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

They say, we may have a conjectural Knowledge, but no certainty of faith; it is a speech which implies a contradiction, if it be conjectural it is no Knowledge, that which I only conjecture, I know not; we do not know that we only conjecture, if I ask you if you know such a one? If you say you think ⟨p. 60⟩you know him, you do not know him; so that when they say, we cannot have knowledge of faith, we do not say they may only believe it, but they may have certainty of feeling, Faith may admit much doubting, but Knowledge excludes much doubting.

They say, we may have a conjectural Knowledge, but no certainty of faith; it is a speech which implies a contradiction, if it be conjectural it is no Knowledge, that which I only conjecture, I know not; we do not know that we onely conjecture, if I ask you if you know such a one? If you say you think ⟨p. 60⟩you know him, you do not know him; so that when they say, we cannot have knowledge of faith, we do not say they may only believe it, but they may have certainty of feeling, Faith may admit much doubting, but Knowledge excludes much doubting.

Use 2 To consider whether we can say thus, we know that we know him; do you know that you have acquaintance and fellowship with Christ? do you believe it? How do you believe it, on what ground?

Ʋse 2 To consider whether we can say thus, we know that we know him; do you know that you have acquaintance and fellowship with Christ? do you believe it? How do you believe it, on what ground?

1 Have you found Christ purifying your Consciences by his blood? If you have found that, then you know that you know him, Phil. 4.7.

Use 3 To exhort us never to rest till you know that you have acquaintance with Christ, if a man had all the knowledge in the World, what comfort would it afford him, if he knew not that he had fellowship with Christ, never count you know any thing if you know not Christ, Si Christum discis, satis est, &c. and yet rest not there till you know that you know him; Beasts see, and hear, but they know not that they do so, because they are irrational, and want the faculty of reflection, and in spirituals a carnal heart is blind; but it is for a Christian to know Christ, and not only so, but to know that he knows him, we must not rest either in mens good persuasions, that they hope and are persuaded well of us, or that they speak well of us, but we must never rest till we know that Christ dwells in us, and we in him, which we may know by his pacifying and purifying of our consciences.

Ʋse 3 To exhort us never to rest till you know that you have acquaintance with Christ, if a man had all the knowledge in the World, what comfort would it afford him, if he knew not that he had fellowship with Christ, never count you know any thing if you know not Christ, Si Christum discis, satis est, &c. and yet rest not there till you know that you know him; Beasts see, and hear, but they know not that they do so, because they are irrational, and want the faculty of reflection, and in sprituals a carnal heart is blinde; but it is for a Christian to know Christ, and not only so, but to know that he knows him, we must not rest either in mens good perswasions, that they hope and are perswaded well of us, or that they speak well of us, but we must never rest till we know that Christ dwels in us, and we in him, which we may know by his pacifying and purifying of our consciences.

Use 4 Of Consolation to such as do sin, and fall daily, and find their own emptiness, their knowledge is but small, their experience little, their outward comforts shallow, yet this is a mans comfort, that he knows Christ, and not only so, but knows that he knows Christ; God never gives us a blessing but he is willing that we should know it, if he set up a light in our minds he would have us discern that light, and walk in the light thereof; therefore let us thankfully acknowledge it, and comfort our selves therein.

Ʋse 4 Of Consolation to such as do sin, and fall daily, and find their own emptinesse, their knowledge is but small, their experience little, their outward comforts shallow, yet this is a mans comfort, that he knows Christ, and not only so, but knows that he knows Christ; God never gives us a blessing but he is willing that we should know it, if he set up a light in our minds he would have us discern that light, and walk in the light thereof; therefore let us thankfully acknowledge it, and comfort our selves therein.

We come now to the Evidence whereby we come to know that we know Christ, hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments; for the understanding of this, we must know that there is a perfect keeping the Commandments without sin, and that St. John disclaimed before, Cap. 1. Vers. 8.10.

2 There is another keeping the Commandments, that is, not perfect without sin, yet perfect without dissimulation or hypocrisy, and that is here meant.

