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.

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.

Object. May not good men sometimes be bitter against some Brother?

Ans. It may be so, but first, they know them not to be Brethren.

2 They do not hate them with the whole heart, but partly, as far as they are unregenerate, and they will repent of it when they know it; but howsoever, if we do not hate any brother, hereby we shall certainly know that we are in a good Estate.

2 They doe not hate them with the whole heart, but partly, as far as they are unregenerate, and they will repent of it when they know it; but howsoever, if we doe not hate any brother, hereby we shall certainly know that we are in a good Estate.

Use 4 This is a ground of comfort to Gods servants, God will not have one of them ill beloved, the World hates them, Joh. 15.18. and if God should suffer his servants to hate them, who should love them? nay, God would have every man love his Brethren, for as verse 9. the Apostle speaks of professors, he that saith he is in the light, &c. so verse 11. he restrains it not, but he that hateth his Brother is in darkness, whosoever he be, whether he profess the light or no? now therefore this should be out comfort, and this should make us careful to walk so as to be beloved.

Ʋse 4 This is a ground of comfort to Gods servants, God will not have one of them ill beloved, the World hates them, Joh. 15.18. and if God should suffer his servants to hate them, who should love them? nay, God would have every man love his Brethren, for as verse 9. the Apostle speaks of professors, he that saith he is in the light, &c. so verse 11. he restrains it not, but he that hateth his Brother is in darknesse, whosoever he be, whether he profess the light or no? now therefore this should be out comfort, and this should make us carefull to walke so as to be beloved.

Doct. He that loves his Brother, walks constantly, and inoffensively in the state of Grace.

That they walk constantly, and persevere, you may see, 1 Joh. 3.14. Joh. 13.35. Heb. 6.9, 10. that they walk inoffensively appears, in that love covers a multitude of sins, 1 Pet. 4.8.

That they walke constantly, and persevere, you may see, 1 Joh. 3.14. Joh. 13.35. Heb. 6.9, 10. that they walk inoffensively appears, in that love covers a multitude of sins, 1 Pet. 4.8.

Reas. 1 Is the contrary to the first reason of the former Doctrine, God is love, therefore such as dwell in love, dwell in God, and God in them, 1 Joh. 4.16. now if God dwell in them, and they in God, they must needs walk on constantly, and inoffensively.

Reas. 1 Is the contrary to the first reason of the former Doctrin, God is love, therefore such as dwell in love, dwell in God, and God in them, 1 Joh. 4.16. now if God dwell in them, and they in God, they must needs walke on constantly, and inoffensively.

Reas. 2 There is a power in love, to fit us to dispense Gods ordinances willingly, and likewise willingly to have them dispensed to us, which doth exceedingly help us to walk constantly, and inoffensively, 1 Thes. 3.12, 13. love is apt to interpret all things well, 1 Cor. 13.7. and for want of this it is, that men withdraw themselves one from another, and so exhort not one another, and therefore are they subject to fall away, Heb. 10.24, 25, 26. every good duty establisheth us in grace, now love is strong in good duties, and therefore it is, that he that loves his Brother, walks constantly and inoffensively, in the state of Grace.

Reas. 2 There is a power in love, to fit us to dispence Gods ordinances willingly, and likewise willingly to have them dispenced to us, which doth exceedingly help us to walk constantly, and inoffensively, 1 Thes. 3.12, 13. love is apt to interpret all things well, 1 Cor. 13.7. and for want of this it is, that men withdraw themselves one from another, and so exort not one another, and therefore are they subject to fall away, Heb. 10.24, 25, 26. every good duty establisheth us in grace, now love is strong in good duties, and therefore it is, that he that loves his Brother, walks constantly and inoffensively, in the state of Grace.

Reas. 3 Because there is an holy light that shines about love, now in the light one may see, and avoid all stumbling blocks.

Reas. 3 Because there is an holy light that shines about love, now in the light one may see, and avoyd all stumbling blocks.

Use 1. To remove a false slander cast upon godly men, that they are the most bitter envious, and malicious men, the veryest cut-throats that are: you see that they that are in the light, are of another temper; such envious and malicious men may say that they are in the light, but if they were they would love their Brethren; therefore these you speak of, either are not so uncharitable as you say, or if they be, they are not as yet the children of light.

Ʋse 1. To remove a false slander cast upon godly men, that they are the most bitter envious, and malicious men, the veryest cut-throats that are: you see that they that are in the light, are of another temper; such envious and malicious men may say that they are in the light, but if they were they would love their Brethren; therefore these you speak of, either are not so uncharitable as you say, or if they be, they are not as yet the children of light.