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 ...

The Second Part.

Vers. 6. This is ••ee that came by water and blood, even Iesus Christ, not by water onely, but by water and blood: and it is the Spirit that beareth witness, be∣cause the spirit is truth.

The other part of the Chapter follows, wherein hee proves that wee ought to beleeve in Christ, as in the Son of God. The Arguments are fourteen.

Argum. 1. Because Jesus Christ is hee, who when hee came, brought with him the solid substance of Legal Ce∣remonies, as to that which chiefly belongs to the abolish∣ing of sin. For hee came with water, or with that ho∣liness in himself, and virtue for the sanctifying his, which was signified by water, and washings, in the old Law, to be in the Messias that was to come, when he came. And hee came with blood, or with a full expiation of their sins, by the propitiatory Sacrifice of his blood offered on the Cross, for the taking away of the sins of his people.

Not by water] Hee confirms that, because Christ came not with one propriety of a Mediatour, which is the Sanctity of his Person, and virtue of sanctifying his, signified by water, or legal washings; but hee comes also with another propriety, which is expiation, and full re∣conciliation, signified by the sprinkling of blood, or by the slaying of beasts. The admirable symbole of which conjunction was the flowing of water and blood out of his side on the cross, as our Apostle hath diligently observed in his Gospel, Chap. 19.34. That wee may all know, that whom Christ justifies, hee also sanctifies; and on the contrary, those whom hee sanctifies, the same hee also justifies: Therefore yee ought to beleeve in Christ.

The Spirit] Argum. 2. The spirit witnesseth the same, i. e. the manifestation of the spirit in divers gifts poured forth upon Christs Disciples, witnesseth that Christ is the Son of God, and by its dictate makes this firm in the hearts of those that are faithful: Therefore yee ought to beleeve in Christ.

Truth] Hee confirms this Argument, that the Spirit in these operations is true, and far from all deceit, because it commends nothing to us besides the Word of God, or Truth it self.

Vers. 7. For there are three that bear record in Hea∣ven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one.

Arg. 3. Because as the three persons of the God-head, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost are one in es∣sence, so they also consent together in witnessing to con∣firm this one thing, That Jesus Christ is the Son of God. For the Father witnesseth of him: (1) Pronouncing with an audible voice, both in Christs Baptism and Transfigu∣ration, that he was his beloved Son, in whom hee was well pleased. (2) In the works which hee gave to Christ to fi∣nish, Iob 5.16.36. Furthermore the word bears record of Christ, that is, Christ (wherein hee is God) bears record of himself, being incarnate, that hee is the Son of God: partly affirming that very often with a lively voice, partly making it manifest in his whole doctrine, that hee is the same which came out of his Fathers bosome, and laid open his counsel touching mans salvation; Hee that cometh from above; hee that cometh from Heaven, is above all, Ioh. 4.31. (3) The Holy Ghost bears re∣cord, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, partly by his descending upon him in his Baptism, partly by his descending upon his Apostles and Disciples in the day of Pentecost, partly by inspiring the doctrine of Christ into the Pen-men of the Scripture, and by commending it to the world, that it might teach men, and perswade and confirm them touching that truth, as truly divine: By which hee may gather a Church, and lead it into all truth to eternal life, These three are said to bear record in Heaven; (1) Because they immediately bear witness from Heaven, as from their Throne. (2) Because the Majesty of these witnesses chiefly shines in Heaven. (3) Because this testimony is not heard, observed, acknow∣ledged, unless by souls lifted up to Heaven. (Lastly) Be∣cause this testimony for the most part is perfected in Hea∣ven, although it should never bee received on earth: Therefore yee ought to beleeve in Christ for his testi∣monies sake.

Vers. 8. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the Water, and the Blood: and these three agree in one.

