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obtained Mercy." v. 12, " This is the true Grace of God in which ye ftand."

241. But, though thefe Bleffings were not of Works, bute Effect of Grace, yet they were intended to be the Principles, ans and Motives of producing all the Works of Righteousness, and true Holiness ; as appears from the following Text.

242. Duty.] Pet. i. 2, "Elect," or chofen," unto Obedience, and Sprinkling of the Blood of Jefus Chrift," that is the Sanctifying of our Hearts by a right Application, or due Reflections upon the Blood of Chrift. Ver. 313," Bleffed be God-who has begotten us a gain to a lively Hope, &c. Wherefore gird upon the Loins of your Mind, be fober, and hope to the End," or perfectly, &c. Ver. 15, " Ás he which bath called you holy, fo be ye holy in all Manner of Conversation." Ver, 17," And fince ye firname the Father, who without Refpect of Perfons, judgeth according to every Man's Work, pafs the Time of your fojourning here in Fear: For as much as ye know ye were redeemed from your vain Converfation, with the Blood of Chrift:" Ver. 21, "By Chrift you believe in God,--that your Faith and Hope might be in God." That is, that you might be truly religious. Ver. 22, "Seeing ye have purified your Souls in obeying the Truth,―unto [this End namely,] the unfeigned Love of the Brethren, fee that ye love one another with a pure Heart fervently:" Ver. 23, " Having been born again," or regenerated, &c. ii. 1, 2, " Therefore," for that Reafon," laying afide all Malice, and all Guile, and Hypocrifies, and Envies, and Evil-speakings, as new-born Babes defire the fincere Milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby." Ver. 5, "Ye are built upa fpiritual House, an holy Priesthood," for this End," to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jefus Chrift." Ver., 9, "Ye are a chofen Generation, a royal Priesthood, an holy Nation, a peculiar People;" for this End, "that yefhould fhew forth the Praises of him who has called you out of Darkness into his marvellous Light." Ver. 10, II, "Ye are now the People of God and have obtained Mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you, abitain from fleshly Lufts," &c. And he exhorts them to perform all good Works, and every Inftance of Well-doing, in every Relation and Condition, to Ver. 21, "Chrift fuffered for us, leaving us an Example, that we fhould follow his Steps." Ver. 24, "Chrift bare our Sinson the Tree," for this End," that we being dead to Sin, might live unto Righteousness." iii. 1, "Ye Wives be in Subjection to your own Hufbands," &c. Ver. 7, "Likewife ye Hufbands dwell with them according to Knowledge, as the Woman is the weaker Veffel; giving them Honour, as they are alfo Heirs [108] together of the Grace of Life." [So this Verfe thould have been rendered.] Ver. 8, " Finally, be all of one Mind, having Compaffion one of another, love as Brethren, be pitiful, be courteous," &c. iv. 1, "For as much as Chrift hath fuffered for us in the Fleth, arm yourfelves with the fame Mind: For he that hath fuffered in the Flefh hath ceafed from Sin: that he no longer fhould live the reft of his Time in the Flefh, to the Luft of Men, but to the Will of God. For the Time past of our Life may fuffice us to have wrought the Will of the Gentiles," &c. 2 Pet. i. 4, "Exceeding great and precious Promifes are given unto us," for this End, " that by these you might be Partakers of a divine Nature, having escaped the Corruption that is

in the World through Luft." And we, on our Part, in order to a right Improvement of thefe Promises, "giving all Diligence," ought to "add to our Faith, Virtue, and Knowledge, and-Temperance, andPatience, and-Godliness, and Brotherly-kindness, and-Charity. For if thefe Things be in us, and abound, they make us that we be neither flothful, nor unfruitful in the Knowledge of our Lord Jefus Christ." iii. II," Seeing then that all these things fhall be diffolved, what Manner of Perfons ought ye to be in all holy Converfation and Godliness."

Thus their prefent Privileges and Bleffings, given them by the free Grace of God, obliged them to a Life of Obedience and Holiness.

243. Confeq.] And by Obedience and Holiness, they would make good their prefent Bleffings, fecure the continued Favour of God, and obtain everlafting Life. 1 Pet. i. 5, " We are kept by the Power of God through Faith unto Salvation." ii. 20, "If when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye bear it patiently; this is acceptable with God."iii. 10, 11, 12, "He that will love Life, and fee good Days, let him refrain his Tongue from Evil, and his Lips that they speak no Guile: Let him efchew Evil and do Good; let him feek Peace and enfue it. For the Eyes of the Lord are over the Righteous, and his Ears are open to their Prayers." Ver. 14, "If ye fuffer for Righteoufnefs Sake, happy are ye." iv. 14, -for the Spirit of Glory, and of God refteth upon you." v. 5, "God gives Grace [Favour] to the Humble." 2 Pet. i. 10, 11,———“ If ye do thefe Things [namely, add to Faith, Virtue, &c. Ver. 5,] ye fhall never fall: For fo an Entrance fhall be miniftred unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift." [Note, 'Tis called the "everlafting Kingdom," to diftinguish it from the prefent temporary and preparatory Kingdom, into which the Perfons to whom the Apoftle writes, were already entered, (1 Epift. Chap. ii. 9, 10.) but unto the everlasting Kingdom they could not enter, except they did those Things mentioned 2 Epift. Chap. i. 5, 6, 7.]

