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

1 JOHN 3.13.

Marvell not my Brethren, if the world hate you.

THe Apostle having told us of Cain's hatred to his Brother, he takes away an objection. It might be said, It was a wonder, there were but two Bre∣thren, and Abel so innocent, it is a wonder he should slay him. But he bids them not wonder at it.

Doct. The world is given to hate Gods children.

By world he means worldly men:

• 1. Because their originall is the world, John 8.23. & 15.19.
• 2. Because they are the greater part of the world, 1 John 5.19.
• 3. Because they are wholly conversant about the world, minds, hearts, speeches, actions, Phil. 3.19. Col. 1.3, 4. They serve the god of this world, 1 Cor. 4.4, 5. They have their portion in this world, Psal. 17.14. such men hate Gods children, Mar. 13.13. Luke 6.22.

Reas. 1. Ignorance of them, 1 John 3.1. The world knows you not. For a man to be discourteously used when he is unknown, though he be a Prince, it is no great matter, John 16.2.

2. The separation of Gods people from the world, John 15.19. I have chosen you out of the world.

3. Because Gods servants are desirous to draw others out of the world, which they cannot endure, whan a man will be saving all that he can.

Ʋse 1. To reprove the unthankfulnesse of the world, that will requite evill for good, and hatred for good-will. They run not with the world into the same excesse of ryot, Heb. 11.38. 2 Pet. 3.9. 1 Cor. 3.22. The world hath its standing for their sakes, 2 Kings 3.14. Acts 18.9.10, 11. If your worldly estates prosper, it is for the sakes of Gods people, Gen. 30.27. & 39.5. Psalm 106.23. Gen. 19.22. God would have poured out his wrath, had not Moses stood in the gap.

2. To teach us not to enter upon Christianity, if we cannot swallow bitter pills, the hatred of the world; if it be too churlish for your stomachs, keep your hearts and hands from it, Luke 14.26.

3. Comforts to Gods people, that though the world hate them, yet they are but the world, they have no higher breath then the world.

Marvell not.

Doct: Gods people are wont to marvell at this.

Reas. Three causes of marvell.

• 1. Ignorance of the cause.
• 2. Some eminent and good thing, Mat. 8.10.
• 3. Some rare and new thing, 2 Sam. 26: Mat. 1.27.

And so Gods people are apt to marvell at this:

• 1. Because they know not the cause, Psal. 69.4.
• 2. The hatred sometimes is extreame and deadly.
• 3. It is new and rare, because they have been wonted to no such thing.

Ʋse: Let the world know that Gods people have more cause to think strange of the world, then the world of them, they give the world no cause to hate them, Acts 17.6.

Doct: Gods children are not to marvell at the worlds hatred, 1 Thess. 3.3.

Reas. 1. God hath appointed you to it, you must take notice of it, God hath done it for many ends, How else should you shew forth your patience? how should you be kept off from bad company? God will lay bitter pills to the breasts of the world, that so you may be weaned from it, Psalm 119.115.

2. The world many times doth it out of ignorance: The world knows it not, therefore we may take it the better that we are ill dealt withall. A King takes it not ill to be badly dealt withall at strangers hands.

3. The world hated Christ, therefore no marvell if it hate us.

4. It is no new thing, it hath continued from Cain.

5 From the inclination of your own hearts, if you were in the worlds case, you would doe the like. Therefore marvell not, Tit. 3.2, 3.

Ʋse 1. Of instruction to such as live in places of Religion. If we be ha∣ted, wonder we not at it. We shall condemne the generation of Gods peo∣ple. The cause is partly from the tempter, partly from the wickednesse of the world.

Ʋse 2. Do not lay down Religion for fear of the worlds hatred. This is not the way, fear not the hatred of the world. Some Subjects will not feare the body of a State, so they may have the Kings favour. Much lesse should Gods servants fear though the whole body of a Countrey should fall foule up∣on them.

3. This should teach Gods servants to walk so much the more circum∣spectly, humbly, lovingly. If a man were to walk amongst his friends, he would care the lesse, but if he live among his enemies, he will looke to every step; so soon as you trip, you shall have mouthes enough open against you. Therefore Daniels course was notable, he so walked that they could not taxe him, Daniel 6.1, to 7.