doe him the best service we could so we should be carefull seeing God hath forgiven us so great a debt to take heed that we run not into further Arrerages that we dishonour not nor offend that God who hath so freely for his own sake forgiven us Vse 2. It must teach us all that have any comfortable experience of the forgivenesse of our sins to walke even as Christ hath walked for even upon this ground doth St. John here press it it should be our meat and drinke to doe his will to glorifie him in all our course as it was Christs care Joh. 17.4 and that is the end that God ayms at in forgiving our sins that we should walke as Christ walked Vse 3. For Consolation If our sins be forgiven for Christ name sake then we need not fear the continuance of them for had he forgiven us for our own sake we might justly have feared that he might yet afterwards through our defaults lay them again to our charge but he hath forgiven us for Christs sake he doth not forgive for thy Prayers sake but thy sins were pardoned before thou calledst on him Isa 65.24 God was answering before and your prayers grew so zealous because your sins were forgiven Isa 43.22 and therefore God will cancel our acquittance because he did it for his names sake for the glory of his own grace 1 JOHN 2.13 I write unto you Fathers because you have known him which is from the beginning c. VErse sixth he commended this duty to all Christians to walke even as Christ walked which duty and Commandement vers 7. he amplifies by the antiquity of it vers 8. from the newnesse of it Thirdly instanceth in one speciall duty of it that is love of our Brethren vers 9 10 11. vers 12. he amplifies it by a benefit or motive to walke as he hath walked and that is from the pardon of sin generally granted to all christians therefore walke as Christ hath walked because he hath forgiven you your sins now vers 13. these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or little children he distinguisheth into three sorts Fathers Young-men and Babes little children is the quality of all christians but Babes are newly born to Christ now all these should walke as Christ hath walked In the Verse we have these three parts 1 An Enumeration or distribution of the severall ages of christians to whom he commends this duty 2 A Ministerial duty of love he tenders to them that is he writes unto them 3 He propounds to every one of them a severall Reason why he urges this duty upon them I write unto you Fathers because ye have known him that is from the beginning I write unto you Young-men because you have overcome the wicked one I write unto you Babes because ye have known the Father What is meant here by Fathers Young-men and Babes some thinke it is meant of the severall statures of Grace that Christians grow to some are Fathers some Young-men some Babes but we never read these distinct but that an old man in Christ is a strong man in Christ for grace doth not grow weaker but stronger and the eldâ—r in Grace the more wise the more fruitfull the more gracious therefore I think by Fathers he means ancient Christians yet old men too he therefore hath respect to their natural age and by young-men he understands men young in years yet stronger in Grace By Babes such as are tender in years and so Babes in Christ too therefore it may well be understood of the naturall difference of ages and this interpretation may be confirmed from the reason he gives taken from the severall inclinations in Natural ages take old age that takes pleasure in study and rehearsal of old things that have been long past so you have known the ancient of dayes you have known how Christ hath been dispenced from the beginning so that your naturall desire of old things you have turned to the antiquity of Christ And for young-men they have naturall strength and strive to put it forth in Fightings or Combates why I write unto you young men because you have overcome the wicked one because you have turned your strength to fightings against Sin Satan and the World and have overcome them and for Babes though they know little yet they first discern their Parents and express their joy in them so I write unto you Bahes you that are very young in years and young in Christ because you have learned to know the Father First in that he writes to all sorts of Christians Fathers Young men and Babes and all well seasoned with Grace Obedience Knowledge c. observe thus much Doct. God hath his children among all sorts of Ages of men some of them are aged some young some Babes in Nature and in Grace He hath his Children out of old age Youth and Child-hood out of all he hath elected some to doe him service these old men he doth not tell you when they came on but whensoever they came they had strength of grace so Young men he tells you not when they came on whether in Child-hood or no but they had strength of grace sure they had overcome the wicked one and for Babes they came on in child-hood and yet had strength of grace and it may be some old men might in their old age come on to the knowledge of the ancient of days so that there is strong grace found in all sorts of men Wisdome in Old men Spiritual vigour in young men and he speaks of Babes as knowing their Father in heaven as well as their Parents on earth God hath a company of all ages calling on him justified and sanctified Amongst old men and women we read of Abraham and Sarah an old couple stricken in years of Isaac and Rebecca an old couple also and knowing the promises made of Christ Joh. 8.56 Your Father Abraham saw my day and rejoyced so did Sarah rejoyce in the promised Seed We have also the examples of Moses and David and Zachary and Elizabeth that continued till they were old both in age and grace there were some such among the Priests as Aharon and Hojadah 2 Cron. 24.15 some among the Souldiers there were some old Souldiers of Christ old Kings old Nobles c. which knew him which was from the beginning For young men famous is the example of Phineas Numb 25. in his youth he was full of zeal such was Josiah 2 Chron. 