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. III.

THe parts of the Chapter are two: In the first hee prosecutes the remaining Arguments of the Exhorta∣tion, to vers. 11. In the second hee adjoyns another Exhortation to the love of the Brethren, to the end.

Vers. 1. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that wee should bee called the Sons of God: Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Argum. 2. God hath out of his meer and free love a∣dorned you that beleeve, with the honour of Adoption a∣mongst his Sons: Therefore yee are bound to requite your Father with following after Righteousness.

Knew not] Argum. 3. By answering an Objection. That the worlds not acknowledging you for the Sons of God, should bee no hinderance to you in the following after Righteousness, seeing that this contempt is com∣mon to you, with God your Father, whom also the world contemns, but it ought rather to stir you up, to union and conformity with God in the following after Righteous∣ness: Therefore, &c.

Vers. 2. Beloved, now are wee the Sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what wee shall bee: but wee know, that when hee shall appear, wee shall bee like him: For wee shall see him as hee is.

Argum. 4. By preventing another Objection, That your glory doth not as yet appear, ought not to bee any hinderance to you in the following after Righteousness, it is enough, that wee know, that the right of the Sons of God is already given to us, and that wee shall come into the possession, when Christ shall bee manifested, and wee shall bee like him in glory and happiness, and wee shall enjoy the beatifical vision of him for ever: Therefore yee ought to endeavour after Righteousness

Vers. 3. And every man that hath this hope in him, pu∣rifieth himself, even as hee is pure.

Argum. 5. Whosoever hath a lively hope of conformi∣ty with Christ in glory, purifies himself, that hee may be made conformable unto Christ in this life, in his en∣deavours after purity and righteousness: Therefore yee ought to follow after righteousness.

Vers. 4. Whosoever committeth sin, transgresseth also the Law: for sin is the transgression of the Law.

Argum. 6. Whosoever doth not follow after Righte∣ousness, but gives himself to sin, hee also transgresseth the Law, because sin is nothing else but the transgression of the Law, which if any one doth, hee proclaims war with God: Therefore yee ought ••o follow after Righ∣teousness.

Vers. 5. And yee know that hee was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

Argum. 7. For this end Christ was manifested, that hee might purge and take away the guilt of sin from his (which hee confirms from this, that Christ had no sin in himself for which hee could satisfie) whence it comes to pass, that hee which gives himself to sin, in that hee sets himself contrary to Christ, and doth vilifie the price of Redemption: Therefore, unless yee would appear con∣trary to Christ, yee ought to follow after Righteous∣ness.

Vers. 6. Whosoever abideth in him, sinneth not: who∣soever sinneth, hath not seen him, neither known him.

Argum. 8. It is the property of every Beleever, or eve∣ry one that abideth in Christ, not to follow after sin, but to endeavour after Righteousness: Therefore yee ought to follow after Righteousness.

Whosoever] Argum. 9. Whosoever either applies him∣self to, or indulges any sin, pretends falsely to the Faith, or knowledge of Christ, which cannot bee without indea∣vours after newness of l••fe: Therefore yee ought to fol∣low after Righteousness.

Vers. 7. Little Children, Let no man deceive you: hee that doth Righteousness, is righteous, even as hee is righteous.

Argum. 10. Whosoever doth not so follow after Righte∣ousness, that in his works and actions hee ••estifies his en∣deavours after newness of life deceives himself, or suffers himself to bee deceived. For men perswade themselves in vain, that they have Righteousness in their hearts, whilst open iniquity possesses their feet, hands, tongue, and eyes: Therefore yee ought to follow after Righte∣ousness.

Hee that doth] Hee confirms this Argument, by descri∣bing him that is righteous, or justified by Faith, from his inseparable propriety, viz. his practise of Righteous∣ness, and conformity with God, which the justified per∣son indeavours after, that hee may manifest his Righte∣ousness by his works: No man is justified, who doth not endeavour to bee conformable to the righteous God, or doth not paractise Righteousness in work: Therefore whosoever thinks otherwise, deceives himself.

