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

Doct. The confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, is a true note or pledge of our mutual, entire, and constant fellowship with God.

They have entire fellowship, because they doe not onely dwell one with another, but one in another, as members in the body, as branches in the root; Whosoever shall confesse Jesus, &c. So that this is one mark of true Christia∣nity, in that it seals up a mans soul to everlasting fellowship with God; There are many marks of Christianity, but none so general, so that where this con∣fession is, there is true fellowship with God, this is certain and true, Mat. 16 16, 17. Whom say men that I the Son of man am? &c. But saith Christ, Who say ye that I am? Peter answered and said, we confesse thee to be the Son of the ever-living God; what saith Christ to him? Blessed art thou Simon; if he were blessed, then his soule was wrapt up into the fellowship of the soules of just men made perfect, and so into fellowship with God. The same acceptance did Christ give to the Thiefe upon the Crosse, when his Disciples left him, when the Souldiers spightfully intreated him, and all despised him, one of the thieves railed on him; saith the other, Fearest thou not God? sith we are in the same condemnation, Luk. 23.42.3. Remember me, saith he, when thou comest into thy kingdom. He acknowledgeth here that Christ was the Son of God, be∣cause he saith, Remember me when thou comest into thy kingdome, knowing that power and glory was his: what saith Christ to this confession of his? That he should confesse him in the midst of so many reproaches and disgraces, that one Thiefe should confesse more then all the rest; Christ saith to him, This day shalt thou be with me in Paradice, his soule was taken up into heaven, and

so he was a blessed man, and had fellowship with God, 1 John 5.5. He that overcometh, believeth that Jesus is the Son of God, so chap. 2. & 3. of the Revel. if any man overcome the world it is only he that confesseth that Jesus is the Son of God, 1 Cor. 12.3. No man can truly say, that Jesus is the Lord, but by the holy Ghost; such is the work of the holy Ghost, that God dwels in him, and he in God.

Object. But if that be such an argument that we are blessed, if we confesse that Jesus is the Lord, then I hope we shall doe all well enough, for who of all the sons of men that professe Christianity are not perswaded, and doe not believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Papists believe this, and the Pharisees that sinned against the holy Ghost, believed this, Matth. 21.38. This is the Heir, say they, therefore the Son of God, come let us kill him; they sinned against the holy Ghost, because they knew that Christ was the Lord: there are two things in the sin against the holy Ghost, light in the mind, and malice in the heart, the Devils professe that they knew Jesus, Marke 1.24. What then doth God dwell in the Devill, or the Devil in God? God forbid.

Answ. There is something in respect of the time, it was something in the dayes of St. John, for a man to confesse, that Jesus was the Son of God, for then men durst not, because this was but a new doctrine, this point had Uni∣versality, and antiquity against it, but now it is burning to ashes to deny it; It is now no thank for men to confesse that Jesus is the Son of God, he that shall not confesse it, shall have cause of confusion in this world, and in the world to come. The Devils did believe this, but they did not confesse him truely; and good men will sore distrust this point, because the Devill confesseth this, the Devil was convinced of the truth of this, but yet it was no argument of his dwelling with God, because he did this fraudulently.

Object. But the Pharisees they confessed this, and they knew that he was the Son of God.

Answ. They did believe it, and were convinced in their consciences but yet they did not confesse him openly, John 7.13.

Quest. What is it to confesse that Jesus is the Son of God?

Answ. It is not onely an act of judgement, neither is it barely an act of the lips to say, that Jesus is the Son of God, this is no such sign of our fellowship with God; for it is now as great a wonder for a man to deny it, as it was then to confesse it.

That there is an act of the works or deeds of a man, and so confessing it is an argument that we have fellowship with God, God doth not take that for a true confession, when a man doth confesse him with his lips, but in his works deny him, Tit. 1.16. Isa. 29.13. This confession is twofold 1. with the heart, 2. with the life, Confession with the heart is double.

First, A looking to Christ for salvation, and this is an evident pledge of Gods dwelling with us, and we with him, Isa. 45.22. to 25. Rom. 14.11. Phil. 2.10, 11. Look to me and be saved, no man can look up to God as a God of his salvation but shall be saved; this is the proper work of faith.

The second is a penitential confessing, when Peter had convinced the Jews, that Jesus was the Lord, they were pricked in their harts, Acts 2.26, 37. For a man to confesse that he is the Lord, and never to be troubled that he doth afflict him, nor never look for salvation by him, there is no truth, no heartinesse in that confession, but when the heart is humbled for all the wrong it hath done to Christ, this is an evidence of hearty confession.

In the confession of our life there are two parts.

1 If I confesse Christ to be the Son of God; I doe not only take him to be my Saviour, but to be my Lord and Governour, 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. Heb. 5.9. we obey Christ in thoughts, in speeches affections and conversations. 1 Pet. 3.14.2. When we suffer as Christians, and are not ashamed of the Crosse of Christ, but answer as did the three children, Dan. 3.17, 18. The grace of a Christian is the lively confessing of Christ.

Reas. These may be all, as so many reasons of the point▪ another reason may be this, flesh and bloud cannot believe it, and confesse it, Matth. 16.16, 17.

Object. But Peter did swear, that he never knew Christ.

Answ. But yet he did believe, for it pricked him at the heart, that he had so wronged Christ, he wept bitterly, and did afterward with constant courage professe Christ.

Ʋse 1. Refutes all contrary religions: you see what becomes of all the Nations of the world, that do not believe Christ to be the Son of God, they have no fellowship with God, nor God with them; there is no other Name given by which we shall be saved, but the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ; whosoever doth not belive that Christ is the Son of God, he excluds himselfe from the fel∣lowship with God in this world, and in the world to come.

2. Of tryal; would you know whether God dwels in you, or you in him, doe you confesse that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, doe you look up to Christ for salvation? Isa. 45.22. Doe you find that your hearts are pricked when you sin against Christ? Doe you desire to walk in obedience unto Christ? Doe you sanctifie him in your hearts? Zach. 12.10. If you be obedient chil∣dren unto God, you shall injoy intire fellowship with God.

3. Of comfort to such, as have prevailed with their hearts and lives to make such a confession: Doth any man desire everlasting life? Let him look up to Christ, there is none from whom you should look for salvation, but Christ, wrestle with God by prayer, that you may find Christ in all the Or∣dinances you partake of, so shall you be sure to have God dwelling in you, and you in him, so shall you not goe from home, whither soever you goe.