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

1 JOHN 4.3.

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God; and this is that spirit of Antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come, and even now already is it in the world.

Doct. THat the spirit of every Prophet, that holds not out the migh∣ty power of Christ veiled with humane frailties and infirmi∣ties, is not of God but of Antichrist.

He doth not say every Prophet, or every Person, for a good Prophet may expresse much weaknesse, but he saith every spirit; whatsoever spirit is in a Prophet that doth expresse Christ Jesus; if any spirit shall not acknowledge Christ come in the flesh, as the spirit of Menander did not, such a spirit is not of God, but of Antichrist.

1. If a man doth not expresse the truth of the Lord Jesus in his Ministry, but breaths such errour in his doctrine as doth overthrow the Lord Jesus, such is not of God, John 14.17. & 16.15. If a man speak truth, and not sa∣ving truth, but only moral truths, he doth not presse the saving power of the Lord Jesus, he expresseth a spirit of morality, which is not to be disliked; but he doth not hold forth the saving power of the Lord Jesus; and a man must not only expresse the saving power of Christ, but the saving power of Christ come in the flesh; doe you see a man revealing Christ in Moral writings, in tinckling cymbals of mans wisdome, if his spirit relish nothing but affected elo∣quence, his spirit is of Antichrist.

2. Doe you see the spirit of a Prophet savour of ambition, pomp, and delicacy? this is the spirit of Popery, this doth not hold forth the Lord Jesus.

3. If a mans doctrine do hold forth the Lord Jesus in a tyrannicall manner, making the hearts of those sad whom God would not have made sad, such doe not hold forth Christ.

Reas. Because the whole carriage of the frame of spirit is clean contrary to the Spirit of the Lord Jesus; for though he be vailed with humane frailties, John 14.6. Yet he is the way, the truth, and the life, Christ Jesus came riding upon the Colt of an Asse, he came not in any outward magnificence; when the people would have made him King, he said, My Kingdome is not of this world, he did not tyrannize over his people, but he gathers into his armes those that goe astray.

Why doth the Holy Ghost say, That that spirit that doth not confesse Christ Jesus, is the spirit of Antichrist? He is called Antichrist, quasi anti Christum, It is called the spirit of Antichrist, because it is against Christ, contrary to Christ; and this spirit makes way to the errours of Antichrist.

2. Because it doth make cold the spirits of people, it makes iniquity to abound, Matth. 24.11, 12.

3. Because while Ministers doe pump out the doctrine with Heathenish rights, they have a special care to feed themselves as Demas.

Ʋse 1. This should teach Ministers what frame of spirit they should hold forth, when they take upon them such an holy and heavenly profession; if they would approve their hearts to God and his people, they must hold forth the Lord Jesus Christ in humane simplicity, though men cannot so

well try the doctrine of their Ministers, yet they may try their spirits; Paul desired to know nothing, 1 Cor. 2.2. that is, to expresse nothing in his life and doctrine, but Christ Jesus vailed with humane frailties.

Ʋse 2. A ground of much consolation, when their hearts can bear them witnesse, that God hath given them a Spirit of saving Truth, not to deliver their doctrine in carnal excellencies, seeking high matters but in humane simpli∣city.

3. This reproves men of an Antichristian spirit, who content themselves with outward flourishings, they know not what hurt they do to the Church of God in so doing.

4. This may direct the people of God, narrowly to watch the spirits of the Ministers, as they would be freed from Popery, affect not flourishing Elo∣quence, affect not him that hath a tyrannical spirit, or him that delivers only Morall truths; and let the people of God labour to have their hearts filled with a spirit of truth, and the saving graces of Gods Spirit.

Doct. That the spirit of Antichrist was come into the world in St. Johns time, and as in St. Johns time, so in St. Pauls time also:

He speaks of the mystery of Iniquity, that Antichrist did work in his time, 2 Thess. 2.7.

There are three things in the body of Popery:

1. A spirit breathing in it's doctrine, worship, and discipline; the same was visible in the Apostles time.

1. For the doctrine, there was a spirit of errour in their foundation, and wrought mightily at that time in their hearts, so that men durst not trust the grace of Christ, a•• if there were not safe holding upon naked Christ; but the Apostle doth utterly inveigh against such, Gal. 5.3, 4, 5. saith he, either trust God for all or nothing, distrusting of grace, or depending on something in nature or grace received, are the rocks upon which so many souls suffer shipwrack in Religion at this day.

