A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…

Use 1 It discovers the vanity of the Popish allegation of Antiquity, they will bring you a thousand years alas, many errors concerning circumcision, and the denial of the Resurrection, have been of six thousand years standing, yet that is nothing; it was not from the beginning; that is true Doctrine which was from the beginning, or else from God immediately, all other Antiquity is but vain; therefore when the Papists pretend Antiquity, truly if it be not as ancient as the Ancient of days, if it come not from him, it is not true Antiquity; they will tell you that these Feasts that we celebrate in memory of Christs Nativity have great Antiquity, some four hundred years after Christs time, but it is but as yesterday, if it come not from Christ or the Apostles, for he hath revealed his whole mind in Christ, Heb. 1, 2. so that what comes not from Christ is vain; Ignatius saith, my Antiquity is Christ.

Ʋse 1 It discovers the vanity of the Popish allegation of Antiquity, they will bring you a thousand years alas, many errors concerning circumcision, and the denyall of the Resurrection, have been of six thousand years standing, yet that is nothing; it was not from the beginning; that is true Doctrin which was from the beginning, or else from God immediately, all other Antiquity is but vain; therefore when the Papists pretend Antiquity, truly if it be not as ancient as the Ancient of dayes, if it come not from him, it is not true Antiquity; they will tell you that these Feasts that we celebrate in memory of Christs Nativity have great Antiquity, some four hundred years after Christs time, but it is but as yesterday, if it come not from Christ or the Apostles, for he hath revealed his whole minde in Christ, Heb. 1, 2. so that what comes not from Christ is vain; Ignatius saith, my Antiquity is Christ.

Use 2 To show the ungrounded confidence of Scholars in the Fathers, if it come from the Fathers, it sinks deeply, truly if it have no higher rise than the Fathers, it is too young a device, no other writings besides the Scripture can plead true Antiquity; what ever it be, if it come not from Christ, or the first Institution, it is too late, because it is not the same we have had from the beginning, and indeed there is just cause to suspect them.

Ʋse 2 To shew the ungrounded confidence of Schollars in the Fathers, if it come from the Fathers, it sinks deeply, truly if it have no higher rise than the Fathers, it is too young a device, no other writings besides the Scripture can plead true Antiquity; what ever it be, if it come not from Christ, or the first Institution, it is too late, because it is not the same we have had from the beginning, and indeed there is just cause to suspect them.

1 Many of them had no skill in the original, and therefore must see by other mens eyes, by translations, for few knew the meaning of the Scripture in the original, none knew the Hebrew, but Jerome and Origen.

1 Many of them had no skill in the original, and therefore must see by other mens eyes, by translations, for few knew the meaning of the Scripture in the original, none knew the Hebrew, but Jerom and Origen.

3 They lived in such times, wherein many said they had their Doctrine from the Apostles mouth, as one said, Antichrist should be a Jew, and live at Jerusalem, and saith he, was Johns Disciple, a gross error, and from him came Peters supremacy.

3 They lived in such times, wherein many said they had their Doctrin from the Apostles mouth, as one said, Antichrist should be a Jew, and live at Jerusalem, and saith he, was Johns Disciple, a grosse error, and from him came Peters supremacy.

4 They lived in those days when Popery came in, when the bottomless Pit was opened, and Frogs arose; but later Writers lived when these were dispelled, therefore take heed of them, not but that many spake very well, yet there is a great difference.

4 They lived in those days when Popery came in, when the bottomlesse Pit was opened, and Froggs arose; but later Writers lived when these were dispelled, therefore take heed of them, not but that many spake very well, yet there is a great difference.

5 Observe generally, God did not give them the Spirit of Interpretation, but weakly, and if they wanted such a spirit, how could they open the Scriptures? whereas later Writers had a clearer discerning, therefore it will be of more use to read wholesome later Writers.

5 Observe generally, God did not give them the Spirit of Interpretation, but weakly, and if they wanted such a spirit, how could they open the Scriptures? whereas later Writers had a clearer discerning, therefore it will bee of more use to read wholsome later Writers.

Use 3 To teach Christians what kind of life and manners to take up; you will say you love not new-fanglednesse, why then, Vive moribus antiquis, utter verbis presentibus; live ancient lives; your obedience must be swayed by an old rule, walk in the old way, walk not in ways of Superstition, of Covetousness, of vanity, of uncleanness, every sin is a novelty, though it be never so old a custom.

Ʋse 3 To teach Christians what kinde of life and manners to take up; you will say you love not new-fanglednesse, why then, Vive moribus antiquis, utere verbis presentibus; live antient lives; your obedience must be swayed by an old rule, walk in the old way, walk not in ways of Superstition, of Covetousnesse, of vanity, of uncleannesse, every sin is a novelty, though it be never so old a custom.

This Old Commandment is the Word that they had from the beginning.

Doct. The Commandment to walk after Christs example is the old Doctrine that was taught to the Church in all Ages from the beginning of the World.

Doct. The Commandment to walk after Christs example is the old Doctrin that was taught to the Church in all Ages from the beginning of the World.

