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?

Ans. 1. Before it might be thought that he spake of Carnal men, therefore to make it manifest, that even those that had confessed their sins, and were cleansed from unrighteousness, yet even those if they should say they had no sin should make not only themselves liars, but God a Liar; therefore he repeats it.

Ans. 1. Before it might be thought that he spake of Carnal men, therefore to make it manifest, that even those that had confessed their sins, and were cleansed from unrighteousnesse, yet even those if they should say they had no sin should make not onely themselves lyars, but God a Lyar; therefore he repeats it.

3. Because it is a point of great necessity to believe the contrary truth, therefore he takes up this conclusion again; To say, is either In Heart, In Word, In Carriage:

Well, to say thus, is to make God a Liar, and so no God, for if he be not a God of Truth, he is no God; for, Verum & bonum convertuntur.

Well, to say thus, is to make God a Lyar, and so no God, for if he be not a God of Truth, he is no God; for, Verum & bonum convertuntur.

Q. Why doth he make God a Liar?

Q. Why doth he make God a Lyar?

A. 1. Because God hath given his Son Christ to cleanse us from all sin, and to what end should he send Christ to cleanse sin, if we had no sin; he that saith ⟨p. 48⟩he hath no sin, overthrows the coming of Christ, and the cleansing virtue his blood.

A. 1. Because God hath given his Son Christ to cleanse us from all sin, and to what end should he send Christ to cleanse sin, if we had no sin; he that saith ⟨p. 48⟩he hath no sin, overthrows the coming of Christ, and the cleansing virtue his bloud.

2. God hath often said, all men are Sinners, in his Word, Rom. 3.23. Gal. 3, 22. Job 15.14. What is man that he should be clean? Job 7.20. David an holy man, yet professeth, Psal. 130.3. Psal. 143.2. the perfectest of Gods Servants have testified of themselves, that they are Sinners, therefore if we say we have not sinned, we make God a Liar.

2. God hath often said, all men are Sinners, in his Word, Rom. 3.23. Gal. 3, 22. Job 15.14. What is man that he should be clean? Job 7.20. David an holy man, yet professeth, Psal. 130.3. Psal. 143.2. the perfectest of Gods Servants have testified of themselves, that they are Sinners, therefore if we say we have not sinned, we make God a Lyar.

Q. What is meant, when he saith, the Word is not in him?

A. 1. It is not in his judgement, when he is not persuaded of it.

A. 1. It is not in his judgement, when he is not perswaded of it.

2. It is not in his heart, when he trusts not in it, and receives it not in love, and the saving efficacy of it; he that saith he hath no sin receives not the word; he speaks of the Word here, as Verbum salutiferum, Acts 20.32. 1 Thes. 2.13. 2 Tim. 3.15. Now the Word is said not to be in a man when there is not so much Word as will save; a man may be ignorant of some Divine truths, and yet the Word of God may be in him, but if he want the Knowledge and Faith of such Points, without which he cannot be saved, the Word dwells not in him; now he that denies sin to be in him, there is not only a denial of that truth, but he is empty of all other saving truths.

2. It is not in his heart, when he trusts not in it, and receives it not in love, and the saving efficacy of it; he that saith he hath no sin receives not the word; he speaks of the Word here, as Verbum salutiferum, Acts 20.32. 1 Thes. 2.13. 2 Tim. 3.15. Now the Word is said not to be in a man when there is not so much Word as will save; a man may be ignorant of some Divine truths, and yet the Word of God may be in him, but if he want the Knowledge and Faith of such Points, without which he cannot be saved, the Word dwells not in him; now he that denies sin to be in him, there is not onely a denial of that truth, but he is empty of all other saving truths.

All the Saving Truths of God are comprehended; 1 In Repentance for Sin. 2 Some lead on to Faith for pardon. 3 Some lead to Mortification of Sin. 4 Some tend to Sanctification from Sin, to be accomplished in due time; now if a man be without sin, to what purpose are all such exhortations to Repentance? To what purpose are all Scriptures tending to faith in Christ? To what purpose are such as tend to Mortification, or Sanctification; so that he that denies sin to be in him, he not only sins against God, and makes him a Liar, but he doth also Heretically err in overthrowing all saving Truth; the Doctrine of Repentance, of Mortification, of Faith, of Sanctification, all these are over-thrown.

All the Saving Truths of God are comprehended; 1 In Repentance for Sin. 2 Some lead on to Faith for pardon. 3 Some lead to Mortification of Sin. 4 Some tend to Sanctification from Sin, to be accomplished in due time; now if a man be without sin, to what purpose are all such exhortations to Repentance? To what purpose are all Scriptures tending to faith in Christ? To what purpose are such as tend to Mortification, or Sanctification; so that he that denies sin to be in him, he not onely sins against God, and makes him a Lyar, but he doth also Heretically erre in overthrowing all saving Truth; the Doctrine of Repentance, of Mortification, of Faith, of Sanctification, all these are over-thrown.

If a man apprehend or profess perfection in himself, it is impossible a man should have any truth of Grace, believing he hath no need of Repentance, or Faith in Christ, or Mortification, or Sanctification, this is a terrible point; St. John may well be called Boanerges, a son of Thunder, for these are thundering speeches; he that saith he hath no sin is a Liar, against himself, against God, a Blasphemer, an Heretic.

If a man apprehend or professe perfection in himselfe, it is impossible a man should have any truth of Grace, believing he hath no need of Repentance, or Faith in Christ, or Mortification, or Sanctification, this is a terrible point; St. John may well be called Boanerges, a son of Thunder, for these are thundering speeches; he that saith he hath no sin is a Lyar, against himselfe, against God, a Blasphemer, an Heretick.

Use 1. To confute perfect obedience to the Law, as the Papists hold, that Justification is by Works, were there no other Errors but this, it is Blasphemous, Atheistical, and Heretical, and overturns the foundation of Religion, for what is the foundation of Religion but the Doctrine of Repentance, and Faith? and if any be justified by Works, he hath neither need of Repentance, or Faith, if righteousness be by the Law, then Christ dyed in vain, and his blood is of no effect, Gal. 5.14. therefore that opinion is vain, that Popish Religion and ours may be reconciled, let St. John put in his judgement, he tells you, that he that saith he hath no sin, that he hath fulfilled the Law, and is justified by Works, there is no truth, no saving truth in that Religion that teacheth so, therefore it is impossible he should have any saving Religion in him, that holds Justification by Works, that holds Merits, he makes God a Liar, and his Word is not in him; For,

Ʋse 1. To confute perfect obedience to the Law, as the Papists hold, that Justification is by Works, were there no other Errours but this, it is Blasphemous, Atheisticall, and Hereticall, and overturns the foundation of Religion, for what is the foundation of Religion but the Doctrine of Repentance, and Faith? and if any be justified by Works, he hath neither need of Repentance, or Faith, if righteousnesse be by the Law, then Christ dyed in vain, and his bloud is of no effect, Gal. 5.14. therefore that opinion is vain, that Popish Religion and ours may be reconciled, let St. John put in his judgement, he tells you, that he that saith he hath no sin, that he hath fulfilled the Law, and is justified by Works, there is no truth, no saving truth in that Religion that teacheth so, therefore it is impossible he should have any saving Religion in him, that holds Justification by Works, that holds Merits, he makes God a Lyar, and his Word is not in him; For,

1 God then should send his Son in vain, Gal. 2.19, 20.