1 John 2

1 John 2:1

THe righteous] whose perfect righteousnesse makes him exceeding acceptable to God, to be our intercessor towards him, and being imputed to us doth also gaine us his grace, see Isaiah 53:11. Zeph. 9. 9. Hebrews 7:26. & Ephesians 1:6.

1 John 2:2

The propitiation] namely, the onely meanes and reason of it, which is the other part of the office of Mediatour, and the ground of the intercession Not for ours onely] namely, ours who beleeve already or those of the present Church Of the whole] indifferently of all Nations and sorts of people that shall beleeve the Gospell.

1 John 2:3

We doe know] that is to say, we have a certaine proofe, that our faith in him is true, if we be by his Spirit framed to new holinesse and obedience We know him] namely by that lively and effectuall light, which is nothing but faith, John 17:3.

1 John 2:5

The love] that is to say, Gods grace comes to its true marke, and produceth its soveraigne effect, as far as it may be in this world, which is mans regeneration: though it never be the absolute decree of perfection That we are] namely, in the spirituall state of our soules, we doe subsist in his communion, and being united to him by faith, we live by his Spirit.

1 John 2:6

He abideth] namely, that he is united to him in spirit, and is engrafted into his body, see John 6:56.

1 John 2:7

No new] namely, concerning the holinesse of life. He seemes to have a regard to that which some prophane and ignorant people did oppose, that the first Apostles had more recommended faith, and Christian liberty, &c. and not good workes so much From the beginning] namely, ever since the Gospell was preached. The meaning is, there was never any contradiction in the Evangelicall doctrin, but according to severall occasions, it hath been diversly dispensed against the Pharisees: faith hath been exalted, and against prophane Christians, good workes have been pressed.

1 John 2:8

A new] that is to say, though it be eternall in its substance, yet it may be called new in respect of Christ who gave it, and in respect of you that receive it: of Christ, in so much as he hath renewed the Law, giving it towards his beleevers a new life, and force by his Spirit to make use of it. of you, in that by him you have gotten, that new quality of sonnes, endowed with the Spirit of adoption, to love the father, and all the brethren, in stead of the old qualitie of servants, possessed with terrour, without any bond of love, neither towards God, nor the one towards the other, see Romans 8:15. 2 Timothy 1:7. The darknesse] there is a new day risen in Christ, by whom all things are made new, in the light of truth, grace, and power of the Spirit, in stead of the former darknesse of ignorance, of sinne, of the curse, and confusion of the divels Kingdome.

1 John 2:9

Is in darknesse] hath no part in this saving light, but lieth still in the darknesse of his naturall corruption.

1 John 2:10

He that loveth] that is to say, by true love the beleever keepes himselfe in the fruition and use of this divine light, without renouncing it, or putting it out in himself: whereby he is alwaies securely guided in the course of his vocation, without any danger of ruine.

1 John 2:11

Is in darknesse] that is to say, he hath forsaken the light, and hath againe engulsed himselfe in his former darknesses, in which he goeth wandring all his life time, after the lusts of it, without any upright end, or any direction of happinesse.

1 John 2:12

Little children, this is spoken to all beleevers Because your] and therefore you are so much the more bound to the gratefulnesse of true obedience, and you have the gift and power of being so, by meanes of the remission of your sinnes For his Names sake] even for the love of Christ himself, such as he hath made himself known to be by the Gospel.

1 John 2:13

Fathers] now he distinguisheth, the beleevers, according to the diversity of their ages, applying to each age the spirituall benefits correspondent to their properties in this life, as the knowledge of ancient things which are past, is befitting old men: the strength for warre is sitting for young men. Young children should know their fathers, and mothers, and cleave to them, and shunne strangers Him that is] namely, the true everlasting God. O Christ likewise everlasting, as well in his essence as in his office and vertue Overcome the] by faith which unites you with Christ, and so makes you partakers of the benefit of his victory upon the divell, John 16:33. 1 Corinthians 15:57. 1 John 5:4. and besides you follow the remainders of this victory in your selves, Romans 16:20 Ephesians 6:11; Ephesians 6:13.

1 John 2:14

Abideth] that is to say, is strongly rooted in him by a lively faith.

