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

Doct. The confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, is a true note or pledge of our mutual, entire, and constant fellowship with God.

They have entire fellowship, because they do not only dwell one with another, but one in another, as members in the body, as branches in the root; Whosoever shall confess Jesus, &c. So that this is one mark of true Christianity, in that it seals up a mans soul to everlasting fellowship with God; There are many marks of Christianity, but none so general, so that where this confession is, there is true fellowship with God, this is certain and true, Mat. 16 16, 17. Whom say men that I the Son of man am? &c. But saith Christ, Who say ye that I am? Peter answered and said, we confess thee to be the Son of the ever-living God; what saith Christ to him? Blessed art thou Simon; if he were blessed, then his soul was wrapped up into the fellowship of the souls of just men made perfect, and so into fellowship with God. The same acceptance did Christ give to the Thief upon the Cross, when his Disciples left him, when the Soldiers spitefully entreated him, and all despised him, one of the thieves railed on him; saith the other, Fearest thou not God? sith we are in the same condemnation, Luk. 23.42.3. Remember me, saith he, when thou comest into thy kingdom. He acknowledgeth here that Christ was the Son of God, because he saith, Remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom, knowing that power and glory was his: what saith Christ to this confession of his? That he should confess him in the midst of so many reproaches and disgraces, that one Thief should confess more then all the rest; Christ saith to him, This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise, his soul was taken up into heaven, and ⟨p. 313⟩so he was a blessed man, and had fellowship with God, 1 John 5.5. He that overcometh, believeth that Jesus is the Son of God, so chap. 2. & 3. of the Revel. if any man overcome the world it is only he that confesseth that Jesus is the Son of God, 1 Cor. 12.3. No man can truly say, that Jesus is the Lord, but by the holy Ghost; such is the work of the holy Ghost, that God dwells in him, and he in God.

They have entire fellowship, because they doe not onely dwell one with another, but one in another, as members in the body, as branches in the root; Whosoever shall confesse Jesus, &c. So that this is one mark of true Christianity, in that it seals up a mans soul to everlasting fellowship with God; There are many marks of Christianity, but none so general, so that where this confession is, there is true fellowship with God, this is certain and true, Mat. 16 16, 17. Whom say men that I the Son of man am? &c. But saith Christ, Who say ye that I am? Peter answered and said, we confesse thee to be the Son of the ever-living God; what saith Christ to him? Blessed art thou Simon; if he were blessed, then his soule was wrapt up into the fellowship of the soules of just men made perfect, and so into fellowship with God. The same acceptance did Christ give to the Thiefe upon the Crosse, when his Disciples left him, when the Souldiers spightfully intreated him, and all despised him, one of the thieves railed on him; saith the other, Fearest thou not God? sith we are in the same condemnation, Luk. 23.42.3. Remember me, saith he, when thou comest into thy kingdom. He acknowledgeth here that Christ was the Son of God, because he saith, Remember me when thou comest into thy kingdome, knowing that power and glory was his: what saith Christ to this confession of his? That he should confesse him in the midst of so many reproaches and disgraces, that one Thiefe should confesse more then all the rest; Christ saith to him, This day shalt thou be with me in Paradice, his soule was taken up into heaven, and ⟨p. 313⟩so he was a blessed man, and had fellowship with God, 1 John 5.5. He that overcometh, believeth that Jesus is the Son of God, so chap. 2. & 3. of the Revel. if any man overcome the world it is only he that confesseth that Jesus is the Son of God, 1 Cor. 12.3. No man can truly say, that Jesus is the Lord, but by the holy Ghost; such is the work of the holy Ghost, that God dwels in him, and he in God.

Answ. There is something in respect of the time, it was something in the days of St. John, for a man to confess, that Jesus was the Son of God, for then men durst not, because this was but a new doctrine, this point had Universality, and antiquity against it, but now it is burning to ashes to deny it; It is now no thank for men to confess that Jesus is the Son of God, he that shall not confess it, shall have cause of confusion in this world, and in the world to come. The Devils did believe this, but they did not confess him truly; and good men will sore distrust this point, because the Devil confesseth this, the Devil was convinced of the truth of this, but yet it was no argument of his dwelling with God, because he did this fraudulently.