34.1 2 3. we read that at sixteen years of age he sought the Lord God of his Fathers and at twenty years he grew so strong that he wholly carried before him the whole State though they were then strongly corrupted and given to Idolatry yet being strong in the Spirit he carryed them on to Justice and reformation strongly he cleansed the Land from Dan to Beersheba a notable encouragement to youth to be vigorous in zeal and grace And for Children Samuel when he was but a child
and taking pains to keep the Deputy from the faith he calls him the childe of the Devil Act. 13.10 4 Hence we learn If the Devil have got this Name by excelling in wickednesse and drawing on others to sin and taking pains to doe mischief then on the contrary bâ— how much the more any excell in goodnesse strive to draw on others to God and take pains in it they are the more like God their Father Because ye have overcome the wicked one All overcoming implies a fight so that when you read of their overcoming it implies that young men have strong wrestlings with Satan Doct. Satan as he is an enemy to all mankind so especially to young men He doth not write to Fathers or Babes that they have overcome the wicked one as if it were not so proper to them but he chiefly incourages young men I write unto you young men implying it was a proper work for them Observe all the temptations of Satan in Scripture and where you shall read of one old man tempted by Satan you shall read of ten young men when did Satan set upon Eve was it not presently after her first creation our Saviour was not above thirty years old when Satan tempted him Peter when he was tempted was young we shall finde few falls of Gods Saints but it was in their young dayes except two Noah and Solomon who fell in their old dayes and lesse shall we read of Children 2 Kings 2.22 but Satan chiefest assaults have alwayes been against young men Reas 1. Why Satan chiefly sets upon young men it is from the vigour of their nature and parts which God gives them their courage their strength and fervency therefore Satan strives to draw them on and he knows that if they get loose from him they will doe him least and doe God most service more than either old men or Children therefore he strives chiefly to draw them on indeed God sometimes makes use of the weakest but Satan alwayes makes use of the stirring quickest spirits among men 2. Because he hath most advantage to surprize them no age so subject to temptation 2 Tim. 2.22 Fly youthfull lusts yet he was not more subjâ—ct to lusts than others nay he was of a weak abstemious natuâ—e 1 Tim. 5.23 yet Paul charges him to take heed of youthfull lusts if such a weak abstemious nature was subject to youthfull lusts then it implies that no age is so subject to be led into lusts as youth 3. From the counsel of God whose purpose it is then to magnifie his Grace when corruption is strongest therefore God himselfe who is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to magnifie his Grace le ts loose Satan upon young men so it was with our Saviour Mat. 4. It is the purpose of God that where sin abounds Grace should much more abound Rom. 5.20 therefore it is that young men are most strongly assaulted that God may magnifie his Grace But why doe the temptations of young men exceed all other ages Why Children are not yet come to the lusts of youth and old men are past them so that young men are most liable to temptations and discouragements Vse 1. It may therefore teach young men to fear their Estates if they have not strong temptations it is a sign the Devill hath strong hold already and so is in peace but otherwise they are subject to spirituall assaults Three Temptations Satan commonly assaults the Sons of men with 1. Against their effectual Callings their repentance he perswades them it is yet too soon to look towards repentance and they are more liable to evill company given more to pleasures and delights than old men and impatient of Counsell and if God break through this 2. Then he puts them to question their Faith and Adoption whether they be Gods Children or no their strong lusts make them doubt of it and if Gods Grace break through this 3. He tempts them about their sanctification he will fill their hearts with unclean lusts and if a man break through these he hath much cause to magnifie Gods Grace Vse 2. To teach young men seeing Satans aime is chiefly at them to strive to grow strong against him watch warily against him that the evill one touch you not And there are three especiall Graces to help young men against the assaults of Satan 1. Sobriety watch to Sobriety be sober and vigilant 1 Pet. 5.8 take heed of intemperancy and inconstancy 2. Stand stedfast in the faith 1 Pet. 5.9 not trusting to your own strength or courage but relie upon God while young men are confident of themselves as Peter they fall but if you stay your selves upon God he will support you 3. Treasure up the grace of Humility that you think not highly of your selves which is the folly of youth