A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

The second instrument here employed by Christ, is John. This John was son to Zebedeus, and so kinsman unto Christ; a blessed Apostle, and Evangelist which penned one of the Gospels, and the three Epistles which bear his name. This was that Disciple whom Jesus loved. And to procure the more credit and reverence to this book, he describeth himself by two arguments: First, by a property, calling himself Christ his servant: Secondly, by an effect, or action, in bearing record to Gods word, vers. 2.

The second instrument here imployed by Christ, is Iohn. This Iohn was sonne to Zebedeus, and so kinsman vnto Christ; a blessed Apostle, and Euangelist which penned one of the Gospels, and the three Epistles which beare his name. This was that Disciple whom Iesus loued. And to procure the more credit and reuerence to this booke, he describeth himselfe by two arguments: First, by a propertie, calling himselfe Christ his seruant: Secondly, by an effect, or action, in bearing record to Gods word, vers. 2.

For the first, note that John doth not call himself that Disciple whom Jesus loved, nor the kinsman of Christ, which he might have done, being allied unto him (for Johns mother was sister to Joseph Christs supposed father, and cousin german to the virgin Mary) John had learned of Christ himself, that the •earers, and doers of the will of his father were esteemed more deer and near unto him than any bond of outward alliance could possibly make them, Math. 12.50. Luk. 11.28. But he calls himself Christs servant, having yielded up himself to do his will: for herein stands the dignity of a Christian to do service unto Christ. The blessed Virgin had never found such favour with God to have been Christs mother, if she had not withal become Christs servant: She bare him in her heart by faith, as well as in her womb by conception, or else she had never been saved by him. Hence we learn that outward dignities, as blood royal, noble parentage, and such like, will nothing further a mans salvation: he that would be acceptable unto Christ must become his servant by believing his word, and doing his will, having cast off the old man, which is corrupt, and put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. So Paul saith, Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God,