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

1 JOHN Chap. V. Vers. 1.

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him.

THese words contain a third argument to confirm a truth de∣livered Chap. 4. vers. 20. which was, That the profession of the love of God, without the love of our Brethren, is but hypocrisie. In this verse the argument is drawn from the nearnesse of our Brother to that God whom we profess to love. He is as near as the begotten is to him that begat him; and the argument stands thus, if our Brother be be∣gotten of God, then we cannot love him that begat, but we must love him also that is begotten; but our brother is born of God, which he proves by his faith, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God.

In this verse observe these two parts,

• 1 The safe and comfortable estate of every believer. He is born of God
• 2 The necessity that lies upon such as love God. To love the Brethren also

Here therefore is a double universall proposition.

• 2 Concerning Faith.
• 2 Concerning Love.

The former universall proposition is, That whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God.

Doct. 1. Faith in Christ Jesus is a certain and universall worke of Regene∣ration.

Quest. What is it to believe on Christ? Do not the Devills believe and tremble?

1 To believe that Jesus is Christ, is to be perswade that God hath anoynted him to be King, Priest and Prophet of his Church; as a Priest to sacrifice him∣self for us; as a Prophet to direct us, and reveale his will to us; as a King to govern and to rule us.

2 Believing is not only an act of the understanding, for the Devills believe that Christ is the Messias, that is, that he is Priest, King, and Prophet of his Church, therefore in this believing there is more then a meer perswasion, namely,

1 A particular application to mine own heart, that he is a Priest, King and Prophet to me. And

2 Where this faith is, it works such a frame of heart in me, that I trust on him alone for my salvation, and out of him I look for none? in his bloud I look to be pardoned; in his Propheticall office, I look to be guided; and I look to him as a King to subdue my rebellious heart; this kind of Faith is a certain mark of Regeneration,

1 From the removal of all other causes, for a man to looke up to him, as the Christ, the anoynted of God, this is above the reach of flesh and bloud,

and this kinde of faith makes a man blessed, Mat. 16.16, 17. The hand of faith is a work of Gods Spirit; for take the state of nature, it reaches no fur∣ther then this, Flesh and bloud looks to satisfie by the works of the Law; and this was the stumbling block of the Jewes, they sought righteousnesse by the Law, Rom. 9.3. this is naturall ever since Adam, for his principle being given to Adam, Doe this and live, this still cleaves to us by nature, and this is the Religion of all the Nations, to look to be saved by the works either of the naturall or morall Law.

2. Suppose you convince flesh and bloud, that all his righteousnesse is un∣clean, why, yet far off was it from men in St. Johns time, to look for salvation in a crucified Saviour; this was a stumbling block to the Jewes, and to the Greeks foolishnesse, 1 Cor. 1.23.

3. Suppose you prevail so far with flesh and bloud as to convince them their righteousnesse is unclean, and that there is no salvation but onely in Christ; yet nature will not be perswaded that Christ did all this for him, but in anguish of soule nature runs to merry company, to the world, to the gallowes, rather then it will come to Christ for help, and wait on him, and cleave to him; if therefore a man be brought to believe on him as his Saviour, and by his Priestly, Kingly, and Propheticall Office to look for salvation, and trust on him for it, is an evidence of our Regene∣ration.

Reas. 1. From the mighty power of lively faith; for St. John here ••oth not speak of a cold dead faith, but of a lively powerfull faith; now where such faith is, it makes us live by our faith, Heb. 2.4. The just shall by his faith live a life of justification and sanctification; faith looks not at his own works for satisfaction, but to him that justifies the ungodly, Rom. 4.4, 5, 6. And so by faith we live a life of sanctification; w••ether Gods will be to be done or suffe∣red, he lives by faith, that is, he will have a commandement for his rule, no du∣ty he takes in hand but he will have his warrent for it.

2. Faith looks to the promise for strength, when he goes about any Chri∣stian duty, he goes not about it in his own strength, but he derives strength from Christ, Without me ye can doe nothing, from him is thy fruit found, Hos. 14.8, 9. he relies on the promise for help, for comfort, for acceptance, he doth all in the name of Christ, that is, in his life and power, and looks for acceptance in the name of Christ onely.

3. If he suffers the will of God, and lies under heavy temptations and afflictions; why, he waits on God, he lives by his faith, he knowes that he that will come, shall come and will not tarry, Heb. 10.36, 37. in the mean time the just lives by faith, that is, quiets himselfe in dependence on Christ and expectation of his promise.

Ʋse 1. To refute a Popish Doctrine that teacheth, That faith may be com∣mon to Gods people with Hypocrites, and they professe no other faith, then what may be common to Hypocrites and Devills; and therefore they disclaim justification by faith, because if faith justifie, then the Devills and Hypocrites, may be justified. But the Apostle speaks of a faith that flesh and bloud cannot attain unto; therefore that which they call Catholique faith, to believe those Doctrines mala fide propounded by their Church is a fiction; the Devill believes better then they, he believes the word of God to be true: but to believe this to be true by a true and lively faith, is such a beliefe, as whereby we are born of God.

Ʋse 2. Of tryall, whereby we may take an estimate of our faith, thou saist, thou believest that Jesus is the Christ. Why, try that, hath thy faith rege∣nerated thee? hath it brought thee into subjection to Gods will? Dost thou live by thy faith? that is, if thou beest to doe any part of Gods will, dost thou walk by a Commandement for thy rule, and dost thou depend upon some Pro∣mise for strength? if thou beest to suffer Gods will, dost thou wait patient∣ly on Christ, and quiet thy selfe in him? then thy faith is a regenerating

faith. Contrary, if a man say he believes in Christ, and yet makes no consci∣ence to live according to Gods commandements, relies not on him for strength in his performances, is not patient under his hand, such a beliefe as this, is far from that which the Text speaks of.

Ʋse 3. Of direction, what course he must take, that would become a son of God, born of him. Why? faith is the door wereby we are to enter into this happy estate; there is a power in faith, not onely to justifie, but to sanctifie: If therefore thou be convinced of thy filthy unclean state by nature, and lookest up to Christ for cleansing; if thou findest thy heart submitting to Gods will, carefull to walk by a rule, going out of thy selfe, depending upon him for strength; and if God hide his face, thou canst waite patiently on him: why, this is the way to regeneration. To believe on Christ, and not to make use of him, is to say, we believe in him, and yet believe him not. If thou were told, that in such a corner of a field there lay abundance of treasure, and yet thou livest in penury and want, and never goest about to dig it up, every man would think thou wert not perswaded of the truth of it, but that thou lookest at it as a fable. So for a man to say that he believes on Christ, and yet to let Christ lie by him, as a refused commodity, and never look to him for salva∣tion and help, who will believe that we are perswaded that Jesus is the Christ the anointed of God?

Ʋse 4. Of consolation to every believing soul, we are ready to call in question our regeneration and adoption, why if God gives us hearts believing that Jesus is the Christ, and therefore thou goest about to dig up this treasure in him, and therefore art resolved not to leave off till thou hast found him, and trustest upon him daily for help and com∣fort, dependest on him, seekest him with all thy heart: Why, be of good comfort, thy faith is a sufficient testimony to thee, that thou art born of God.