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

Use 4. To teach us to be driving away darkness, and to be trudging out of it; as it is with a Candle, the least snuff in a Candle doth not only dim the light, but doth waste the Candle; so it is with our spirits, the least snuff of Corruption doth waste that oil of Grace which is in our hearts, and dim and damp the light which is in us, therefore snuff we our hearts often, take we the Thief out of the Candle, let us show forth the virtues of him that hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light, 1 Pet. 2.9. Ephes. 5.8. Rom. 13.12. away with darkness, all darkness of doubtings, of unbelief, of pride, &c. this darkness is passing away from us, we must not call it back again, do not again draw the curtains of darkness about us; when the Sun is risen, and a man begins to sleep, and draw the curtains about him again, it is a sign he means to slug it out; so when new light shines in our hearts, and we draw our old corruptions about us again, it is a shame for us, Gal. 3.12. 2 Pet. 3.18. help one another out of darkness, help thy Wife, and children, and Servants, and Friends, and Neighbours out of it, 1 Cor. 13.9.12. we ⟨p. 82⟩cannot practise better than we know, but we know but in part, therefore pray, admonish, exhort, cleanse thy self, and cleanse others from the mist and shadow of darkness, as much at may be.

Ʋse 4. To teach us to be driving away darknesse, and to be trudging out of it; as it is with a Candle, the least snuffe in a Candle doth not onely dim the light, but doth waste the Candle; so it is with our spirits, the least snuffe of Corruption doth waste that oyl of Grace which is in our hearts, and dim and damp the light which is in us, therefore snuffe we our hearts often, take we the Thief out of the Candle, let us shew forth the vertues of him that hath called us out of darknesse into his marvelous light, 1 Pet. 2.9. Ephes. 5.8. Rom. 13.12. away with darknesse, all darknesse of doubtings, of unbelief, of pride, &c. this darknesse is passing away from us, we must not call it back again, doe not again draw the curtains of darknesse about us; when the Sun is risen, and a man begins to sleep, and draw the curtains about him again, it is a sign he means to slug it out; so when new light shines in our hearts, and we draw our old corruptions about us again, it is a shame fot us, Gal. 3.12. 2 Pet. 3.18. helpe one another out of darknesse, helpe thy Wife, and children, and Servants, and Friends, and Neighbours out of it, 1 Cor. 13.9.12. we ⟨p. 82⟩cannot practise better than we know, but we know but in part, therefore pray, admonish, exort, cleanse thy self, and cleanse others from the mist and shaddow of darknesse, as much at may be.

Use 5. Of comfort to a Christian; 1. Against troubles which many undergo in regard of darkness of Spiritual estate; it is a common thing for Christians to complain of darkness, of pride, of unbelief, of dullness; fear lies upon us, with what should we comfort our selves? we think no body is so, yes, here is some comfort for thee, all are so in some measure, it is so with the best, they have but a mixed estate, one crossing and thwarting another; the fairest day hath dark Clouds.

Ʋse 5. Of comfort to a Christian; 1. Against troubles which many undergo in regard of darknesse of Spirituall estate; it is a common thing for Christians to complain of darkness, of pride, of unbeliefe, of dulnesse; fear lies upon us, with what should we comfort our selves? we think no body is so, yes, here is some comfort for thee, all are so in some measure, it is so with the best, they have but a mixed estate, one crossing and thwarting another; the fairest day hath dark Clouds.

2 Is our darkness deeper than others? but do you not yet find it passing away? do you not find more faith, more obedience? do you not make more conscience of your thoughts, words, and actions? this is a comfort, your darkness is going away, it wastes apace.

2 Is our darknesse deeper than others? but doe you not yet find it passing away? doe you not finde more faith, more obedience? doe you not make more conscience of your thoughts, words, and actions? this is a comfort, your darknesse is going away, it wasts apace.

Use 6. Of trial of our estates; would you know whether your grace be true or no? whether do you find your darkness passing away, and light shining? a man may walk in a condition of darkness, and see no light, viz. of peace and comfort, Isa. 50.10 I, but do you not then walk in a greater light of innocency, and watchfulness and obedience? When a man is in the dark, he goes slowly, and warily, and lifts up his feet high every step, Prov. 14.16. a godly man is afraid of something in the way, but a wicked man goes on boisterously; and confidently, he knows his way as well as you can tell him, but he is but a fool for his labour.

Ʋse 6. Of tryall of our estates; would you know whether your grace be true or no? whether doe you finde your darknesse passing away, and light shining? a man may walke in a condition of darknesse, and see no light, viz. of peace and comfort, Isa. 50.10 I, but doe you not then walke in a greater light of innocency, and watchfulnesse and obedience? When a man is in the dark, he goes slowly, and warily, and lifts up his feet high every step, Prov. 14.16. a godly man is afraid of something in the way, but a wicked man goes on boysterously; and confidently, he knows his way as well as you can tell him, but he is but a foole for his labour.

