286 He reminds them that antichrist was coming. SECT iii. John SECT. III. The apostle discourses of the antichrists which then began to arise in the world, and directs Christians to the best preservatives against their seducing doctrines, 1 John II. 18-28. 1 JOHN II. 18. 1 JOHN II. 18. ITTLE chil now, my beloved, dear La dren, it is the a children to the most affectionate parents, last time: and as ye attend to my cautions against those many have heard that antiii. 18 seducers, with which not only the world, but christ shall come, even the church abounds. It is indeed the last even now are there time, the last dispensation God will ever give whereby we know many antichrists ; to the world, is now promulgated; and it is that it is the last no wonder if Satan endeavour to the utmost time. to adulterate a system from which his kingdom has so much to fear. And as you have heard, that one great seducer, from his opposition to Christ called antichrist, is coming, so I must assure you, that even now there are many aspiring and interested men, who act in such opposition to the Redeemer's cause, and the whole purpose of his appearance, that though they profess his name, they may not improperly be called antichrists, by which indeed we may know that this is the last time; for when we compare this event with the predictions of our Lord, it is so far from contradicting them, that indeed it is a great accomplishment and illus19 tration of them. Once indeed they pretended to join themselves to us; but that it was only an hypocritical pretence to Christianity which they made, appears from the issue of it they went out from among us, and yet they were not upon the whole of us, nor did truly belong to our number, while they seemed to • Little children.] Mr. Cradock has ob. served, that little children are not so apt to love the world; but seem by reason of the weakness of their understandings, more likely to be seduced by artful and designing men and therefore he imagines, that in this place there is a peculiar propriety in this appellation. See Crad. Apost. Hist., p. 489. The last time.] Some explain this of the last age of the Jewish church and commonwealth, because it was the period 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us for : in which our Saviour had foretold the rise of many false Christs; and this ob. servation, to be sure, is material: but the expression of the last time, from comparing other scriptures, seems to be more extensive. Many antichrists.] Dr Whitby explains these antichrists of unbelieving Jews op. posing Christianity. I rather understand them to be apostates, who had once professed themselves Christians, and brought in pernicious heretical notions. He wrote unto them because they knew the truth: 287 if they had been of adhere to us. For if they had ever been sin- SECT. us, they would no cerely of us, so as to feel the inward power of iii. ed with us: but they our gospel on their hearts, they would doubtless 1Joha doubt have continu went out, that they have continued with us; upright men would ii. 19 might be made man- never have seen any cause to leave us, and Diifest, that they were vine grace would have preserved such from not all of us. unction from the Holy One, and ye the temptations by which these artful deceivers have been insnared. But [this hath happened,] that they might be made apparent, and that we might also reap an advantage from the detection of their hypocrisy, because it would thereby appear, that all who join with us in external forms, are not indeed of us, but that even in the purest churches, there may be a mixture of tares among the wheat, which it will be prudence to remember, and to guard 20 But ye have an against. And as for you, I hope and trust 20 you will not be seduced by them; for ye have an inward anointing of the Holy One, even the spirit of purity and joy, which Christ the Holy One of God, hath poured forth upon us; and ye know all things relating to Christianity, in such an experimental manner, as will effectually preserve you against those snares of this vain world, which have been ruinous to those unhappy apostates I have just mentioned. 21 I have not writ- And as to what I have now said, I have not 21 ten unto you, because written to you, because ye know not the truth, ye know not the truth but because nor have I entered so largely into the discusye know it, and that sion of this matter, as would then have been no lie is of the truth. necessary; but on the contrary, have content know all things. ed myself with these short hints, because ye 22 Who is a liar, guard against and oppose the other. That they might be made apparent, be- to be Christians, when they are not, and cause all are not of us or so was for some secular end mingle themselves nov. Thus, I think, these words with us, God has suffered these to be dismay be rendered; and the meaning is, covered, to awe and alarm others who may that as there are some, who only pretend yet be concealed. 288 He therefore exhorts them to abide in it. SECT. who is a liar and a seducer in the most danger- but he that denieth the world, and utterly to subvert and destroy 23 effect denies both the Father, and the Son: For 23 Whosoever 24 fore abide in you, As for you therefore, to whom I now address 24 Let that theremyself, let what I here say be improved by which ye have heard way of caution to yourselves; be on your from the beginning. guard against the numerous artifices of those If that which ye who would insnare and seduce you, and let have heard from the that word which you have heard from me, at the beginning shall remain in you, ye also beginning of the gospel, abide in you so stead shall continue in the ily, that no man may ever wrest it from you. Son, and in the FathAnd if it be indeed so, and that word which ye have heard from the beginning, thus abide in you, you also will abide in that state of blessed union, in which you are, with the Son and the Father; you will dwell under their united protection, and find a source of delight spring Denieth that