We ought alſo to lay down our lives] If Pylades can offer to die for Orestes, meerly for a name, or out of carnall affection at the beſt: Should not Chriſtians lay down their own necks one for another, as Aquila and Priſcilla did for Paul, Rom. 16.4?
Verſe 17.foreign. This Worlds good] Gr. Livelyhood, Which is all that the world looks after.
And ſhutteth up his bowels, &c.] Not drawing out unto him both his ſheaf and his ſoul, Iſa. 58.9.
Verſe 18. Let us not love in Word] Words are light-cheap: and there is a great deal of mouth-mercy abroad. Julian the apoſtate is not preſently a friend to Baſil, though the write unto him, foreign,Dio. thou art my friend and beloved brother. The Roman legions loved Otho the Emperour, ſaith the Hiſtorian, and gave him all reſpect, foreign, not from the teeth out ward, but from the heart-root. See the Notes on Jam. 2.14, 15, 16.
Verſe 19. And ſhall aſſure our hearts] This, ſaith father Latimer, is the ſweet-meats of the feaſt of a good conſcience. There are other dainty diſhes in this feaſt, but this is the banquet.
Verſe 20.Conſcia …ens ui cui… ſua eſt, ita concip… … trapectera pro facto ſpem que metum que …uo. O…d. If our heart condemn us] Conſcience is Gods ſpie, and mans over-ſeer, Domeſticus index, judex, carnifex; Gods deputy-Judge, holding court in the whole ſoul, bearing witneſſe of all a mans doing and deſires, and accordingly excuſing or accuſing, abſolving or condeming, comforting or tormenting.
Verſe 21. Then have we confidence] Sincerity is the mother of ſerenity. Since qua, tranquillitas emnis tempestas est, ſaith Iſidore. Uprightneſſe hath boldneſſe. It is not a peace, but a truce, that the wicked have ſuch a ſtorm will befall them, as ſhall never be blown over. Iſrael is the heir of peace, Galatians 6.16. Iſa 32.17.
Verſe 22. And what ſoever we ask] ſc. According to his will. Fiat voluntas mea, quia tua, ſaid Luther. I can have what I will of God, ſaid one; for my will ſhall be concentrike with his will.
Becauſe we keep] The obedience of faith emboldens us: yet may no may ſay as the prodigall, Give me the por…ion that belongeth to me. It was a proud ſpeech of that Emperour that ſaid,Antonin Philoſ. Non ſic Deos coluimus, ant ſic vivimus, ut ille not vinceret, We have not ſo ſerved God, that the enemy ſhould overcome us.
Verſe 23. And this is his commandment] This is the ſum and ſubſtance of the Goſpel, that we believe and love: and the more we believe Gods love to us, the more love ſhall we bear one to another, for our love is but a reflex of his.
Verſe 24. By the Spirit] Chriſt hat ſatisfied the wrath of the Father: and now the Father and Chriſt both, as reconciled, ſend the Spirit, as the fruit of both their loves, to inhabit our hearts. And truly, next unto the love of Chriſt in dwelling in our nature, we may well wonder at the love of the holy Ghoſt, that will dwell in our defiled ſouls.
CHAP. IIII. Verſe 1. But try the spirits]
AS Lapidaries do their ſtones, as goldſmiths do the …etals. A Briſtow ſtone may look as well as an Indian diamond; and many things gliſter beſides gold. Try therefore before you truſt that which is doctrinally delivered unto you: being neither over-credulous, the fool believeth every thing: nor raſhly cenſorious, as thoſe were that ſaid of our Saviour, This man blasphemeth. See the Note on 1 Theſſ. 5.21.
Becauſe many falſe Prophets] Both the old Church, Deut. 13.1. and the new. Act. 20.30 were ever peſtered with them.
Verſe 2. Herby know ye the spirit] Bring it to this teſt. Gold may be rub'd or melted, it remains orient; ſo doth truth. Whereas errour as glaſſe (bright, but brittle) cannot endure the hammer of fire.
That confeſſeth] That preacheth Chriſt crucified.
