An expositon of all St. Pauls epistles together with an explanation of those other epistles of the apostles St. James, Peter, John & Jude : wherein the sense of every chapter and verse is analytically unfolded and the text enlightened. / David Dickson ...

CHAP. II.

THe rest of the whole Epistle enforceth the use of the former Doctrine, to which end five Exhortations are propounded. The first to vers. 9. The second to vers. 15. The third to vers. 18. The fourth to vers. 29. The fifth to verse the last.

Vers. 1. My little Children, these things write I unto you, that yee sin not. And if any man sin▪ wee have an Advocate with the Father, Iesus Christ the righ∣teous:

The first Exhortation is to the following after holiness, that they sin not; The Reasons of the Exhortation (be∣sides a friendly compellation) are eleven.

Reas. 1. Because this is the end and use of the Do∣ctrine of the Gospel, and the Apostles writing. These things write I unto you, that yee sin not, saith hee: Therefore follow yee holiness.

And if] Reas. 2. If yee follow after holiness, the sins which perhaps yee shall fall into, shall bee taken away through the intercession of Christ Jesus our Advocate and Lord: Therefore endeavour after holiness. When hee names one Advocate, hee excludes all others, for other∣wise Christ was not simply our Advocate, but one of our Advocates.

The Righteous] Reas. 3. Confirming the former; Christ our Advocate is righteous, i. e. not onely meet to intercede for sinners by reason of the Righteousness of his person, but also righteous in his office, who requires nothing of the Father in our behalf, but what is justly due to him interceding for us, from the covenant and merit of his death. Also hee is Righteous, that hee might cover us with his imputed Righteousness. And lastly, hee is righ∣teous, who upon the Covenant of Redemption promotes us in the following after Righteousness, and raises us up again, when wee fall, and at length perfectly makes us righteous or holy: Therefore beleevers ought both to endeavour after holiness, and if at any time they fall into sin, to hope for the virtue of Christs interces∣sion.

Vers. 2. And hee is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours onely, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Reas. 4. Confirming the second reason. The death and expiatory Sacrifice of Christ, was offered, not onely for us, viz. elected out of the Jews, and converted to the Faith of Christ, but also for the sins of all the elect, or redeemed in the world: Therefore yee ought to beware of the evil of sin, which cannot bee expiated, unless by the death of Christ, but if yee sin, yee may confidently expect the virtue both of the rich expiation, and inter∣cession of Christ.

Vers. 3. And hereby wee know that wee know him, if wee keep his commandements.

Reas. 5. By endeavouring sincerely to keep the com∣mandements of God, as by a sure sign yee may know the truth of your Faith, or that yee truly beleeve in God, and love him sincerely: Therefore follow yee after holi∣ness, or sin not.

Vers. 4. Hee that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandements, is a lyer, and the truth is not in him.

Reas. 6. Hee that professes that hee knows God, i. e. that hee beleeves in him, and loves him, and doth not fol∣low after holiness (for according to the stile of the Gos∣pel, to endeavour sincerely after holiness, is to keep the commandements) is an hypocrite, in whom there is no sincerity, or truth of Faith: Therefore endeavour after holiness.

Vers. 5. But who so keepeth his word, in him, verily is the love of God perfected; hereby know wee that wee are in him.

Reas. 7. Hee that endeavours after holiness, proves the sincerity of his love towards God, which love is perfected or manifested to bee sincere from an endeavour of keeping the word of God, and obeying it: Therefore yee ought to endeavour after holiness.

Hereby) Reas. 8. Hee that endeavours after holiness, or not to sin, or to keep the word of God, hath an evi∣dence of his communion with God, and knows that hee dwells in Christ by Faith: Therefore, &c.

Vers. 6. Hee that saith hee abideth in him, ought him∣self also to walk, even as hee walked.

Reas. 9. Confirming the former, whosoever professes that hee hath communion with Christ, ought to endea∣vour after holiness, or to imitate Christ in his life and conversation: Therefore yee ought to endeavour after holiness.

Vers. 7. Brethren, I write no new commandement un∣to you, but an old commandement, which yee had from the beginning, the old commandement is the word which yee have heard from the beginning.

Reas. 10. I require no new duty from you, when I urge you to follow after holiness, or the observance of Gods commandements, but I repeat an old commande∣ment, which yee have not onely heard from the begin∣ning, from Christ and his Ministers, but yee have had it also commended to you out of the Law and Prophets: Therefore endeavour after holiness.