1 JOHN 2.9, 10, 11. He that saith that he is in light and hateth his brother is in darkness until this time. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of evil in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knows not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

1 JOHN 2.9, 10, 11. He that saith that he is in light and hateth his brother is in darknesse untill this time. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of evill in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darknesse, and walketh in darknesse, and knows not whither he goeth, because that darknesse hath blinded his eyes.

The custom of this Apostle St. John, is, after he hath delivered any Doctrine to make some application of it, for the joy of Gods children, for the end of his writing to them was, that their joy might be full, cap. 1.4. and so he doth here, for having in the former verse said, that in the Children of God darkness is passing, and true light now shining, here he gathers a sign whereby he may know whether our darkness be passing, and our light springing, and that is from brotherly love, in this ninth verse, and tenth, where you have a description of him that hates his Brother, and of him that loves his Brother: the first he describes by four things.

THe custom of this Apostle St. John, is, after he hath delivered any Doctrin to make some application of it, for the joy of Gods children, for the end of his writing to them was, that their joy might be full, cap. 1.4. and so he doth here, for having in the former verse said, that in the Children of God darknesse is passing, and true light now shining, here he gathers a sign whereby he may know whether our darknesse be passing, and our light springing, and that is from brotherly love, in this ninth verse, and tenth, where you have a description of him that hates his Brother, and of him that loves his Brother: the first he describes by four things.

1 He is in darkness; He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is us darkness.

1 He is in darknesse; He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is us darknesse.

2 He ever was in darkness; he is in darkness even until now; that is, as yet he never was out of darkness.

2 He ever was in darknesse; he is in darknesse even untill now; that is, as yet he never was out of darknesse.

3 He walketh in darkness, vers. 11.

3 He walketh in darknesse, vers. 11.

4 He knows not whither he goes; and that is amplified from the cause of it, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

4 He knows not whither he goes; and that is amplified from the cause of it, because that darknesse hath blinded his eyes.

Doct. He that hateth his brother, whether he profess the light or no, he is in darkness, and ever was in darkness, and knows not where he is, nor whither he goes.

Doct. He that hateth his brother, whether he professe the light or no, he is in darknesse, and ever was in darknesse, and knows not where he is, nor whither he goes.

By Brother is here meant chiefly a Christian Brother, as vers. 7. it is chiefly meant of Spiritual brethren, but there is a truth in it, even towards natural brethren; such as are of the same Parents, as likewise those of one Kindred, or of the same Country.

By Brother is here meant chiefly a Christian Brother, as vers. 7. it is chiefly meant of Spiritual brethren, but there is a truth in it, even towards naturall brethren; such as are of the same Parents, as likewise those of one Kindred, or of the same Country.

To hate here, is opposed to love, which stands in two things, desire of communion, and communication of good to him whom we love; hatred therefore desires neither of these, but consists in strangeness and enmity; in strangeness, when they desire not communion with them, and enmity, when they are not willing to communicate good to them; although for the most part it goes further, to do evil to one; yet, Levit. 19.17. Thou shalt not hate thy Brother; there hatred is not to communicate good to our brother, viz. wholesome reproof; now he that thus hates these brethren, or his brother, any Brother, though not all (for if a man should hate all that were Spiritual brethren, it were manifest that he were in darkness; as it were strange for a man to hate all his natural brethren) but if there be but one brother whom he hates, he is yet in darkness, both of ignorance, and wickedness.

To hate here, is opposed to love, which stands in two things, desire of communion, and communication of good to him whom we love; hatred therefore desires neither of these, but consists in strangnesse and enmity; in strangeness, when they desire not communion with them, and enmity, when they are not willing to communicate good to them; although for the most part it goes further, to doe ev•ll to one; yet, Levit. 19.17. Thou shalt not hate thy Brother; there hatred is not to communicate good to our brother, viz. wholsome reproof; now he that thus hates these brethren, or his brother, any Brother, though not all (for if a man should hate all that were Spirituall brethren, it were manifest that he were in darknesse; as it were strange for a man to hate all his naturall brethren) but if there be but one brother whom he hates, he is yet in darknesse, both of ignorance, and wickednesse.

2 Such a one was always in darkness, He is in darkness even until now.

2 Such a one was alwayes in darknesse, He is in darknesse even untill now.

3 He walks in darkness, i. e. there is no action of his but is a work of darkness, a sinful action; he makes not one good prayer, or one good Sermon, &c.

3 He walks in darknesse, i. e. there is no action of his but is a work of darkness, a sinfull action; he makes not one good prayer, or one good Sermon, &c.