Argum. 4. Because three witnesses in earth consent to∣gether, to prove that Christ is the Son of God, viz. the Spirit, and the Water, and the Blood, which are called

witnesses in earth; (1) Because this testimony is mediate, and is produced out of the works which are to bee seen in the earth. (2) Because uttering of this testimony is writ∣ten in men that are in the earth, and is acknowledged by the Visible Church. (Lastly) Because this testimony doth not onely sound in the Church, but also utters its voice amongst the men of the world, and is heard of them to their conviction: For (1) The Spirit or manifesta∣tion of the Spirit partly in miraculous gifts (which are shed abroad in the Church) even to the amazement of the world for many years after Christs ascention: Partly in ordinary gifts, which as yet flourish in the Church, and suffice both to testifie, that Christ (who is preached a∣mongst us) is God; and to draw an acknowledgement from them, who are without the Church, that God is in us who beleeve in Christ, 1 Cor. 14. Furthermore, the operation of the Spirit in the hearts of the faithful doth so quicken the words of Christ, and by them doth so instruct, comfort, and confirm the elect, that it leaves no doubt as touching the Divinity of Christ.

As for Water, which is the virtue of Christ, sanctifi∣ing his, it so expresly speaks of Christ, that those also, who are without the Church, seeing the light of good works in Christians, are forced to glorifie our Father, and the Father of Christ, who is in Heaven; so that also being even perceived in women, it brought their un∣beleeving husbands to God, who at the first did not ac∣knowledge the Word of God, 1 Pet. 3.1.

Lastly, As for Blood, which is the price of redemption, and the virtue of Christ expiating sins, and reconciling men to God, that blood speaks better things, than the blood of Abel, so that it makes the consciences of the faithful quiet and peaceable, and opens a way to the Throne of God, and so confirms their hearts against the world, and all things which are evil in it, that they may bee bold and able to resound even with their own blood, this testimony to those enemies that hear them, in the midst of torments with joy, Rev. 12.11. Therefore wee ought to beleeve in Christ as the Son of God.

Vers. 9. If wee receive the witness of men, the wit∣ness of God is greater: For this is the witness of God which hee hath testified of his Son.

Argum. 5. For the sake of the testimonies of faithful and true men wee beleeve their assertions: Therefore for the sake of the testimony of God, which is greater, te∣stifying of his Son, we ought to beleeve in Christ as the Son of God.

Vers. 10. Hee that beleeveth on the Son of God, hath the witness in himself; hee that beleeveth not God, hath made him a lyer, because hee beleeveth not the record that God gave of his Son.

Argum. 6 Hee that beleeves in Christ, as the Son of God, is so much rectified, that hee rests in the witness of the Spirit in••ardly confirming this truth of the Divine Word. Therefore, &c.

Hee that beleeveth not] Argum. 7. Hee that doth not beleeve in ••hrist, as the Son of God, doth really accuse God of a lye, because hee rejects the testimony concern∣ing his Son, as if it were false: Therefore wee must be∣leeve in Christ as the Son of God.

Vers. 11. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Argum. 8. Those that beleeve in the Son, have right to eternal life, which is in the Son, as in the Fountain, Procurer, Giver, and Conserver, given to them by grace, and confirmed by the constancy of Gods testimony: Therefore, &c.

Vers. 12. Hee that hath the Son, hath life, and hee that hath not the Son, hath not life.

Argum. 9. Hee that truly embraces the Son by Faith, hath also eternal life, not onely as to the right of it, but also to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 inchoate possession; and hee that hath not the Son by Faith, or seeks life in another, rather than in him, is destitute and shut out from all spiritual life: There∣fore, &c.

Vers. 13. These things have I written unto you that be∣leeve on the Name of the Son of God, that yee may know that yee have eternal life, and that yee may be∣leeve on the Name of the Son of God.

Argum. 10. For this end all these things are written to the faithful from the Holy Ghost, by the Apostle the Pen-man, that they might bee certain that they have e∣ternal life already, and might more and more beleeve in the name of the Son of God: Therefore yee must be∣leeve in Christ.

Vers. 14. And this is the confidence that wee have in him, that if wee ask any thing according to his will, hee heareth us.

Argum. 11. Hee that beleeveth in Christ, hath confi∣dence in his approaches to God in prayer, and that hee shall have Gods favourable ear in every petition, which is put up according to the will of God: Therefore, &c.

Vers. 15. And if wee know that hee heareth us, what∣soever wee ask, wee know that wee have the p••titions that wee desired of him.

