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

Ans. Well, but we have an advocate that is holy and just, and that prays and intercedes for us, and we shall find the benefit of his Righteousness, though we fall daily into much unrighteousness, yet Jesus Christ our Mediator is righteous.

Ans. Well, but we have an advocate that is holy and just, and that prayes and intercedes for us, and we shall find the benefit of his Righteousnesse, though we fall daily into much unrighteousnesse, yet Jesus Christ our Mediator is righteous.

Use 2 To teach us to be Righteous, as he is Righteous, God would have us conformable to the image of his Son, Rom. 8.29. and that consists in Holiness and Righteousness, God would have us so to walk, that our Sir-name may be Justus, Righteous towards God, to give him his due, Righteous to others, to give them their due, and Righteous to our selves.

Ʋse 2 To teach us to be Righteous, as he is Righteous, God would have us conformable to the image of his Son, Rom. 8.29. and that consists in Holinesse and Righteousnesse, God would have us so to walk, that our Sir-name may be Justus, Righteous towards God, to give him his due, Righteous to others, to give them their due, and Righteous to our selves.

To be called Christians, and yet not to be righteous, is to be called Christians, and yet to be no Christians. Why are we called Christians, but because we are anointed with the Unction of Christ? If a man profess himself to be a Christian, and is not Righteous, he is not a Christian, for he hath not the Spirit of Christ, and therefore is none of Christs; not but that we may fail, but it is required that the stream and bent of our hearts and ways be to walk Righteously; we aim at Righteousness, though sometimes we miss the mark.

To be called Christians, and yet not to be righteous, is to be called Christians, and yet to be no Christians. Why are we called Christians, but because we are anoynted with the Unction of Christ? If a man professe himself to be a Christian, and is not Righteous, he is not a Christian, for he hath not the Spirit of Christ, and therefore is none of Christs; not but that we may fail, but it is required that the stream and bent of our hearts and wayes be to walk Righteously; we aim at Righteousnesse, though sometimes we misse the mark.

1 JOHN 2.3. And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments.

The Apostle St. John having showed in the former Verses that Christ is our Advocate, and Propitiation, here might his little Children reason, But how shall I know that Christ is my Advocate, and Reconciler? though he be both, yet how shall it appear that it is so to me? Why, hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments.

THe Apostle St. John having shewed in the former Verses that Christ is our Advocate, and Propitiation, here might his little Children reason, But how shall I know that Christ is my Advocate, and Reconciler? though he be both, yet how shall it appear that it is so to me? Why, hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments.

Saint John here speaks of such a knowledge as we call acquaintance, and familiarity; and fellowship, I know you not, Matth. 7.23. that is, I have no acquaintance and fellowship with you, hereby we know we have fellowship with Christ, if we keep his Commandments, you may know whether you have fellowship with Christ or no by this. This third Verse therefore shows our fellowship with Christ in his mediation.

Saint John here speaks of such a knowledge as we call acquaintance, and familiarity; and fellowship, I know you not, Matth. 7.23. that is, I have no acquaintance and fellowship with you, hereby we know we have fellowship with Christ, if we keep his Commandments, you may know whether you have fellowship with Christ or no by this. This third Verse therefore shews our fellowship with Christ in his mediation.

Doct. 1. A man that knows Christ, may, and ought to come to know that he doth know him, or hath fellowship and communion with him.

Doct. 2. Such as do keep his Commandments may come to know that they do know Christ, that they have true fellowship with him.

Doct. 2. Such as do keep his Commandments may ceme to know that they do know Christ, that they have true fellowship with him.

1 For the First, a man that knows Christ, may, and ought to come to know that he knows him, or hath fellowship and communion with him; hereby we know that we know him, here is actio reflexa, the Senses they do not reflect themselves, the eye sees other mens faces, not its own, but by reflection in a Glass, but in our Spiritual knowledge we may more sensibly discern our Spiritual estate, than our faces in a Glass, for we see not that, but in another Me•lium, but a man knows his knowledge of Spiritual things directly, he not only knows, but knows that he knows what is meant by these.

1 For the First, a man that knows Christ, may, and ought to come to know that he knows him, or hath fellowship and communion with him; hereby we know that we know him, here is actio reflexa, the Senses they do not reflect themselves, the eye sees other mens faces, not its own, but by reflection in a Glasse, but in our Spiritual knowledge we may more sensibly discern our Spiritual estate, than our faces in a Glasse, for we see not that, but in another Me•lium, but a man knows his knowledge of Spiritual things directly, he not onely knows, but knows that he knows what is meant by these.

To know Christ, is not only to know his Nature, and Person, and Offices, that he is God man, and that he is our Advocate, and Reconciler, and Propitiation, the Devil knows thus much; so that a Spiritual knowledge is not superficial, but such a knowledge as is operative, not dead, but lively, not naked, but such a knowledge as is joined with acquaintance, such a knowledge as works us to obedience, Psal. 9.10. Isa. 53.11. and that works us to Mortification, Gal. 6.14. such a knowledge as makes all the World dead to us; As a man that hath set his affections on a woman, it deeds his affections to all others, 1 Sam. 2.12. the Sons of Eli knew not the Lord; and Exod. 5.2. Who is the Lord, saith Pharaoh, I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go; they knew not the Lord, that is, they had not this lively operative knowledge joined with obedience, so then true knowledge is operative, begets trust, and confidence, and joy in God, Jer. 10.23. and is likewise joined with obedience, 1 Chron. 28.9. so then we see it is such a knowledge as makes us trust in him, fear him, honour him, serve him, cleave to him, and yield obedience unto him; and no wonder, for verba sensus accipienda sunt cum effectu & affectu; I have seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress my people Israel, Exod. 3.9. I have seen, that is, not only looked on it, but have compassion, and intend to deliver them; so, Remember thy Creator, &c. that is, bend thy affections to him, and honour him, so to know Christ is to affect him, to honour him, to cleave to him, to obey him, to acquaint ⟨p. 59⟩our selves with him, for by knowledge is here meant acquaintance, and familiarity.

