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

2 The World it self and all the things thereof, are ordinarily bodily, and sensual, and not heavenly; take all the frame of the Creatures, they are bodily things, and all the comforts of them, tends to sensual life, What will it profit a man to win the whole World, and loose his own soul? implying, a man may have all the World, and yet loose his own soul; it never feeds a spiritual heavenly life, but there is a spiritual eternal bread, that feeds to everlasting life, it is not for a body to nourish a spirit, nor earthly things heavenly, not can a transitory thing feed everlasting life.

2 The World it selfe and all the things thereof, are ordinarily bodily, and sensuall, and not heavenly; take all the frame of the Creatures, they are bodily things, and all the comforts of them, tends to sensuall life, What will it profit a man to win the whole World, and loose his own soul? implying, a man may have all the World, and yet loose his own soul; it never feeds a spirituall heavenly life, but there is a spirituall eternall bread, that feeds to everlasting life, it is not for a body to nourish a spirit, nor earthly things heavenly, not can a transitory thing feed everlasting life.

Q. 1. Why should this disproportion wean us from the love of the World, and the lusts thereof? what is the ground?

1 From the vanity that is found in all these things, they are bodily and transitory, it is impossible they should nourish heavenly and permanent life; therefore godly men should withdraw their affections from them inordinately, Isa. 55.2. why do you lay out your money for that which satisfieth not? and for that which is not bread? why do you spend cost and pains about that which is not bread? which will never satisfy your souls, but your souls in the midst of them may be as Pharaohs lean Kine, hungry, and empty of grace, void of good things.

1 From the vanity that is found in all these things, they are bodily and transitory, it is impossible they should nourish heavenly and permanent life; therefore godly men should withdraw their affections from them inordinately, Isa. 55.2. why doe you lay out your money for that which satisfieth not? and for that which is not bread? why doe you spend cost and pains about that which is not bread? which will never satisfie your souls, but your souls in the midst of them may be as Pharaohs lean Kine, hungry, and empty of grace, void of good things.

2 There is a power in them, to assimilate us to themselves, what we feed on we are like unto, feed on wild meats, you will be wild men, feed on gross meats, your spirits will be more gross and dull, feed on light meats, your spirits will be more quick and agile; so if a man feed on the World, glut himself with the World, he can relish nothing but the World, his spirit is made carnal, and stupid, and worldly, and can arise no higher, therefore when Solomon gave himself to seek pleasure, Eccl. 2.3. to try what was in them, ⟨p. 141⟩though he did not neglect Wisdom, as Eccles. 1.8. yet he found by experience, deal as wisely as he could, in the end they did so stupefy him, that he was led away by them to Idolatry, 1 King. 11.4. then is a man become stupid, when he is serious about trifles, and trifling about serious things; by pursuit of these, his judgment was quick in earthly matters, but in matters of Religion he began to grow very weak and ignorant; how much more then they that wholly give themselves to the lusts and pleasures of the World.

2 There is a power in them, to assimilate us to themselves, what we feed on we are like unto, feed on wild meats, you will be wild men, feed on grosse meats, your spirits will be more grosse and dull, feed on light meats, your spirits will be more quick and agill; so if a man feed on the World, glut himself with the World, he can relish nothing but the World, his spirit is made carnall, and stupid, and worldly, and can arise no higher, therefore when Solomon gave himselfe to seek pleasure, Eccl. 2.3. to try what was in them, ⟨p. 141⟩though he did not neglect Wisdome, as Eccles. 1.8. yet he found by experience, deal as wisely as he could, in the end they did so stupifie him, that he was led away by them to Idolatry,

