A paraphrase on the New Testament with notes, doctrinal and practical, by plainess and brevity fitted to the use of religious families, in their daily reading of the Scriptures : and of the younger and poorer sort of scholars and ministers, who want fuller helps : with an advertisement of difficulties in the Revelations / by Richard Baxter.

CHAP. III.

1. BEhold, what manner of love the Fa∣ther hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; there∣fore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

1. Let us therefore, instead of forsaking Christ, ad∣mire the wondrous Love of God to us, that hath, in Christ, adopted us to be his Sons. Indeed our Digni∣ty is unknown to the unbelieving World; for they knew not Christ to be the Son of God, and how then should they know us?

2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

2. And it is no wonder if our Condition be unknown to the unbelieving World; for though we are already the Sons of God, and have Right, by Promise, to future Glory, our future Glory is yet unseen, and what we shall be, doth not appear to the World, or to our own sight: But we know by faith, that when Christ appeareth, we that are his Members, shall, in our several measures, be made like our glorified Head, in the Perfection both of Soul and Body, and place and state of Blessedness. For he hath promised that we shall be with him, and there∣fore shall see him as he is, and therefore be made capable of such a sight, and glorious Communion.

3. And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

3. And knowing that, without Holiness, none can see God; and that, it is the Pure in heart that have the Pro∣mise of seeing him, therefore all that have a true effe∣ctual Hope of seeing him, will make it their chief care to purifie themselves, that such Likeness to Christ may render them capable of such a blessed sight.

4. Whosoever committeth sin, transgres∣seth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins, and in him is no sin.

4, 5. For, to sin, is to transgress, and break God's Law: for that is the definition of Sin. And ye know that Christ came in the Flesh, to be a Sacrifice for Sin, and to take it away, and destroy it, and never sinned himself; and all this, that he might vindicate God's Law and Holiness.

6. Whosoever abideth in him, sinneth not: whosoever sinneth, hath not seen him, neither known him.

6. So far as any man is in him, and is taught and ru∣led by him; so far is he freed from all sin: and all his true Members are delivered from the predominant love and practice of all known sin; and are willing to know all, that they may avoid it. And he that would not know it, and when he doth know it, doth not hate it more than love it; and so far forsake it, as to conquer the Dominion of it, and live in sincere and willing holy Obedience in the course of his Life, may boast falsly that he is a Christian; but indeed, hath no true saving know∣ledge of Christ.

7. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doth righteousness, is righte∣ous, even as he is righteous.

7. Be not so childish, as to be deceived by the vain words of any that pretend to be righteous before God, on any account whatsoever, while they live in Unrigh∣teousness and predominant sin; as if God would justifie the Wicked for their Opinions or Presumptions. It is he that, being called, justified and sanctified by the Merits and Spirit of Christ, doth live in a sincere Obedience to him, and labours to be like him, in Holiness and Love to God and Man, whom God will call a righteous man, and save him as such, when he is Judge.

8. He that committeth sin, is of the de∣vil; for the devil sinneth from the begin∣ning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

8. So far as any man sinneth, so far he is of the De∣vil, and like him: and he is the Servant of the Devil, in whom sin is predominant: or that liveth in the love and practice of any sin, not consistent with true hatred of it, and Repentance, and the predominant love and practice of holy Obedience. And Christ will be no ju∣stifying Advocate, or Judge, of the Servants of the De∣vil (though he may, by making them just and holy, turn them from the power of Satan, to God; and judge them just, when he hath made them just, both by Conversion and Pardon, but not before.) For the Son of God came purposely into the World, to destroy the Works of the Devil, in all that he will save; and not to call the Wic∣ked, Righteous.

9. Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin: for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

9. He that is truly regenerate by the Spirit, is made a hater and forsaker of sin, and therefore doth not live in the ruling love or practice of it; nor indeed, com∣mit any sin, in that degree that he is sanctified; much less, live in wilful, gross sin: for God's Word and Spi∣rit,

by which he was regenerate, still abide in him. And it is a Contradiction to say that, at once, he is a holy person, born of God, and yet liveth in reigning sin.

Note; [Cannot] Here signifieth a Hypothetical Impos∣sibility, because 'tis a Contradiction, and not a natural Impossibility; much less, Impotency: for it is sinning, and not forbearing sin, that signifieth Impotency. And the Contradiction is only on Supposition that he continue sanctified.

10. In this the children of God are ma∣nifest, and the children of the devil: who∣soever doth not righteousness, is not of God, neither he that loveth not his bro∣ther.

10. It is not by proud Boasting, nor barren Opinions, that God's Children are known from the Children of the Devil; but by the Image of God, which Faith in Christ doth cause in his true Disciples. He that doth not live in the true love and practice of Righteousness towards God and Man; abhorring and avoiding Ungodliness, In∣justice, and fleshly Lusts, is no Child of God, but of the Devil: nor he that doth not unfeignedly love all Chri∣stians, as Christians; and men, as men; and live in Cha∣rity to them accordingly.

Note; That wicked men are called, The Children of the Devil, because they are like him, and do his Will. And the World swarmeth with men so like to Devils, in Ly∣ing, Malignity and Mischiefs, as maketh it easie to be∣lieve, that there are Devils, and a Hell.

11. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

11. For this is the Message which Christ, the Lord of Love, did commit to us, and, from the first, we have preached to you, that Love is the very ••••m and End of Law and Gospel.

12. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother: and wherefore slew he him? because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

12. That we be not like wicked Cain, who was of the Diabolical Disposition and Practice, and killed his own Brother. And, Why did he kill him? Not for any ill desert, nor for any harm that he had done him: but because he was bad himself, and his Works bad; and his Brother's Righteous, and, by difference, condemned him.

Note; Doubtless, God permitted Adam's first Son to be wicked, and murder his righteous Brother, to shew the World, what a state we are first in, since the Fall, by natural Pravity; and that we are, as such, the Children of the Devil, till Grace recover us: and to expound the Enmity put between the Seed of the Woman, and of the Serpent; and to tell us, what a War will be continued upon Earth, from the days Cain and Ab••l, till the End; and that Superiority and Cruelty will usually be against the Righteous, whose Victory is mostly by patient Suffering and Death.

13. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

13. If the ungodly Successors of Cain, whose own Works are evil, do hate Godliness and Conscience, and hate you for them, take it for no strange or unexpected thing: It hath been so since Cain's days, and will be so, as Christ foretold.

14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the bre∣thren: he that loveth not his brother, abi∣deth in death.

14. Love being the great Work of God's Renewing Spirit on the Soul, it is by Love, especially to all true Christians, that we know that we are changed from the Cainish, corrupt state of Death, into the state of holy Life. Whatever else men have, if they have not true love to others, especially to godly Christians, they are yet dead in sin.

Note, 1. By [The Brethren,] here is meant, [Christians, as such:] Not only those of some Party in Opinion which we like, nor only those that are friendly to us, nor yet all men, or all called Christians alike; though all men must be loved as men. It is, to love God in man, and man for his sake, so far as God's Amiableness shineth in them; specially, to love God's Holiness in holy per∣sons.

2. It is not all Love to godly Christians, as such, that will prove us translated from Death to Life; but to love them, and God in them, better than the Pleasures and Wealth of the World. The cheap Love of such as wish men well, but will be at no great cost or danger for any, because they love their Money better, is the Hypocrites Love.

15. Whosoever hateth his brother, is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

15. Note, 1. How dreadful a Sentence this is against malignant, or factious Haters of Brethren.

2. But the Self-deceit of murderous Hypocrites is, by taking Brethren for no Brethren; but, as the Papists, first call them Hereticks, Schismaticks, Fanaticks, Puri∣tans, Rebels against the Pope or Church; that they may justifie their hating, murdering, imprisoning, silencing, and ruining them. As the Scribes were loth to know who was their Neighbour, so are these loth to know who is a Brother: But God will know his Children, though men call them by reproachful names. Alas for the mur∣derous Generation, that preach, write, and strive to de∣stroy the Upright, and say, they killed them, or ruined them in Love; (that is, they hated them in Love.) Woe to them, when God shall judge them.

3. Every degree of unjust Hurt or Hatred is a Breach of the Sixth Commandment: But the meaning is not every degree, or mistaking wrong, is as bad as actual Murder, or as sure a sign of Death. Alas! how few else would live.

16. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

16. As God hath manifested his Love to us, by laying down for us the Life of our Redeemer; so if we be God's Children, we must learn of him (as to love our Enemies, so) if God should call us to it, as needful to better ends than our lives, to lay down our lives for Christian Brethren.

17. But whoso hath this worlds good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

17. And if Love must make us die for others, surely those have no true Love to God, and to the Brethren, as God requireth, who cannot lay down part of their abundance (perhaps superfluity) for them; but while they are well able, yet cannot find in their hearts to relieve them, but shut up the bowels of their compas∣sion from them.

Note; O the dreadful account that many of the Rich must give, that feast all the year, while their poor Neighbours hunger! and spend forty times more in (needless) house-keeping, as they call their Luxury, than on the Poor.

18. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed, and in truth.

18. Let not your Love be hypocritical, which will bring forth no better fruit than good wishes, and fair words, but shew the truth of it by your cost and real helps.

19. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts be∣fore him.

19. It is by such efficacy and real fruit that we must know that we are true Christians, and not Hypocrites, and must have assurance that our hearts are true to God.

20. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21. Beloved, if our heart con∣demn us not, then have we confidence to∣wards God.

20, 21. For if our Consciences tell us that our Love is barren and fruitless, and so condemn us of Hypocrisie, God is greater, and more acquainted with our Hypo∣crisie than our Consciences: But if our Conscience truly witness the sincerity of our Love by the fruits of it, then this assurance of our Sincerity giveth us boldness towards God.

22. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

22. And if we do God's Will sincerely, in obeying his Commands, and the things that please him, he will hear our Prayers, and grant our just desires, and give us that which is good for us; whereas, if we love iniquity, and live therein, God will not hear our Prayers.

Note; They that deny that holy, sincere Obedience, is any condition of God's hearing our Prayers (because Faith hath the promise) contradict the scope of Scripture.

23. And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

23. And the sum of all this acceptable duty is but this, To believe truly in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, our Teacher, King and Intercessor, and to obey his great Command of Loving one another; with all such God is pleased, and heareth them.

24. And he that keepeth his command∣ments, dwelleth in him, and he in him: and hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

24. And if we keep Christ's Commands (of fruitful Love in Faith) there is a near Communion between Christ and us; we dwell in Christ as his Members, and he dwelleth in us; and his dwelling in us is by the Spi∣rit of Love and Holiness (the Seal of his Promise) which he hath given us: (He that keepeth Christ's Command∣ments (specially of Love) hath his Spirit:) And Christ dwells where his Spirit dwells.