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

Doct. He that hateth his brother, whether he professe the light or no, he is in darknesse, and ever was in darknesse, and knows not where he is, nor whither he goes.

By Brother is here meant chiefly a Christian Brother, as vers. 7. it is chiefly meant of Spiritual brethren, but there is a truth in it, even towards naturall brethren; such as are of the same Parents, as likewise those of one Kindred, or of the same Country.

To hate here, is opposed to love, which stands in two things, desire of com∣munion, and communication of good to him whom we love; hatred therefore desires neither of these, but consists in strangnesse and enmity; in strangeness, when they desire not communion with them, and enmity, when they are not willing to communicate good to them; although for the most part it goes fur∣ther, to doe ev••ll to one; yet, Levit. 19.17. Thou shalt not hate thy Brother; there hatred is not to communicate good to our brother, viz. wholsome re∣proof; now he that thus hates these brethren, or his brother, any Brother, though not all (for if a man should hate all that were Spirituall brethren, it were manifest that he were in darknesse; as it were strange for a man to hate all his naturall brethren) but if there be but one brother whom he hates, he is yet in darknesse, both of ignorance, and wickednesse.

2 Such a one was alwayes in darknesse, He is in darknesse even untill now.

3 He walks in darknesse, i. e. there is no action of his but is a work of dark∣ness, a sinfull action; he makes not one good prayer, or one good Ser∣mon, &c.

4 He knows not whither he goes, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, where he is, nor whither he goes, i. e. he knows not what estate he is in before God, nor whither he goes, whether to Heaven or Hell, nor what his end will be, whethet comfort or wo; now for the proof of the poynt you may see it, 1 Joh. 4.7, 8.

Reas. 1. Because God is love, 1 Joh. 4.16. and therefore he that is not in love is not in God; God is not only loving, but love it selfe, Psalm 145.9. God communicates good to every creature according to his condi∣tion.

Reas. 2. From the distempet which hatred puts both upon our judgments, and affections in every action, vers. 11. because darknesse hath blinded his eyes; it blinds us that we cannot see that good which is in our brother, wherefore we should love him, and it puts false opinions and furmises upon every thing we see him doe.

3 Hatred makes every duty we performe to God abominable to him, and therefore such a man walks in darknesse, Matthew 5.23, 24. James. 1.20. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 non perficit, he cannot bring a good work to an end, Gen. 4.4. Cain, because he hated his Brother, his Sacrifice would not burn, it would not enter into Gods acceptation.

Ʋse 1. To refute an opinion of the Popish Doctors; they say, men may fall away from Grace, and they prove it by the example of Saul and Judas, who they say were in the estate of grace; this will be easily decided whether they ever were in the estate of grace yea or no? for Saul, did not he hate his brother, did not he hate David? if he did, then St. John gives here his judge∣ment, he was ever in darknesse, and of Judas you may see Psal. 109.5.8. which is applyed to Judas, Act. 1.20.

Ʋse 2 From hence every one may take a scantling of his own Estate; whe∣ther doe we hate our Brother, any brother, whether spiritual or naturall, or a∣ny other man? then we are in darknesse.

Object. But may not a man hate those that hate God, with a perfect hatred? Psal. 139.22. David makes it a sign of a Citizen in heaven, Psal. 15.4.

Ans. If a man hates God, and malign goodnesse, we must consider two things, 1 Whether he doth it of ignorance, or 2 Whether he doth it of malice; if he doth it of malice, we may, and ought to hate him, Mat. 15.12, 13.14. and of these did David speak; but if they sin of Ignorance, I must not hate them with a perfect hatred, but so far as not to affect fellow∣ship, and communion with them, but yet to communicate good to them, that I may and must doe upon all occasions; I must pray for them; and admonish

them; Luke. 23.34. Christ prayed for those that crucified him, so did Stephen, Act. 7.60. and it is thought by learned Divines, that prayer was a means of Souls conversion; and for admonishing such an one, read 1 Thes. 3.14, 15. but if a man sin of malice, we are neither to pray for him, nor admonish him.

Ʋse 3. This teacheth us, that as we would have a sign of our good Estate in Christ, so to love every Brother, every Brother in Christ, every Brother in nature, or civill society, Gal. 6.10.

Object. May not good men sometimes be bitter against some Brother?

Ans. It may be so, but first, they know them not to be Brethren.

2 They doe not hate them with the whole heart, but partly, as far as they are unregenerate, and they will repent of it when they know it; but howsoever, if we doe not hate any brother, hereby we shall certainly know that we are in a good Estate.

Ʋse 4 This is a ground of comfort to Gods servants, God will not have one of them ill beloved, the World hates them, Joh. 15.18. and if God should suffer his servants to hate them, who should love them? nay, God would have every man love his Brethren, for as verse 9. the Apostle speaks of professors, he that saith he is in the light, &c. so verse 11. he restrains it not, but he that hateth his Brother is in darknesse, whosoever he be, whether he profess the light or no? now therefore this should be out comfort, and this should make us carefull to walke so as to be beloved.