Ʋse 1 To refute that Popish Error, that a man may keep the Command∣ments perfectly without sin.
2 That though he can thus keep them, yet he cannot be sure of his Salvation. But this is contradictory, hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments; so that it is either certain they keep not his Commandments, or if they do, they may be certain of their fellowship with Christ, and so of Sal∣vation by him.
2 It refutes them in this, in that they say we are wont to discourage men from good works; we say indeed, none can be justified by the works of the Law, but we do not discourage them from good works; for we say thus, if men keep Gods Commandments, which is to perform good works, hereby we say we may come to know that we know Christ; we say more, not only a perfect keeping, but a sincere keeping of them, though imperfectly, with respect and care, though this doth not justifie us, yet we say, it doth justifie the truth of our Estate, and that is no small matter; we challenge them for discouraging of men from good works, for they will not grant that hereby we know that we know him, but still leave a man in doubt, but we grant much comfort from good works, for though they do not justifie us, yet hereby we know that we are justi∣fied.
Ʋse 2 To confute the Arrians, this shews a certain ground of the divinity of Christ, because by keeping his Commandments we may come to know him; now this would not hold, if he had not the same authority to command with God himself, Iam. 4.12. there is but one Law-giver: therefore if Christ be our Law-giver, he is one God with the Father, his Commandments are of like be∣nefit and use with the Fathers Commandments.
Ʋse 3 Shews the cause why many men do not know that they know Christ, none can know Christ but such as keep his Commandments.
1 Therefore such cannot know Christ that do not know his Commandments, for if they do not know them, how can they keep them? Gods ways are too hard to be found in the night, in Ignorance or Darknesse.
2 Though a man do know them, yet if he divide them, some he will keep; and some he will not keep: if he do thus, he cannot come to know that he knows Christ, because he doth not keep his Commandments: there are some Com∣mandments he doth not keep, if you take liberty to break the Sabbath, and will not keep it, though you know it is Gods Commandment, it is impossible you should come to a saving Knowledge of your Estate in Christ: if you be con∣tent to live in the least known sin, if you do not as gladly root out any sin as you would pull a moat out of your eye, you cannot know Christ, or come to know that you know him.
3 There are others that know Christ, and yet do not know that they know him why? because thy do not keep his Commandments as their way, do not look at them as their Treasure, as their Ornaments, do not keep them as the Apple of their Eye, but swallow many moats, this doth very much hinder their souls: many would do much for Religion, but would not have it come to life, then no wonder if we see not our Estates, if moats be in our Eyes, we cannot see as otherwise we might, so if sin lye on our souls, no wonder if we be so blinded, that we cannot see our Estate in Christ, nor know that we know him.
Ʋse 4 It shews a ready way to peace of conscience, would we have our consciences pacified? Why, labour to know that we know Christ, and that will pacifie the conscience when we come to know that wee are acquainted with Christ, this being peace of conscience: but how shall we know that? Why, keep the Commandments of Christ, as our Way, as our Treasure, as the Apple of our Eye, as our Life, then we may know that we know him, that we have Fellowship with him, and then our consciences will be at quiet both in life and death, if we keep the Commandments as our way, and if wee bee out of the way it troubles us: if wee keep it as our Treasure, and if