2. There is a spirit of arrogancy, contempt of Magistracy and Government, Jude vers. 8. looking at the Pope as the Sun in the Firmament; this was flou∣rishing in the Apostles time, and now also.

2. There is a spirit that breatheth in their worship:

1. A spirit of superstition, Col. 2.18. men at that time worshipped Angels, thus the Papists at this day; but they have more Angels and Saints, to which they cleave rather then to Christ, they did begin to worship Im∣ages, 1 John 5.21. Therefore John blesseth his babes from them: men de∣parted from God, and clave not only to creatures, but the works of mens hands, the same spirit ruleth at this day: there was a spirit of hypocrisie, a shew of Religion, without the mighty power of the Lord Jesus shewed is any performance, Col. 2.23. they had many things to draw their bodies and they durst not come to the Lord Jesus, but they must have some Saint or Angel to come to him by: they did invent courses the Lord did not require; this the Apostle cals a shew of Religion, which is hypocrisie; and so at, this day among the Fryars, they have a shew of Religion, they take up wor∣ships, which God doth dot require, of which it may be said, Who required those things of you? the Galatians did observe dayes, and months, and years, therefore the Apostle is afraid that he hath bestowed his labour in vain upon them, Chap. 4.10, 11.

3. What was the spirit of their discipline and government? they did affect primacy; the Apostles were no sooner removed out of the world, but this spirit began to spring up, yea, while some of them lived, John 3.9.

2. That that spirit did affect and exercise tyranny, casting out of the Church such Ministers as were more faithful, 3 Epist. John 9.10. Diotrephes would not receive John himselfe, nor his brethren; nor would suffer those that would; that spirit hath been in the Church of Rome from that day to this. A second part of their tyranny was, in imposing upon them un∣profitable

courses, unprofitable they were because they did perish in the using Col. 2.20, to 22.

3. There was a spirit of coveteousnesse in Ministers, they did not savour the things of God; but did relish wealth and ambition, Jude 11. they follow the wayes of sin, as Cain did. In Cain there was first hypocrisie, he offers a sacrifice, and when he saw his brothers sacrifice accepted, being offered in faith, and his not, there arose in him a spirit of wrath, which ended in bloudshed; such was the spirit of Popery in Queen Maries days. Some walk in the wayes of Balaam, the wayes of coveteousnesse, putting stumbling blocks before the people, and that for covetousnesse sake. Thirdly, some have the gainsaying spirit of Korah, they gainsay the Ordinances of God; like as he rose up against M••ses and Aaron; this spirit breathing in Antichri∣stian teachers at this day, was hatched in the Apostles time. There was a spirit of Schism in the Apostles time, some saying, I am of Paul and, I of Apollo, &c. 1 Cor. 1.12. and so at this time among the Papists, Jude v. 19.

Ʋse 1. See the diligence of Satan to sow tares, even in the Apostles times, therefore Ministers should watch diligently over their people, that no such spi∣rit be sown in their hearts; Satan will creep in by dissension, the affections being once distempered, the judgement will soon be corrupted. Wherefore Ministers and people should have a speciall care of dissension; for if dissension creep in, then soon will you have your worship shut up, and then there will be a wofull wast of Religion.

2. See the impudence of Heretiques, that dare look God in the face, and rise up among his many bright and glorious lights in the Apostles times; but let no Christians be discouraged by this, but rather the more encouraged to con∣tend and strive for the faith of Christ.

3. This should teach Schollars, not to take any ancient doctrine for truth till they have examined it; Though Peter was blessed for the testimony of Christ, one part of the day, yet he was sharply reproved the same day; trust not any doctrine almost in regard of the antiquity of it, for it may be Antichri∣stianism, though in the Apostles times.

4. If we would be growing up in grace from day to day, take we heed of the spirit of Antichrist; of taking up the worship which God hath not com∣manded, take we heed of hypocrisie, a spirit of Popery, a shew of devotion. Come we to the Sacrament, as if we would receive the power of the Lord Jesus vailed in much simplicity: take we heed of the spirit of Cain, Balaam, and Korah, gainsaying the Ordinances of God; but walk we stedfastly in that Religion we have received.