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

Doct. 2. That the ignorance that the world hath of Gods children, and our obscurity and weaknesse in the world, doth not hinder our present good estate in the world.

Now we are the Sons of God, now that we are afflicted in the world, Isa. 54.11. which shews you, that though the children of God be afflicted and weather-beaten, yet God hath promised such blessings to them as may make them blessed in the world, vers. 13.14. Isa. 43.3, 4. Though we be led through the water and fire of affliction, yet in the midst of all our troubles; when we are passing through, the Lord promiseth that he will be with us, and that he will be our comfort in the midst of persecution and tempta∣tion.

Thus you see how dear and precious Gods children are in his sight. David when he saw the prosperity of the wicked, that all went well with them, then he began to think that he had cleansed his herat in vain; but soon afrer, when he went into the Sanctuary of the Lord, then he saw that the Lord set them but in slippery places. Therefore howsoever it seem in our eyes, that it goes well with the wicked, yet let us not despair, God will guide his chil∣dren by his counsell, and afterward receive them to glory. You may hear Job complaining of his poor and miserable estate, Job 19.18, 19, 20. he had now no more comfort left him then he had skin on his teeth, and therefore he cryes to his friends to pitty him, vers. 21, 22. And what do you think was the rejoycing of his soul in the midst of the anguish of his spirit, and affliction of body, being all consumed away with misery? he tells you, vers. 25. to v. 27. Yet, I am sure my redeemer liveth. So that what though his present estate be miserable, and his future happy estate be obscure to the world, yet he knows when Christ shall appear, he shall be like him, Col. 3.3, 4. as the Apostle speaks, Our life is hid with Christ in God.

Reas. 1. Taken from our likenesse to the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was in such a poor condition, as that though the birds of the air had nests, yet the Son of man had not where to lay his head, yet all this while he was the Son of God, in whom alone he was well pleased, Mat. 3.17. And as it was with Christ our head, so may we look it should be with us his members, Rom. 8.29. If God did see it meet that his Son should be thus afflicted in the world, and drinke of such a bitter portion of Gods wrath; let us not think we shall go to heaven, and partake of those heavenly mansions which Christ hath pre∣pared for us, but we also shall drink of the same cup that he drank of, Let us account our selves happy, that God will so esteem of us to make us his Sons.

Reas. 2. From the freedome of Gods love to men.

And first, that he doth not esteem of them according to their outward lu∣stre, 1 Sam. 16.7. God seeth not as man seeth Ps. 22.6. This is meant of Christ. So Isa. 53.3. Secondly, That he doth not esteem of them according to their inward estate, Ezek. 16.16. Deut. 7.8, 8. So that though there be much pride and stubbornnes of heart found in Gods children, and oftentimes in a great measure against God, yet all these inward corruptions do not hinder our future glo∣rious estate.

Ʋse. 1. This should teach the children of God to be content with their estates. They are indeed apt to think, that if the world do not esteem of them, but are ready to put many injuries upon them, and to persecute them with ha∣tred, that they are not Gods children; or else they murmur and grieve with∣in themselves. And if the world do sometimes esteem of them, yet if their health, liberty, and maintenance be taken away, then they think surely they have cleansed their hearts in vain, and washed their hands in innocency, Psal. 73.13. As for the men of the world, they are in prosperity, they suck water out of a full cup, their eyes start out with fatnesse, and they have more then they can wish. But David can tell them, when he went into the Sanctuary, that he saw that God had set them in slippery places. And then vers. 22. he condems himselfe for his ignorance.

2. This should teach the children of God not to misjudge of themselves, in regard of their inward estates; for some of them will be ready to doubt, and say, Surely I am not a child of God, because I find much of pride in my heart, and much rebellion and corruption in my spirit. Surely, if I were born of Christ; I should be like him. But what saith St. John here? we are the Sons of God, even now, though there be much unbelief in our hearts, and much weaknesse, and many corruptions in us.

But how shall I know that I am the childe of God? The answer is laid down in v. 3. Every man that hath this hope in himself, purifieth himself as he is pure. So that though he seeth much filthinesse in his spirit for the present, yet he labours to purge himself from time to time, and is ashamed of his hard∣ness of heart, and unbelief, that he hath so long stood out with God; and now he being sensible of his own misery, and wretched estate which he lies under by nature, he doth strive dayly to get out of it; and therefore he labouring to puri∣fie himself as Christ is pure, he is the child of God.

But it doth not appeer what we shall be.