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

1 JOHN 5.2.

By this we know that we love th•• children of God, when we love God, and 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 ••••mmandements.

IN the fourth Chapter the Apostle had exhorted us to the unfained love of our Brethren; now he proceeds to a word of direction, ho•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 now whether we love them or no.

Hereby we know, &c. It was the scope of this holy Apostle 〈◊〉〈◊〉 such things as by the knowledge whereof their joy might be full, and with his ex∣hortations he mingles divers marks and signes, that so knowing the estate, they might have fulnesse of ••y. Now therefore, because love of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Brethren was a course of full Joy, yet if we knew not whether we loved them 〈◊〉〈◊〉 no, it would ••e matt•••• ••f little 〈◊〉〈◊〉, therefore he tells us how we 〈…〉〈…〉, to sati••fie some weak Christians th•••• might be doubtfull, 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••ny we kn••w that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 love the children of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, when we love 〈…〉〈…〉 his comman∣deme••••s. A right Preachers 〈◊〉〈◊〉. First he sayes down instructions and du∣ties, and then layes down 〈…〉〈…〉.

In the words two 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

First, The expediency of our knowledge of our love to our Brethren, which is here implyed, else he would not have laid down marks to know 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by.

Secondly, The marks of discerning our love, which are two.

• 1. Love of God.
• 2. Obedience to the commandements of God.

Doct. It is a behovefull point to a Christian ••••s comfort, not onely to love Gods children, but to know that he loves.

The scope of his writing was to fulfill 〈…〉〈…〉 was a means of th•••• ••e teacheth us this main duty to love our Breth•••• 〈…〉〈…〉 onely so, but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 how to know it. Isa. 48.17. I am the Lord thy God the holy 〈…〉〈…〉 teacheth thee to profit. Why then surely if God teach us such a point 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••his, its a way of profiting, and therefore to walk in the knowledge of our love to Gods ••aints, is a profitable way.

Reas. 1. From the assurance it will give us of our good estate before God, and of Gods protection of us in such an estate 〈◊〉〈◊〉 therefore if we know this, we know we are in a good estate. The love of our Brethren is an un∣doubted argument of our passage from death to life, 1 John 3.14. Therefore the knowing of this, must needs give us much comfort; nay, it not onely gives me evidence, but it manifests to others that our estate is good, John 13.35.

Now, if we did not know out 〈…〉〈…〉 courages a Christian that others 〈…〉〈…〉 suspect himselfe; thus 〈…〉〈…〉

Further 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this 〈…〉〈…〉 God will ••••eive 〈…〉〈…〉 God. 〈…〉〈…〉 God 〈…〉〈…〉 ••on, ••.10. 〈…〉〈…〉

Reas. 2. From 〈…〉〈…〉 they may 〈…〉〈…〉 22.6. They 〈…〉〈…〉 love her. If therefore God 〈…〉〈…〉 we 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him, and his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, we know we fall under a covenant of 〈…〉〈…〉 I will blessed ••••m that blesse thee, Gen. 22.3. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 contra•••• Let them be 〈…〉〈…〉 and turned back that have •••• will to Zion; let 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be to the c••en on the 〈…〉〈…〉, thereof the m••••er filleth ••ot his lay, neither 〈…〉〈…〉 passe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God 〈…〉〈…〉 ••0.5, th•• Implying, that lives in an estate 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈…〉〈…〉 shall never prosper in the outward or inward man, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as the corn on the house top; and as God 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him not, 〈…〉〈…〉 no•• from him, so man blesseth him••••••, because he is turned from him, ••od its 〈…〉〈…〉 shall be turned b•• If we ••oe not love our Brethren, every thing 〈…〉〈…〉 again 〈◊〉〈◊〉 A man that wants a spirit of love, hath no ground 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for blessing, he withers as the corn on the house 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hot wea∣ther, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 no root. If a man have not his heart softned 〈…〉〈…〉 ••ove 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his Brother, these is something within him which will not suffer 〈…〉〈…〉 there want 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and moysture, upon which he ••ight prospe••; 〈…〉〈…〉 grow•• 〈…〉〈…〉 b••de he yields no service en•••• to God ••••an. 〈…〉〈…〉 hopes the spa•••• ••f love 〈…〉〈…〉 blessings.

Reas. 2. 〈…〉〈…〉 and comfortablenesse of 〈…〉〈…〉 dealing 〈…〉〈…〉 is sincerely affected 〈…〉〈…〉 2 Cor. 1.12. 〈…〉〈…〉 we 〈…〉〈…〉 they, and ••ad to 〈…〉〈…〉 carefully, and pai•• 〈…〉〈…〉 him, Thy corn was not currant, or 〈…〉〈…〉 was not fully 〈…〉〈…〉 ••oth, he stands confidently out, and it comforts him much: So 〈…〉〈…〉 when joy, when others suspect his love to them, which is his debt, Ro••. 13.8, ••hy, if he know he hath pa•••• it the•••• to the full, and in current duties of love, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 satisfies 〈…〉〈…〉: This is our re••••••cing, the testimony 〈…〉〈…〉 conscien••••.

