us; birth. Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. Observe, 4. The affection which every person that is born of God bears unto God: He loveth him that begat; this is the ingratiating and endearing quality; it is this that commends both our persons and performances to God's acceptation: the service of love is therefore most acceptable, because most honourable to God, and most durable and lasting from the obedience of love will be lasting. Observe, 5. What is the genuine effect and natural product of this love to God, namely, a sincere affection to all the children of God: Whosoever loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him; every christian that sincerely loves God, certainly loves the image of God in his saints and children; he that loves the father for his own sake, cannot but love the child for the father's sake, if like him; and the more like him, the more he loves him: He that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. Observe here, That the sincerity of our love to the children of God, is best discovered by our love to God, and obedience to his commands. Quest. 1. What kind of love is required towards the children of God? Answ. A love of esteem, a love of desire, a love of delight, and a love of service and beneficence. Quest. 2. What kind of obedience towards God is that which springs from love? Answ. It is uniform and universal; love regardeth the whole law in all its injunctions and prohibitions, and studieth to please the lawgiver; it is pleasant and delightful, not a melancholy task, but a pleasing exercise; it is accurate and exact, it produces a severe circumspection over our ways, that nothing be done or allowed by us that is displeasing to the divine eye; and it is constant and persevering; that motion which is caused by outward poises will cease when the weights are down, but that which proceeds from an inward principle, or life, is continual; and such a principle is the love of God planted in the christian's breast: By this then may we know that we love the children of God, if we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments : and his commandments are not grievous. Our apostle in these words gives a threefold description of a sincere christian. He describes him, 1. By his inward affection to God and Christ, and that is love; this is shed abroad in his heart. 2. By the action which flows from this affection, namely, obedience to God in keeping his commandments. 3. By the disposition and inclination from which that obedience doth proceed and flow, namely, a delight and cheerfulness in the doing of our duty. His commandments are not grievous; that is, they have nothing in them heavy or burthensome, but every thing that may render them at once both our duty and delight. Learn hence, 1. That obedience is the most natural and necessary product of love: where love is the governing principle, it rules all the inclinations of the heart, and actions of the life. Learn, 2. That love makes our obedience to God cheerful and constant, delightful and lasting. Love is seated in the will, and that obedience which proceeds from it is out of choice, and purely voluntary. No commandment is grievous that is performed from love, and it makes obedi ence also constant. That which is forced from impressions of fear is unstedfast, but that which flows from delight is lasting. Learn hence, That the service of Christ is a very gracious, a most desirable and delightful, service; not to sinners, whose minds the god of this world has blinded, whose consciences are cauterized, who have not only grieved but quenched the holy Spirit of God. But, 1. It is not grievous in itself. 2. Nor is it grievous to a regenerate person; a sound eye never complains of light, but a sore eye is uneasy under it. The commands of Christ cannot be grievous, because they exact things of us which are agreeable to our reason, suitable to our natures, consonant to our rational desires. We cannot give an instance of any one of the commands of Christ which is in itself grievous; that command of his, to do to others as we would have others do by us, is a dictate of nature as well as of the law of Christ, 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith, Two things are here observable, namely, a proposition, and the explication of that proposition. Observe, 1. The proposition, and has made us heirs of eternal glory. Whosoever is born of God overcometh the Observe next, The argument by which the world. Every regenerate christian is a vic- apostle proves that Jesus is the Son of God, torious christian, he is a conqueror, yea, the the true Messias and the Saviour of mangreatest of conquerors, he conquers the whole kind, namely, because he came by water world. Observe, 2. The exposition of this and blood; that is, say some, by the testiproposition, This is the victory that over- mony given him when he was in the wacometh the world, even our faith. It is ter at his baptism, both by John the Bapa spiritual conquest, and spiritually obtained tist, and the voice from heaven; he came even by faith. Note here, 1. That the by his Spirit say others, as by water, to world is a christian's grand enemy. A sanctify those that believe in him, and by conquest supposes a combat, and a com- his blood to make a full atonement for bat supposes an enemy. 