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

1 JOHN 3.15.

Whosoever hateth his Brother is a murtherer, and ye know that no murtherer hath eternall life abiding in him.

THe Apostle having said in the former verse that he that loveth not his Brother, abideth in death, he proves it by a Syllogisme taken from a Murtherer.

Doct. He that hates his Brother is a Murtherer.

As he that looks upon a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery, so he that hates his brother is a murtherer.

Reas. 1 From the wrapping up and infolding this in the heart, as the seed of a tree in the root, though it breake not forth; So sin hah its seed in the heart, Mat. 15.19. No murther could spring from the heart, if it were not there. A fountaine could not flow over unlesse water were in it, Prov. 4.23.

2 From the foul murther hatred commits; to give offence is a destroying of our Brother; now, who hates his Brother, makes no scruple of giving offence, Rom. 14.15. 1 Cor. 8.11.

3 It is a foul murther in regard of withdrawing many good offices. A man shall be unwilling to doe any good office either for soul or body. Ill will never speakes nor doth well.

Ʋse 1 Teacheth us the spiritualnesse of the Word of God. It doth tran∣scend the words of men, they never reach farther then speeches and actions; they make no Lawes for the hearts of men. But the Word of God hath special regard to the heart, 1 Sam. 16.7. As it is with wise parents, they look not only to the guidance of their childrens speeches, but that their countenance and carriage be well framed, Gen. 4.6. So soon as God saw hatred in Cains heart, and expressing it selfe in his countenance, he reproves him for it, he will not have so much as a wrinkle in the face.

2 Hence we may see a just ground of Divines referring all sins and virtues to the ten Commandements, Mat. 5.21, 22. Before God, unadvised anger is killing, so of adultery, verse 28.

3 See the wisdome of God in putting such foule names upon the beginnings of sin, to make us afraid. He that hateth his Brother is a Murtherer. As if a Father should say, Doe not hate your Brother, you will be a murtherer. He puts bad words upon the seeds of sin.

4 This should be a means to cleanse us from all hatred of our Brother, look at it as an ugly and loathsome vice. If there be a spirit of envy in thy heart, what though thou lift not up thy hand against thy Brother, this is murther.

Doct. That it is a known truth amongst Gods children, every murtherer is de∣voyd of eternall life, Rev. 21.8.

Reas. 1 Because of the injury done to Gods image. If a man deface the image of a Prince, it deserves death; then the defacing of Gods image much more, eternall death, Gen. 9.6.

2 From the seed of all murtherers, vers. 12. he makes every murtherer to be of the posterity of Cain, John 8.44. Now because a man kills his brother, out of the seed of the Serpent▪ a devillish and malignant spirit, therefore he hath not eternal life abiding in him.

Ʋse 1 See the danger of such, who in their drinkings quarrell even to murther.

Obj. If there be no possibility that a murtherer should be saved, what say you to David, and others in their carnall estate?

Answ. David did indeed kill, and God follows him with judgments and afflictions, 2 Sam. 12.8, 9, 10. but yet upon repentance God forgave him his sin. And as for such as have murthered in their carnal estate, if God give them hearts to be humbled, then the blood of Christ is of a lowder cry then the blood of Abel, Heb. 12.24. Saint John speaks not of every murtherer, for some doe it against their judgments and hearts, but others, if they repent not, have not e∣ternal life, 1 Cor. 6.8 9.

2. To stir up every christian man, that hath his hands in blood, to have re∣course to the blood of the covenant, for the pardon of their sins, and healing of them. The sin on Levi held him longest under, to bring him to repentance, Gen. 49.7.28. Jacob blessed him in a curse, God preserves us with curses, that may put us in minde of our sins, and makes us walk sensibly of them, therefore renew we our mournings for our hatred.

3 In respect of challenges, let us take heed we take them not, and that we stop them in the beginning: It is not fit that fire should burn out of its place.

4 Such as love their Brethren, are not only not abiding in death, but have everlasting life, already abiding in them; If you see any hatred spring in thee, thou art taken with a dead Palsie. You cannot bring out a good word or good countenance, so much hatred, so much death, so much want of love, so much want of life.