Verſe 3. Is not of God] And yet he is not called an Atheiſt, or an Antitheist, but Antichriſt, that is an oppoſite to Chriſt: as if his oppoſing ſhould not be ſo much to Chriſts nature, or perſon, as to his unction and function.
Verſe 4. And have overcome] viz. In your head Chriſt, and by the help of his holy spirit, your ſweet inhabitant, whereby ye are more then conquerours, becauſe ſure to overcome and triumph.
Verſe 5. They are of the World] i. e. The ſeducers: fit lettice for ſuch lips, Dignum patellâ operculum. Vosinfernates eſtis, Ye are from beneath, I am from above, ſaith Chriſt, Job. 8.23.
There fore ſpeak they of the World] The water riſeth not (unleſſe forced) above the fountain. Out of the ware-houſe, the ſhop is furniſhed. Carnall teachers gratifie their hearers with pleaſing poſitions. the Papiſts in their petition to King James for a toleration, plead this as an argument, That their religion is agreeable to mens nature; and indeed it is an alluring, tempting, bewitching religion, giving way to all licentiouſneſſe and laſciviouſneſſe, So Mahomet in his A…choran tels his followers concerning venery, That God did not give men ſuch appetites to have them fruſtrate, but enjoyed, as made for the guſt of man, not for his torment; and a great deal more of ſuch paltry ſtuff.
Verſe 6. Heareth us] Chriſts ſheep are rationall; they can diſcern his voice from that of a ſtranger: and will hear it not with that griſtle only that grows upon their heads, but with the car of their ſoul, which trieth doctrines, as the mouth doth meat, Job. 3. and knoweth the ſpirit of truth, and the ſpirit of errour.
Verſe 7. Beloved, let us love one another] This beloved Diſciple breaths nothing but love: as if he had been born with love in his mouth, as they ſay.
Verſe 8. Knoweth not God] If morall vertue could be ſeen with mortall eyes, ſaith Plato, it would draw all hearts unto it. If God were well known, he could not but be beſt beloved, and all that are his, for his ſake.
Verſe 9. In this Was manifeſted] The very naked bowels of his tendereſt compaſſions are herein laid open unto us, as in an anatomie. God ſo loved his ſon, that he gave him the world for his poſſ…ſſion. Pſ. 2.7. but he ſo loved the world, that he gave Son and all for its redemption.
Verſe 10. Not that we loved, &c.] Deus prior nos amavit, tantus, tantùm, & gratis, tantillos & tales. God, though ſo great,Bern. loved us firſt and freely, though ſuch and ſo worthleſſe. He loved us, becauſe be loved us, ſaith Moſes, Deut. 7.7, 8. the ground of his love being wholly in himſelf. He works for his own names ſake, Ezek. 20.8, 14▪44, 22. four ſeverall times, not withſtanding his word and oath, 13, 15, 23.
Verſe 11. If god ſo loved us] His one example eaſily anſwereth all our objections, taketh off all our excuſes. As that our brother is our inferiour, our adverſary, of whom we have better deſerved, &c.
Verſe 12. No man hath ſeen God] If we reade that any hath ſeen him, we muſt underſtand it, that indeed they did ſee,Rab. Maim. more Nevochimd. 3.07. Mercavah, velo harocheb, the charriot in which God rode, but not the rider in it, as that Rabbi ſpeaketh.
Verſe 13. He hath given us of his ſpirit] That is, of the fruits of his Spirit, his holy motions and graces. For thorow the two golden pipes the two Olive-Branches empty out of themſelves the golden oils of all precious graces, into the Candle-ſtick the Church.
Verſe 14. And We have ſeen] ſc. By ſpeciall priviledge (that which naturall eye never ſaw, v. 12.) the back-parts of Jehovah, his wiſdome, juſtice, mercy, &c. we can ſee no more and live, we need ſee no more that we may live.
Verſe 15. Whoſoever ſhall confeſſe] See the Note on 1 Cor. 12.3.
Verſe 16. And we have known and beleeved] That is, we know by believing. See the Note no Joh. 6.69.