2. That every re- them; an admirable symbol of both generate christian is a victorious conqueror which, was the flowing of water and blood over this enemy. The christian is a sol- both out of Christ's side, when he hung dier as soon as he is a believer, and he is a upon the cross. It is a sweet meditation conqueror as soon as he is a soldier. This that Christ comes by water as well as blood, is the victory, he hath his enemy under his by way of sanctification as well as by way feet, even whilst he is in the fight. Note, of justification; his death not only discharges 3. That the special weapon by which the from guilt, but cleanses also from pollution christian conquers the world, and his spi- and filth. Blessed be God, there is a founritual enemies, is his faith. Many warriors tain opened in the side of our Saviour have done great things in conquering king- for sin and for uncleanness, to wash in, doms, but this is a greater conquest than all and to be purged from. Sanctification is theirs; their conquest was but poor and as great, and in some respects a greater partial, only of some small parts of earth, privilege, than justification; for justification but the christian's conquest is universal; frees us only from misery and punishment, those conquerors, whilst they prevailed but sanctification frees us from sin, which abroad, were slaves at home; whilst they is worse than punishment. Again, real were lords of nations, they were vassals to perfections are above relative perfections; their own lusts: but these conquerors, now justification by Christ's blood is only which the text speaks of, begin their vic- a relative perfection, it makes us stand in tories at home, and enlarge their triumphs a new relation to the law, by which beover all enemies abroad; This is the vic- fore we stood guilty and condemned; but tory that overcometh the world, even our sanctification by the Spirit of Christ, signifaith. fied here, and set forth elsewhere frequently, by water, is a real moral perfection, it changes the heart and nature, and makes us like unto God, yea, like unto him in his highest perfection, which is that of holiness. and blood into our souls, with thy renewing Come then, O blessed Redeemer, by water grace and sanctifying Spirit, to purge our consciences from dead works, and to deliver us not only from the danger, but from the dominion of our sins! 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood.— Our apostle having spoken of the usefulness of faith, in the former verse, that it overcometh the world, next discovers the object of this faith, which is this proposition, that Jesus is the Son of God. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? That faith which overcomes the world, is faith in the divinity and sonship of Jesus Christ. We overcome the world by believing in him. that overcame it, even Jesus Christ, who hath purchased, promised, and prepared, a better world than what we do see, or can see, with our bodily eyes, -And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. Some by the Spirit's bearing witness, understand the testimony which the Holy Spirit gave to Christ here upon earth, as touching the truth of his doctrine, the reality of his miracles, and the certainty of his mission; others understand by it the Spirit's testimony in the holy scriptures, and in the consciences of believers, that Jesus Christ is a divine person, and came by water and blood, both to save us at once from the wrath of God, and the rage of our lusts. Learn hence, That the Holy Spirit of God speaking in the scripture, and breathing in the consciences of believers, bears witness to their souls, that Jesus Christ came to save them by the water of sanctification, as well as with and by the blood of redemption; and that the Spirit thus witnessing is a spirit of truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. That is, "There are three in heaven which do bear record to this truth here upon earth, namely, that Jesus is the Christ; that is to say, the three Persons in the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; the Father bore witness both at Christ's baptism and transfiguration also, when with an audible voice he declared, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: the Word bore record of himself, affirming frequently, plainly, and directly, that he was the Son of God, and making it manifest by his doctrine and miracles that he came from the Father: the Spirit bore witness to this, partly by descending on Christ at his baptism in the shape of a dove, and partly by descending on his apostles at the feast of Pentecost in the figure of fiery tongues, Acts ii." Learn hence, 1. That it was no easy matter to believe the truth of our Saviour's mission and miracles, and that Jesus Christ was the essential and natural Son of God. Though by the mouth of two or three witnesses every truth is established, yet in this and the next verse we have no less than six witnesses produced to prove our Jesus to be the Son of God, three heavenly and three earthly witnesses.-It is added, these three are one; one in testi mony, say the adversaries of the Trinity, but not one in essence: one in both, say we; as one in testimony, so one in essence. But suppose we should grant that the oneness spoken of in the text is to be expounded of consent in testimony, agreement, and will, principally, yet will it prove the godhead of Christ, and of the Holy Ghost; for in three agents, where there is the same will, there is the same nature: with men, it is the same specifical nature; but with God, because there is but one only God, therefore it must be the same nume rical nature. Learn, 2. That there are three Persons, yet but one God, that do bear witness to the divinity of Christ, and of the plenteous redemption wrought by him. