There are three who bear witness in heaven : Christ; not by wa ter only, but by wa beareth witness, be truth. 311 1John establish an uniform character, superior to the SECT. 6 This is he that This Jesus, of whom we have now been 6 came by water and speaking, is he who came by water, and by blood, even Jesus blood, even Jesus the Christ, whose great design it was both to cleanse and purify his peoter and blood. And ple, and to make an atonement to God for their it is the Spirit that sins. He came not by water only, did not only cause the Spirit is instruct men in the purest morals, or set them the most perfect and complete example; but by water and blood. He shed his most precious blood to expiate our offences, and God gave, as it were, a sensible intimation of these united purposes, when there came out of his wounded side, a stream of blood and water, which descended in such a manner, as that each might evidently be distinguished from the other. And the Spirit is that which witnesses, the extraordinary communication of the Spirit to his servants is the most glorious attestation of all; for we well know, that the Spirit is truth; and when we consider the wonderful manner of its interposition, we can no longer doubt of the truth of whatever shall be attested by such an authority. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the And indeed, when I consider this, I may 7 say, that whereas the law admitted the concurrent testimony of two witnesses as valid, we have, as it were, a double trinity of witnesses, one in heaven, and the other on earth, to support this most momentous truth. For there are three, who bear witness to it,d [in heaven, the Father, by whom the scheme of our salvation Came by water and blood.] I think it a great mistake of Mr. Cradock and some others, to imagine that this relates to external washing and Jewish sacrifices. There are three who bear witness, &c.] As it would be altogether unfit to introduce into such short notes as these are intended to be, a critical dissertation upon the authority of this celebrated text; I shall content myself with referring to what so v. 5 many learned persons as have engaged in the controversy, have written on each side; but I thought myself obliged to intimate such a remaining doubt at least,concerning its authenticity, as I have done by enclosing it in crotchets. I am persuaded the words contain an important truth; but whether they have been added by some,or omitted by others, contrary to the original copy, I will not pretend to determine. 312 1 John v. 7 and these three are one. If we receive the witness of men, much more that of God; SECT. was orginally projected, and who revealed it Father, the Word, viii. so early to the church by the prophets; the and the Holy Ghost: Divine Word, whose great business it was, by such humiliations, labours, and sufferings, to bring it into execution; and the Holy Spirit,e who seals and applies it to believers; and these three are one, as in the agreement of their testimony, so likewise in the perfections of their nature, and each worthy of those Divine honours, which cannot be communicated to any ness in earth, the 8 creature. And there are three on earth who 8 And there are bear witness,] the Spirit, sent down from heav. three that bear witen in its sanctifying and miraculous opera- Spirit, and the wations, which still continue to produce the no- ter, and the blood: blest effect; and the water of baptism, and the and these three arepresentation made of Christ's blood in the gree in one. sacramental wine,f which are intended, through 9 If we receive out all ages, to keep up the remembrance of these wonderful facts, and to bear, as it were, their testimony to this mysterious Person, who united in himself humanity and Deity, and came by water, and by blood; and these three agree in one; they join to advance the same end, by establishing the gospel in the world. 9 And if we receive the testimony of men, which in many cases we cannot, without the most the witness of men, palpable absurdity, reject, surely the testimony is greater: for this of God is worthy of infinitely greater credit; is the witness of for this is the testimony of God, which he hath God, which he hath witnessed concerning his Son, recommending him thereby to our most dutiful and obedient regard; that by a firm faith in him, and adherence to him, we may conquer the world, and 10 all the enemies of our salvation. He, who the witness of God testified of his Son. 10 He that believ upon this testimony believeth in the Son of God, eth on the Son of The Father, the Word, and the Holy he willingly suffered, and demonstrated Spirit. The Father, Mat. iii. 16, 17; xvii. thereby that he was no impostor,especially 5; John xii. 28. The Word himself, Acts as he predicted so many extraordinary cirvii. 55, 56; ix. 3, 4; Rev. i. 10, &c. The cumstances attending it. See his Review Holy Ghost, John i. 32, 33. of the Controversy with Collins. Others interpret the blood here spoken of, of the blood of the martyrs shed in confirmation of Christianity, and the water, of the purity of the lives of Christians. I confess it is a difficult text; but, on the whole, prefer the sense given in the paraphrase. The water and the blood.] By the water, Mr. Jeffries, understands the baptism of Christ, and the miracles which were wrought on that occasion, as the descent of the Spirit, and the voice from heaven; and by the blood, the death of Christ, which and his witness is, that we have life in his Son. 313 SECT. God, hath the wit demnation of the unbelieving world, but from ness in himself: he the time in which he experiences the efficacy of viii. God, hath made him his faith, hath also the witness within himself :8 that believeth not record that God gave of his Son. v. 10 a liar, because he the happy change it makes in the whole state of 1John believeth not the his soul, manifests the excellence and reality of its object. But he that believeth not God, offers him the grossest and most insufferable affront, for he in effect makes him a liar; charges him with attesting the most notorious falsehood in the most solemn manner; because he hath not believed in the testimony which God hath testified concerning his Son by so many prophecies, and other miraculous interpositions, to demonstrate the truth of his mission. So that if this may be rejected, it cannot be conceived, how he should ever be able to give any convincing proof, that he testifies any thing at all. 11 And this is the this is, in one word, the substance and abridgehath given to us e- ment of this testimony, that the blessed God ternal life and this hath, in his infinite condescension and bounty, record that God life is in his Son. the Son of God, hath not life. And 11 given unto us, the promises of eternal life; and this life is in his Son; purchased by him, and laid up in him, to be bestowed according to his pleasure; and therefore only to be obtained 12 He that hath through him. So that he who hath an interest 12 the Son, hath life; in the Son by a lively and operative faith, hath and he that hath not this eternal life, in the sure pledges and beginnings of it in his own heart, and shall shortly enter on the complete enjoyment, though in himself acknowledged to be ever so unworthy of it; and he who hath not an interest in the Son of God, hath not life, whatever proud conceit he may entertain of his own merits and excellencies; but on the contrary, remains exposed to the righteous displeasure of God, and under a sentence of eternal death. 