He tells them, this was no new Doctrine, but such as they had from the beginning, for in the time of innocency Adam was made after the Image of God, and Christ is the Image of God, Col. 1.15. After he fell, the first Sermon that he had was, That the Seed of the Woman should break the Serpents head, Gen. 3.15. and this Promise was renewed to Abraham, Gen. 22.18.

He tells them, this was no new Doctrin, but such as they had from the beginning, for in the time of innocencie Adam was made after the Image of God, and Christ is the Image of God, Col. 1.15. After he fell, the first Sermon that he had was, That the Seed of the Woman should break the Serpents head, Gen. 3.15. and this Promise was renewed to Abraham, Gen. 22.18.

In after times, when the Lord led Israel out of Egypt, he sent the Angel of the Covenant to go before them, Exod. 23.20, 21. Deut. 18.18. from the beginning it was thus dispensed, to walk after the Lord, and whatever Pattern they had from God, it was from Christ, the second Person in the Trinity; so Joh. 1.18. Levit. 19.17. and he charged them to be holy as he was, that is the same with this of St. John here, to walk as Christ hath walked, Heb. 13.8. the same before and under the Law, to day in the time of the Gospel, and the same for ever, 1 Corinth. 10.1. to 5. Acts 15.10, 11. they held to be saved by faith, and by faith lived all the Saints of old, Hebr. 11. Hebr. 12.1, 2, 3.

In after times, when the Lord led Israel out of Egypt, he sent the Angel of the Covenant to go before them, Exod. 23.20, 21. Deut. 18.18. from the beginning it was thus dispenced, to walk after the Lord, and whatever Pattern they had from God, it was from Christ, the second Person in the Trinity; so Joh. 1.18. Levit. 19.17. and he charged them to be holy as he was, that is the same with this of St. John here, to walk as Christ hath walked, Heb. 13.8

Use 1 To justify the antiquity of Christian Religion, there is nothing in Christian Religion but we have it either from Commandment, or Promise, or Pattern of Christ, the death of Christ that was shadowed in the Sacrifices in the Old Law, and promised in Paradise, and when Christ would convince them, he doth it from hence, Luke 24.26, 27. all our fore-fathers believed, and dyed in the same Religion that we do.

Ʋse 1 To justifie the antiquity of Christian Religion, there is nothing in Christian Religion but we have it either from Commandment, or Promise, or Pattern of Christ, the death of Christ that was shadowed in the Sacrifices in the Old Law, and promised in Paradice, and when Christ would convince them, he doth it from hence, Luke 24.26, 27. all our fore-fathers believed, and dyed in the same Religion that we do.

Use 2 If the imitation of Christ be of so great antiquity, then it convinces them that blame Christian Religion of new-fanglednesse▪ why there is no Christian that walks as Christ did, but he walks as Abel, and Noah, and Abraham did, therefore it is not a novelty, but from the Ancient of days, even from the beginning.

Ʋse 2 If the imitation of Christ be of so great antiquity, then it convinces them that blame Christian Religion of new-fanglednesse▪ why there is no Christian that walks as Christ did, but he walks as Abel, and Noah, and Abraham did, therefore it is not a novelty, but from the Ancient of days, even from the beginning.

Use 3 It may encourage every Christian to walk as Christ did, when they consider all the Patriarchs, and Prophets, and Apostles since the world began, have gone before them in the same steps, and in the same faith; if we cannot show an higher ground, and longer antiquity for our Doctrine, than the Papists for any Popish tradition, we will renounce it, but we take up no other Religion but that which came from the Ancient of days, and was from the first institution. The care that any Christian takes to prepare himself for the receiving of the Sacrament hath been of old, the Apostle reproved the want thereof in his time, 1 Cor. 11. and they set the Lamb aside three days before the Passover, to prepare themselves, Exod. 12.3.14. so that this kind of preparation hath been of old, 2 Chron. 35.5. therefore let every one of us examine our failings, humble our selves, entreat for pardon and cleansing, for strength of grace to walk as Christ walked.

Ʋse 3 It may encourage every Christian to walk as Christ did, when they consider all the Patriarks, and Prophets, and Apostles since the world began, have gone before them in the same steps, and in the same faith; if we cannot shew an higher ground, and longer antiquity for our Doctrin, than the Papists for any Popish tradition, we will renounce it, but we take up no other Religion but that which came from the Ancient of days, and was from the first institution. The care that any Christian takes to prepare himself for the receiving of the Sacrament hath been of old, the Apostle reproved the want thereof in his time, 1 Cor. 11. and they set the Lamb aside three days before the Passeover, to prepare themselves, Exod. 12.3.14. so that this kinde of preparation hath been of old, 2 Chron. 35.5. therefore let every one of us examine our failings, humble our selves, entreat for pa•don and cleansing, for strength of grace to walk as Christ walked.

1 JOHN 2.8. Again, a new Commandment I write unto you, that which is true in him, and also in you, for the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

1 JOHN 2.8. Again, a new Commandment I write unto you, that which is true in him, and also in you, for the darknesse is past, and the true light now shineth.