2 There is another keeping the Commandments, that is, not perfect without sin, yet perfect without dissimulation or hypocrisie, and that is here meant.

Doct. Sincere obedience, or keeping the Commandments of Christ, is a scientifical argument, and sign of our undoubted and known fellowship with Christ.

Q. What is it to keep his Commandments?

A. The keeping of his Commandments is usually in Scripture expressed by divers comparisons.

A. The keeping of his Commandments is usually in Scripture exprest by divers comparisons.

1 Sometimes it is expressed by keeping his Commandments, as a man would keep his way, turning neither to the right hand, nor to the left, Josh. 1.7. and then we must look at the Commandments as our way, as a Traveller doth not go out of his way, if he doth, it is besides his intention.

1 Sometimes it is exprest by keeping his Commandments, as a man would keep his way, turning neither to the right hand, nor to the left, Josh. 1.7. and then we must look at the Commandments as our way, as a Travellor doth not go out of his way, if he doth, it is besides his intention.

2 Sometimes it is expressed by keeping Jewels, we should keep them as our Treasure, set our hearts on them, Prov. 6.20, 21. bind them about thy heart. Which implies, they are to be looked at as our greatest treasure, and worn about our neck, he would have us look at them as our Ornaments; many ⟨p. 61⟩men would be rich, but they would not always have it known, but a Christian is not only to look at Christs Commandments as his Treasure, but as his ornaments and credit; a man is then said to keep the Commandments; when he looks at them as his Treasure and Ornaments, he fears not to show himself, and let it appear that he keeps Christs Commandments, he is not ashamed to wear them about him openly.

2 Sometimes it is exprest by keeping Jewels, we should keep them as our Treasure, set our hearts on them, Prov. 6.20, 21. binde them about thy heart. Which implies, they are to be lookt at as our greatest treasure, and worne about our neck, he would have us look at them as our Ornaments; many ⟨p. 61⟩men would be rich, but they would not always have it known, but a Christian is not only to look at Christs Commandments as his Treasure, but as his ornaments and credit; a man is then said to keep the Commandments; when he looks at them as his Treasure and Ornaments, he fears not to shew himself, and let it appear that he keeps Christs Commandments, he is not ashamed to wear them about him openly.

3 It is compared to the keeping of the apple of a mans eye, Prov. 7.1, 2. keep them as the apple of thine eye; a man keeps the apple of his eye very tenderly, every moat is ready to trouble him, therefore he would not have the least moat come into his eye; so, that is true keeping of Gods Commandments when the least offence or scruple against Gods Commandments is b•tter and noisome to him, as moats to the apple of his eye, he cares not what the World thinks of it, if it be against the the Law of God it is noisome unto him.

3 It is compared to the keeping of the apple of a mans eye, Prov. 7.1, 2. keep them as the apple of thine eye; a man keeps the apple of his eye very tenderly, every moat is ready to trouble him, therefore he would not have the least moat come into his eye; so, that is true keeping of Gods Commandments when the least offence or scruple against Gods Commandments is b•tter and noysome to him, as moats to the apple of his eye, he cares not what the World thinks of it, if it be against the the Law of God it is noysome unto him.

4 It is expressed by keeping the Commandments as a man would keep his Soul, Prov. 19.16. as if it come to this pinch, either keep the Commandments or lose your life; a Christian will lose his life, and keep the Commandments, nay of the two, he would rather lose his Soul, Luke 14.26. a man must be willing to sit loose from his life for Christ; now if we thus keep his Commandments, it is an evident sign that we know that we know him.

4 It is exprest by keeping the Commandments as a man would keep his Soul, Prov. 19.16. as if it come to this pinch, either keep the Commandments or lose your life; a Christian will lose his life, and keep the Commandments, nay of the two, he would rather lose his Soul, Luke 14.26. a man must be willing to sit loose from his life for Christ; now if we thus keep his Commandments, it is an evident signe that we know that we know him.

Obj. But such a keeping is very strict, and hardly to be attained, who can do this? in many things we offend all, and who is it that goes not astray?