Reas. 3. Ever since the fall of our First Parents, there lies a Curse of God upon all the Creatures, Gen. 3.17, 18. now in cursing the ground he Cursed all the Creatures with it, so that now there is a disproportion and unsuitableness betwixt the Creatures and man, for whom they were made, so that the whole Creature is subject to vanity, Rom. 8.19, 20. Eccles. 1.2. Vanity of vanities all is vanity. Now if they be all accursed, you shall find that there is a venomous corruption in them all, which with-holds us from that chief good for which we were made; so that let any man put upon you any Profit, or Honour, or Credit, continually you would think your self engaged to him, and set your selves to be serviceable to him, and should not we deal as kindly with God? should not we be more obedient to God, for his following us with his blessings? one would think we should; but what is the reason of it? the more we have of Profits, and Honours, and Credit, the more full we are of our selves, and the more loose from God, so that the more he blesseth us, the more we neglect him; the more he comforts us, the more we grieve him; how comes this, but from a secret curse that lies upon all the Creatures? otherwise it could not be, that we should grow so careless and stupid; as the Moon when it wants light, it draws nearer to the Sun, but when it is at the full, and hath most Light, it is furthest from the Sun; so when God fills us, we sit furthest from God, our spirits become empty of grace, and regardless of God, therefore this should move us from affecting the World, and the lusts of the World.

Reas. 3. Ever since the fall of our First Parents, there lyes a Curse of God upon all the Creatures, Gen. 3.17, 18. now in cursing the ground he Cursed all the Creatures with it, so that now there is a disproportion and unsuitablenesse betwixt the Creatures and man, for whom they were made, so that the whole Creature is subject to vanity, Rom. 8.19, 20. Eccles. 1.2. Vanity of vanities all is vanity. Now if they be all accursed, you shall finde that there is a venemous corruption in them all, which with-holds us from that chiefe good for which we were made; so that let any man put upon you any Profit, or Honour, or Credit, continually you would think your selfe engaged to him, and set your selves to be serviceable to him, and should not we deale as kindly with God? should not we be more obedient to God, for his following us with his blessings? one would think we should; but what is the reason of it? the more we have of Profits, and Honours, and Credit, the more full we are of our selves, and the more loose from God, so that the more he blesseth us, the more we neglect him; the more he comforts us, the more we grieve him; how comes this, but from a secret curse that lies upon all the Creatures? otherwise it could not be, that we should grow so carelesse and stupid; as the Moon when it wants light, it draws nearer to the Sun, but when it is at the full, and hath most Light, it is furthest from the Sun; so when God fils us, we sit furthest from God, our spirits become empty of grace, and regardlesse of God, therefore this should move us from affecting the World, and the lusts of the World.

Use 1. A ground of strong exhortation to both old men and young, Love not the World, nor the lusts of it; for there is no proportion betwixt the World and a Child of God, what proportion betwixt transitory and everlasting things? fading and permanent? these are bodily and carnal, your hearts are spiritual and heavenly, therefore it is for you to look out for other things that will ab de; nay, why do you spend your strength for that which will not profit? all will not help your souls; why should a man swear, and toil for that, which when he hath he may loose his own soul? he may get credit in the World, and yet may be base in Gods eyes, it is that which will not satisfy the soul, the immortal soul will not be contented with transitory fading things, these are but as dreams, they dream of abundance, but their souls are all this while empty and starving, and if these be so transitory, why do we feed on meats that are so unsuitable to our souls? if we have once made the World our Element, if we be lifted up out of the World to heavenly and Spiritual things, we are like a Fish out of the water, we faint and gasp, and are weary, and must return to our mud again, we have no comfort at all, is not this a woeful disproportion? Nay further, seeing all the things of this World are vanity, and folly, even lawful pleasures, I said of mirth it is madness and folly, Eccl. 2.2. why therefore let us be exhorted to wean our affection from them, walk among them as snares, take heed you be not trapped by them; all the Blessings of this life are but Curses, if you use them for themselves, and then they weaken your spirits, and corrupt your hearts, therefore love not the World, nor the things of the World, for these all fade away; there is a disproportion betwixt the cursed things of this World, and spiritual Blessings; indeed they are not Curses, if you receive them as coming from God, and use them to him, otherwise, if you set your hearts on them, and use them for themselves, they will prove a curse to you.

