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…

2 Do you find your Consciences purified? Do you find your Corruptions mortified? Do your Lusts grow abominable? Do you find your hearts cleansed from wrath and impatience? &c. certainly then you know that you know Christ, for none else could have pacified and and purified your hearts? If it be so that you dare not sin, you seek peace and ensue it, then you may know that you have Christ, but if these signs be wanting, especially purifying, then you know him not.

2 Do you finde your Consciences purified? Do you finde your Corruptions mortified? Do your Lusts grow abominable? Do you finde your hearts cleansed from wrath and impatience? &c. certainly then you know that you know Christ, for none else could have pacified and and purified your hearts? If it be so that you dare not sin, you seek peace and ensue it, then you may know that you have Christ, but if these signs be wanting, especially purifying, then you know him not.

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.

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?

Ans. A Christian may keep the Commandments as his way, when he intends to go on, and if he be out it is besides his intention, he may keep them as his treasure, though sometimes upon some temptation he may part with something thereof, yet after he knows it he mourns for it, and it is the grief of his heart; and though a Christian may sometimes be ashamed of his Profession, yet afterwards he is ashamed of his Fact, as Peter, and though a Christian may sometimes offend the Commandment, yet he is never well till he hath got out this moat; sometimes a man may rather choose his life as Peter, but afterwards he grieves, and weeps bitterly, and would rather part with his life than the Commandment; and if it be thus with thee, it is a sign thy keeping is sincere.

Ans. A Christian may keep the Commandments as his way, when he intends to go on, and if he be out it is besides his intention, he may keep them as his treasure, though sometimes upon some temptation he may part with something thereof, yet after he knows it he mourns for it, and it is the grief of his heart; and though a Christian may sometimes be ashamed of his Profession, yet afterwards he is ashamed of his Fact, as Peter, and though a Christian may sometimes offend the Commandment, yet he is never well till he hath got out this moat; sometimes a man may rather chuse his life as Peter, but afterwards he grieves, and weeps bitterly, and would rather part with his life than the Commandment; and if it be thus with thee, it is a signe thy keeping is sincere.

Quest. How is such obedience a certain sign of our acquaintance with Christ?

Quest. How is such obedience a certain signe of our acquaintance with Christ?

Ans. 1 This sincere keeping of the Commandments our Saviour looks at it, as an act of friendship in him, Joh. 15.14. then are ye my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you, as we take it for a point of special friendship when a man is ready at our command, and willing to do what we would have him; nay, Joh. 15.10. our Saviour takes it not only as love, but as abiding constant love, and if it spring from our love to Christ, it must needs spring from Christs love to us, for we could not have loved him except he loved us first, 1 Joh. 4.19. 1 Joh. 5.3. no man keeps any thing that is grievous, a man may have fire about his house, or a moat in his eye, but he keeps it not, it is grievous; a man may be out of the way, but it is grievous, but when he keeps the Commandments as his way, his treasure, his eye, his life, this is not grievous to him; every Office, be it never so bad, it seems easy, because he loves Christ dearly; as Jacobs seven years service for Rachel seemed but a little space, because he loved her, Gen. 29.20. if there be such mutual love, it is a certain sign of acquaintance.

Ans. 1 This sincere keeping of the Commandments our Saviour looks at it, as an act of friendship in him, Joh. 15.14. then are ye my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you, as we take it for a point of special friendship when a man is ready at our command, and willing to do what we would have him; nay, Joh. 15.10. our Saviour takes it not only as love, but as abiding constant love, and if it spring from our love to Christ, it must needs spring from Christs love to us, for we could not have loved him except he loved us first, 1 Joh. 4.19. 1 Joh. 5.3. no man keeps any thing that is grievous, a man may have fire about his house, or a moat in his eye, but he keeps it not, it is grievous; a man may be out of the way, but it is grievous, but when he keeps the Commandments as his way, his treasure, his eye, his life, this is not grievous to him; every Office, be it never so bad, it seems easie, because he loves Christ dearly; as Jacobs seven years service for Rachel seemed but a little space, because he loved her,