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

Vers. 18.

There is no fear in love, &c.

We come to the fourth thing, the exemption of perfect love from all fear.

Doct. 4. An heart possest with the love of God, is dispossest of feare of evill from God.

He speaks of the fear of death and judgment; so much love as is in our hearts, so much freedome and boldnesse against the day of judgement; a loving heart feares not wrath, nor jugement, nor hell, Psal. 23.4. When once I look at God as my Shepheard, and love him, and follow him: Why? then though I walke through the vale of the shadow of death, I will feare none evill, though I walk in neer danger of death, for if the shadow follow me, the body is not farre off, yet I will fear no evill, Psal. 49, 4, 5. David makes open pro∣clamation to all men to hear and hearken, there is the solemnity of the audi∣ence: the matter is, It's a parable, and dark mystery, and yet a word of wisdome and understanding. Why, what is this parable that all the world should take notice of? Why, this is it, Wherefore should I be afraid, when the in∣iquity of my heels do compasse me about? that is, the iniquity of my foot-steps,

the tripping of my steps, or the iniquity of my heels, that is, the fears and dan∣gers that follow him at the heels; yet wherefore should I feare? An heart pos∣sest with the love of God, is dispossest of fear of evill from God. Psal. 3.6. I will not be afraid of ten thousand of people, that shall compasse me about. Why, what makes him so confident? Because the Lord is my shield and lifter up of my head, vers. 3. So that we see that a Christian possest of the love of God, stands not in the feare of judgement or hell, nay more, not of his sinfull failings, Psal. 49.5.

Reas. 1. From the nature of fear, and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 oval of it, fear is a troblesome affection in the expectation o•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 evill: Now 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the removal of feare, two things must be done▪

1 There must 〈◊〉〈◊〉 evill towards him.

2 He must 〈…〉〈…〉 this. Now to him that feareth God; no evill is towards such a one, Psal 〈…〉〈…〉 There shall no evill befal thee. Now to whom is this promise made▪ 〈…〉〈…〉 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore I will deliver him▪ I will set him on high, far above all dangers and evils; indeed sick∣nesses may befall him, and 〈…〉〈…〉, and imprisonments; but what ever be∣fals under the nature of evill, that shall not come nigh him.

As no evill is towards him, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••e must know this, that no evill shall befal him; Now a Christian that loves God, he knows that no evill shall befal him, Psal. 56.3.9. What time I am afraid, I will trust on thee. When I cry unto thee, thou shalt cause mine enemies to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their backs this I know, for God is for me: So that a Christian not onely finds security from danger, but knowledge of it too. Nay further, the childe of God is so farre from fearing any evill to come nigh him, that he knows all those things that are counted evill, shall turn to his advantage, Rom. 8 28. So Phil ••.1••. where he tels you what wrong false Apostles did him on purpose, to adde afflictions to his bonds; Well, saith he, I know this shall turn to my salvation, through your prayers, upon a double ground he comforts himself against all their malignities.

1 He knows the more they afflict him, the more will the Church pray for him.

2 That the more he is tempted, the more will God supply by his Spirit.

Quest. How do they know that no evill shall befal them?

Answ. 1. From the love of God shed abroad in their hearts, Rom. 5.1 to 6.

2 From the presence of God for him in his worst times, And if God be for him, who can be against him? Rom. 8.31.

3 From the interest he hath in the blood of Christ, which hath cleansed him from all his sins, so that he doth know that God will follow him as a deliverer from his sins, so that the soule though burthened with many sins, yet fears not, Psal. 44.5.

4 From a knowledge he hath of all the promises as belonging to him, which are a stay and support to his soul, Psal. 56.3, 4 10, 11. Psal. 84.11. he knows God will be a Sun and a shield to him.

5 From the knowledge that he hath from the integrity of his conscience, which is as a brazen wall against all evils, 2 Cor. 1.12. For our rejoycing is this, the testimony of our conscience.

