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

The Law, that shows us the impossibility of not sinning, but doth not teach us how to sin, Rom. 3.20. it shows us sin, and to show sin, is not to learn us how to sin, but how to avoid it.

The Law, that shews us the impossibility of not sinning, but doth not teach us how to sin, Rom. 3.20. it shews us sin, and to shew sin, is not to learne us how to sin, but how to avoyd it.

2 It shows us not only the nature of sin, but also convinceth us of sin, and the danger of it, Rom. 7.14. Gal. 3.10.

2 It shews us not only the nature of sin, but also convinceth us of sin, and the danger of it, Rom. 7.14. Gal. 3.10.

And for the Gospel, that teacheth that the blood of Christ cleanseth us from all our sins.

2 The Gospel teacheth us so to use the blood of Christ, as that we may mortify sin, and not only get it pardoned, but cleansed, for the use of the Gospel is to mortify sin, therefore it leads us not to the commission of sin.

2 The Gospel teacheth us so to use the blood of Christ, as that we may mortifie sin, and not only get it pardoned, but cleansed, for the use of the Gospel is to mortifie sin, therefore it leads us not to the commission of sin.

3 The Gospel begets those graces that cleanse us from sin;

First, It begets faith, which purifies the heart, Act. 15.9.

Secondly, It begets hope, and that also purifies, 1 Joh. 3.3. he that hath this hope purifies himself, as he is pure.

Secondly, It begets hope, and that also purifies, 1 Joh. 3.3. he that hath this hope purifies himselfe, as he is pure.

Thirdly, It begets love, and that love constrains us to good, and restrains us from evil, 2 Cor. 5.14. so that both Law and Gospel dehort us from sin.

Thirdly, It begets love, and that love constraines us to good, and restrains us from evill, 2 Cor. 5.14. so that both Law and Gospel dehort us from sin.

Use 1. Of direction to Ministers what course to take.

Ʋse 1. Of direction to Ministers what course to take.

Two points of Wisdom are hence to be learned.

Two points of Wisdome are hence to be learned.

First, If any misconstruction may arise from your Doctrine, wisely to prevent it, St. John saw there would arise an encouragement to sin, from one Doctrine he had delivered, and a discouragement from fighting against sin from another, therefore he tells them, These things I write, that ye sin not, but if any man sin, &c.

Secondly, Another direction is, to frame your selves to dispense Milk to Babes; Saint John was a Son of Thunder, and a Pillar among the Apostles, Gal. 2.9. yet he writing to little Babes, tells them thus, My little Children; these things I write unto you, that you sin not; it seems a weak line for such a man, but he tempers his Doctrine according to their strength; we should be ready to think it poor homely stuff to say thus, who could not have said as much?

Secondly, Another direction is, to frame your selves to dispence Milk to Babes; Saint John was a Son of Thunder, and a Pillar among the Apostles, Gal. 2.9. yet he writing to little Babes, tells them thus, My little Children; these things I write unto you, that you sin not; it seemes a weake line for such a man, but he tempers his Doctrine according to their strength; we should be ready to thinke it poor homely stuffe to say thus, who could not have said as much?

Use 2. Of reproof to the Papists, who lock up St. Johns writings from the people, they may not be suffered to read them; why if he write them for this end that they might not sin, then they give the reins to sin that deny leave and liberty to read them.

Ʋse 2. Of reproofe to the Papists, who lock up St. Johns writings from the people, they may not be suffered to read them; why if he write them for this end that they might not sin, then they give the reins to sin that deny leave and liberty to read them.

Use 3. To teach us the poysonful corruption of our natures, that out of the purest soundest Doctrine gathers poison, Saint John fore-saw that from his Doctrine they would be ready to gather false conclusions. So Rom. 5.20. when St. Paul had delivered the free Doctrine of Justification, see what use they make of it, he had taught that as sin abounded, so did grace much more ⟨p. 50⟩abound, now he saw that they would be ready to gather false conclusions from this, therefore he prevents it, Chap. 6.1. shall we then sin that Grace may abound? God forbid; therefore it must make us out of love with our selves; the commonest meats are most nourishing and good, other rare meats commonly breed distempers, but some stomach will corrupt any meat, so the plainest points of Religion, are the soundest and best, but such is the corruption of our nature, that it is ready to gather poison out of them.

Ʋse 3. To teach us the poysonful corruption of our natures, that out of the purest soundest Doctrine gathers poyson, Saint John fore-saw that from his Doctrine they would be ready to gather false conclusions. So Rom. 5.20. when St. Paul had delivered the free Doctrine of Justification, see what use they make of it, he had taught that as sin abounded, so did grace much more ⟨p. 50⟩abound, now he saw that they would be ready to gather false conclusions from this, therefore he prevents it, Chap. 6.1. shall we then sin that Grace may abound? God forbid; therefore it must make us out of love with our selves; the commonest meats are most nourishing and good, other rare meats commonly breed distempers, but some stomach will corrupt any meat, so the plainest points of Religion, are the soundest and best, but such is the corruption of our nature, that it is ready to gather poyson out of them.

Use 4. To teach us when we have made a good use of the Apostles writings, viz. when they divert us from sin if you be restrained and kept back from any sin by them, you make good use of them, St. John wrote this Epistle that they might not sin, labour therefore by reading thereof, to be made more cautelous against sin.

Ʋse 4. To teach us when we have made a good use of the Apostles writings, viz. when they divert us from sin if you be restained and kept back from any sin by them, you make good use of them, St. John wrote this Epistle that they might not sin, labour therefore by reading thereof, to be made more cautelous against sin.