To know Christ, is not only to know his Nature, and Person, and Offices, that he is God man, and that he is our Advocate, and Reconciler, and Propitiation, the Devil knows thus much; so that a Spiritual knowledge is not superficial, but such a knowledge as is opprative, not dead, but lively, not naked, but such a knowledge as is joyned with acquaintance, such a knowledge as works us to obedience,

What is this Knowledge, to know that we know him?

It is an Act of Understanding, by which, upon good ground, he doth discern that he doth know God, and hath fellowship with him, no man calls that Knowledge which is only a Conjecture, nay this Knowledge is more than a true faith, for they are two distinct things though they stand together, 1 John 4.16. We have known and believed, &c. so that this Knowledge is more than a true faith, for faith is a persuasion or trust a man takes upon the credit of Divine testimony, if I take it upon mans testimony, it is credulity, but when I take things on Gods authority, that is faith; but here is something more, we know and believe, and we know that we know, which is an Actus judicii, and more than opinion, or faith; Knowledge is such an acknowledgement as ariseth Ex principiis scientificis, such as proceeds from certain Principles, as I know that Fire burns from the light and heat, so then I know it by experience, all knowledge ariseth either from causes or Effects, such effects as cannot delude us, if it may, it is but conjecture, but what we know, it is upon sure grounds and experience, that is Knowledge. So then we know that we know him, this implies, that a man that knows Christ may not only think so, and have such an opinion, and believe so, but he may know he knows Christ, and that by two effects.

1 By feeling in his own heart, that having been oppressed with sin, he finds his soul comfortably pacified, if he find Christ pacifying his soul, he knows that he knows Christ, such a man whose spirit hath been oppressed with the consciousness of sin, if this mans soul be comforted and pacified, then he knows that he knows Christ, he is now acquainted with Christ, one that was never troubled with sin, knows not the worth and virtue of Christ, but a man that hath been afflicted in conscience for sin, and is now pacified, now he knows that he knows Christ, he had hold of him before, but he now plainly sees him, Job 42.5. I have heard of thee, by the hearing of the Ear, but now mine Eyes see thee, as if all his knowledge before, had been but as the hearing of him; but now he comfortably finds Christs presence, he now sees his worth and excellency, Cant. 5.10. a man knows that this is Christ, because he knows that nothing in Heaven or Earth could pacify him but Christ.

1 By feeling in his own heart, that having been oppressed with sinne, hee finds his soul comfortably pacified, if hee find Christ pacifying his soul, he knows that he knowes Christ, such a man whose spirit hath been oppressed with the consciousnesse of sin, if this mans soul be comforted and pacified, then he knows that he knows Christ, he is now acquainted with Christ, one that was never troubled with sin, knows not the worth and vertue of Christ, but a man that hath been afflicted in conscience for sin, and is now pacified, now he knows that he knows Christ, he had hold of him before, but he now plainly sees him, Job 42.5. I have heard of thee, by the hearing of the Ear, but now mine Eyes see thee, as if all his knowledge before, had been but as the hearing of him; but now he comfortably finds Christs presence, he now sees his worth and excellency, Cant. 5.10. a man knows that this is Christ, because he knows that nothing in Heaven or Earth could pacifie him but Christ.

2 He knows that he knows Christ, not only by the pacifying of his conscience, but by the purifying of his conscience, Act. 15.9. purifying it from the lusts of sin, whereas before we were covetous; we are now heavenly minded; whereas before vain, now serious in serio, and look at Trifles as Trifles; before unclean, now holy and chaste; before intemperate, now temperate; before disordered, now our hearts are cast into another mould and frame, both the inward man is purified, and the outward, the words and actions are purified; thus we know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments, so that they that know Christ, may say, I know that I know him.

Use 1. To refute that Popish Doctrine that teacheth, that none can be certain of his Salvation, nay they say it is Heretical presumption, and many worldly men think it is impossible, and others think it is needless to be attained, but such may be convinced from this Doctrine, and what saith the Apostle Peter, Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure, 2 Pet. 1.10. how shall we make it sure, if we know that we know it? 1. Cor. 2.12. God gives us his Spirit, that we may see the grace he hath given us, Joh. 3. ult. St. John speaks it here of little Children, that they may know it, so that this Knowledge is both possible, necessary, and may be certain.

Ʋse 1. To refute that Popish Doctrin that teacheth, that none can be certain of his Salvation, nay they say it is Heretical presumption, and many worldly men think it is impossible, and others think it is needlesse to be attained, but such may be convinced from this Doctrin, and what saith the Apostle Peter, Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure, 2 Pet. 1.10. how shall we make it sure, if we know that we know it? 1. Cor. 2.12. God gives us his Spirit, that we may see the grace he hath given us, Joh. 3. ult. St. John speaks it here of little Children, that they may know it, so that this Knowledge is both possible, necessary, and may be certain.