God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble And there are three Duties which I commend to young men 1. Diligence in your Callings the want of which overthrew David when he was idle Satan took advantage to tempt him to uncleannes 2 Sam. 11.12 2. Frequency in Gods ordinances in reading and hearing the Word v. 14. the more you treasure up the Word the more power and strength you have against Satan and the more you receive the Sacrament the more strength you get for this is the end of receiving the Sacrament to get strength against your lusts 3. Be frequent in Prayer and that will help you much James 4.7 8. Draw near to God complain of the slipperinesse of your nature of your weaknesse to withstand Satans assaults and intreat God to give you strength that you may hold out Doct. Satan may be overcome and is often-times overcome and disappointed of his hold even by young men against whom he had most advantage I write unto you young men because you have overcome the wicked one Q. 1. What is it to overcome Satan A. It is a borrowed speech from the Victory of Souldiers in War and Souldiers overcome either by killing their enemy or spoyling or captivating or putting to flight their enemies now Satan cannot be put to death he is a Spirit and so is not capable of death onely of the second death And to lead him captive that Victory is onely peculiar unto Christ Eph. 4.8 He led captivity captive But for the two last so young-men may overcome Satan they may spoile him and put him to flight for spoyling Christ hath done the worst Col. 1.15 he hath spoyled Satan But 1. For putting him to flight Young men may doe this James 4.7 which implies that there is a possibility in young men and a power to stand and not to yield to his temptations for though he hath a power to delude our Sences and may hurry a mans body about yet he cannot captivate our Wills therefore stand resist give no place and if you doe so he will fly from you for shame he hath no power longer to hold out when he sees a man
stand out against him God hath not given him liberty to pursue us unto death but if we stand out against him he will fly from us So it was with our Saviour first he tempted him about his Son-ship If thou be the Son of God command that these stones be made bread then he tempted him to presumption to cast himselfe down from the Pinacle of the Temple and then he tempted him with the glory of the World All these will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me but because our Saviour still resisted his temptations and Satan could not prevail he departed if a man stand out strongly Satan flies indeed if a man yield never so little he makes use of the least advantage and will presse it but if you stand fast and yield not he will be gone from you his very pride and insolency makes him scorne to trouble himselfe with any Creature he disdains to be overcome by him therefore he will depart Thus Joseph was strongly assaulted Gen. 39.9 but he resists and answers with much affection How can I doe this great wickednesse and sin against God He had long resisted and stood out against the temptations of his Mistresse and therefore she no more solicites him with that thing but takes another course falsly to accuse him to his Master and so caused him to be cast into prison 2. A Young-man may not onely put him to flight but he may also spoyl Satan that is he may take advantage by his assaults to grow more wary more holy more obedient more fruitfull and so he spoils Satan if a Christian enrich his spirit by the temptations he meets with he makes a spoile of Satan the riches of the Souldier is the spoil of the Enemy when young men stand fast and make a spoil of Satan and grow more humble and meek and obedient they shall so much the more overcome Satan Job was strongly tempted by Satan to blaspheme God but yet he stands fast and not onely so but takes occasion to blesse God Job 1.21 so when Satan tempts him by his wife see how he answers Job 2.10 Michal tempts David by deriding him when he danced before the Ark but he grew more zealous by it 2 Sam. 6.20 21. so John 3.26 They would have stirred up John to emulate Christ but that stirred him up to magnifie him more than ever he did before and give the most honourable Testimony of him Q. How come young men to overcome Satan 1. By the bloud of the Lamb his power is queld by the death of Christ 2. By the power of the Word that dwells in them v. 14. 3. By the power of the Spirit that is stronger in them than he that is in the world 1 John 4.3 4. Vse 1. Since young men may and doe so overcome the World it must teach young men to make this their glory to be fighting this spiritual battell there is no gifts they should so much please themselves in as in this Prov. 20.29 What a shame is it for young men to shew their strength in powring down strong drink and spend their strength upon women what a pittifull thing is it for young men to strive to overcome one another in drinking and gaming c. nay were they valiant in war yet how much more honourable is it to fight the Lords battells to over-wrestle our lusts when a young man shall single out that grand Captain the Devill and foil him in war that is truly honourable if Satan in a speciall manner strive to overcome you then strive you most against him stand out against him resist him and yield not to him and examine what spirituall battells you have had with Satan if none then your case is not good Vse 2. May hearten the feeblest Christians not to be discouraged with conflicts many a