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

Doct. 2. Such as do keep his Commandments may ceme to know that they do know Christ, that they have true fellowship with him.

1 For the First, a man that knows Christ, may, and ought to come to know that he knows him, or hath fellowship and communion with him; hereby we know that we know him, here is actio reflexa, the Senses they do not reflect themselves, the eye sees other mens faces, not its own, but by reflection in a Glasse, but in our Spiritual knowledge we may more sensibly discern our Spiri∣tual estate, than our faces in a Glasse, for we see not that, but in another Me••li∣um, but a man knows his knowledge of Spiritual things directly, he not onely knows, but knows that he knows what is meant by these.

To know Christ, is not only to know his Nature, and Person, and Offices, that he is God man, and that he is our Advocate, and Reconciler, and Pro∣pitiation, the Devil knows thus much; so that a Spiritual knowledge is not superficial, but such a knowledge as is opprative, not dead, but lively, not naked, but such a knowledge as is joyned with acquaintance, such a know∣ledge as works us to obedience, Psal. 9.10. Isa. 53.11. and that works us to Mortification, Gal. 6.14. such a knowledge as makes all the World dead to us; As a man that hath set his affections on a woman, it deads his affe∣ctions to all others, 1 Sam. 2.12. the Sons of Eli knew not the Lord; and Exod. 5.2. Who is the Lord, saith Pharaoh, I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go; they knew not the Lord, that is, they had not this lively ope∣rative knowledge joyned with obedience, so then true knowledge is opera∣tive, begets trust, and confidence, and joy in God, Jer. 10.23. and is likewise joyned with obedience, 1 Chron. 28.9. so then we see it is such a knowledge as makes us trust in him, fear him, honour him, serve him, cleave to him, and yeild obedience unto him; and no wonder, for verba sensus accipienda sunt cum effectu & affectu; I have seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians op∣presse my people Israel, Exod. 3.9. I have seen, that is, not only looked on it, but have compassion, and intend to deliver them; so, Remember thy Creator, &c. that is, bend thy affections to him, and honour him, so to know Christ is to affect him, to honour him, to cleave to him, to obey him, to acquaint

our selves with him, for by knowledge is here meant acquaintance, and famili∣arity.

What is this Knowledge, to know that we know him?

It is an Act of Understanding, by which, upon good ground, he doth dis∣cern that he doth know God, and hath fellowship with him, no man calls that Knowledge which is only a Conjecture, nay this Knowledge is more than a true faith, for they are two distinct things though they stand together, 1 John 4.16. We have known and believed, &c. so that this Knowledge is more than a true faith, for faith is a persuasion or trust a man takes upon the credit of Di∣vine testimony, if I take it upon mans testimony, it is credulity, but when I take things on Gods authority, that is faith; but here is something more, we know and believe, and we know that we know, which is an Actus judicii, and more than opinion, or faith; Knowledge is such an acknowledgement as ariseth Ex principiis scientificis, such as proceeds from certain Principles, as I know that Fire burns from the light and heat, so then I know it by experience, all know∣ledge ariseth either from causes or Effects, such effects as cannot delude us, if it may, it is but conjecture, but what we know, it is upon sure grounds and experience, that is Knowledge. So then we know that we know him, this im∣plies, that a man that knows Christ may not only think so, and have such an opinion, and believe so, but he may know he knows Christ, and that by two effects.

1 By feeling in his own heart, that having been oppressed with sinne, hee finds his soul comfortably pacified, if hee find Christ pacifying his soul, he knows that he knowes Christ, such a man whose spirit hath been oppressed with the consciousnesse of sin, if this mans soul be comforted and pacified, then he knows that he knows Christ, he is now acquainted with Christ, one that was never troubled with sin, knows not the worth and vertue of Christ, but a man that hath been afflicted in conscience for sin, and is now pacified, now he knows that he knows Christ, he had hold of him before, but he now plainly sees him, Job 42.5. I have heard of thee, by the hearing of the Ear, but now mine Eyes see thee, as if all his knowledge before, had been but as the hearing of him; but now he comfortably finds Christs presence, he now sees his worth and excellency, Cant. 5.10. a man knows that this is Christ, because he knows that nothing in Heaven or Earth could pacifie him but Christ.

