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

1 JOHN 2.28.

And now little Children abide in him, that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his comming.

THe Coherence stands thus; he had written to severall Ages several in∣structions, vers. 27. to Babes he had said, they had received an Unction, whereby they did abide in him.

In this twenty eighth Verse, he turns his speech to all Christians in general, for here it is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, having promised they should ••bide in him.

Two Parts.

1 An Exhortation to all to abide in Christ.

A Reason, or encouragement from the comfortable benefit that shall arise from it.

Doct. 1. The promise of perseverance in the state of Grace, doth not open a gap to carnal liberty, but rather gives us cause of encouragement to abide in Christ.

Now he had promised they should abide in him, vers. 27. he doth not say, therefore take your ease, take no care, you are safe; no, he saith not so, but abide in Christ. In other places of Scripture, when the clearest promises of grace and perseverance are laid down, there is exhortation to carefull obedi∣ence, 1 Cor. 10.12, 13. though thou canst not fall finally, yet let him that standeth take heed lest he fall, Phil. 2.12, 13. not a carnal fear, but such a fear as is opposed to carnal confidence and pride, though God work both the will and the deed; Paul a man most confident of his good estate, so as he trium∣phed in his estate, Rom. 8. ult. Did this make him carnally secure? No, he is

now more vigilant and carefull than before, 1 Cor. 9.26, 27. so we see con∣fidence breeds not negligence, but rather diligence: so we read he renounced all for Christ, Phil. 3.7, 8, 9. yet ver. 12, 13. the more assurance he had, the more vigilant he was; and now little Children even now you have a promise to abide in Christ, abide in him.

Reas. 1. For the nourishment of those Graces (by these kinde of promises) whereby we most cleave to Christ, Faith feeds on these Promises, as it is bred by them, so it is nourished by them, now the more Faith, the more do you pu∣rifie your hearts, Faith purifies the heart, Acts 15.9. no Promise promises perseverance to us in our own strength, but all are made in Christ, and there∣fore make a Christian by Faith to cleave the faster to Christ.

2. These Promises breed Hope in us, and this Hope makes us purifie our selves, as Christ is pure, 1 John 3.1, 2, 3. A Maid that knows she shall be married such a day, will it make her the lesse carefull to adorn her selfe? no surely, so have any hope to meet the Bridegroom at the last day as their Hus∣band? do they go and soyl and defile themselves with base lusts? no, they adorn and beautifie their souls the more. When Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and he had now hope to make his suit known to the King, doth he now come in his poor Prison garments? no, he shaves himself, and puts on other garments; so those Maids that were to go in to King Ahasuerus, they spent twelve months in purifying themselves, Esther 2.12.

3. These Promises encrease love in us; the more beautifull God is in his Promises, the more doth the love of Christ constrain us.

Ʋse 1. To confute Popish spirits, that say, The doctrine of perseverance breeds security; to what purpose say they doe you presse people to abide in Christ, when they can doe no other: we see St. Johns practice here; it is true, if these new Promises were put into old Bottles, it would breed security in us; but a Christian spirit that is taught to believe in Christ, he is made the more watchfull by it, 1 Cor. 15. ult.

Ʋse 2. May stir up all to abide in Christ, and for that end, to make use of these Promises to stir you to it, Psal. 116.9. to 12. seeing God hath freed your souls from darknesse, and ignorance, and bondage, why, walk holily therefore in the sight of the Lord, none more dissolute and carelesse then those that are uncertain of their Salvation.

Doct. 2. It is the duty of all Christians to abide in Christ, John 15.5.

Reas. 1. If ye abide in me, ye shall bring forth much fruit; no fruit without Christ.

2. If you abide in him, it keeps you from sin, 1 John 3.6.

3. Abiding in Christ, is the means to have all our petitions heard, John 15.7.

4. Abide in Christ, and abide in eternall life, verse 24, 25. hujus ca∣pitis.

Ʋse 1. To reprove the Apostacy that is found sometimes in Professours, though many dead branches be cut off, yet the Vine is perfect, but not with∣out living branches: some are Members, some onely unperfect, so some may adhere to Christ by the redundancy of some graces, as Judas and Jehu, these may be cut off, and we see how woefull their case is, they wither and are cut down, John 15.6. and are cast into the fire. Jer. 2.13. This people have committed two evills, &c. Jer. 18.14. It had been better they had never ••asted of Christ or known him.

Ʋse 2. Let it exhort us, as we desire to be faithfull, to abide in Christ.

Q. How may we abide in Christ?

A. 1. If his Word abide in us, Christ abides in us, 1 John 2.24. 2 Chron. 25.16.

2. Know that all your strength depends on Christ, live therefore in his Grace.

3. Be fruitfull in Christ, make use of him to grow in Grace.

4. If at any time you turn from him, return to him speedily, that so by re∣pentance you may renew your Covenant, Jer. 3.1.

