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

1 JOHN 5.11.

And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, &c.

VErs. 7, 8. having declared the three witnesses in heaven, and three on earth, that bear witnesse of the divinity of Christ, vers 9.10. he exhorts us to receive their testimony in these 10, & 11. vers. he tels us what this divine record is, which he presseth us to believe, and this record is threefold.

• 1 Of an heavenly gift, eternal life.
• 2 That this life is given us by Christ.
• 3 That this life is given only to believers.

Doct. Eternal life is the gift of God.

Here two things are to be opened, 1 That the life given us by God in Christ is eternal life.

2 That this eternal life is the gift of God.

1 It's eternal life, 1 John 3.16. Eternal, ab ante, because it was given us be∣fore the foundation of the world, it's more ancient then the world, or mans fall, and this was not only purposed in Gods Councel, but this was manifestly promised before the world began, Tit. 1.2. And The Trinity then conclu∣ded that the Lord Christ should be made head of all.

2 That all that did believe on him should have eternal life, therefore it's said, He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, Ephes. 1.4. and there∣fore God choosing us as members of Christ, he promised to Christ, that he would give them all eternal life, 2 Tim. 1.9. There was not only a purpose of God, but a declaration of the same to Christ, of this gift our Saviour speaks, John 17:6. Revel. 13.8. and this gift is more ancient then our actual vocation, for a man is said to be given to Christ, when he gives up his heart and service to him, but this is given in fulnesse of time; but we were given to Christ, be∣fore we were called to the fellowship of his Spirit, and adoption of sons, John 6.39.

2 It's called eternal life, because the fountain and principles of this life are eternal; the Word of God was revealed from eternity, and of this Word were we begotten, 1 Pet. 1.23. And as in seed there is something more material, something more spiritual; so in the Word there is both the matter of the word and there is the Spirit of the Word, John 3.5. Now we are born of the Spirit, and this Spirit in us is a fountain of living water, springing up to everlasting life, John 4.14.

3 The continuance of this life is to everlasting, He that believes on Christ, shall never dye, but have everlasting life, John 3.36. John 5.24. and this eter∣nal life is a record which God hath given us of his Son, because the gift was gi∣ven to Christ, and througst him, as by our Head, is the life conveyed to all the members.

2 This life is a gift of God, Rom. ••.23. All the life we have is Gods gift: There is a fourfold life, and all given us by God.

First, The life as justification is a free gift, Rom. 5.15. we lay all dead in sin, now the pardon of all these is the very life of our souls, Col. 2.13.

Secondly, There is a life of holinesse whereby we live to God, are for his ••nds, and walk by this rule, and this life is the free gift of God, Ephes. 2.4, ••.

Thirdly, There is a life of consolation, which is called a mans life, 1 Thes. 3.7, 8. We live, if you stand fast, he means a life of comfort, and this life is given by free grace; 2 Cor. 1.4, 5. When God so comforts a poor soul, he is to be looked at as the Father of mercies, and God of all consola∣tion.

Fourthly, There is a life of glory, which God hath given us by Christ, Rom. 6.23.

Reas. 1. A minori, If our naturall life be Gods gift, how much more this spirituall and eternall life, Job 10.12. Thou hast granted me life and favour, and he speaks of naturall life, that is, thou in thy favour hast granted me life, and preservest it: Now if that be a gift of God, as it is, for it was neither Father nor Mother that could give us life, how much more is eternall life the gift of God. It was Mephibosheths speech to David, 2 Sam. 19.28. What was all my Fathers house, but dead men before my Lord the King? so take us without Gods gift, we were but all dead men before him. Now if this naturall life be a gift of God, and that of his favour too; how much more is this spirituall and eternall life a free gift from God?

2. All our life must needs be Gods free gift, by removing all that might con∣cur to the making up of our merit of this life.

Four things must concur to merit, which are all wanting in this gift.

1. If you would merit, you must prevent the other in giving but who hath given to God first? Rom. 11.35. and if we give God but his own, how then doe we merit? 1 Chron. 29.13, 14, 15.

2. In the nature of merit is required, that what we give we should give ••ee∣ly, not of due debt, nor due recompence, Luke 17.9, 10. If we doe but ou•• duties, what doe we merit? When we have done what we can, we have done but our duty, and how then doe we merit?

3. What merits at Gods hands, should be perfect and par••, without spot, else it deserves nothing: Now our best righteousnesse is defiled, Isa. 46.6. Exod. 28.38. Our best offerings, if God did not accept of them in Christs ho∣linesse, he might justly reject them.

