John in his Canonical Epistle §3doth specially labour in this, That it cannot be, that such as are truly sanctified and borne of GOD, should commit such sins, which are called sometimes sins wasting the conscience; sometimes, sins unto death; sometimes reigning: and therefore that they are liars, who boast themselves to be the sons of God, & to acknowledge God, when yet in the mean while they sin in security, hate their brethren, and do not endeavour to observe Gods Law: and therefore that they only are Saints, and borne of God, who study to avoid sin, and keep the Law of God. cap. 2. He that saith that ⟨p. 218⟩he knoweth God, and doth not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth• is not in him. And Gods precepts a•• specially observed, when they are laid up firmly in the heart, and beloved. So saith David; In the volum• 1of thy book is it written of me, that I should do thy will, O Lord: I am c•• tent to do it, yea thy law is in the middest of my heart▪scilicet. I have it the•e written and engraven. If the Saints have the Law so fixed in their harts, how then therefore should sin reign in their hearts? cap. 3. Every one wh• abideth in him sinneth not, and every one that sinneth haeth not seen him, not known him: again, he that doth sin is of the devil, because the devil sinneth from the beginning. Hereof it is apparent, of what sort of sins the Apostle speaketh, when he saith, He that doth sin is not borne of God, but is of the devil, that is, of such as are like to the sin of Satan the Father of all the wicked. And of what quality is the sin of the devil? sin committed of purposed malice: sin ⟨p. 219⟩reigning, and perpetual. For the Devil sinned from the beginning, that2 is to say, from the beginning unto this present hour he doth continually sin, and adhere unto sin. Wherefore it cannot be, that such as are truly borne of God, should commit sins of such quality, that is devilish, and persist in them: therefore he addeth, saying; All that are borne of God, sin not, because the seed abideth in him, neither can he sin, because he is borne of God.
Iohn in his Canonicall Epistle §3doth specially labour in this, That it cannot be, that such as are truely sanctified and borne of GOD, should commit such sinnes, which are called sometimes sinnes wasting the conscience; sometimes, sinnes vnto death; sometimes reigning: and therefore that they are lyers, who boast themselues to be the sonnes of God, & to acknowledge God, when yet in the meane while they sin in securitie, hate their brethren, and doe not endeuour to obserue Gods Law: and therefore that they onely are Saints, and borne of God, who study to avoyd sinne, and keepe the Law of God. cap. 2. He that saith that ⟨p. 218⟩he knoweth God, and doth not keepe his commandements, is a lier, and the truth• is not in him. And Gods precepts a•• specially obserued, when they are laid vp firmely in the heart, and beloued. So saith Dauid; In the volum• 1of thy booke is it wrttten of me, that I should doe thy will, O Lord: I am c•• tent to doe it, yea thy law is in the middest of my heart▪scilicet. I haue it the•e written and ingrauen. If the Saints haue the Law so fixed in their harts, how then therfore should sin reigne in their hearts? cap. 3. Euery one wh• abideth in him sinneth not, and euery one that sinneth haeth not seene him, not knowne him: againe, hee that doth sin is of the diuel, because the diuel sinneth from the beginning. Hereof it is apparant, of what sort of sinnes the Apostle speaketh, when he saith, He that doth sinne is not borne of God, but is of the diuell, that is, of such as are like to the sinne of Satan the Father of all the wicked. And of what quality is the sinne of the diuell? sinne committed of purposed malice: sinne ⟨p. 219⟩reigning, and perpetuall. For the Diuell sinned from the beginning, that2 is to say, from the beginning vnto this present houre he doth continually sinne, and adhaere vnto sinne. Wherefore it cannot be, that such as are truly borne of God, should commit sinnes of such qualitie, that is deuilish, and persist in them: therefore he addeth, saying; All that are borne of God, sinne not, because the seed abideth in him, neither can he sinne, because he is borne of God.
- 1Psal. 41.
- 2Aliud est proijcerese in lutum, ut sues; aliud, labi in lutū ut solent munditiei studiosi. Zanchius.Aliud est proijcerese in lutum, vt sues; aliud, labi in lutū vt solent munditiei studiosi. Zanchius.