God is love] Pellican tels of ſome in his time, that uſed to reade this piece of Scripture to their friends at their feaſts. A pious practice ſurely, and well beſeeming thoſe that feaſt before the Lord. The Primitive Chriſtians had at ſuch times their kiſſe of love, 1 Pet. 5.14. And S. Auſtin had theſe two verſes written on his Table,
Quiſquis amat dictis abſentum roders famam,
Hanc menſam indictam novorit eſſe ſibi.
Verſe 17. In the day of judgement] Thoſe that bear his image ſhall hear his Euge: he will own them and honour them in their ſaith, that worketh by love, ſhall be found unto praiſe, honour and glory at the appearing of Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 1.7. He that was ſo willingly judg'd for them, ſhall give no hard ſentence againſt them.
Verſe 18. There is no fear in love] But complacence and acquieſcence in the perſon beloved.
Becauſe fear hath torment] Quom metuunt, oderunt. Whomſoever men fear, they hate, ſaith the Proverb. And odium timorem spirat, ſaith Tertullian. Hatred hath fear, which ſets the ſoul on a rack, as it were, and renders it reſt leſſe.
Verſe 19. Becauſe be firſt lovedus] See the Note on Verſ. 10 Mary anſwers not Rabboni till Chriſt firſt ſaid unto her Mary. Our love is but the reflex of his. And as the reflected beams of the Sun are weaker then the direct, ſo are our affections weaker then Gods.
Verſe 20. Whom be hath ſeen] Sight uſually maketh love. Jnvenal greatly wondereth at one, Quinunquam viſae fiagrabat amore puellae, who loved a party whom he had never ſeen.
Verſe 21. Love his brother alſo] If he be a good man, love him in god, if bad, for God.
CHAP. V. Verſe 1. Loveth him alſo that is begotten]
His love, as Aarons ointment, ſloweth down from the head to the meaneſt member. Gods image whereſoever it appeareth, is very lovely.
Verſe 2. That we love the children of God] Really, aright, and not for ſelf or ſiniſter reſpects. Godlineſſe begins in the tight knowledge of our ſelves, and ends in the right knowledge of God. a Chriſtian begins with loving God for himſelf, but he ends in loving himſelf and others, in and for Chriſt.
Verſe 3. For this is, &c.] See the Note on Joh. 14.15.
His commandments are not] See the Note on Mat. 11.30
Verſe 4. Even our faith] Which ſhews a man a better project, puts his head into heaven afore-hand, gives him to taſte of the hidden manna. Now his mouth will not water after homely proviſions that hath lately taſted of delicate ſuſtenance. Are we afraid of men, ſaith one? faith ſets hell before us, Are we allured by the world? faith ſets heaven before us.
Verſe 5. But he that beleeveth] A believer walketh about the world as a conquerour. He ſaith of theſe things here below, as Socrates did when he came into a fair, and ſaw there ſundry commodities to be ſold, Quam mult is ego non egeo? Nec babeo, nec careo, nec curo, as another ſaid, I neither have theſe things, nor need them, nor care for them. He hath his feet, where other mens heads are, Prov. 15.24. Rev. 12.1.
Verſe 6. That came by water and bloud] So to fulfill and anſwer the legall waſhings and ſacrifices, ſo to ſignifie that he juſtifieth none by his merit, but whom he ſactifieth by his spirit: and ſo to ſet forth the two Sacraments of the new Teſtament. See The Note on Joh. 1934.
Verſe 7. Three that bear record] viz. That Jeſus Chriſt is the Son of God. Theſe three heavenly Witneſſes have given teſtimony hereof in earth. See the Note on Joh. 5.32 & 8.18.
Theſe three are one] In eſſence and will. As if three lamps were lighted in one chamber, albeit the lamps be divers, yet the lights cannot be ſevered: ſo in the God-head, as there is a diſtinction of perſons, ſo a ſimplicity of nature.
Verſe 8. The Spirit and the Water] The Spirit of ſactification teſtified by ſaving graces and new divine gifts, the water of repentance, and the bloud of Chriſt applied by faith. Theſe be the three Witneſſes of a mans happineſſe here. When the waters of ſactification are troubled and muddy, let us run to the witneſſe of bloud.
