It is first observable, that whereas St. John began his gospel with. description of Christ's divinity, as God, he begins his epistle with. demonstration of the truth of his human nature, as man; for the certainty of which he appeals to the judgement of sense, because the senses, when rightly circums... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, " CHRIST JESUS, that eternal life which was with the Father from eternity, as being his eternal Son, was in the fulness of time manifested in the flesh, and we his apostles saw him in his assumed human nature, and do now testify, publish, and declare him unto you; he was... [ Continue Reading ]
As if he had said, "We declare unto you that of Christ which we ourselves have seen and heard, and what we had by sight and hearing you are to receive from our testimony; and our design and end herein is sincerely this, that you may have fellowship, and be of one communion with us, and not with fals... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, The great end for which the apostles penned and wrote the doctrine of the gospel, namely, that their joy may be full who do believe it and obey it. The joy which good men experience in the word of God, is. solid joy,. substantial joy,. full joy,. lasting joy. Worldly joy is nauseating... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, "This is the sum and substance of the gospel of Christ's doctrine, and our message, to teach us to know what God is, namely LIGHT, that is,a being of infinite knowledge, wisdom, and purity; and that there is NO DARKNESS IN HIM, no darkness of error, no darkness of ignorance, no darkness of... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. What great plainness of speech St. John uses with and towards such persons as call themselves Christians, and pretend to fellowship with God, but yet hold communion with sin, he says, THEY LIE. O how well does fervour, vehemency, and impartiality, become the ministers of Christ in... [ Continue Reading ]
Note here, 1. The pollution and uncleanness of sin implied and supposed in the word CLEANSING; sin is the great pollution and defilement of the soul, and universal pollution, an abiding pollution,. mortal pollution, and yet an insensible pollution. Note, 2. The remedy which the wisdom of God has pr... [ Continue Reading ]
IF WE SAY, we apostles, we cannot say we are free from sin; much less can the proud Gnostics say so, who suppose and assert themselves to be in. state of perfection; and observe, he doth not say, If we say we had no sin, we deceive ourselves; but that if now we say we have none; intimating, that Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold here, 1. double blessing promised and insured, namely, justification and sanctification, forgiveness of sin, and cleansing from it, yea, from all iniquity; when God pardons sin, no sin is left unpardoned; the sea can as easily drown. thousand men as. single man; God's act of pardoning grace i... [ Continue Reading ]
Note here, The impiety and blasphemy of those who affirm themselves to be in. state of sinless perfection: they do not only lie themselves, but intepretatively, and as much as in them is, they make God. liar, by contradicting what he has asserted in his word, that all are sinners: So that upon the w... [ Continue Reading ]