4. In all merit it is requisite that there should be something proportionable betwixt the work and the reward, now what proportion is there between naturall life and spirituall, and betwixt our life of grace, and the life of glory? Our sufferings, which are the highest part of our obedience, they are not wor∣thy to be compared to the eternall weight of glory; indeed they work for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a plentifull recompence of reward, 2 Cor. 4.17. But this is through the free gift of God.

Ʋse 1. For reproof of Popish merit, if eternall life be the free gift of God, then the life of grace is not given us of merit, ex congru••, not this life of glory ex condigno; if it be gift, then sure we pay no answerable price for it; there is no purchase on our part, but a gift on Gods part. I would know whither this naturall life was given us of merit; who d••re say, ••e hath merited to be a man, rather then a Beast, of a Serpent, or a Toad, and how then can we say our eternall life is of merit? Doth not every Chri∣stian freely confesse at his first conversion, that if God should utterly cast him off, and never shew him mercy, just and righteous should his procee∣dings be? And how dare any appear that dare claime grace and glory of merit? In the continuance of his faithfull obedience, who dare claim the least mercy ex condigno, how much lesse eternall life? Whereas è contra, Gods servants doe not think God beholding to them for their service, but they never think themselves more engaged and beholding to God, then when he inables them to most service, they say with David, Who are we that we should be able to offer thus willingly, 1 Chron. 29.14. they know every jo•• of mercy is free grace, every sin pardoned is free grace. No Malefactor on earth, but if the King send him a pardon, he acknowledgeth it to be of the Kings free grace and Royall compassion▪ but yet the Synagogue of Rome will not acknowledge Gods pardon to be of free grace; but Gods people acknowledge they are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 but as dead dogs before God; and were at not for the free grace of God, they had never seen life.

Ʋse 2. Of exhortation to all the sons of men, that never look after Christ, why as ever you desire to see me, and that life for ever, look up to God for it to derive it from him, it is his free gift, Every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts, Prov. 19.6. Shall we respect Princes so, that have but earthly

honours and profits to giue, that we think it our happinesse to doe them any service, and shall we neglect God that hath such great gifts to give, even eter∣nall life, and a Kingdome of glory; it is God that gives us these naturall lives, and that gives us power to get wealth, Deut. 8.18. nay its he that gives life of comfort, and the life of justification, and holinesse, and also the life of glory, and shall we neglect this great gift, and more respect the poor comforts of the world then him, in whose hands is our breath and life? Skin for skin, and all that a man hath will he give for his life, he means for his naturall life, and shall eternall life lie by like a refuse thing that no man looks after.

Ʋse 3. Of tryall whether God hath given us this life or no, and this we may discern for the eternity of the gift, consider whether there be any eternall life shed abroad in thy heart or not, hast thou found any pardon of sins? that whereas thou sawest thy soul as a dead dog for want of this life, now God hath justified thee from thy sins; Why, the life of justification is eternall life, if he hath once pardoned thy sins he will remember them no more, Jer. 31.33.

Secondly, Hast thou found a spirit of life in thee to obey and serve the Lord, Rom. 8.2. Why this is eternall life, that will never decay, John 17.3. hath God shed abroad the comfort of his Spirit, and the joy of the holy Ghost into thy heart, which is better then life, Psal. 63.3. this is eternall life, which though it may be sometimes overwhelmed, yet it shall spring up again, as trees after winter; if thou finde none of these works in thee then thou hast no life.

Ʋse 4. Of consolation to all those that have received this life, if we have found the life of justification in the pardon of our sins, the life of holinesse in our Christian obedience; if we have found the lively comforts of Gods Spirit: Why, know this is a life that will never decay, this is the record of God himself, that the life which he hath given us is eternall life, it was given us before we were born, and will he take it away when we are born? that which he gave us before there was a world, he will not take away when the world shall be no more? it comes from everlasting principles, 3rd therefore it cannot decay; if therefore we finde this life in us, we may be assured, that God hath given us this life, will preserve it to eternity; if it be eternall, how can it decay? There∣fore let us walk worthy of this eternall life, and pray with David, Consider me Lord, if there be any way of wickednesse in me, and lead me in the way everlasting, Psal. 139. ult. Sinfull lusts are dead lusts, and what hath eternall life to doe with dead lusts, keep your hands off from a sinfull carnall life, but lay fast hold on eternall life, 1 Tim. 6.12. get sure possession of it, and let neither Satan not the world wrest it out of your hands.