soul saith my corruptions are so strong and my lusts so powerfull I shall never be able to stand out against them and overcome them why St. John writes here to young men whose corruptions were strong and violent and yet he saith You have overcome the wicked one Vse 3. Of reproof to old men and children if they doe not overcome children are not come to and old men are past the dints of lusts therefore they may be the more ashamed if they be given to voluptuousnesse and gluttony and gaming and lying and company-keeping Children and old men their bodies are dead to such lusts Vse 4. It exhorts all though we cannot put Satan to death or captivate him yet what we may doe let us doe in every temptation let us stand fast and put him to flight and labour by temptations to spoil him let his temptations make you more humble and fruitfull and obedient this is the greatest honour of a Christian thus to put Satan to flight and spoil him 1 JOHN 2.13 The latter end I write unto you Babes because you have known the Father WE have heard of old men and young men now we come to his Apostolical writing to Babes Doct. Little Children even Babes may know God as their Father For the proof of this 1. I will shew it by Examples 1 Sam. 3 1. though at first he knew not yet from that time forward he knew God 2 Chron. 34. see it in Josiah so Timothy it is said that he knew the Scripture of a childe 2 Tim. 2.15 Luke 1.15 and our Saviour bears testimony of little children Suffer little children to come unto me for to such belongs the Kingdome of Heaven Mark 10.14 and that they were little ones we may see in that he took them in his armes as we use to doe infants and whereas the Anabaptists say he means not of these but of such as are of years but little children in grace this cavill is vain for otherwise his reason had been in vain for he might have said it as well of Sheep as little Lambs for such are Gods Servants but yet he never mentions such but onely these little ones that is little children There are Three grounds of the Regeneration of little children 1. From the Originall Sin that they are born in for they that are capable of sin are also capable of grace for no subject is capable of sin but it is capable of grace and the greatest part of their sin is the privation of grace which they are capable of Luke 1.15 Psal 58.3 2. From their interest in the Covenant they enter into a Covenant with God even from their childhood as we may see they brought their young Babes to enter into a Covenant with God Deut. 29.10 to 14. and so are capabâ—e of grace Joel 2.15 16. In times of great dangers in the Land God required little children and Bâ—bes to humble themselves for breach of the Covenant which implies they were in a Covenant indeed the Ninivets made their Beasts fast and their Children but they were Heathen and were not within the Covenant 3. Children are capable of the seals
Father and the Church their Mother fill their heads with knowledge of God learn them to love God and rejoyce in him and delight in his ways in some measure Motives hereunto 1. In respect of God First From Gods command Eph. 6.4 Deut. 6.7 take all good occasions dull them not a little and often will bring them on the water falling drop by drop hollows a Flint so by dropping now and then a little you will learn them the knowledge of God 2. From Gods acknowledgement of it and his Promise to reveal himselfe to such Parents Gen. 18.19 Secondly In respect of Children they are capable either to scoff as the Children that mockt Elisha 2 Kings 1. or to cry Hosannah Matth. 21.15 though they be not so easily brought on to that which is good yet they are not so corrupt then as when they are grown up to more years 3. In respect of Parents it is an irrecompensible injury you offer to your Children if you have begot them into the World sinfull and wicked as we are by nature and doe not seek by all means to redresse this evill they will cry out against you for Judgement therefore that they may not curse you at the last day let it be your care to bring them up in the knowledge and fear of the Lord. What course may we take thus to redresse young Infants 1. Teach them the Principles of Religion their Baptism that will teach them they are unclean by Nature and that they are cleansed by the Bloud of Christ they were Baptized into the name of God the Father Son and Holy Ghost therefore learn them to know God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost and that will make them think of it when they see others baptized Prov. 22.6 Train up a Childe in his way wherein he should walk and he will keep it to the end nurture him or initiate him in the trade of his way in the original it is in the mouth of his way that is at the beginning of his way set him right at the first in his way and he will keep to the end if a Travellor be set right in his way at first it will help him the better to keep his way all his Journey so set a Childe in a good way learn him to cease from evill and to doe well and he will the better keep that way in his age as David teacheth Psal 34.11 to 15. 2. Learn them to read the Scriptures and be conversant therein 1 Tim. 1.4 5. 