Ʋse 1. It reproves the 〈…〉〈…〉 of men, when they content themselves with the love of the 〈…〉〈…〉 but are not solicitous to know whether that way be a way of 〈…〉〈…〉 hav•• much selfe lo•••• and false love 〈…〉〈…〉 may easily 〈…〉〈…〉 ••ves. All this have I don•• ••ith the young 〈…〉〈…〉 9.••••. 〈…〉〈…〉 ••oncei••ed of himselfe, an•• his is 〈…〉〈…〉 are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••waded we doe such things in lo••••, when i•• nothing so 〈…〉〈…〉 take 〈…〉〈…〉 upon trust have not so much wisdome as those that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they, the•• ••••rely before they pay it. Why, every∣day we that a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of love to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, le•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 therefore we pay our debt in currant love. God 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not onely tha•• we ••ould love our a ••rethren, but that we should know•• 〈…〉〈…〉

Ʋse 2. Of 〈…〉〈…〉, not onely to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 down ••••es to people, But withall to lay 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the••of whereby 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may know it. This was St. Johns practice, and he doth 〈…〉〈…〉 their joy.

〈…〉〈…〉 commandents, is an undoubted 〈…〉〈…〉

〈…〉〈…〉 to God before we can 〈…〉〈…〉 to ••ee 〈…〉〈…〉 when 〈…〉〈…〉 Prov. 6.21. as the apple of 〈…〉〈…〉

Reas. 〈…〉〈…〉 not his life 〈…〉〈…〉 against his Brother Herod 〈…〉〈…〉 loose form 〈…〉〈…〉 at 〈…〉〈…〉 of Gods 〈…〉〈…〉 our Breth•••• 〈…〉〈…〉 cannot 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from 〈…〉〈…〉 from the other.

〈…〉〈…〉 love of God is an evidence that we love 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Brethren, so•••• a 〈…〉〈…〉 not God, ••e so was not his Brother, 〈…〉〈…〉 be for selfe 〈…〉〈…〉 on 〈…〉〈…〉 grounds, and its 〈◊〉〈◊〉 civill love not a 〈…〉〈…〉 Brother love. 2 〈◊〉〈◊〉 10.••5, 16. For Je•••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 King, so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉〈◊〉, a good man, he would think it 〈…〉〈…〉, but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it was that he might 〈…〉〈…〉 zeal for the Lord 〈…〉〈…〉, and to w••••k out 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ands. So 〈…〉〈…〉 no means part 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Jacob was not this great love? No, he 〈…〉〈…〉 found it did advantage his estate.

Ʋse 1. A ground of tryall, whether 〈◊〉〈◊〉 love to our Brethren ••e unfained or no; such as we may be bold to say, I know I love them. 〈…〉〈…〉 thou affected towards God? Dost thou look 〈…〉〈…〉 and wouldst thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his commandements as thy took precious 〈…〉〈…〉 life, that thou wouldst part with thy life sooner thou them 〈…〉〈…〉 it thus, 〈…〉〈…〉 sincere and unfained Many 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 very good, because they finde their hearts love Gods children, and favour 〈◊〉〈◊〉 But exee•••• you have 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••eart fea•••• God, making 〈…〉〈…〉 ••∣ment, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ouring ••••ligion that will 〈…〉〈…〉 the love of God and obedience to his commandement be 〈…〉〈…〉 otherwise you may affect Gods children, be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 you 〈…〉〈…〉 harmlesse as Pil••to did Christ, gave 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••ting•• 〈…〉〈…〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Cae∣sar wa•• a signe the fear of God 〈…〉〈…〉 enemy to Christ, onely out of conviction of conscience, 〈…〉〈…〉 he was a just man. 〈…〉〈…〉 respects may many times move a man 〈…〉〈…〉, the very sence of 〈…〉〈…〉 sings and helps by th••••••; as La••a•• 〈…〉〈…〉. But this is far from tru••••; otherwise, if we love them in obedience to God and his commandements, its an evidence of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sincere 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Ʋse 2. For 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that desire to know that they love their Brethren. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 constantly conscionable of your obedience 〈◊〉〈◊〉 commandements, and love him, and then you may be assured 〈…〉〈…〉 to your Brethren is sincere. Break your obedience to God 〈…〉〈…〉, and your 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to him, and then you will soon break off you•• 〈…〉〈…〉 Brethren, a•• 〈…〉〈…〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 did, bu•• ••••intain obedience to Go•• 〈…〉〈…〉 Brethren.

Ʋse 3. Of comfort to Gods servants 〈…〉〈…〉 good evidence of their unfained love to their Brethren, If God give that 〈…〉〈…〉 to love God and keep his commandement. Its our an•• ••e if thy love hath this super∣scription on one side, Love of God, one the other side the ••••••ce to Gods com∣mandements, it ••••ll prove currant, before God 〈…〉〈…〉 a sufficient breast plate against all ••isconstructions of the world ••••y this we ••••ew our love to our Brother, if we love God and keep his commandements.