1 John 3

1 John 3:1

WHat manner of love] namely, what benefit of pure and infinite love, Romans 5:5 That we] namely, that by his adoption and by our regeneration to his image we are made his children, so that this title and honour doth truly belong unto us Knoweth us not] that is to say, all the multitude of unbeleevers and enemies of God cannot judge rightly of our state, but reprove, condemn, and hate us.

1 John 3:2

Now are we] even at this time we have right as children of God, John 1:12, but the full fruition of our state, and of our fathers goods is reserved for the life everlasting When he]namely, Christ our head Be like] namely, in glory and happinesse, but with a difference between the head and the members For we] for then he shall fully communicate himself unto us, and shall give us ability to receive him in cleer knowledge, in fruition of presence, and in perfect apprehension, union, love, &c.

1 John 3:3

And every man] because that the onely way to come to this conformity of glory, is the conformity of holinesse in this life, Matthew 5:8 Hebrews 12:14.

1 John 3:4

Transgresseth also] makes himself guiltie before God as a breaker of his Law, whose force remaineth firme for ever by an invariable rule of justice, which seems to be spoken against prophane men, who under the shadow of being freed from the curse of the Law by Christ, imagine themselves to be freed from obedience thereunto, and that they ought not to be judged by it, 2 Peter 2:19 Jude 1:4.

1 John 3:5

That he] namely, Christ Take away] not onely he should purge the errour by his blood, and should cancell the bond, but that he should likewise anihilate the strength, life, and empire of sinne by his Spirit, Rom.〈◊〉. 6. whereby whosoever doth again give himselfe to sin, renounceth Christs benefit, which hath these two wholly inseparable parts No sinne] whence follows that he can have no conjunction with the wicked, and that his Spirit is contrary to sinne, and that to imitate him, we must abstain from sin.

1 John 3:6

Abideth] is united to him by a lively and sound faith, and perseveres in this union, John 15:4-5 Sinneth not] resisteth sin, and doth not give himselfe over unto it, and takes no pleasure in it, but studieth holinesse and uprightnesse, see 1 Iohn 1. 8, 9 Hath not] hath no true and lively knowledge, nor apprehension of him.

1 John 3:7

Isrighteous] doth truly shew that he is justified in Christs blood, and sanctified by his Spirit, bringing forth the fruits of a new life.

1 John 3:8

Is of the devill] is his childe in similitude of malignity, which the devill hath stirred up, and as one should say, ingendred in him, and foments, and nourisheth it up From the beginning] presently after his creation, or from the beginning of the world Destroy] that is to say, annihilate the kingdom of sin in his beleevers.

1 John 3:9

Doth not commit] see upon vers. 6 His seed] namely, the power of the holy Ghost, and the word of God apprehended by faith, which are the means of his regeneration; by which he is alwayes enlightned, governed, and stirred up to holinesse, and sinne is beaten down and mortified Cannot sinne] he cannot absolutely fall again under the kingdom of sinne, nor fall away from the grace of God, and from the light of his Spirit, Hebr. 6. 6. and 10. 26. not but that he may fall into acts of sinne through humane infirmitie, 1 Iohn 2. 1. but he is preserved from habitude, perseverance, and from being given over to sinne, which cannot befall one but onely by the totall extinction of the Spirit of grace He is born] this gift of God is one of those that is without repentance and irrevocable, Romans 11:29.

1 John 3:11

From the beginning] namely, of the preaching of the Gospell.

1 John 3:12

Because] that is to say, Hee slew him partly through hatred, occasioned by the contrariety of their behaviours and wills, and partly also through envy, because God was favourable toAbel by reason of his pietie.

1 John 3:13

Marvell not] seeing the world is still moved by the same Spirit as Cain was, and that the same causes of hatred do last still.

1 John 3:14

Because we love] because that true love is the proper effect of a new and spirituall life, 1 Iohn 4. 7.

1 John 3:15

Is a murtherer] that is to say, He sinnes against the commandement of not murthering, which commandment God hath given, not onely to the hands and outward actions, but also to thoughts, and to the will; and besides, hatred is alwayes joyned with a desire of taking away the object thereof Hath] that is to say, Hee hath no lively root nor beginning of it in him.

1 John 3:16

Because he] namely, Christ To lay down] that is to say, To love our neighbours, even to that height, if need require, and our calling binde us to it.

1 John 3:17

Shutteth up] that is to say, Taketh no compassion on him, but sheweth himself hard and mercilesse towards him Dwelleth] can he say that he hath the love of God rooted in his heart? seeing that the love of God, and the love of his children are unseparable, Matth. 22. 38, 39. 1 Iohn 5. 1.

1 John 3:19

That we] that we are sincere and loyall, and not hypocrites: Or that we truly professe heavenly truth, by which we are regenerated and guided in all our actions, Iohn 18. 37 Shall assure] we shall make our consciences confident to appear a Gods judgement, fearlesse of being convinced of any hypocrisie, or of the breach of the condition which is annexed to his grace, namely, That we should use interchangeable love towards our neighbours, being on the other side perswaded of our union with Christ by the effects of his Spirit, Romans 8:9-10 Iam. 2. 13. 2 Peter 1:10.

1 John 3:20

If our heart] If our conscience, though blinde, erring, and insensible in many things, doth accuse us, how much more shall God condemn us, whose knowledge is infinite, and penetrates even into the least and secretest motions of the heart and thoughts, Iob 34. 22 Psal. 19 12.

1 John 3:21

Condemn us not] of hypocrisie and contempt of God and of his law, and of delighting in evill Have we] that is to say, We may with confidence present our selves before him, being endowed with such qualities as he requires in us, namely, faith and a good conscience, Hebrews 10:12.

1 John 3:22

Because] this reason is not grounded upon the worth of works, but upon the order established, and the condition annexed to Gods promises, and upon his own nature, who cannot favour the wicked, see Daniel 9:18 Iohn 9. 31.

1 John 3:23

On the name] that is to say, In his Son, as he hath declared himself in the Gospell.

1 John 3:24

Dwelleth] that is to say, As hee holds himself united to Christ by a lively faith and perseverance, so Christ never withdrawes his presence from him, nor the influence and assistance of his Spirit.