A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first Epistle generall of John by ... John Cotton ...

Doct. A life led in ignorance and uncleannesse is a certain signe of Hypocry∣sie, to live so and professe Religion, or profession of Religion, joyned with a life led in ignorance and ungodlynesse, is a sure signe of Hypocrisie.

Darknesse implyes both ignorance and ungodlinesse; darknesse hath a four-fold signification, sometimes it is put for Ignorance, the people that sat•• in darknesse, &c. Mat. 4.16.

2 It is put Prophanenesse and Ungodliness, every sin is called darkness, 2 Cor. 6.14. Ephes. 5 8.

3. Sometimes it is put for horror of conscience and confusion of Spirit, Isa. 50.10.

4. For obscurity and dishonour, confusion and desolation, Pro. 20.12. for as light is took four wayes, so is darknesse.

Light is put sometimes for Knowledge, sometimes for Grace, sometimes for Comfort, sometimes for Glory, Col. 1.12, 13. so contrary, darknesse is sometimes put for darknesse of ignorance of ungodlinesse, of discomfort, and of dishonour and obscurity.

The two last are not here meant; a man may walk in much discomfort, and yet have fellowship with God, Isa. 50.10. Matth. 12.20. the bruised reed will he not break, &c. a man in such a condition walks in darknesse, and yet God will not break and quench fuch.

2 Many a Child of God walks in much dishonour and basenesse, and yet have fellowship with God, 1 Cor. 4.13, Psal. 22.6. David complains he was a worm and no man, a reproach and scorn of men, and yet was a good man, and had fellowship with God, therefore it cannot be meant of these two, for those that are in such a condition, are ordinarily most sound and sincere, whereas others having more comfort, walk more loosely and carelessely, but if we live in Uncleannesse or Ignorance, we have no Fellowship with God, Prov. 19.2. God is a God of Light, omniscient, and how can he have fel∣lowship with God, that hath no light in him? Hos. 4.6. my people perish for want of Knowledge; Ignorance is a certain note of destruction, Prov. 29.18. where no vision is, the people perish, that is, where there is no means of seeing, Matth. 15.14.

Reas. Why Ignorance cannot stand with the fellowship of God, because where there is no knowledge, the light of the Word is wanting, the Word is a light and a lanthorn, now as one in an house cannot do work without light, especially a stranger, he knowes not what to do, so a man is a stranger within himself that hath no light, and how can he order himself, tell what to do, if he hath no light in him? He that knowes neither himself, nor Christ, nor the way to him, how shall he be saved by him? many do think their estate good, but if they had light, they would not think so; others think their estate bad, but cannot get out of this, they have no light to get out of it, and therefore cannot have fellowship with God.

2 For Uncleannesse and Ungodlinesse, that cannot stand with Fellowship with God, 2 Cor. 6.14. implying an impossibility, Psal. 94. ult. Psal. 5.4. Heb. 1.13.

Reas. 1 God is of pure eyes and cannot endure to behold any iniquity.

2 From the power of all saving Graces, they do purifie and cleanse the heart, so Faith purifies the heart, Acts 15.9. so hope, 1 Joh. 3.3. so love, ye that love God depart from iniquity.

3 From the power of the Spirit in him that hath fellowship with God, 1 Cor. 6.17. Ezek. 36.27.

Ʋse 1 It shewes that Ignorance is no Mother of Devotion, for what is De∣votion but a stricter and nearer fellowship with God? it shewes therefore the dangerous Estate of wicked Ignorant men, they think their Ignorance will plead for them, but they are deceived, through want of knowledge my peo∣ple perish, God takes no pleasure in Fools, you may think you have Fellow∣ship with God, and yet live in Ignorance and Darknesse, but you deceive your selves, can a man live in the Sun, and have neither light nor heat? So what Fellowship hath that man with God, that hath neither light of Knowledge, nor warmth of Grace from him?

Ʋse 2 It may be a Tryal of our Estate, if wee have no Knowledge of God, we have no Fellowship with him, if you delight in Ignorance, and be unwilling to be taught, as many Servants and Children are, how can these have any Fellowship with God, that have no knowledge nor desire after it? it is true, many there are that desire Knowledge, and cannot attain it, and

such, God will accept of their desire, or give them Knowledge, but such as please themselves in their ignorance, have no Fellowship with God, 2 Tim. 3.11. they are sealed up to damnation; if a man live in darknesse of sin and un∣godlinesse, and is convinced of it, and yet will live in it, in idlenesse, and wan∣tonnesse, and Sabbath-breaking, &c. be not deceived, if you make a shew of Religion you deceive your own soul, if a man walketh in darknesse, and saith he hath Fellowship with God, he lyes.

Quest. Who can say his heart is clean? have not the best of Gods Children their failings?

Answ. It is true, they have their failings, but do they walk therein? It is one thing to step into a way, and another thing to walk in that way, David stept into the way of Adultery and Murther. but he walked not in it; a man that walketh in a good way, may be turned out of it by a wilde Beast, or a Storm, or Carelessenesse, but when he sees he is wrong, he turns into the right path again; so is it with a godly heart, he may be carried out of the way, by the violence of Temptation, &c. but he returns again as soon as he sees his error.

Ʋse 3 To teach men, as ever they desire to have fellowship with God, to cleanse themselves from Ignorance and Ungodlinesse; if you desire to have Fellowship with God, you must, 1 Avoyd Ignorance, and labour for Know∣ledge, desire to know his will, and they that love light, God loves them.

2 Turn not aside to any dark crooked wayes, Psal. 125 6. the Israel of God have no crooked wayes to walk in, 2 Cor. 6.17, 18. with chap. 7.1. shewing us, if we would have fellowship with God, that God might ackow∣ledge us for Sons, and we him for our Father, we must look into all dark corners, and cast out all uncleanesse, and if you do thus strive to reform your selves, you are not in darknesse; if you cleanse your selves from dark, and crooked, and unclean wayes, you may assure your selves you have fellowship with God.