2 Tim. 3.15 reading brings much benefit to little Children 3. Bring them to Church and help them to remember something and tell them the meaning of it and take a little in good part and encourage them and that will make them delight in it 4. Give them a good example let them learn no wickednesse no disorder or miscarriage from you 1 Chro. 29.9 Know the Lord God of thy Fathers c. know him and serve him as I have served him 5. God hath sanctified seasonable and wise correction to Children Prov. 29.15 Prov. 22.15 it is a means to give wisdome which is the fear of the Lord and drive away folly and more to deliver his soul from Hell but if you use correction without instruction it is bâ—utish Prov. 6.23 therefore instruct them also and withall use Prayer and still wait on God for a blessing 1 JOHN 2.14 I have written unto you Fathers because you have known him which is from the beginning I have written unto you young men because you are strong and the Word of God abideth in you and ye have overcome the wicked one VErse Sixth the Apostle had exhorted all Christians to walk as Christ had walked and he amplifies this duty from the antiquity of it v 7. and from the newnesse of it v. 8. and then he instanceth in one speciall duty of loving one another v. 9 10 11. and v. 12. lays down a Motive because their sins were forgiven them and then v. 13. he distributes those to whom he writes into three sorts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now in this fourteenth verse he repeats the same words almost some think it a fault of the Copy it being a vaine tautology but this is not likely Sometimes repetitions in Scriptures imply certainty but I think this is not here intended chiefly but I think the Apostle being to presse them to another duty v. 15. namely Not to love the world he makes this a ground to urge them to it Why doth he not reckon Babes too here why because they were not so easily carried away with the world but he writes to old men and young men who seeing they knew God and had overcome the wicked one they should not love the world but to little children he writes v. 18. to beware of seducements of false Doctrins Doct. The saving knowledge of him that is from the beginning of the Ancient of dayes or of Jesus Christ is able to wean even old men from the love of the world To know Christ and his worth and our need of him is a sufficient motive to wean old men from the world Two things there were which made wise ancient cautelous men not to embrace Christ and his Gospel 1. The antiquity of the Heathenish Religion Jesus Christ seemed a new God but of two or three and thirty years hated of all men and Crucified now to commend such a God to them against their ancient Doctrin and that all must subject themselves to him seemed strange 2. The Authority of Heathen Emperours that gain-said it Now to remove these impediments the Apostle layes down this as a means Love not the world implying that it was love of the world that made them to embrace that ancient Religion and reject Christ therefore he writes unto them Love not the world and that they might doe this he tells them that they knew him that was from the beginning the Ancient of dayes and all other Religions are but novelties Vse It shews a preservative against deluding our souls against embracing false Religion either from grounds of antiquity or authority if old men follow it yet it is no good ground for St. John writes to them Love not the world which you may be kept from if you know him that was from the beginning and if the Authority and Laws of man should go that way yet if you rightly know Christ and him that was from the beginning you will be kept off from the love of the world and then no worldly things will keep you from embracing Christ and his Gospel I have written to you young men because you are strong and the Word of God dwelleth in you and you have overcome the wicked one Here are two Causes of their Victory over the wicked one that is their strength and the abiding of the Word in them For the first Doct. Spirituall strength in Young men it is a grace highly acknowledged of Gods servants Prov. 20.29
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 acquaintance with them Obj. It s not for friends to be at command but servants It s 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 it s 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 houshold 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 covenant 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 another 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 Spirit of God is a Spirit of liberty 2 Cor. 3.17 It s 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 Vse 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 conscionable 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 Vse 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 Vse 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 commandements are not grievous and if his commandements be pleasant what are his
your faith live dayly by faith and you shall not want life Vse 7. Of consolation to every soul that hath Christ If thou hast Christ thou hast life and shalt have it more abundantly he that findeth him findeth life and they that seek not Christ seek death 1 JOHN 5.13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have eternal life and that you may believe on the Name of the Son of God WE are now come to the beginning of the conclusion of this whole Epistle wherein he sets down the persons to whom he writes These things have I written to you to you that believe 2 The end wherefore he writes these things to these the end is twofold 1 That ye may know that ye have eternal life 2 That ye may believe on the Name of the Son of God which he amplifies in the verses following These words afford three Notes Doct. 1. This Epistle of John was written and delivered to believers only This