8 Hath the witness within himself.] Some have considered and explained this, as if the meaning were, that every Christian did in those days receive some miraculous proofs of his religion, by some communication of the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit; in consequence of which he might, by looking within himself, know the certainty of the gospel. But I think this as sertion incapable of being proved, either from this passage or any other; and can prefer no sense of this celebrated text to that which Dr. Watts has so largely established and illustrated in his sermons upon it; to which therefore I refer my reader with the utmost satisfaction. Watts's Sermons, Vol. I. Serm. i-iii. 314 Reflections on the testimony which God hath given us. SECT. 11 IMPROVEMENT. LET us regard the grand question, on which our life, our viii. eternal life, is suspended! I mean, whether we have, or have not, the Son of God? Let us then examine into this important matverse ter with the greatest attention. Let us hearken to, and receive the testimony of God, as comprehended in this one word, that God 11 hath given, even to us, dying, perishing men, eternal life; and this life is in his Son. Let us receive this transcendent gift with all humility and thankfulness; and so much the rather, as it is given us in him. By firmly believing this, we shall conquer the 10 world, and gain a victory of an infinitely different and more exalted nature, than they who are strangers to Christ, or who re4 ject him, ever have done, or can possibly do. 1 May our steadfast faith in him furnish us with a substantial attestation that we are born of God; and may we prove it to be sincere, by loving the children of God, and by keeping all his commandments. We must surely acknowledge, that his commandments are reasonable; and if we have a genuine love to God existing in our hearts, it will render the observance of them pleasant and delightful. And if we are not possessed of that evidence of love, which arises from a disposition to obedience, let us remember, he hath fairly and frequently warned us, that no other 8 expressions of love, how fervent and pathetic soever, will be accepted or allowed by him. That our faith my be confirmed, and our love awakened, let us often look to Christ, as coming by water, and by blood. Let us meditate on that mysterious stream of blood and water, which came forth from his wounded side. 6 Let us solemnly remind ourselves of the baptismal water, in which we were washed, and of the sacred cup, the communion of the blood of Christ, referring to this great important event. And while we are contemplating the memorial of his humility, let us also consider him as one with the Father and the Holy 7 Spirit; and as each of the sacred three join their testimony to the truth of the gospel, and join their kind offices for supplying to us the invaluable blessings of it, let us joyfully ascribe glory to each, world without end. Amen. St. John wrote, that they might believe the Son of God. 315 SECT. IX. The apostle concludes his epistle; declaring its general design to be the confirmation of their faith; and reminding them of the encouragement they had to hope, that their prayers should be' heard, for themselves, and for others, who had not sinned unpardonably. And he then adds a reflection on the happy difference which the knowledge of God in Christ made between them, and an ignorant and wicked world. 1 John V. 13, to the end. 1 JOHN V. 13. have I written unto you that believe have eternal life, and A 1 JOHN V. 13. a ix. 1John T ND now, to draw towards a conclusion; SECT these things have I written to you, who beon the name of the lieve in the name of the Son of God, to confirm Son of God; that ye your faith, and establish your joy, that ye may v. 13 may know that ye know, that, if your attachment to him is of the that ye may believe right kind, you have, in consequence of it, an on the name of the interest in eternal life; and that, this hope opeSon of God. rating to produce the substantial fruits of genuine and universal obedience, ye may yet more fully and steadfastly believe on the mighty and Divine name of the Son of God. Then you may be assured of the certain truth of his religion, in proportion to the degree in which you inwardly experience its noble effects; and may in consequence of this, keep your hearts continually fixed upon him, in the many important 14 And this is the views in which faith exhibits him. confidence that we is the confidence which we have towards him, we ask any thing ac. as our prevalent Intercessor and mighty Savcording to his will, iour at God's right hand: that if we ask any he heareth us. thing according to his will, he heareth us b graciously; that he observes and takes notice of have in him, that if 15 And if we know all our petitions. That ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. It is manifest, the apostle does not in this epistle, to establish their faith, produce the evidences of christianity, and argue upon them. But the good dispositions, which his whole discourse has a tendency to promote, would certainly have a strong influence to confirm their faith; as such dispositions would appear to be the effect of the gospel, and as an ardent zeal in the teachers of the gospel to promote them, was a strong confirmation of their being faithful witnesses to the great facts which had before been received upon their credit. I look upon this as a strong text to prove, in opposi And this 14 And we are sure his is not 15 tion to what Dr. Whitby has advanced, that Christians are urged in the New Tes tament, to believe in Jesus Christ. That if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.] Archbishop Tillotson supposes this refers particularly to the apostles. (Compare Mat. xviii. 18, 19; John xiv. 13, 14; xvi. 23, 24.) But so few of the apostles could be concerned in this advice of St. John, and there are so many promises of the answer of prayer scattered up and down in the Old and New Testament, (see Dr. Clark, on the Promises, cap. iii. § vi.) that I would by no means thus confine the interpretation, |