Vers. 8. Again, a new Commandement I write unto you, which thing is true in him, and in you, because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

Reas. 11. This Commandement is not old in the old∣ness of the letter, as in times past it was, so long as you lived irregenerate under the Covenant of works, when the Law did command, and conferred no strength to per∣form, but it is now in the newness of Spirit: To the per∣forming whereof Christ will administer new grace to you: Therefore yee ought to follow after holiness.

Which] What the New Covenant is, hee expounds in the next words, affirming that the command is new, both in respect of Christ, who quickens the Commandement, and in respect of themselves, who were now by regenera∣tion made new Creatures, i. e. to whom grace was admini∣stred, and was furthermore to bee administred to obe∣dience.

Because the darkness] The reason is given to this sense, Because yee are not under the Law, but under Grace; yee are not in a state of irregeneration, but are renewed. For the darkness of the Legal Covenant, and the state of irregeneration, are passed away, and now Christ, who brings life and grace with him, and is the true light, is risen as the Sun of Righteousness, upon you that beleeve, and hath both communicated the light, and also the heat of life to you: Therefore the commandement is new to you, that yee ought to bee encouraged to follow after ho∣liness with more alacrity.

Vers. 9. Hee that saith hee is in the light, and hateth his Brother, is in darkness, even until now.

The second Exhortation drawing the former to the love of the Brethren: The Arguments of the Exhortation are ten; besides those two which are next recited, and may al∣so bee referred hither.

Argum. 1. Whosoever professeth himself to bee in the light, or regenerate, and hateth his Brother, hee lies yet unregenerated in the darkness of ignorance

and sin: Therefore yee ought to endeavour after bro∣therly love.

Vers. 10. Hee that loveth his Brother, abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

Argum. 2. He that loves his Brother, remains in the light, and perseveres in the way of truth, in part possessing the lot and condition of the Saints: Therefore yee ought to follow after, &c.

And none occasion of stumbling] Argum. 3. Hee that loveth his Brother, doth neither stumble himself in the way of holiness (alwaies seeing whither hee goes, viz. to God by Faith in the way of obedience) nor is hee an oc∣casion of stumbling to others, whereby they may either be drawn into sin, or hardened in it: Therefore yee ought to endeavour after brotherly love.

Vers. 11. But hee that hateth his Brother, is in dark∣ness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither hee goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Argum. 4. Hee that hateth his Brother, hee wholly lyes and perseveres in sin, and swarving from the right way, which leads to salvation, hee is carried to a prece∣pice, not knowing whither hee goes, because his mind is darkened with sin: Therefore yee must follow after bro∣therly love.

Vers. 12. I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his names sake.

Argum. 5. O faithful Children, both Gods and mine, your sins are freely forgiven you, for Christs name sake, i. e. for the merit of Christ which is preached to you, and is through Faith apprehended by you: Therefore this Exhortation which I have written, being to holiness, and brotherly love, yee are bound to obey it.

Vers. 13. I write unto you, Fathers, because yee have known him that is from the beginning; I write unto you young men, because yee have overcome the wicked one: I write unto you little children, because yee have known the Father.

Argum. 6. From the faithful of every age and order without exception is required the following after holiness and brotherly love: by name from the Fathers, who are therefore bound to obey, because yee are admitted to the knowledge of the antient of daies, or the eternal Son of God, knowledge of whom hath made you more blessed, than all that knowledge of things you have gained from the use and experience of many years: Therefore yee ought to follow after, &c.

Young men] Argum. 7. Because as all, so young men are bound to obey, because victory is granted to them a∣gainst the Devil, in Christ, in whom also strength is ad∣ministred for their daily conquering, which victory ex∣ceeds all warlike praises.

Little Children] Argum. 8. Because as all, so are the faithful little children bound to obey these Exhortations, because, although they are not so skilful in worldly mat∣ters, God hath manifested himself to them, a Father in Christ, and hath given them to acknowledge God, their Father: Therefore, &c.

Vers. 14. I have written unto you, Fathers, because yee have known him, that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because yee are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and yee have overcome the wicked one.

Father] Argum. 9. Inforcing the sixth Argument, Because, as all, so in the first place; The faithful Fathers are bound to obey the Exhortation, because it is given to them rather than to others, to know the Eternal Son of God, which benefit ought again and again to come into their consideration.

Young men] Argum. 10. Reinforcing the seventh Ar∣gument, because as all, so also the faithful young men 〈…〉〈…〉 to obey the Exhortation, seeing that God in Christ hath first of all indued them from above with spi∣ritual strength, which is far more excellent than natural; Secondly, And hath put his word into their minds by the Spirit, that by Faith it might alwaies abide in them: Thirdly, And hath also given them, that through Christ they may overcome the Devil, also these Arguments make much to the following Exhortation.

