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

1 JOHN 5.6. the latter part.

Because the Spirit is truth.

THe Spirit which beareth witnesse to Christ is amplified by the effect, wit∣nesse bearing, and by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 junct of truth, which is the cause of his bearing witnesse, he br••••s witnesse, because his is a Spirit of truth.

Doct. The Spirit of God bearing witnesse •••• the Scripture, and in the hearts ••f Gods people, is a Spirit of ••ruth John 14.16, 17.

John 16.•• When the Spirit of Truth is 〈◊〉〈◊〉, he shall guide you into all truth.

Quest. Why is it called a Spirit of Truth?

Answ. Not only because be in one of the Persons in the blessed Trinity, and therefore his witnesse must needs be truth: a man that works by a rule may go•• aw••y, but the rule it selfe is not awry▪ the holy Ghost being a God of Truth, cannot 〈◊〉〈◊〉 speak truth; himselfe being the line, cannot goe wrong: But he is called a Spirit of truth rather.

1. Because he speaks nothing but what he hears of the Father, and of the Son, John 16.13. ••••e Spirit 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••thing from the Father, and the Son, speaks nothing, but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we receives from them, what they apprehend and judge▪ the same 〈◊〉〈◊〉 testifies, John 8.26. and he speaks it without change and alteration.

2. Because he speaks a testimony, not of a shadowing or typical represen∣tation, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and manifest truth Moses s••ake by types, which ob∣served the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 but what the holy Ghost speaks is evident truth, without v••••d or covering, •• Cor. ••.17, 18.

3. From the effect of the Spirit, the Spirit not only speaks, but works truth in the hearts of those to whom he speaks, by speaking truth he works truth in the heart, so that they that receive the testimony are of the truth, John 3.19. 2 John 1.2.

Now they that receive the testimony of the Spirit, that Jesus Christ is come by water and bloud, they are cleansed from the world, from dissimulation and hypocrisie, and so are made of the truth.

Object. How comes it to passe then, that sometimes many speaking by the Spirit, yet speak falsly, and yet are confident they speak truth.

Answ. True, a man having received some work of the Spirit, may speak falsehood, as Zedekiah, 1 Kings 22.24. and yet was confident he spake by the Spirit; but yet though a man speaking by a spirit of delusion, may think he hath spoken the truth; yet it hinders not, but when the Spirit of God indeed bears witnesse, it may be discerned to be truth.

Ʋse 1. If this Spirit bearing witnesse to Christs coming be a Spirit of truth, then such as have received the Spirit of truth, need not be afraid, that they are led by a spirit of delusion, that doe believe that Jesus Christ came by water and bloud, Jer. 20.10, 11. the way of the righteous man cannot deceive him.

Quest. How shall I know that this spirit doth not deceive, when it witnesseth pardon, and healing, and the like?

Answ. 1. The Spirit bears witnesse of it selfe, as well as of other things; the Sun shews it selfe, as well as makes other things visible.

2. The Spirit beareth witnesse of it selfe, from the work it frames in the hearts of Gods servants, the testimony of the Spirit doth so set on its witnesse, doth so pacifie, and purifie the conscience, that he plainly sees, that this is the very Spirit of God, which is manifest by the fruits.

3. The testimony of the Spirit breathing in the Word, and in the hearts of Gods children doe so agree in every thing that its evident to be the same Spirit, though it be true, the Spirit is more strong and evident in the Scrip∣ture; the witnesse may be weak in our hearts, yet always in the main aim and ends they agree together.

4. By how much the more suitable it is to the Scripture, by so much the more it conforms us to the Image of Christ; the Spirit of Christs make you meek and lowly, as he was, draws us from earthly objects to a more divine frame; that Spirit which fashions to Christ is of God.

Ʋse 2. Of just reproof to Gods servants that have found the bloud of Christ pacifying and purifying their hearts; if in this case their souls doubt, and are solicitous, they refuse the testimony of the Spirit; Satan, say they, may transform himselfe into an Angell of light; I, but Satan cannot pacifie the conscience, much lesse purifie it, himselfe being an unclean spirit, loves to draw on others to impurity; if therefore the spirit within you, draw you on to walk in truth, and to frame your heart according to the Image of Christ, if you finde any measure of peace and purity, its evident the Spirit is a Spirit of truth.

Ʋse 3. Of comfort to all such as have put their trust in Christ, upon the testimony of Gods Spirit witnessing to them, that Christ came to save and heal them; Why, this is strong consolation to them: that which makes out spirits doubtfull, is the deceitfulnesse of our own hearts, Jer. 17.10. But yet this should comfort us, that though our hearts be deceitfull, yet this Spirit of God breathing in us is a Spirit of truth: and if you would know whether you have a spirit of truth in you or no: Why, by this you shall know it, that Spirit which speaks peace and purity to a mans soul, that Spirit is of God; Satan may doe much, but he is not able to transform himselfe into such a spirit; no other spirit can work this but the Spirit of God; a spirit speaking peace without purity may be a delusion; and a spirit speaking purity without any measure of peace, may be a delusion, for all the paths of Wisdome are peace; but both peace and purity together, doe evidently manifest it to be the Spirit of God.

Ʋse 4. For them that have found any measure of peace and purity, they ought to teach them, to be very carefull to discern whether this spirit be of

God or no, if thou hast found much peace, and withall thou walkest in sim∣plicity and godly sincerity, this Spirit is of God, 2 Cor. 1.12. But if our peace make us carelesse of our wayes, and more licentious, we shall never ap∣prove such a spirit to be of God; where Gods Spirit breaths, the more peace, the more care of purity, and therefore let us always put them together. He∣rods spirit of joy was a spirit of delusion, because it was not a spirit of puri∣ty, Mark 6.20. Herod and David both, fell into the same lusts: how shall we know whether of them had the Spirit of God? David for a while seemed to do worst, but Herod he so favoured his lust, that he destroyed John that re∣proved him; David he heard the Prophet, and humbled himself, and renewed his repentance before God, and therefore doubtlesse his Spirit was of God, because he was studious of purity; such a soul as favours his lust, and takes part with it, hath not Gods Spirit in him: that sicknesse is mortall, that re∣fuseth utterly all means of health; if therefore either our peace or purity be wanting, we shall not have this testimony of Gods Spirit; that spirit that speaks both, is a Spirit of truth.