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

1 JOHN 5.3.

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandements, and his commande∣ments are not grievous.

VErse 2. he had given a double mark of our love to our Brethren, which was, if we love God, and keep his commandement. Now because a Christian might be inquisitive and doubtfull, How shall I know that I love God and keep his commandements? why, v. 3. This is the love of God, that we keep his commande∣ments, and they are not grievous.

Doct. The keeping of Gods commandements, and the easinesse of that yoke, is an undoubted signe of our unfained love to God; that is, If we be willing to bear the yoke of Christ, and account it easie, that evidently argues that the love of God in our hearts is sincere.

This Christ teacheth his Disciples, John 15.14. Then are ye my friends, if ye doe whatsoever I command you. Now friendship argues integrity of love. Now betwixt friends there passeth a mutuall covenant, a mutuall communication of good one to another, and of secrets; so there is a certain community of all things, all things are common among friends: So, he that keeps Gods com∣mandements, looks at Gods law, so as he makes it of his counsell and delight, and is ruled by it. And again, God communicates his attributes to him, which is something more then a parent doth to his childe, though he love him well, yet he will not communicate to him whatsoever is his, nor alwayes make him of his counsell, nor yet shew familiarity towards him; but God looks at Christians as his friends, communicates his counsells to them, grows in acquain∣tance with them.

Obj. Its not for friends to be at command, but servants. Its a point of service, and not of friendship.

Answ. To doe it as a duty of necessity, is a servants condition; but to do a thing for loves sake to his friend, this is an act of friendship. Further, a man is not said to keep the Commandements, when himself onely strives to keep them, but when he draws others to the same conscionable obedience. Friends have all things common, and they doe not love that any that belong to them, should be enemies to their friends: So God looks at it as a part of Abrahams friendship, that he would command his children and servants after him, that they should keep the way of the Lord, Gen. 18.17, 19. Hence in Scripture its a spirituall style give to Abraham, Abraham the friend of God, James 2.23. Isa. 41.8. Now, what eminent service did he above others? There were others as zealous as he, but this he had eminent in him, I know he will teach his children and hous∣hold to keep my wayes. Look at Moses, David, Eli, Jehosaphat, all godly men, yet they were all failing in this, in instructing and bringing on their children and servants to the fear of God; but this was Abrahams friendship, that he was not onely carefull himselfe, but he sought to bring on his whole family to Gods worship. We see his care about Isaac, that God would establish his co∣venant with him, Gen. 17.18. And about Ishamael, that he might live in thy sight; and he brought on his whole family to be circumcised, though a painfull thing, Gen. 17. ult. This was a fruit of true love. So David. professeth in his own person and Christs, Psal. 40.8. O Lord I delight in thy Law. Ps 19.9, 10. Thy commandements are more precious then gold, yea then fine gold: thy precepts are sweeter then honey and the honey-comb. A signe they were not grievous to him. Love makes us delight in the thing beloved.

What is the reason that this is such an undoubted argument of our love to God?

Reas. 1. From the strictnesse and purity of Gods law, and the crosnesse of it to our nature. The weapons of our warfare are mighty to bring down every high thought, 1 Cor. 10.4. Here two contraries meet together; the prerogative of

God he will have our thoughts brought into subjection; and the liberty of the Creature, We will not have our thoughts and tongues bound, Psal. 12.4. We are free born, we are servants to none. Now these being so crosse one to ano∣ther, for a man now not onely to doe Gods commandements, but to doe them willingly, and out of love; why, this is such a yoke, that were it not for the mighty power of Gods love prevailing in our hearts, which constrains us to doe it most willingly, which nature is most unwilling unto, it would never be wrought. Hence Gods people are said to be a willing people, Psal. 110. The Spi∣rit of God is a Spirit of liberty, 2 Cor. 3.17. Its evident Gods Spirit is there where we doe Gods commandements with freedome and willingnesse.

2. From the experience such have had of the burthen of sin, to whom Gods commandements seem easie: For this is certain, the more welcome sin, the more unwelcome Gods commandements; the more we delight in sin, the lesse we delight in Gods commandements; but when once sin is wearisome to a soul, to them Christs yoke is easie, and his burthen light, Mat. 11.28, 29.

3. From the unsufficiency of any estate but an estate of love, to reach to the obedience of Gods commandements, much lesse to the easinesse thereof. A man by nature is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be, Rom. 8.7, 8. And though by common gifts we may be brought to doe much, as Jehu and Herod did, yet unlesse there be soundnesse of love within, you shall never prevail with Jehu to cast out the golden calves, or with Herod to put away Herodias. It must be the love of God within that must bring us to keep his commandements, or at least to doe them willingly and heartily.

Ʋse 1. A ground of tryall of our estates, whether we love God or no. If we would be assured of this, as we all had need to be, consider of this, Dost thou keep Gods commandments as thy way, thy jewels, the apple of thy eye, thy life? And, dost thou desire to bring all thy children and family to the like consciona∣ble obedience, that all thy family may be Gods friends? This is an argument of thy unfained love to God. And if withall this seem easie to thee, & thou delight in it, and thinkest it thy happines, that every thought in thee may be subject to Christ; this is a sufficient testimony of the sincerity of thy love. But, è contra, if we shake off Gods yoke, and we will have our thoughts and tongues at liberty, if it be a grief to us to see any of our friends conscionable of Gods worship or of religion; why, thou art none of Gods friend. For if thou wert, thou wouldst desire that both thy selfe and all thy friends were Christs friends. If a man loved his Master, and liked his service well, and desired to stay with him, he would have his ear bored, that so all his Masters commandements might sink the better into him; why, this must needs argue great love to his Master. This David alludes to, Psal. 40.6. Mine ears hast thou bored, or as it is in the Originall, digged. He digged through all obstructions, and made him willing to listen to Gods will; a loving Servant becomes a friend: So, if we might have liberty to get loose from God, yet if we had rather abide in his service, let us give our ears to God to be bored, and give up not onely our selves but our whole family to be Gods bond-servants.

Ʋse 2. To teach all such as love God, to take heed that they be not drawn to break any of Gods commandements, for love to others. This is plain. If love to man makes us break any of Gods commandements, then we love him better then God.

Ʋse 3. Of encouragement to naturall men to give up their hearts to Gods commandements and not to think them burdensome and intolerable. For if thou hadst but the love of God in thy heart, Gods commandements would be sweeter then the honey, or the honey-combe. They are deceived much that look at Gods commandements as heavy and burdensome: No, his com∣mandements are not grievous; and if his commandements be pleasant, what are his promises and rewards?

Ʋse 4. For them that would have Gods commandements seem easie to them, and not burthensome; why, grow up in the love of God, meditate on

his goodnesse, and promises, and mercies, and so thou shalt grow up to love him; and the more love, the more willing and obedient. A man never loseth his first works, but he loseth his first love. Let him renew his first love, and he shall renew his first works, Rev. 2.4, 5.