Answ. There is something in respect of the time, it was something in the dayes of St. John, for a man to confesse, that Jesus was the Son of God, for then men durst not, because this was but a new doctrine, this point had Universality, and antiquity against it, but now it is burning to ashes to deny it; It is now no thank for men to confesse that Jesus is the Son of God, he that shall not confesse it, shall have cause of confusion in this world, and in the world to come. The Devils did believe this, but they did not confesse him truely; and good men will sore distrust this point, because the Devill confesseth this, the Devil was convinced of the truth of this, but yet it was no argument of his dwelling with God, because he did this fraudulently.

Object. But the Pharisees they confessed this, and they knew that he was the Son of God.

Answ. They did believe it, and were convinced in their consciences but yet they did not confess him openly, John 7.13.

Answ. They did believe it, and were convinced in their consciences but yet they did not confesse him openly, John 7.13.

Quest. What is it to confess that Jesus is the Son of God?

Quest. What is it to confesse that Jesus is the Son of God?

Answ. It is not only an act of judgement, neither is it barely an act of the lips to say, that Jesus is the Son of God, this is no such sign of our fellowship with God; for it is now as great a wonder for a man to deny it, as it was then to confess it.

Answ. It is not onely an act of judgement, neither is it barely an act of the lips to say, that Jesus is the Son of God, this is no such sign of our fellowship with God; for it is now as great a wonder for a man to deny it, as it was then to confesse it.

That there is an act of the works or deeds of a man, and so confessing it is an argument that we have fellowship with God, God doth not take that for a true confession, when a man doth confess him with his lips, but in his works deny him, Tit. 1.16. Isa. 29.13. This confession is twofold 1. with the heart, 2. with the life, Confession with the heart is double.

That there is an act of the works or deeds of a man, and so confessing it is an argument that we have fellowship with God, God doth not take that for a true confession, when a man doth confesse him with his lips, but in his works deny him, Tit. 1.16. Isa. 29.13. This confession is twofold 1. with the heart, 2. with the life, Confession with the heart is double.

First, A looking to Christ for salvation, and this is an evident pledge of Gods dwelling with us, and we with him, Isa. 45.22. to 25. Rom. 14.11. Phil. 2.10, 11. Look to me and be saved, no man can look up to God as a God of his salvation but shall be saved; this is the proper work of faith.

The second is a penitential confessing, when Peter had convinced the Jews, that Jesus was the Lord, they were pricked in their harts, Acts 2.26, 37. For a man to confess that he is the Lord, and never to be troubled that he doth afflict him, nor never look for salvation by him, there is no truth, no heartiness in that confession, but when the heart is humbled for all the wrong it hath done to Christ, this is an evidence of hearty confession.

The second is a penitential confessing, when Peter had convinced the Jews, that Jesus was the Lord, they were pricked in their harts, Acts 2.26, 37. For a man to confesse that he is the Lord, and never to be troubled that he doth afflict him, nor never look for salvation by him, there is no truth, no heartinesse in that confession, but when the heart is humbled for all the wrong it hath done to Christ, this is an evidence of hearty confession.

In the confession of our life there are two parts.

1 If I confess Christ to be the Son of God; I do not only take him to be my Saviour, but to be my Lord and Governor, 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. Heb. 5.9. we obey Christ in thoughts, in speeches affections and conversations. 1 Pet. 3.14.2. When we suffer as Christians, and are not ashamed of the Cross of Christ, but answer as did the three children, Dan. 3.17, 18. The grace of a Christian is the lively confessing of Christ.

1 If I confesse Christ to be the Son of God; I doe not only take him to be my Saviour, but to be my Lord and Governour, 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. Heb. 5.9. we obey Christ in thoughts, in speeches affections and conversations. 1 Pet. 3.14.2. When we suffer as Christians, and are not ashamed of the Crosse of Christ, but answer as did the three children, Dan. 3.17, 18. The grace of a Christian is the lively confessing of Christ.

Reas. These may be all, as so many reasons of the point▪ another reason may be this, flesh and blood cannot believe it, and confess it, Matth. 16.16, 17.

Reas. These may be all, as so many reasons of the point▪ another reason may be this, flesh and bloud cannot believe it, and confesse it, Matth. 16.16, 17.

Object. But Peter did swear, that he never knew Christ.