THE EXPOSITION OF THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. JOHN. our eyes, Here beginneth the First Epistle of St. John. CHAPTER ONE. 1 John 1. THAT which was from the beginning declare we unto you, which we have heard, which we have seen with which we looked upon, and our hands have handled of the word of life. For the life appeared, and we have seen, and bear witness, and shew unto you that everlasting life, which was with the Father, and appeared unto us. St. John witnesseth IN that St. John saith, The thing which was from the beginning, and the everlasting life that was with the Fathat Christ ther, he witnesseth that Christ is very God, as he doth in is very God. the beginning of his gospel, saying: The word or the thing was at the beginning, and the thing was with God, and that thing was God, and all things were made by it. That Christ is very man And when he saith, Which we heard, and saw with our eyes, and our hands handled him; he testifieth that Christ is very man also, as he doth in the beginning of his gospel, saying: The word, or that thing was made flesh, that is, became man. And thus we have in plain and open words, a manifest article of our faith, that our Saviour Christ is ery God and very man. Which article, whosoever not only believeth, but also believeth in it, the same is the son of God, and hath And to He that be lieveth that Christ is the Son of God, and also very everlasting man, bath life. everlasting life in him, and shall never come into condemnation as it is written, John. i. He gave them power to be the sons of God, in that they believed in his name. And (John iii.) He that believeth in the Son, hath everlasting life. And a little before in the said Chapter: He that believeth in him shall not be condemned. believe in the words of this article is that eating of Christ's flesh, and drinking his blood, of which is spoken, John vi. The words which I speak are spirit and life, and the flesh profiteth not all, meaning of the fleshly eating of his body, and fleshly drinking of his blood. There is therefore great difference between believing that there is a To believe God, and that Christ is God and man; and to believe in Christ. in God, and Christ God and man; and in the promises of The first is common to good To believe that Christ is God and man, is to put all our trust, hope, and confidence in him. But, as he which feeleth not his disease, can long for no health, even so it is impossible for any man to believe in Christ's blood, except Moses have had him first in cure, Moses. and with his law have robbed him of his righteousness, and condemned him unto everlasting death, and have shewed him under what damnation they are in by birth in Adam, and how all their deeds (appear they never so holy) are yet but damnable sin, because they can refer nothing unto the glory of God, but seek themselves their own profit, honour and glory. So that repentance toward the law must go before this belief, and he which repenteth not, but consenteth unto the life of sin, hath no part in this faith. And when John calleth Christ the everlasting life that Christ is our life. By nature we are the children of wrath. The law condemneth us. Christ. mit our was with the Father, he signifieth that Christ is our life, as after in the epistle, and in the first also of his gospel, saying, In him was life. For until we receive life of Christ by faith, we are dead, and can be but dead, as saith John iii. He that believeth not in the Son, can see no life but the wrath of God abideth upon him. Of which wrath we are heirs by birth, saith Paul. (Eph. ii.) Of which wrath we are ignorant, until the law be published, and walk quietly after our lusts, and love God wickedly, that he should be content therewith, and maintain us therein contrary unto his godly and righteous nature. But as soon as the law (whose nature is to utter sin, Rom. iii., and to set man at variance with God) is preached, then we first awake out of our dream, and see our damnation, and have the law which is so contrary unto our nature, and grudge against God thereto, as young children do against their elders when they first command, and count God a cruel tyrant because of his law, in that he condemneth us for that thing which we cannot love, nor of love fulfil. But when Christ is preached, how that God for his sake receiveth us to mercy, and forgiveth us all that is past, and henceforth reckoneth not unto us our corrupt and poisoned nature, and taketh us as his sons, and putteth us under grace and mercy, and promiseth that he will not judge us by the rigourousness of the law, but nurture us with all mercy and patience, as a father most merciful. It we sub. Only if we will submit ourselves unto his doctrine and learn to keep his laws. Yea, and he will thereto consider our weakness, and, whatsoever chanceth, never taketh away his mercy, till we cast off the yoke of our profession first, ness he will and run away with utter defiance, that we will never come of his great more at school. Then our stubborn and hard hearts molmercy receive us. lify and wax soft, and in the confidence and hope that we have in Christ, and his kindness, we go to God boldly as unto our father, and receive life, that is to say, love unto God and unto the law also. selves to Christ, and knowledge our weak That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye may have fellowship with us, and that our fellowship may be with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write unto you that your joy may be full. stone of all true doc trine and preachers. and charitable manner To bring unto the fellowship of God and Christ, and The touchof them that believe in Christ, is the final intent of all the Scripture, why it was given of God unto man, and the only thing which all true preachers seek, and whereby ye shall ever know and discern the true word of God from all false and counterfeited doctrine of vain traditions, and the true preacher from the wily hypocrite. We preach unto you (saith John) the everlasting life which we have heard, and in hearing received through faith, and are sure of it, to draw you to us out of the fellowship that ye have with the damned devils in sinful lusts and ignorance of God, for we seek you and not your's, as saith Paul, (2 Cor. xii.) We love you as ourselves in God, and The modest therefore would have you fellows, and equal with us, and build you upon the foundation laid of the apostles and of St. prophets which is Christ Jesus, and make you of the household of God for ever, that ye, and we, fellows and brethren, and coupled together in one spirit, in one faith and in one hope, might have our fellowship thereby with God, and become his sons and heirs, and with Jesus Christ, being his brethren and co-heirs, and to make your joy full through that glad tidings, as the angel said unto the shepherds, (Luke ii.) Behold I shew you great joy that shall be unto all the people, how that there is a Saviour born unto you this day which is Christ the Lord. And these tidings we bring you with the word of God only which we received of his Spirit, and out of the mouth of his Son as true messengers. We preach not ourselves, but Christ our Lord, and us your servants for his sake: we do not love ourselves, to Paul's doc trine. St. Paul preached Christ and not himself. As God is devil is darkness. seek yours unto us, that after we had, with wiles, robbed you of all ye have, we should exalt ourselves over you and separate ourselves from you, and make ourselves a several kingdom, free and frank, reigning over you as heathen tyrants, and holding you in bondage to serve our lucre and lusts, tangling your conscience with doctrine of man which draweth from God and Christ, and fearing you with the bug of excommunication against God's word. Or, if that served not, shaking a sword at you. And this is the tidings which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and yet walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But and if we walk in light, as he is in light, then have we fellowship together, and the blood of Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. As the devil is darkness and lies, so is God light and light, so the truth only, and there is no darkness of falsehood and consenting to wickedness in him. And the brightness of his light is his word and doctrine, as the hundred and nineteenth Psalm saith, Thy word is a lantern unto my feet, and a light to my paths. And Christ is the light that lighteneth all men. And the apostles are called the light of the world, because of the doctrine. And all that know truth are light. Ye were once darkness saith Paul; (Eph. v.) but now light in the Lord; walk therefore as the children of light. And good works are called the fruits of light. And all that live in ignorance are called darkness, as he saith afterwards, he that hateth his brother walketh in darkness. For if the light of the glorious gospel of Christ did shine in his heart, he could not hate his brother. By walking understand consenting, doing, and workdarkness or ing. If then we walk in darkness, that is, consent and work wickedness, and say we have fellowship with God, we lie. For to have fellowship with him, is to know, and Good works are the fruits of life. Walking in in light. |