Ʋse 1. A ground of strong exhortation to both old men and young, Love not the World, nor the lusts of it; for there is no proportion betwixt the World and a Child of God, what proportion betwixt transitory and everlasting things? fading and permanent? these are bodily and carnal, your hearts are spirituall and heavenly, therefore it is for you to look out for other things that will ab de; nay, why doe you spend your strength for that which will not profit? all will not help your souls; why should a man swear, and toyle for that, which when he hath he may loose his own soul? he may get credit in the World, and yet may be base in Gods eyes, it is that which will not satisfie the soul, the immortall soul will not be contented with transitory fading things, these are but as dreams, they dream of abundance, but their souls are all this while empty and starving, and if these be so transitory, why doe we feed on meats that are so unsuitable to our souls? if we have once made the World our Element, if we be lifted up out of the World to heavenly and Spirituall things, we are like a Fish out of the water, we faint and gasp, and are weary, and must return to our mud again, we have no comfort at all, is not this a woful disproportion? Nay further, seeing all the things of this World are vanity, and folly, even lawfull pleasures, I said of mirth it is madnesse and folly,

Use 2. Let us be exhorted to lift up our hearts to more heavenly and spiritual ⟨p. 142⟩things, let us lift up our souls to those pleasures and profits that endure for ever, Joh. 6.26. labour for those pleasures that may truly satisfy your souls, desire God to lift up your hearts from worldly to spiritual things, and then we shall find the Word of God sweeter than Honey and the Honey-comb; therefore feed not on Husks and Chaff, but feed on Spiritual things, which may nourish you to eternal life, and for earthly things, use them as helps to Spiritual things, to make you more vacant for religious exercises, more fruitful in good works, so you shall find them helpful to you, and you shall draw near to God by them, when we look not so much at honour, or pleasure, or profit, as Gods hand giving them,

Ʋse 2. Let us be exhorted to lift up our hearts to more heavenly and spirituall ⟨p. 142⟩things, let us lift up our souls to those pleasures and profits that endure for ever, Joh. 6.26. labour for those pleasures that may truly satisfie your souls, desire God to lift up your hearts from worldly to spititual things, and then we shall find the Word of God sweeter than Honey and the Honey-comb; therefore feed not on Husks and Chaff, but feed on Spiritual things, which may nourish you to eternal life, and for earthly things, use them as helps to Spiritual things, to make you more vacant for religious exercises, more fruitfull in good works, so you shall find them helpfull to you, and you shall draw near to God by them, when we look not so much at honour, or pleasure, or profit, as Gods hand giving them,

1 JOHN. 2.18, 19, 20. Little Children, it is the last time, and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now are there many Antichrists, whereby we know that it is the last time, &c.

Saint John writing to all sorts of Christians, Old, Young, and Children, he speaks particularly to them all; to Young-men, and Old, he wrote, Vers. 14, 15. Love not the world, but for Babes, he writes not to them about the love of the World, for they are not easily subject to it; but no age so flexible as young Children, so that if they be once set in a right way, and live under faithful Instructors, there is no great danger of them, therefore he writes to them here, to make them beware of false Teachers, and cleave to sound Doctrine.

SAint John writing to all sorts of Christians, Old, Young, and Children, he speaks particularly to them all; to Young-men, and Old, he wrote, Vers. 14, 15. Love not the world, but for Babes, he writes not to them about the love of the World, for they are not easily subject to it; but no age so flexible as young Children, so that if they be once set in a right way, and live under faithful Instructers, there is no great danger of them, therefore he writes to them here, to make them beware of false Teachers, and cleave to sound Doctrin.

First, now he describes and sets out these false Teachers.

1 By their coming in the last time, vers. 18. 2 By their Apostasy, they went out from us. 3 By showing the cause of it, they were never of us, vers. 19.

1 By their coming in the last time, vers. 18. 2 By their Apostacy, they went out from us. 3 By shewing the cause of it, they were never of us, vers. 19.

Secondly, he gives them signs, whereby they may know them, and discern them, and that is from their Unction they have received, vers. 20, 21.

Secondly, he gives them signes, whereby they may know them, and discern them, and that is from their Unction they have received, vers. 20, 21.

Thirdly, He gives a mark of Antichrist, he is a Liar, who denieth Jesus is the Christ is a liar, &c. vers. 22.

Thirdly, He gives a mark of Antichrist, he is a Lyer, who denieth Jesus is the Christ is a lyer, &c. vers. 22.

Fourthly, He lays down some means to help them.

Fourthly, He layes down some means to help them.

1 By looking to their Doctrine, Keep close to sound Doctrine. 2 Cleave to your holy Unction, have a special care to live righteously.

1 By looking to their Doctrin, Keep close to sound Doctrin. 2 Cleave to your holy Unction, have a speciall care to live righteously.