Vers. 8. Hee that committeth sin, is of the Devil: For the Devil sinneth from the beginning: for this pur∣pose the Son of God was manifested, that hee might destroy the works of the Devil.

Argum. 11. Whosoever gives up himself to sin, is a childe of the Devil, in his practises resembling his Fa∣ther: Hee confirms this from the antiquity of the Devil in sinning, who sinned presently after the creation, and from that time hath been the author of sinning to men: Therefore follow after Righteousness, unless you would bee accounted the children of the Devil.

For this] Argum. 12. For this end Christ is mani∣fested, that hee might destroy the works of the Devil, i. e. destroy the dominion of sin in his, and abolish the indwel∣ling of sin by degrees through sanctification. From hence it comes to pass, that hee who gives himself to sin, builds up that which Christ was manifested to destroy: There∣fore yee ought to follow after, &c.

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

Argum. 13. Although hee that is regenerate may bee overtaken by sin, yet hee cannot give up himself to sin, because of the nature of Regeneration, or because of the seed of God remaining in him (that is, because Gods Word, and the Spirit, or lively Grace of God in Regene∣ration, is communicated in the number of those gifts, of which God doth not repent) by virtue whereof the re∣generate is continually withdrawn from sin, and is car∣ried on to follow after Righteousness; neither can hee sin, or indulge himself in sin: Therefore yee ought to fol∣low after Righteousness, if you would prove your selves born of God.

Hee cannot] Argum. 14. Hee that is regenerate can∣not sin, because hee is born of God, who will not for∣sake him, that is born of him, but so governs and moves the heart of him that is born of him, that hee stedfastly wars against sin, following the guidance of the Spirit: Therefore ought yee to follow after Righteousness, if you will prove your selves born of God.

Vers. 10. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the Devil: whosoever doth not Righ∣teousness, is not of God, neither hee that loveth not his Brother.

Argum. 14. In this the regenerate and the unregenerate, the Sons of God, and the Sons of the Devil, differ, that those who are of God, follow after Righteousness; but those, who do not follow after Righteousness, and name∣ly, the love of the Brethren, are not of God, but of the Devil: Therefore yee ought to follow after Righteous∣ness, and especially brotherly love.

The Second Part.

Vers. 11. For this is the message which yee heard from the beginning, that wee should love one another.

From hence hee proceeds to the other Exhortation, viz. the love of Brethren. The Arguments of the Exhortation are fifteen.

Argum. 1. The Precept concerning the love of the Brethren is given to you by Christ, from the beginning of your calling: Therefore love your brethren.

Vers. 12. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his Brother: and wherefore slew hee him? Because his own works were evil, and his Brothers righteous.

Argum. 2. The faithful ought to bee unlike to Cain, the Son of the Devil, and murtherer of his Brother: Therefore, &c.

Wherefore] Argum. 3. Confirming and illustrating the former; those that do not love their brethren, but hate them, shall bee found to hate the Grace of God in them; and in this to bee like Cain, who out of envy persecuted with hatred the Image of God in his Brother: There∣fore yee ought to endeavour after brotherly love.

Vers. 13. Marvail not my Brethren, if the world hate you.

Argum. 4. By preventing and retorting an Objection. That charity amongst Brethren ought by no means to wax cold, because they see themselves hated by the world, but on the contrary, they ought so much the more vehemently to love one another: Therefore, &c.

Vers. 14. Wee know that wee have passed from death unto life, because wee love the Brethren: Hee that loveth not his Brother, abideth in death.

Argum. 5. W••e are more assured by our love of the Brethren, or the love of the Image of God in them, as by a certain sign, that wee our selves are regenerated and translated from death to life.

Hee that doth not] Argum. 6. Hee that loveth not his Brother, remaineth unregenerate, in the state of sin and death: Therefore that yee may prove your selves regene∣rate, love your Brethren.

Vers. 15. Whosoever hateth his Brother, is a Murtherer, and yee know that no Murtherer hath eternal life a∣biding in him.