is evident not onely in the Text but sundry other places of the Epistle cap. 1.4 He wrote it to such as by reading this Epistle might attain to full joy This is evident likewise by recounting the several sorts of persons to whom he wrote cap. 1.12 13 14. Which were of three sorts Babes Young men and Fathers yet all believers so cap. 4.4 Ye are of God little children His second Epistle was written to the elect Lady and the third Epistle to his beloved Gaius vers 1 2. All his writings were directed to believers so were all the Epistles of the rest of the Apostles directed to believers to Saints to the chosen of God to their brethren as will appear in all their first greetings when our Saviour himself wrote he wrote to such in whom he acknowledged many special graces yea even in the worst of them in the Church of Sardis he acknowledged that she had a few names Now this gives us just occasion to enquire Why they were written to believers 2 Why to them only To Believers 1. In regard of the special help and benefit their writings afford the Church the benefits of their writing to the Church were 1 Teaching 2 Thess 2.2 2 Putting them in remembrance 2 Pet. 1.22 23. 3 Stirring them up to practice what they knew 2 Pet. 1.2 3. 4 To humble the spirits of them that were puft up 2 Cor. 7 8. 5 That they might be strengthned in their faith 1 John 5.13 6 That their hearts might be filled with joy 1 John 1.4 which was effected Acts 15.31 7 These writings have bin the foundation of the faith of all Christians to the end of the world because they have afforded matter of all the preaching of the Ministers for by them the men of God are fully furnished and made perfect to every good work 2 Tim. 4.16 17. 2 He writes to believers only the reason is taken from the little use or profit that unbelievers will make of these writings till they be brought on to believe which is so little that not one of the Apostles directs any of their writings to them but only for the believers sake amongst them it 's with the Apostles writings as with prophesies and not miracles Prophesies are not for them that believe not but for them that believe Miracles are not for them that believe but for them that believe not not but that Miracles may confirm believers but believers should chiefly attend to Prophesies Take a company of unbelievers it 's little good they get by reading their writings for no good is done without faith now faith comes not by reading but by hearing had God ordained that reading should be effectual to the conversion of men he would have confirmed it by Miracles as he did the preaching of the Apostles Again had their writings been sanctified for the conversion of men they would have sent them abroad to the most remoâ—e places of the world where they were never likely to come but we see they did not but rather took pains themselves to goe about the world Rom. 10.15 16 17 18. Object Sometimes God hath blessed the reading of the law to the conversion of men Deut. 31 10 11 12 13. He blessed it not only to them that knew the law before but to their little ones that knew nothing and why then should not the reading of the Gospel be as effectual now seeing of the two it 's fuller of power Answ You shall not read that God blessed the ordinary reading of the law to this end but the reading there spoken of Deut. 31. was a solemn reading of the law at the years of solemn release which was but once in seaven years and the reason of it was because that year of release was an acceptable year and typed out our redemption by Christ for in one of those years of release Christ was put to death therefore to denote that God could give an extraordinary blessing to the reading of the law even to little children and shew that those that are released by Christ they shall read with understanding and profit this solemne reading every seaventh year was instituted and blessed 2 He doth not speak of bare reading but of expounding and applying it likewise which ordinarily accompanyed their readingâ— of the law for so we read expressely that they did at that very feast Neh. 7. ult cap. 8.4 to 9. Ezra stood up and read and then gave the sense whereat they were so much affected that they all wept abundantly Vse 1. May shew us the reason why so many good books written by learned godly men have so little prevailed to bring on any of the Papists few or none converted by any of our writings and no wonder for the writings of the Apostles themselves were not sanctified to this end it 's true writings have ever been useful to the convincing of some to the establishment of others to the satisfaction of others but none have prevailed to the conversion of any Vse 2. The like may be said of our reading Ministers look at all the good that hath been done in such Congregations where they have only readings you shall find them as ignorant of Christ and empty of grace as if they had never heard of such things You will say this is an uncharitable saying But I would know whether is more uncharitablenesse to flatter you in your woeful condition to your destruction or to tell you of your danger 2 Chron. 15.2 3. Now for a long time Israel had been without the true God and without a teaching Priest it cannot be conceived but that they had the law read in their Synagogues for the very Judicial law of Moses was the form of the Government which they could not be ignorant in but yet they are said to be without God because they had not a Priest to teach Object Acts 15.21 For Moses of old time hath in every City them that