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.

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.

4 He knows not whither he goes, [Greek or Hebrew], where he is, nor whither he goes, i. e. he knows not what estate he is in before God, nor whither he goes, whether to Heaven or Hell, nor what his end will be, whether comfort or woe; now for the proof of the point you may see it, 1 Joh. 4.7, 8.

4 He knows not whither he goes, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, where he is, nor whither he goes, i. e. he knows not what estate he is in before God, nor whither he goes, whether to Heaven or Hell, nor what his end will be, whethet comfort or wo; now for the proof of the poynt you may see it, 1 Joh. 4.7, 8.

Reas. 1. Because God is love, 1 Joh. 4.16. and therefore he that is not in love is not in God; God is not only loving, but love it self, Psalm 145.9. God communicates good to every creature according to his condition.

Reas. 1. Because God is love, 1 Joh. 4.16. and therefore he that is not in love is not in God; God is not only loving, but love it selfe, Psalm 145.9. God communicates good to every creature according to his condition.

Reas. 2. From the distemper which hatred puts both upon our judgments, and affections in every action, vers. 11. because darkness hath blinded his eyes; it blinds us that we cannot see that good which is in our brother, wherefore we should love him, and it puts false opinions and surmises upon every thing we see him do.

Reas. 2. From the distempet which hatred puts both upon our judgments, and affections in every action, vers. 11. because darknesse hath blinded his eyes; it blinds us that we cannot see that good which is in our brother, wherefore we should love him, and it puts false opinions and furmises upon every thing we see him doe.

3 Hatred makes every duty we perform to God abominable to him, and therefore such a man walks in darkness, Matthew 5.23, 24. James. 1.20. [Greek or Hebrew] non perficit, he cannot bring a good work to an end, Gen. 4.4. Cain, because he hated his Brother, his Sacrifice would not burn, it would not enter into Gods acceptation.

3 Hatred makes every duty we performe to God abominable to him, and therefore such a man walks in darknesse, Matthew 5.23, 24. James. 1.20. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 non perficit, he cannot bring a good work to an end, Gen. 4.4. Cain, because he hated his Brother, his Sacrifice would not burn, it would not enter into Gods acceptation.

Use 1. To refute an opinion of the Popish Doctors; they say, men may fall away from Grace, and they prove it by the example of Saul and Judas, who they say were in the estate of grace; this will be easily decided whether they ever were in the estate of grace yea or no? for Saul, did not he hate his brother, did not he hate David? if he did, then St. John gives here his judgement, he was ever in darkness, and of Judas you may see Psal. 109.5.8. which is applied to Judas, Act. 1.20.

Ʋse 1. To refute an opinion of the Popish Doctors; they say, men may fall away from Grace, and they prove it by the example of Saul and Judas, who they say were in the estate of grace; this will be easily decided whether they ever were in the estate of grace yea or no? for Saul, did not he hate his brother, did not he hate David? if he did, then St. John gives here his judgement, he was ever in darknesse, and of Judas you may see Psal. 109.5.8. which is applyed to Judas, Act. 1.20.

Use 2 From hence every one may take a scantling of his own Estate; whether do we hate our Brother, any brother, whether spiritual or natural, or any other man? then we are in darkness.

Ʋse 2 From hence every one may take a scantling of his own Estate; whether doe we hate our Brother, any brother, whether spiritual or naturall, or any other man? then we are in darknesse.

Object. But may not a man hate those that hate God, with a perfect hatred? Psal. 139.22. David makes it a sign of a Citizen in heaven, Psal. 15.4.

Ans. If a man hates God, and malign goodness, we must consider two things, 1 Whether he doth it of ignorance, or 2 Whether he doth it of malice; if he doth it of malice, we may, and ought to hate him, Mat. 15.12, 13.14. and of these did David speak; but if they sin of Ignorance, I must not hate them with a perfect hatred, but so far as not to affect fellowship, and communion with them, but yet to communicate good to them, that I may and must do upon all occasions; I must pray for them; and admonish ⟨p. 84⟩them; Luke. 23.34. Christ prayed for those that crucified him, so did Stephen, Act. 7.60. and it is thought by learned Divines, that prayer was a means of Souls conversion; and for admonishing such an one, read 1 Thes. 3.14, 15. but if a man sin of malice, we are neither to pray for him, nor admonish him.

Ans. If a man hates God, and malign goodnesse, we must consider two things, 1 Whether he doth it of ignorance, or 2 Whether he doth it of malice; if he doth it of malice, we may, and ought to hate him, Mat. 15.12, 13.14. and of these did David speak; but if they sin of Ignorance, I must not hate them with a perfect hatred, but so far as not to affect fellowship, and communion with them, but yet to communicate good to them, that I may and must doe upon all occasions; I must pray for them; and admonish ⟨p. 84⟩them; Luke. 23.34. Christ prayed for those that crucified him, so did Stephen, Act. 7.60. and it is thought by learned Divines, that prayer was a means of Souls conversion; and for admonishing such an one, read 1 Thes. 3.14, 15. but if a man sin of malice, we are neither to pray for him, nor admonish him.

Use 3. This teacheth us, that as we would have a sign of our good Estate in Christ, so to love every Brother, every Brother in Christ, every Brother in nature, or civill society, Gal. 6.10.

Ʋse 3. This teacheth us, that as we would have a sign of our good Estate in Christ, so to love every Brother, every Brother in Christ, every Brother in nature, or civill society, Gal. 6.10.