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood and these three agree in one. As if the apostle had said, "As there are three in heaven who have given us their testimony to the divinity of Christ and his doctrine here on earth, so there are three witnesses here below, testifying the same thing; namely, the Spirit, in the preaching of the gospel, and in the souls of believers; the water, or sacrament of baptism, wherein we are baptized in the name of the Son as well as of the Father; and the blood, that is, the death of Christ, and the sufferings of those who have sealed this truth with their blood: all these do give testimony on earth to Christ's divinity from heaven." Note here, That though much of these two verses be left out in many ancient copies of the Bible, as the learned Dr. Hammond takes notice, yet in copies more ancient they are found; and we have more reason to believe that the Arians left them out, than that the orthodox put them in, other texts that assert the truth being so abused. It has been the common course of heretics to disown the authority of such texts as do gall and pinch them. Note farther, That the doctrine of the blessed Trinity stands built upon Holy scripture, as a firm basis and impregnable rock, and the doctrine of the Anti-Trinitarians falls to the ground like Dagon before the ark. Lord, let our understandings evermore stoop and yield to this divine revelation, though it contain such a doctrine as doth exceed the comprehension of human reason. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater for this is the witness of God, which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. Our apostle's argument in these words is taken from the less to the greater, thus: "If, says he, for the believing of any thing, it be ordinarily thought sufficient to have the testimony of two or three credible men, then surely the testimony of the faithful and infallible God, given from heaven, is much more worthy of belief; but the testimony given concerning Christ, that he is verily the Son of God, is evidently the testimony of the faithful God that cannot lie; therefore he that, after all the assurance which God has given of his Son's being a true and real Saviour, shall yet reject and disown him as such, does in effect accuse God of falsehood, and make him a liar, because he believes not the record which God has given of his Son; whereas the person that be lieves on Christ as the Son of God, and the true Messiah, is safe, having the testimony of God the Father without him, and the testimony of the Holy Spirit within him, as the spirit of holiness, wisdom, and power: He that believeth on the Son hath the wit ness in himself; he that believeth not the Son, hath made him a liar." Learn hence, 1. That every testimony which God gives us is infallibly true. 2. That the testimony which God has given us concerning his Son Jesus Christ being the true and promised Messiah, has had its confirmation abundantly above and beyond other testimonies. 3. Therefore such as do not believe on our Lord Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world, they disbelieve the most undoubted and infallible testimony of God, and in his account make him a liar. Lord, what a bold, presumptuous, and daring sin, is unbelief! It gives God the lie, and makes the God of truth a liar. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life; and this life is in his Son, 12 He that hath the Son, hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life. As if our apostle had said, "The sum of God's testimony recorded in the gospel is this, concerning his Son Jesus Christ, namely, that God for his sake has made a free deed of gift of pardon and salvation to the world, assuring them of grace here, and eternal life hereafter, upon condition of their believing acceptance, that is, of faith and obedience; and, accordingly, he that thus has Christ, he that accepts the merit of his blood, and submits to the authority of his law, hath eternal life, that is, he has an undoubted right unto it, and assurance of it, yea, he has it already initially, and in the first fruits; but he that either by unbelief or disobedience refuses Christ, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. Learn hence, 1. That eternal life is the gift of God. 2. That this gift of eternal life is laid up for us in his Son. 3. That upon our having or not having union with and interest in the Son, depends our having or not having eternal life. He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son, &c. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. Our apostle entering now upon the conclusion of his excellent epistle, acquaints them with his design and end in the writing of it, namely, 1. That they might know they had eternal life, that is, both a right and title to eternal life, and might also attain to the knowledge and assurance of it. Learn thence, That believers may in this life, without the help of extraordinary revelation, attain to a knowledge and well-grounded assurance of life eternal. These things have I written unto you that believe, that ye may know that ye have eternal life. There is a threefold knowledge; Notional, which is barely the work of the understanding; Experimental, which is seated in the heart, and visible in the life; Fiducial, when a person is ascertained and assured of what he knows thus here, these things I write, that ye may know that ye know; that is, be assured that ye know: a christian may believe, and yet not be assured that he does believe; many have a vital act, who have not a fiducial act of faith; many have a faith of adherence, that want a faith of evidence faith and assurance in a saint differ as much as reason and learning in a man; every man has reason, but every man that has reason has not learning, which is the improvement of reason; thus every good man has faith, but every one that has faith has not assurance, which is the special fruit of faith. This therefore was the first design and end of St. John's writing, that they might know they did believe; the second follows, that those that did believe, might believe on the name of the Son of God: the meaning is, that they might more firmly believe, be more rooted, grounded, settled, and confirmed, in the faith, so as to remain unshaken by all the storms of persecution that might fall upon them; this seems to be the sense of the apostle when he exhorts believers to believe. These things I write unto you that believe, that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. The strongest believers may be exhorted to strengthen their faith, and to persevere in the faith, which they are strengthened and established in. 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. To enforce the foregoing exhortation to believers, namely, to be confirmed and constant in the faith, he shows them here what a special advantage believers have above other persons, namely, confidence in all their approaches to God; and a full assurance, 1. In general, that whatever they ask in faith, according to his will they shall obtain; 2. In particular, that our several petitions which we present unto God shall, in his own time, in his own way, and after his own manner, be granted by him, provided our persons and our prayers be qualified according to the gospel for the receiv⚫ ing of his promise. Hence learn, That through our interest in Christ, and for the sake of his meritorious satisfaction and prevailing intercession, our prayers are certainly heard by God, and we shall assuredly have what God has promised to give, and we are fit to receive. God indeed does not always, nay, not often, come with an answer of prayer at our time, but he never stays a moment beyond his own time. Learn, 2. That in all the prayers we present and put up to God, a special eye and regard must be had to the will of God, if we expect to be heard and answered. If we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. The will of God is the rule not only of things to be done by us, but also of those things which we crave of God to do for us. The will of God under a threefold revelation is the rule and matter of prayer. 1. The will of God in his cominands; whatever God hath required us to do, we may pray for power that we may do it. 2. The will of God in his promises: what God hath said he will give, we may pray that we may receive. 3. The will of God in prophecies: what God hath fore told shall come to pass, we may and ought to pray that it may come to pass. The prayer of man gives birth to the prophecies of God, yea, and to the promises of God too. Ezek. xxxvi. 37. I will be enquired of, to do it for them. Though God be a sure paymaster, yet he expects that we should put his bond in suit before he pays. Learn, 3. That a prayer made according to God's will, shall certainly be granted according to our will. If we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. When we pray for any thing in obedience to God's will, and with submission to his will, we know that we have the petitions that we ask of him. 16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. Our apostle informed us in the foregoing verse of the comfort which believers have in their prayers for themselves, all that is requested by them is granted by God; now in the verse before us he relates the benefit which others receive by their prayers as well as themselves, assuring them, that if any of them did pray for an offending brother, they should be heard in what they desired, unless the person they prayed for had sinned the unpardonable sin, the sin unto death; by which we are to understand apostasy from the christian religion unto idolatry, as appears from the following words, Keep yourselves from idols, which caution has no manner of dependence upon what went before, unless we understand the sin unto death in this sense: or if (with others) we call it the sin against the Holy Ghost, it comes to the same for what is that sin but a renouncing of christianity, denying the truth of the christian faith, after illumination and conviction by the Holy Ghost, and maliciously persecuting the sincere professors of it? Here note, 1. That a believer is not to hide his eyes from observing, but may and ought to take notice of the sins and miscarriages of his brethren: If a man see his brother sin, which he cannot do if he neglect to observe him. Note, 2. That a believer discerning and observing the sin of his brother, may and ought to pray for him. Let him ask, that is, |