Argum. 12. Explicating and unfolding the former; Hee that beleeves in Christ, by knowing that God will bee propitious to him in his lawful or well-ordered peti∣tions, hee may also bee certain that the petitions which hee hath offered according to the Promises of God, are al∣ready granted by him, before they bee finished; and so hee may bee assured of the success of his prayers: There∣fore for this cause yee ought to beleeve in Christ.

Vers. 16. If any man see his Brother sin a sin which is not unto death, hee shall ask, and hee shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a si•• unto death, I do not say that hee shall pray for it.

Argum. 13. Hee that beleeves in Christ, not onely praying for himself, but also out of love for his sinning brethren, shall bee heard, to whom, through the merit of sin, declining to destruction and perdition, God will, if hee bee but asked by a faithful man, restore him to life: Therefore, &c.

Not unto death] Hee excepts in case of the sin of the Holy Ghost, When a Professor of the Faith, or a Brother, as to the external communion of the Church, falls into open Apostacy from the Faith of Christ, and maintains cruel ha••red against the Gospel, and those that are faith∣ful, against the light of conscience illuminated once by the Holy Ghost; hee commands not to pray for him that commits this sin, when it may bee discerned. It is called a sin unto death, because eternal death follows that sin, and hee that falls into it, remains in it without repen∣tance, until hee is thrust down into Hell.

Vers. 17. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not unto death.

Hee explains what hee had said, that although all transgression of the Law is sin, wherefore it deserves the wages of death, yet death follows not all sin; because all kind of sin is remitted, except this sin, which is called blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which was never re∣mitted to any, nor never shall.

Vers. 18. Wee know, that whosoever is born of God, sinneth not: but hee that is begotten of God, keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

Argum. 14. Hee that is regenerate, or truly beleeves in the Son of God, is kept that hee sin not this sin, yea, nor doth hee lye alwaies intangled in any sin, but by the grace of God, and virtue of Gods seed remaining in him, keepeth himself, lest the Devil touch him to death with his sin: Therefore yee must beleeve in Christ.

Vers. 19. And wee know that wee are of God, and the whole world lyeth in wickedness.

Hee applies this Argument by way of assumption from the proposition, to their comfort, and the comfort of the faithful, to which hee writes, and confirms it by five Rea∣sons, viz. that the faithful whereunto hee writes are kept together with hims••lf, and shall be preserved in Faith and Obedience of the Gospel.

Wee know] Reas. 1. Wee are certainly perswaded of our regeneration: Therefore wee are perswaded that wee shall not sin that unpardonable sin, neither shall bee in bondage to it, but shall bee freed from the Devil, ful∣ly through Christ.

The World] Reas. 2. Those that are of the world, are onely in the power of that malicious Devil, that hee may throw them headlong out of one wickedness into another: Therefore wee who are translated out of the world into the Kingdome of God, are not in the power of that malicious one, but shall bee preserved as the free-men of God.

Vers. 20. And wee know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that wee may know him that is true: and wee are in him that is true, even in his Son Iesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Reas. 3. Wee are certain of the coming of Christ our Redeemer into the world, who hath enlightened our minds with his grace, and hath given us true Faith in God: Therefore wee shall not sin unto death, but shall bee preserved.

And wee] Reas. 4. Wee have communion with God and Christ, wherein wee are, and dwell by Faith: There∣fore wee shall bee untouched by that sin.

This is] Reas. 5. Christ is the very true God, and Life eternal, who in himself is Life, and the fountain of life, to be communicated to the faithful, and also the Procurer, Giver and Preserver of it: Therefore wee are certainly perswaded of our perseverance and eternal sal∣vation.

Vers. 21. Little children, keep your selves from Idols. Amen.

For the conclusion of the Epistle hee proposes a short admonition, that they have a care, and keep themselves from Idols, in the plural number, and that from all sorts of Idols, which after any manner might thrust themselves into the place of truth, or of the true God, to draw them from beleeving of the true Doctrine, or from the true worship, or obedience of God, under any pretence what∣soever: and that so much the more, because these Idols may bee obtruded upon the faithful by the Devil and his Ministers, and by all possible cunning: Therefore hee the more diligently commands them to watch, and to keep themselves from them, lest they should bee in any wise polluted by them, but by name, that they beware of Images, wherein Antichrist will glory, and by these deceive the world.