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

Obj: If sin be always mortified where it is pardoned, how comes it to pass that godly men fall so often into the same sin? Doth not David confess that there was a way of lying in him, Psal. 119.29: Remove from me the way of lying; which implies it was not one act, but a way, a course that he walked in sometimes; so Isaac, Gen. 26. told the same Lye, both to the Philistines, and Abimelech; so it was with Jonah, he was froward before he went to Nineveh, and froward afterward; how is it then, that sin may be cleansed and yet renewed, and if renewed how cleansed?

Obj: If sin be always mortified where it is pardoned, how comes it to passe that godly men fall so often into the same sin? Doth not David confesse that there was a way of lying in him, Psal. 119.29: Remove from me the way of lying; which implies it was not one act, but a way, a course that he walked in sometimes; so Isaac, Gen. 26. told the same Lye, both to the Philistims, and Abimelech; so it was with Jonah, he was froward before he went to Niniveh, and froward afterward; how is it then, that sin may be cleansed and yet renewed, and if renewed how cleansed?

Ans. It is with Sin in this respect as with Samsons Hair, it may be cut, but it will grow again; Sin may be mortified in some kind, and yet renewed again, because Sin in this Life is mortified but in part; Pride, Wantonness, Covetousness in part are mortified, but in part alive, and if we neglect the practise of mortification, that sin we had got some mastery of, we shall fall into again: if Sin break out again it is because we neglect those means we should mortify Sin by; he doth not say, the blood of Christ hath cleansed us, but cleanseth; Doth cleanse, implying that cleansing is a continued Act, the blood of Christ is a notable Medicine to heal Sin, and purge from filthiness, but if a man neglect to apply this Plaster to his Soul, it may not be so effectual as it would.

Ans. It is with Sin in this respect as with Sampsons Hair, it may be cut, but it will grow again; Sin may be mortified in some kinde, and yet renewed again, because Sin in this Life is mortified but in part; Pride, Wantonnesse, Coveteousnesse in part are mortified, but in part alive, and if we neglect the practise of mortification, that sin we had got some mastery of, we shall fall into again: if Sin break out again it is because we neglect those means we should mortifie Sin by; he doth not say, the bloud of Christ hath cleansed us, but cleanseth; Doth cleanse, implying that cleansing is a continued Act, the bloud of Christ is a notable Medicine to heal Sin, and purge from filthinesse, but if a man neglect to apply this Plaister to his Soul, it may not be so effectuall as it would.

Use 1. For trial, whether our Sins be pardoned or no, would you know whether your Sin be pardoned? why then it is also cleansed, if your Sin be not cleansed in some measure, it is not pardoned at all; therefore look at your Sins if they be healed, then they are certainly pardoned, for it is the same blood of Christ that both heals and pardons Sin, Hos. 14.4. God doth not only love freely, and pardon graciously, but he heals them also; therefore consider, do you find your Sins healed, that is, that they have not that power they had before, do they seem loathsome to you, whereas before you delighted in them, now in heart you hate them, and in practise avoid them, then those Sins are pardoned, and if he pardons one Sin he pardons all, his pardons are universal; but if a man live in Sin still, and love it as well, and is no more ashamed than formerly he had been, but goes on in the same Sin, truly it is not healed, and then not pardoned.

Ʋse 1. For tryall, whether our Sins be pardoned or no, would you know whether your Sin be pardoned? why then it is also cleansed, if your Sin be not cleansed in some measure, it is not pardoned at all; therefore look at your Sins if they be healed, then they are certainly pardoned, for it is the same bloud of Christ that both heals and pardons Sin, Hos. 14.4. God doth not onely love freely, and pardon graciously, but he heals them also; therefore consider, doe you finde your Sins healed, that is, that they have not that power they had before, doe they seem loathsome to you, whereas before you delighted in them, now in heart you hate them, and in practise avoyd them, then those Sins are pardoned, and if he pardons one Sin he pardons all, his pardons are universall; but if a man live in Sin still, and love it as well, and is no more ashamed than formerly he had been, but goes on in the same Sin, truly it is not healed, and then not pardoned.

Ans. It may grow stronger in our feeling, when it is not so in it self, it is not because Sin is stronger, but our sense is more quick, a man that is in extremity of Sickness, he feels no pain, but when be begins to recover, he feels more pain, why then the Disease is not stronger, but he is more sensible.

Ans. It may grow stronger in our feeling, when it is not so in it self, it is not because Sin is stronger, but our sense is more quick, a man that is in extemity of Sicknesse, he feels no pain, but when be begins to recover, he feels more pain, why then the Disease is not stronger, but he is more sensible.

2. Do you not find that Sin is more loathsome and bitter to you? then it is in some measure mortified, for mortifying is a borrowed speech from a Surgeons mortifying a Wound: they use to bind the joint, and stop all spirit and blood, so that it is made insensible of pain; so if we have stopped the freeness of our spirits to Sin, we are not so lively and frolic to Sin, it is a sign corruption is mortified, but if you see you are as lively, and ready, and delight as much in Sin as before, Sin is not mortified, but if it grow loathsome and bitter to us, it is a sign of mortification.