1 John 2:15

Love not] have not your heart setled upon worldly things, and doe not take in them the full content of your soule. Love having these two properties, the one to unite the lover to the thing beloved; the other to produce in him a content and delight in the possessing of it, make use of them as of instruments and be at all times prepared to leave them. Unlesse by the world, he meane all things which are contrary to Christs spirituall and heavenly Kingdome The love] he cannot say, that he loves the father, because that Divine love cannot be divided, no more then love in matrimony.

1 John 2:16

Of the flesh] he seemes to meane their irregulate desires, whose roots and provocations are in the nature of man, as gluttony, lust, &c Of the eyes] this other kind may have a relation to the desires of the will, as covetousnesse, ambition, &c. and generally to all motions of the soule, to singular objects, which are presented unto it by the eyes; the true brokers of concupiscence.

1 John 2:17

The lust thereof] namely, all the objects and baits of it: all the delight that man takes therein Abideth] that is to say, hath everlasting life and happinesse.

1 John 2:18

The last time] not onely the last age of the world, which is called time in the Gospell, Hebrews 1:1-14; Hebrews 2:1-18 but also the beginning of the last part thereof, which is foretold by the Scriptures, full of heresies, apostacies, confusions, and the Kingdome of Antichrist, which began to be framed even at that time, 2 Thes. 2. 7. 1 Iohn 4. 3 Have heard] this doctrine being commonly taught by the Apostles, 2 Thes. 2, 5 Antichrist] that is to say, a principall adversary of Christs, and head of the rebellion and apostasie against his doctrine and spirituall Kingdome, with usurpation of absolute command, wherin consists the absolute property of Antichrist, above all other fals Doctors & hereticks Antichrist] fore-runners of that chiefe on, who did seeke out the way for him, authours of heresies, and heads of sects, and schismes in the Church.

1 John 2:19

They went out] that is to say, they have separated themselves from the communion of the Church, Jude 1:19 Of us] namely, true members of the Church, by a lively faith, and consequently, chosen by God, which can never be cut off from Christ, nor fall totally from the faith, Matth. 24. 24 John 6. 37. and 10. 28, 29 Romans 8:28-29. 2 Timothy 2:19.

1 John 2:20

An Unction] that is to say, the gifts of the Holy Ghost, by which God hath consecrated, and sanctified you to himsefe; as anciently Oyle was a signe of consecration, and blood of expiation, Exodus 30:25 From the holy one] namely, from Christ, who hath in himselfe the fulnesse of all the graces of the Holy Ghost, and is the spring, and dispenser thereof to his beleevers, Psal. 1 33. 2 Dan 9:24 Ye shall know] the Italian, ye know; you are enlightned and instructed in all the parts of heauenly doctrine necessary to salvation: and in a sufficient degree to keep you from such seducers.

1 John 2:21

Ye know it] and by the knowledge which you have thereof can discerne a lie which is quite contrary to it.

1 John 2:22

Is the Christ] the promised Redeemer, the Sonne of God, come in the flesh Is Antichrist] that is to say, his consederate in the sinne of fighting against Christ in his owne person and office That denieth] not onely, because that the Father and the Sonne, are one simple and pure, and indivisible Essence, but also because the Father doth not manifest himselfe to salvation, but onely by his Sonne, Matth. 11. 27 John 1:18.

1 John 2:24

If that which] that is to say, by meanes of perseverance in the pure faith of the Gospell, you shall remaine united to Christ, and by him to the Father; the fruit of which union is everlasting life.

1 John 2:26

That seduce you] doe tempt you, and force you to doe it.

1 John 2:27

Of Him] namely, of Christ, verse 20 That any man] namely, that any man give you the first lights, and fundamentall beginnings of the Gospell: the Holy Ghost having already imprinted them in your hearts; but you need onely to be warned and exhorted to persevere Ye shall abide] or, ye will abide; that is to say, I am perswaded that you will persevere In him]namely, in Christ.

1 John 2:29

That he] namely, God Is borne] that is to say, he shews that he is truely regenerate to his Image Ephesians 4:24. 1 Pet. 1. 4. 1 Iohn 3. 7.