Doct. 3. Such as doe abide in Christ, doe with boldnesse expect, and without shame receive him at his coming.

It is plain in the Text 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

First, From the causes; what makes men afraid of his coming? either know∣ledge it shall go ill with them, or not knowing it shall go well with them, as the Cardinall said, he had rather have his part in Paris, than his part in Pa∣radise, the one he was certain of, the other uncertain; but now such as abide in Christ, they know that it shall be well with them at that day, Ps. 23.3, 4, 5. doubtlesse mercy and favour shall follow them all their dayes, and therefore they are confident, 2 Tim. 4.7, 8. what makes Paul thus bold? because he knows he shall receive a Crown of Righteousnesse at his appearing.

Secondly, From the effects of their confidence,

1. They love the appearing of Christ, and therefore manifest, they look for it with confidence, 2 Tim. 4.8.

2. As they love Christs appearing, so they pray for it, Cant. 8. ult. and therefore it is a sign with confidence they expect it, Rev. 22.20. Did you ever know any Malefactor write to the Judge to hasten his coming to the Assizes? No, but they would rather prevent his coming, but if they hasten his coming, they are confident it shall go well with them, the Prison is a burthen to them, and at his coming they are confident to be freed. Many Afflictions, as so ma∣ny bolts lie on Gods children, many vexations, therefore they desire the Lord to hasten his coming, to rid them out of all their misery, and revenge them of their enemies.

3. As they are confident, so they are not ashamed, they professe his name here without shame, and therefore Christ will not be ashamed of them at that day.

Ʋse 1. It reproves and refutes a Popish Doctrine of uncertainty of Salvati∣on; how could Christians love and pray for Christs coming, if they did not know it should be well with them at that day? this love and desire after it, shews they are confident of their good estate.

Ʋse 2 Of tryall, whether you abide in Christ or no; why see how thou standest affected to the coming of Christ; art thou bold, and confident at the hearing of the last day? art thou reverently bold, and lolvest, and prayest for his coming? then it is a sign thou abidest in Christ; but if the hearing of it strikes terrour into thee, and thou wouldest gladly put it off, surely thou art not in Christ; the Day of Judgement to the Godly is a day of Marriage, and therefore the Spouse longs for it; to the wicked it is a day of Execution, and therefore they tremble at the thought and hearing of it; it is a day when he will shew himselfe marvellous in mercy to every Christian, and in flaming fire to the wicked and ungodly: consider then how thou art affected to this Day, is it a day thy soul desires? Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, even so, Amen. But is the consideration of it dreadful to thee, that thou knowst not how to meet it? then thy spirit is corrupt, and not upright before God.

Obj. How comes it to passe, that many a godly soul fears and trembles at death? was not Hezekiah and David afraid of it? Psal. 30.9. Did not he say, that though he walked in the shadow of death he would not be afraid, and he is now afraid?

A. In two cases Gods children may be afraid to die.

1. When they have loosly and negligently laid up the evidences of their estate, as a man at the Assizes, that is to try his Evidences, if he have them to seek, he desires the Assizes were put off.

2. Sometimes he is fearfull, when he knows he had lived somewhat loosly, and his heart hath run a Whoring from God by some carnall delights, so that

he would gladly gather up himself better, before he go hence and be no more seen; because our hearts have gone whorishly from God, we are affraid, not that he will cast us off, but that we shall not find that welcome which otherwise we should, if we had time to recover our selves. So David Psal. 39. ult. he was in some grievous Disease, and somewhat conscious his spirit was not per∣fect, but he had much weakned his grace, therefore he prayes, O spare me a little, that I may recover my selfe, before I go hence and be no more seen. Hence, oft Christians at their conversion are afraid of Death and Judgement, because their Evidences are not so good, and others afraid, because they have blurred their Evidences by some sinfull delight, and sitting loose from God, but yet their fear differs from wicked mens, wicked men tremble, be∣cause they have no evidence at all, but a godly man knows he hath eviden∣ces, but he hath them not so ready, and therefore desires to be de∣ferred.

Ʋse 3. It may stir us up all, as ever we desire to live comfortably, and dye gloriously; so to have a care to abide in Christ, otherwise you will dye both with fear and shame; but if you abide in Christ, you may with boldnesse look Death in the face, therefore abide not in your Naturall estate, Civil hone∣sty, but abide in Christ. It is a prophane and false speech of some Politicians, that say, Religion makes men cowards, and never famous Warriors; no, doth that make us cowards that makes us look Death in the face, and Judgement also? were those cowards that have lookt Fire and Faggot, and Torments in the face? therefore it is not Religion, but want of Religion, that makes men cowards; therefore strengthen your Faith, and so you shall expect Christs co∣ming with confidence, and boldnesse, and courage.