Argum. 7. Confirming the former; Hee that doth not love his Brother, hates him, and therefore hee is a murtherer, and consequently hee hath neither the be∣ginnings of eternal life in himself, neither right to eter∣nal life, but remains obnoxious to eternal death: There∣fore yee ought to love the Brethren, unless yee will bee accounted such.

Vers. 16. Hereby perceive wee the love of God, because hee laid down his life for us, and wee ought to lay down our lives for the Brethren.

Argum. 8. Christ exceedingly loved us, when hee laid down his own life for us: Therefore wee imitating his example, ought to love one another.

Wee] Argum. 9. Wee owe this gratitude to Christ, who hath laid down his life for us, and our Brethren, that wee bee ready to pour out our lives for the good of the Church, or our Brethren: Therefore so much the ra∣ther ought wee sincerely to affect them, and perform the inferiour duties of love towards them.

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

Argum. 10. Confirming the former; They who do not so love their brethren, as to communicate of their sub∣stance to those that want, being moved to it out of bowels of mercy, are Hypocrites, and far from that love, which is ready to lay down its life for the brethren.

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

Hence is inferred the Exhortation it self; that they testifie their mutual love in deed, and in truth, and not in words, and in tongue onely.

Vers. 19. And hereby wee know that wee are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

Argum. 11. By love of the brethren, as by the fruit of sincere Faith, wee know that wee are sincere, or truly faithful, and born of God: Therefore wee ought to love the brethren.

Before him] Argum. 12. By love wee shall confirm our confidence with God, and shall from this effect of Faith help conscience in the conflict of Faith, to the giving of us a testimony of our absolution and justification by Faith: Therefore, &c.

Vers. 20. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

21. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have wee confidence towards God.

Hee confirms this Argument by comparing of a watch∣ful and an evil conscience, in this verse, in the effects of condemnation; with a good conscience, in the following verse, in the effect of absolution: as when an evil con∣science condemneth him, that is altogether void of bro∣therly love, the sentence of condemnation is ratified by God the supream and omniscient Judge, until they flye unto Christ; so on the other side, when a good con∣science (which howsoever it accuse us of imperfection) doth not condemn us, as if wee were altogether destitute of this fruit of persevering in brotherly love, wee retain a confidence of going to God, as our Father in Christ: Therefore by following after brotherly love, wee shall assure our hearts before him, as it is, vers. 19.

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

Argum. 13. Conscience of brotherly love gives confi∣dence of obtaining those good things, which wee ask of God according to his will; because wee can reason from our endeavour of keeping and doing Gods Commande∣ments (which are pleasing to him) that wee are of the number of those that are true beleevers, who through Faith in Christ, are in favour with God, and whose prayers God doth not reject, as hee doth the prayers of Hypocrites, and wicked men: Therefore yee ought to follow after brotherly love.

Vers. 23. And this is his Commandement, that wee should beleeve on the name of his Son Iesus Christ, and love one another, as hee gave us commande∣ment.

Argum. 14. Confirming the former, and answering an objection, Lest any man should abuse the things spoken before to defend the merits of works, or justifica∣tion by works. The Commandement concerning brother∣ly love, is consequently included in the precept of saving Faith, which is to bee placed upon Christ. For when God commands Faith in Christ, which works by love, he also commands that wee should love one another: There∣fore if any man have respect to the Precept concerning Faith in the Son of God, it is necessary also that hee have respect to the command touching mutual love, and that hee obey it: Therefore yee ought to follow after bro∣therly love.

Vers. 24. And hee that keepeth his Commandements dwelleth in him, and bee in him; and hereby wee know that hee abideth in us, by the spirit which hee hath given us.

Argum. 15. In whom there is an indeavour to obey the commands of God, and namely the precept touching Faith in Christ (which worketh efficaciously by brother∣ly love, hee hath communion with God, and knows that hee hath communion with him by the free presence of the Holy Ghost; which spiritual presence hee may know by its effects, viz. from a desire in him to obey Gods com∣mand, concerning lively Faith in Christ working by love: Therefore yee ought to follow after brotherly love.