Jesus is the Christ.] Some are of opinion this was written against Cerinthus, who in his doctrine separated Jesus from Christ, maintaining them to be two distinct persons, and denied him to be the Son of God. See Dr. Berriman's Hist. of the Trin. p. 38. Compare Dr. Whitby's Preface to this epistle. Mr. Baxter also takes in the Simonians, Menandrians, and Carpocratians, with other here. tics in those early ages. Baxter's Works, Vol. III. p. 218. er. He who acknowledgeth the Son, hath the Father also.] These words, which I have included in crotchets, are generally printed in our version in italic characters; but they are to be found in so many good manuscripts, that I cannot but believe they made a part of the original, by whatever accident they were omitted in some early copy, to which, as it seems, too much regard has been paid. See Mills and Wetstein in loc, that they might be entitled to eternal life. 289 ing up in your souls from communion with SECT. them, to which there is nothing comparable in any of the enjoyments of the present world. 1 John 25 And this is the And this will readily be acknowledged, if you . 25 promise that he hath only consider, with what exalted hopes you will promised us, even then be supported; for this is the promise which eternal life. he hath promised to us, (which, while I men- 26 These things have I written unto you, concerning them that seduce you you. These things therefore I have written unto 26 you concerning those who would deceive you, and rob of that inestimable treasure, that you may guard against them with the utmost vigi27 But the anoint- lance. And, I trust, this will indeed be the 27 ing which ye have case, for as for you in general, I esteem you received of him, a sincere in the profession of your religion, and bideth in you, and ye need not that any therefore may reasonably say, that the unction man teach you: but, of the Holy Spirit, which you have received as the same anointing teacheth you of from him, who hath given you the promise of all things, and is eternal life, abideth in you perpetually and pow erfully; and in consequence thereof you have Those who would deceive you.] It is in the original, they who do deceive you; but it is plain, as has often been observed, from the commendations given them elsewhere, that it signifies no more than an endeavour to seduce; and there are many passages, both in sacred and profane authors, in which a person is said to do a thing, which he attempts. See Mr. Blackwall's Sacr. Class. Vol. I. p. 121. The unction which you have received from him, &c.] The Spirit of God is compared to an anointing, because of his precious and cheering gifts which rendered Christians more fit to encounter with their spiritual enemies; as wrestlers were anointed with oil to make them fitter for their various exercises, and to prevent the adyant. ages which might otherwise be taken against them. Whether this passage will be less capable of yielding support to the popish doctrine of chrism, or that of the Quakers, which asserts such an inspiration of all Christians as renders the office of a stated ministry unnecessary, it is hard to say. Compare Limborch's Theol. v. 77, 4, and Barclay's Apology, p. 52. With relation to the latter, it may be of some moment to observe, that the Christian ministry was in the highest repute in the church, when the gifts of the Spirit were poured down upon it in the greatest abundance. It i Unction teacheth you all things.] seems manifest from hence, that every Christian is supposed to have been anointed 290 SECT. 1 John Reflections on the steady regard due to Christ. falsehood in it, even as that has taught you, abide truth, and is no lie iii. in him to whom by that Spirit ye are thus vital- and even as it hath ly united. Yea, let me now repeat it again, as abide in him. taught you, ye shall 28 a matter of the highest importance, compre- 28 And now, lithending in one word the whole of our duty and tle children, abide in happiness; my dear Christian friends, dear to him; that when he shall appear, we may me as little children to their affectionate parents, have confidence, and abide in him, that when he shall appear, as he not be ashamed beassuredly will, in all his pomp and glory, we may fore him at his comhave humble boldness,and may not be put to shame ing. and confusion, before him at his coming; but verse IMPROVEMENT. LET us not be surprised, if there are some who revolt from 18, 19 Christianity in our days; evincing thereby the insincerity of their former professions; since even the apostolic age produced some instances of this kind. But notwithstanding this, the foun dation of God standeth firm, and the Lord knoweth them that are his: (2 Tim. ii. 19.) They will continue united with his church in faith and love, and no temptation will be able entirely to separate them from it. 22, 23 Vain are all pretences to adhere to the Father, if we desert the Son. To his gospel therefore let us steadfastly cleave, ani25 mated by the infinitely important promise of eternal life. Can we go to another Saviour? Can we expect from any other hand a nobler, or even an equal reward? May we all, who profess a 27 relation to him, receive an anointing from above, which may teach us all those things it is of importance for us to know, and which 24 may engage us to abide in him with inseparable fidelity. Yet a little while, and he will again come, will appear with a glory which will warrant, and will reward the firm attachment we have 28 manifested to his interests. May we not, at that important period, have reason to be ashamed before him; may he not be ashamed of us; but having confessed him before men, may we be confessed by him before his Father, and his holy angels. (Luke xii. 8.) by the Holy Ghost. But as it would be most absurd to pronounce it impossible, that a man in any degree of error should be a true Christian, it plainly shews, in how restrained a sense many general expressions, occurring in scripture, may be taken, and in that view is well worth our attentive regard. |