2. Doe you not find that Sin is more loathsome and bitter to you? then it is in some measure mortified, for mortifying is a borrowed specch from a Surgions mortifying a Wound: they use to binde the joynt, and stop all spirit and bloud, so that it is made insensible of pain; so if we have stopt the freenesse of our spirits to Sin, we are not so lively and frolick to Sin, it is a signe corruption is mortified, but if you see you are as lively, and ready, and delight as much in Sin as before, Sin is not mortified, but if it grow loathsome and bitter to us, it is a signe of mortification.

Use 2. Directs us how to make good use of the blood of Christ, not only to pardon our Sins, but to heal them; we are not wont to make use of it for pardon, but we must make use of it as well for healing, for else we take the blood of Christ in vain, if we make use of it to pardon and not to cleanse, for his blood was sent as well to pardon as to heal, therefore pray not to God to pardon your sins through Christs blood only, but lay his blood warm to your hearts every day, that so you may have your hearts and ways cleansed; it is a continued act, not of one day or two, but throughout our whole life we should make use of Christs blood to cleanse us.

Ʋse 2. Directs us how to make good use of the bloud of Christ, not onely to pardon our Sins, but to heal them; we are not wont to make use of it for pardon, but we must make use of it as well for healing, for else we take the bloud of Christ in vain, if we make use of it to pardon and not to cleanse, for his bloud was sent as well to pardon as to heal, therefore pray not to God to pardon your sins through Christs bloud onely, but lay his bloud warm to your hearts every day, that so you may have your hearts and ways cleansed; it is a continued act, not of one day or two, but throughout our whole life we should make use of Christs bloud to cleanse us.

1. Consider what great things he did for us, the just for the unjust, and the meditation thereof will make us ashamed of sin.

2. Pray to God for the quickening work of his Spirit, that the same blood of Christ that hath procured pardon, may also procure healing for us.

2. Pray to God for the quickning work of his Spirit, that the same bloud of Christ that hath procured pardon, may also procure healing for us.

Use 3. It may teach us all to labour to grow in cleanness of heart and life, for the blood of Christ cleanseth us, Zech. 13.1. a Fountain that runs into a Channel that is muddy, it will by continual running cleanse it; so though Christ find our spirits muddy and defiled, yet we should let it run daily on us, and be ever rinsing of our hearts at the fountain.

Ʋse 3. It may teach us all to labour to grow in cleannesse of heart and life, for the bloud of Christ cleanseth us, Zech. 13.1. a Fountain that runs into a Channel that is muddy, it will by continuall running cleanse it; so though Christ finde our spirits muddy and defiled, yet we should let it run daily on us, and be ever rincing of our hearts at the fountain.

Use 4. Comfort to all Gods Servants, that have had any experience of the pardon of their sins; you shall certainly in time feel and find healing and cleansing from your sins; if you see a clear Fountain running into a filthy Channel it is very muddy and the worse for the present, the mud being stirred, but afterwards it is cleansed and made pure and clean; so Christs blood may run into muddy spirits, and that blood at first may make corruption more stirring, you find more pride, and vanity, and uncleanness; but will it hold so? no truly, in cleansing it will cleanse, and go on till it hath purged all corruption.

Ʋse 4. Comfort to all Gods Servants, that have had any experience of the pardon of their sins; you shall certainly in time feel and finde healing and cleansing from your sins; if you see a clear Fountain running into a filthy Channel it is very muddy and the worse for the present, the mud being stirred, but afterwards it is cleansed and made pure and clean; so Christs bloud may run into muddy spirits, and that bloud at first may make corruption more stirring, you finde more pride, and vanity, and uncleannesse; but will it hold so? no truely, in cleansing it will cleanse, and go on till it hath purged all corruption.

1 JOHN 1.10. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his Word is not in us.

1 JOHN 1.10. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a lyar, and his Word is not in us.

These words are a repetition of the former, v. 8. but with some addition, he aggravates this sin; they do not only make themselves liars, but they make God a Liar, which is not only Blasphemous, but Heretical, it extirpates all the truth of the Word.

THese words are a repetition of the former, v. 8. but with some addition, he aggravates this sin; they doe not onely make themselves lyars, but they make God a Lyar, which is not onely Blasphemous, but Heretical, it extirpates all the truth of the Word.

Doct. Opinion and Profession of perfect righteousness even in those that are cleansed by the blood of Christ, is not only an Error, but a blasphemous and heretical Error, it is Sacrilegious and Heretical.

Doct. Opinion and Profession of perfect righteousnesse even in those that are cleansed by the bloud of Christ, is not onely an Errour, but a blasphemous and heretical Errour, it is Sacrilegious and Heretical.

For having told us before, that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and that the blood of Christ cleanseth us from all unrighteousness, yet if after this we say we have no sin, we do not only make our selves liars, but God a liar, for if he be not a true God he is no God, and his word is not in us; that is, no part of the Word is in such a man.

For having told us before, that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and that the bloud of Christ cleanseth us from all unrighteousnesse, yet if after this we say we have no sin, we doe not onely make our selves lyars, but God a lyar, for if he be not a true God he is no God, and his word is not in us; that is, no part of the Word is in such a man.

Q. But why doth St. John repeat this thing, had he not said enough before, that he repeats it?