Verſe 9. If we receive, &c.] If two or three witneſſes eſtabliſh a truth with men, ſhall we deny that honour to Gods teſtimony?
Verſe 10. Hath the witneſſe in himſelf] Carries in his heart the counterpane of all the promiſes.
Hath made him aliar] As one may deny God in deed, as well as in word, ſo he may give him the lie too in like manner, ſc. by going away, and not heeding all the grace that he offereth by Chriſt: for ſuch a one ſaith in effect, Tuſh, thee is no ſuch thing as Chriſt: or at leaſt no ſuch benefit to be reaped by his paſſion, as they would perſwade us, &c.
Verſe 11. That God hath given to us, &c,] How plain is the holy Scripture in things needfull to ſalvation? Theſe God hath written for us, as it were, which the beam of the Sun, that none may plead difficulty. But we are, moſt of us, of the Athenian ſtrain, of whom Tully ſaies the Proverb went, Athenienſes ſ…ire quae recta ſunt, ſed facere nolle, that they knew what was right,Cic deſenct. but had no minde to make uſe of it.
Verſe 12. Hath life] For he is the prince and principle of life: and all out of him are dead whiles they live. Non ille din vixit, ſed diu fuit, ſaith Seneca of one, Non multum navigavit, ſed multum jactatus eſt, of another at ſea, He was long, but he lived little, He was much toſſed, but not much furthered, He moved much, but removed not at all, as a horſe in a mill, as a dog in a wheel, &c. See the Note on Joh. 1.4.
Verſe 13. That ye may believe] That ye may be confirmed, continued and encreaſed in it.
Verſe 14. According to his will] One ſaid, he could have what he would of god, and Fiat voluntas mea, ſaid Luther in a certain praier, but then he finely fals off with, Men voluntas, Domine, quiatua, Let my will be done, Lord, but ſo far forth, as it is thy will.
Verſe 15. We know that we have] Iste vir potuit quod voluit, That man could do what he would with God, ſaid one concerning Luther. See the Note on Joh. 15.16.
Verſe 16.Act. and Mon. ſol, 46. A ſinne which is not unto death] when John Frith and Andrew Hewet were at the ſtake, Dr Cook openly admoniſhed all the people, that they ſhould in no wiſe pray for them, no more then they would do for a dog. At which words Frith ſmiling, deſired the Lord to forgive him.
There is a ſinne unto death] That unpardonable ſin of doing deſpite to the Spirit of grace. Rockwood, a chief perſectour at Callice in the daies of Henry the 8. to his laſt breath ſtaring and raging, cried, the was utterly damned: And being willed to ask God mercy,Ibid. 1119. he braied and cried our, All too late: for I have ſought maliciouſly the deaths of a number of the honeſteſt men in the town, whom I knew to be ſo: All too late therefore, All too late.
Verſe 17. There is a ſin not unto death] All fins and blaſphemies ſhall be forgiven unto men: but the blaſphemy againſt the holy Ghoſt, &c. See the Note on Mat. 12.31, 32.
Verſe 18. Sinneth nor] ſc. That ſin to death, v. 16. not other ſins, as other men do. See the Note on Chap. 3.9.
And that wicked one toncheth him not] viz. Tactu qualitativo, as Cajetan expoundeth it, with a deadly touch: he thruſts not in his ſting ſo far as to infuſe the venome of that ſin that is properly his ſin, Joh. 8.44. and with which he toucheth their ſpirits that become the ſerpents feed.
Verſe 19. Lieth in Wickedneſſe] As a lubber in a lake, as a carcaſe in its ſlime. In fermento tota jacet uxor, ſaith he in Plautus. This people is wholly ſet upon Wickedneſſe, ſaid Aaron, Exod. 32.22. is under the power and vaſſallage of the devil. Nil mundum in mundo.
Verſe 20. And we know] This he brings in here for a corollary and concluſion of all.
Verſe 21. Keep your ſelves from idols] Negatively at leaſt (as thoſe 7000 in Iſrael, that had not bowed their knees to Baal) if not poſitively, by open declaration of your utter diſlike, as did Daniel and his aſſociates.