6 The prayers both of his own soule and other Christians are for him, so that through them he is confident no evill shall befal him, Psal. 56.9. Phil. 1.19.

7 He is imboldned against dangers, from the supportance of Gods Spirit in his worst times, Phil. 1.19. Psal. 5. So Psal. 46. God is a present help in the time of trouble; when trouble is near at hand, yet God is nearer; as it was sometimes with Elisha, he saw the Mountain full of Chariots and Horse-men, 2 King 6.17. Though there were not such a multitude constantly about him, yet when an Army of the enemies come; an Army of Angels come as soon.

It hath been an ancient opinion, that every true Christian hath a particular Angel to deliver him; why, this is certain, when dangers come, there never want Angels without, nor Gods Spirit within, nor the prayers of his servants for us, and therefore we have no cause to fear.

Ʋse 1. This is a notable ground upon which that heavenly truth is built, of the perseverance of Saints; and a bulwark against Apostasie; if a loving heart be without fear of the day of judgement, he is without fear of falling away.

Obj. True, as long as he keeps perfect to his love, but may he not fall off from his love, and so from his good estate?

Answ. The Apostle ••ith, there is no fear in love; then if there be no fear, there is no fear of falling away.

Ʋse 2. Of direction to poor souls, against those 〈…〉〈…〉 and fears of their hearts, if we would be quit•• of all those cares and grie•• 〈…〉〈…〉 g•• ••p in love to God, & to your brethren, for there is no fear in love〈…〉〈…〉 there∣fore from all hatred of God; learn to take all Gods d••g•• in good part as proceeding from his love to your souls; Look at all th••se fears and anguishes he puts you to, as wholsome for your spirits, and the very apprehension of Gods love to you in these will quiet your consciences, and scatter those fears. Grow up likewise in love to your brethren, lay aside all wrath and re∣venge, be tender-hearted and merciful unto them; and thus growing in love, you shall grow in fearlesnesse.

Ʋse 3. Shews the fearful estate of a hateful heart; as there is no fear in love, so there is nothing but fear in hatred; he that findes his heart estranged from God, and 〈…〉〈…〉 love to his brethren, why when troubles comes, fears increase. What is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 reason natural men are so afraid of death and judgement? Why, because they have hateful spirits, whereas a loving soule prays for the hastning of the day of judgement, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly: But an hateful spi∣rit knows, the Lord Jesus comes to take vengeance on all his hateful carriages, and hard speeches, and therefore he trembles at judgement. Yea, this hatefull disposition is more dangerous to the soule then any sinne besides. Let a godly man be defiled with many sins, fall into divers weaknesses and frailties; yet be∣cause he maintains a loving heart to God and his people, they do not eclipse his boldnesse. David confesseth, That the iniquities of his heels compassed him about: yet because he kept his heart sincere and upright to God, he dares be confident, wherefore should I be afraid? whereas on the contrary, let a man walk never so justly and honestly, and do many good things, yet if the heart be e∣stranged from God, have no fellowship with him, nor his Saints, let death and judgement come, because his heart is not possest of Gods love, therefore he is opprest with many fears and anguishes.

Ʋse 4. Of consolation to every loving heart, if thou findest thy heart pos∣sest with love to God and his Saints, that there is none in heaven or earth, that thou desirest in comparison of him, and for the Saints they are the ••ly men of thy delight; if thou beest afraid, thou art much too blame: If thou discer∣nest ••ods love in thy heart, bid farewel to groundlesse fears.

Object. But will a loving heart say, Have not I just cause to fear, do you not see how loosely I walke, how often I trip and fall in my Christian course?

Answ. There is no causes of fear, Wherefore should I feare in the day of evill, when the iniquities of my heels compasse me about? These are causes to make me love love God the more that pardons these fallings, and to hate sin the more, but they ought to weaken thy confidence, for there is no fear in love.