Vers. 15. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Exhort. 3. To beware of the love of the world, and of those things that are in it. By world hee understands the condition of unregenerate men, wherein they please them∣selves, and think themselves happy. By those things which are in the world, hee understands the enticements or the good things thereof, wherewith unregenerate men are taken, such are pleasures, riches, honours. To love, is to prize, to affect. The Arguments of the Exhortation are four.

If any man] Argum. 1. The love of the world bindes the heart to worldly things, and excludes the love of God, or of the Father, for the heart cannot bee carried out to contrary desires, or serve contrary Masters: Therefore have a care yee love not the world.

Vers. 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Argum. 2. Confirming the former, The studies of worldly men, whereunto men are carried with a full car∣reere, are such as the lust of the flesh, or sensual pleasures, of gluttony, or uncleanness; The lust of the eyes, or covetousness inordinately affecting matters of profit, and the pride of life, or an excessive desire of honours; Those desires (saith hee) are not of God, but from the corrup∣tions of unregenerate men: Therefore have a care▪ &c.

Vers. 17. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but hee that doth the will of God abideth for ever.

Argum. 3. The condition of worldly men, and those things which seem to bee pleasant in this condition, are various, and will by and by pass away: Therefore they are not to bee loved.

But hee] Argum. 4. Hee that renounces his perverse will, and the will of wicked men, and endeavours to do the will of God, shall live for ever: Therefore yee ought to beware of the love of the world. And these Argu∣ments conduce much to those things that follow.

Vers. 18. Little children, it is the last time: and as yee have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now are there many Antichrists, whereby wee know that it is the last time.

Exhort. 4. That they beware of seducers, and do not depart from the true Faith, but that they continue con∣stant in the Faith and Obedience of the Truth.

Little Children] The Reasons of the Exhortation are fifteen.

Reas. 1. That as little children, yee have need to take heed: Therefore yee are bound to beware.

Time] Reas. 2. Now it is the time wherein there is danger, by reason of seducers, viz. it is the last hour, and the last time of the world, wherein the Devil chiefly ra∣ges, knowing that his time is short, and wherein all ought both to watch and prepare themselves for the judge∣ment which will come at the second coming of Christ: Therefore, &c.

And as] Reas. 3. Confirming the former, according to the premonition by the Apostles and Christ concerning that famous Antichrist which should come, many fore-running Antichrists have come already, who under the pretence of Teachers seduce men from Christ, and are the adversaries of Christ: Therefore it is the last time, where∣in yee are in danger of seducers, of whom yee ought dili∣gently to have a care.

Vers. 19. They went out from us, but they were not of

us: for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might bee made manifest, that they were not all of us.

Reas. 4. Apostates departing from the external com∣munion of those that are truly faithful, are not of the number of those that truly beleeve: Therefore yee ought to beware of Apostacy and Seducers.

For if they had been of us] Reas. 5. Confirming the former, they that are of the number of those that are tru∣ly faithful and elect, continue in the society of the true Church, and in the communion of the Apostolical do∣ctrine: And so they declare themselves to bee true Be∣leevers: but those that fall away, they (so far as wee look upon the counsel of God) depart from the doctrine of the Apostles, for this end, that their hypocrisie might bee manifested, and that they might bee declared not to bee of the number of those that are truly Faithful: There∣fore, if yee would bee esteemed either by God or men, true Beleevers, or not of the number of hypocrites; yee ought to beware of Apostacy or seducers.

Vers. 20. But yee have an unction from the holy One, and yee know all things.

Reas. 6. Yee are furnished with necessary gifts, and the aid of the Holy Ghost, that yee might know all sav∣ing opinions, and so might shun the seduction of Apo∣states: Therefore yee ought to beware.

Vers. 21. I have not written unto you, because yee know not the Truth: but because you know it, and that no lie is of the Truth.

Reas. 7. Answering an objection, I do not accuse you of ignorance by admonishing, or writing to you, but therefore I exhort you to constancy, that I may know that you have known the Truth, and are delighted in it: Therefore yee ought to hearken to my exhortation.

And that no lie] Reas. 8. Yee being admonished of the Truth, may easily discern a lie, which viz. being exa∣mined by the rule of Truth, doth in no wise agree with it: Therefore yee ought to hearken to my exhortation, for this end, that yee may examine and reject that which is false.

Vers. 22. Who is a lyer, but hee that denieth that Iesus is the Christ, hee is Antichrist that denieth the Fa∣ther and the Son.