2 He knows that he knows Christ, not only by the pacifying of his consci∣ence, but by the purifying of his conscience, Act. 15.9. purifying it from the lusts of sin, whereas before we were covetous; we are now heavenly minded; whereas before vain, now serious in serio, and look at Trifles as Trifles; before unclean, now holy and chaste; before intemperate, now temperate; before dis∣ordered, now our hearts are cast into another mould and frame, both the in∣ward man is purified, and the outward, the words and actions are purified; thus we know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments, so that they that know Christ, may say, I know that I know him.

Ʋse 1. To refute that Popish Doctrin that teacheth, that none can be cer∣tain of his Salvation, nay they say it is Heretical presumption, and many world∣ly men think it is impossible, and others think it is needlesse to be attained, but such may be convinced from this Doctrin, and what saith the Apostle Peter, Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure, 2 Pet. 1.10. how shall we make it sure, if we know that we know it? 1. Cor. 2.12. God gives us his Spirit, that we may see the grace he hath given us, Joh. 3. ult. St. John speaks it here of little Children, that they may know it, so that this Knowledge is both possible, necessary, and may be certain.

They say, we may have a conjectural Knowledge, but no certainty of faith; it is a speech which implies a contradiction, if it be conjectural it is no Know∣ledge, that which I only conjecture, I know not; we do not know that we onely conjecture, if I ask you if you know such a one? If you say you think

you know him, you do not know him; so that when they say, we cannot have knowledge of faith, we do not say they may only believe it, but they may have certainty of feeling, Faith may admit much doubting, but Knowledge excludes much doubting.

Ʋse 2 To consider whether we can say thus, we know that we know him; do you know that you have acquaintance and fellowship with Christ? do you believe it? How do you believe it, on what ground?

1 Have you found Christ purifying your Consciences by his blood? If you have found that, then you know that you know him, Phil. 4.7.

2 Do you finde your Consciences purified? Do you finde your Corrupti∣ons mortified? Do your Lusts grow abominable? Do you finde your hearts cleansed from wrath and impatience? &c. certainly then you know that you know Christ, for none else could have pacified and and purified your hearts? If it be so that you dare not sin, you seek peace and ensue it, then you may know that you have Christ, but if these signs be wanting, especially purifying, then you know him not.

Ʋse 3 To exhort us never to rest till you know that you have acquaintance with Christ, if a man had all the knowledge in the World, what comfort would it afford him, if he knew not that he had fellowship with Christ, never count you know any thing if you know not Christ, Si Christum discis, satis est, &c. and yet rest not there till you know that you know him; Beasts see, and hear, but they know not that they do so, because they are irrational, and want the faculty of reflection, and in sprituals a carnal heart is blinde; but it is for a Christian to know Christ, and not only so, but to know that he knows him, we must not rest either in mens good perswasions, that they hope and are perswa∣ded well of us, or that they speak well of us, but we must never rest till we know that Christ dwels in us, and we in him, which we may know by his pacifying and purifying of our consciences.

Ʋse 4 Of Consolation to such as do sin, and fall daily, and find their own emptinesse, their knowledge is but small, their experience little, their outward comforts shallow, yet this is a mans comfort, that he knows Christ, and not on∣ly so, but knows that he knows Christ; God never gives us a blessing but he is willing that we should know it, if he set up a light in our minds he would have us discern that light, and walk in the light thereof; therefore let us thankfully acknowledge it, and comfort our selves therein.

We come now to the Evidence whereby we come to know that we know Christ, hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments; for the understanding of this, we must know that there is a perfect keeping the Commandments without sin, and that St. John disclaimed before, Cap. 1. Vers. 8.10.

2 There is another keeping the Commandments, that is, not perfect without sin, yet perfect without dissimulation or hypocrisie, and that is here meant.