Reas. 9. Those that seduce men from the true Doctrine of the Gospel are the greatest lyers amongst men (as the interrogation intimates) because they in some way or o∣ther deny Jesus to be the Christ, for they do not acknow∣ledge such a Christ, as the Father offers to us in the Gos∣pel: For they openly or secretly invade either his person, or his natures, or the proprieties of his natures, or his of∣fices, or his virtue, or his efficacy, or grace, or truth, or his glory: Therefore yee ought to beware of seducers.

Hee is] Reas. 10. All seducers, who draw hearers from Christ in any one Article, are Antichrists, both deny∣ing the Father and the Son; and so overthrowing the true Religion, and the foundations of Religion with their lies, because there is no true God out of Christ: For in him dwells all the fulness of the God-head: Therefore yee ought to beware of seducers.

Vers. 23. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father.

Hee confirms this reason, from the inseparableness of the Father from the Son, that no man can have the Father for his God, who any way denies the Son, because God hath given himself to bee enjoyed wholly by us in Christ, and hee is sought for in vain elsewhere, or by any other way, than wherein hee hath manifested himself to us in Christ, who, as the image of the Father represents and offers to us whatsoever is necessary or profitable to bee known of the Father to salvation; and on the other side, whosoever give due honour to Christ, as to the Son of God, ac∣knowledging him, such as hee hath manifested himself in the Scriptures, doth also acknowledge the Father, and e∣steem him for their God.

Vers. 14. Let that therefore abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning, if that which you have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, yee also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

Reas. 11. The truly antient and onely Truth of God alwaies constant to it self, is this, which I exhort you to hold, which viz. ye have heard from the beginning of the Gospel, not onely preached Christ, but also promised, and declared by the Prophets in the Scriptures: There∣fore yee ought to retain that Truth: and here hee open∣ly brings forth what hee aimed at, or the Exhortation.

If it shall remain in you] Reas. 12. If yee have retain∣ed the Doctrine delivered to you by Christ, and his A∣postles, according to the Scriptures; yee shall remain in the society and friendship of God, the Son, and the Fa∣ther: Therefore yee ought to beware of seducers.

Vers. 25. And this is the promise that hee hath promised us, eternal life.

26. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

Reas. 13. God upon this condition hath promised us life eternal, if wee retain stedfastly the Doctrine of Christ: Therefore yee ought stedfastly to continue in the Faith and obedience of Christs Doctrine, and beware of seducers, who do their indeavour to withdraw you from the Truth: And here again the Apostle professes openly his aim in these Arguments.

Vers. 27. But the anointing which yee have received of him, abideth in you: and yee need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lye, and even as it hath taught you, yee shall abide in him.

Reas. 14. That yee may bee kept from seducers, yee are fortified with manifold defences: For first, as for external doctrine, yee have received from Christ an unction, or the holy Spirit, who inwardly teacheth you, and confirm•• you in the Truth of the Doctrine of Christ, every one in his measure. Secondly, That Spirit remains in you, who are faithful, and is not taken away from be∣leevers. Thirdly, Yee have no need of any man, that may teach you any thing besides that which the Spirit of Christ hath taught in the Scripture, and hath confirmed in your hearts, yee have onely need of Exhortation, that yee abide in Christ, as the Spirit or Unction speaking in the Scriptures, and that which is in the Scriptures, con∣firming in your hearts, and further instructing you out of the Scriptures, doth teach you in all things necessary to salvation: which Spirit is Truth, i. e. the very truth of the Scripture, Which is truth, A confirmation, and not a lye, but a refuter, and hater of lyes: Therefore yee ought stedfastly to abide in Christ (as the Spirit accord∣ing to the truth of Scripture hath taught you) and to be∣ware of seducers.

Vers. 28. And now, Little Children, abide in him, that when hee shall appear, wee may have confidence, and not bee ashamed before him at his coming.

Reas. 15. Whosoever they bee that do not persevere in the Faith of Christ, neither abide in communion with him; furthermore, whatsoever they are in the esteem of men, they shall with shame depart from the judgement fear of Christ. But on the contrary, those that perse∣vere in the Faith, shall confidently stand before him: Therefore yee ought stedfastly to abide in the Faith of Christ, and beware of seducers.

Vers. 29. If yee know that hee is righteous, yee know that every one that doth righteousness is born of him.

Exhort. 5. Which hee will prosecute in the former part of the following Chapter, viz. that they endeavour after Righteousness, or that they follow after holiness. The Arguments of the Exhortation are fifteen.

Argum. 1. Confirmed from the testimony of their conscience: Hee that endeavours after Righteousness, is born of God (who is righteous) and hath the testi∣mony

of his Adoption and Regeneration: Therefore endeavour after Righteousness.