244. Suppo.] But notwithstanding their being elected, called, begotten, or born again, or regenerated, redeemed, &c. they might abufe the Grace of God by Difobedience and Wickedness; or in our Saviour's Words, "They feeing, might not fee; and hearing, they might not hear, (Mat. xiii. 13.) as appears from the earnest Exhortations and Cautions under the foregoing Head: and ftill further from 2 Pet. i. 12, 13, iii. 1, 2. Moreover, the Apoftle tells them, they were upon Trial, or Proba-. tion; which must be in order to know what Course they would take, and supposes they might be worsted. 1 Pet. i. 6, 7, "Though now for a Seafon, if need be, ye are in Heavinefs through manifold Temptations. That the Trial of your Faith," or your tried Faith, "might he found unto Praise and Honour and Glory at the Appearing of Jefus Chrift." iv. 12, "Beloved, think it not ftrange concerning the fiery Trial, which is to try you, as though fome ftrange Thing happened unto you." 2 Pet. i. 9, 10, "He," among you, "that lacketh thefe Things, [Faith, Virtue, Knowledge, Temperance, &c. Ver. 5,] is blind, and having fhut his Eyes hath forgotten that he was purged from his old Sins," in his heathen State, that is, he has loft a Senfe of God's forgiving Mercy. "Wherefore the rather, Brethren, give Diligence to make your* Calling and Election fure: For if

ye

* "Make your Calling and Election fure:"] Baia firm, abiding, permanent.

They

ye do thefe Things ye shall never fall." ii. 18, Deceivers "allure through the Lufts of the Flesh-thofe that were clean escaped from them who live in Error," that is, those who were converted from Heathen:fm to Chriftianity. Ver. 20, "For if" fuch Chriftians "after they have escaped the PolJutions of the World, through the Knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, are again intangled therein, and overcome; the latter End is worfe with them than the Beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the Way of Righteoufnefs, than after they have known it to turn from the holy Commandment, [the Gofpel] delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true Proverb; The Dog is turned to his own Vomit; and the Sow that was washed [125] to her wallowing in the Mire." iii. 17, "Ye therefore, beloved, feeing ye know thefe Things, beware left ye alfo being led away by the Error of the Wicked, fall from your own Stedfaftnefs."

245. All this proves, that they might abufe the Grace of God, and fall from their prefent happy State and Standing into Perdition. They called upon, or firnamed the Father, that is, they were the Children of a Father, "who, without Refpect of Perfons, judges according to every Man's Work," Pet. i. 17; and whofe " Face is against them that do Evil," iii. 12. Confequently, if they did Evil, God would not partially respect them, but his Face would be against them in Wrath and Vengeance.

I. JOHN.

246. Anteced.] ii. 2, " Jefus Chrift is the Propitiation for our Sins." Ver. 12, "Your Sins are forgiven you for his Name Sake." Ver. 13, 14, "Ye have known him that is from the Beginning,-ye have overcome the wicked One,- ye have known the Father, the Word of God abideth in you." Ver. 20, "Ye have an Unction from the holy One, and ye know all Things +." iii. 1, 2, " Behold what Manner of Love the Father hath beftowed upon us, that we should be called the Sons [ Children,] of God;-Beloved, now we are the Children of God." iv. 4, "Ye are of God, little Children, and have overcome them [Anti-chrift:

for

They were then called and elected into Chrift's temporary, preparatory King dom on Earth. But this alone would not fecure their final Happiness, unles they made this Calling and Election an abiding Privilege and Honour, by their Improvement in Faith, Virtue, &c. Then and then only, they shall gain an Admiffion into his everlasting Kingdom in the Heavens.

* Thefe Affertions, Ver. 12, 13, 14, as alfo Ver. 20, 21, must be underflood to affirm their Chriftian Privileges, and the great Advantages they ejoyed, for gaining the moft folid Comfort in the Affurance of the Pardon of their Sins; for attaining the moft excellent and ufeful Knowledge; for ac quiring the noblett Fortitude in adhering to the Word of God, and obtaining a glorious Victory over the wicked One. [274] And then, after the Apoftolic Manner of Preaching, he puts them in Mind of the Duty to which by thofe Great Advantages they were obliged, Ver. 15, 16, 17, "Love not the World," &c.

They knew all Things about which the Apoftle writes; that is, they were fully inftructed in the true Gofpel of Chrift, and stood in no Need of the pretended Teaching of the Deceivers (Ver. 26, 27.) to new model their Faith, or to give them more perfect Knowledge of the Gospel.

for this Reafon] because greater is he that is in you [Christians] than he that is in the World." v. 11,—" God hath given to us eternal life." Ver. 13, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life." Ver. 20, "The Son of God-hath given us understanding, that we may know him that is true: and we are in him that is true."

These were their prefent privileges, belonging to all the Chriftians, young and old, to whom the Apoftle wrote; this their present religious ftate. Which was the refult.

247. Reafon.] Not of works of righteousness which they had done; For i. 8, "If we fay that we have no fin we deceive ourselves." Ver 10, "If we say that we have not finned, we inake him a liar, and his word is not in us" [effectually.] ii. 12,-"Your fins are forgiven you." iii. 1, "Behold what manner of love [139] the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God." iv. 9, 10, 19, " In this was manifefted the love of God towards us, because that God fent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God," and by our love deferved and engaged his; "but that he loved us, and fent his Son to be the propitiation for our fins. We love him; because he firft loved us." V. II, "God hath given us eternal life."

ii.

248. Duty.] These privileges, and the whole grace of the Gospel, were intended to ingage them to obedience and righteoufnels; which was the only token of their being true Chriftians, born of God in the most eminent sense; or of their being effectually, or abiding in Chrift *: For living in fin is inconfiftent with the character of a true Chriftian. 3, 5, 6, Hereby we do know that we know him [effectually] if we keep his commandments. Whofo keepeth his word, in him verily the love of God is perfected [has obtained its best effects:] hereby know we that we are [effectually] in him. He that faith he abideth in him, ought himself alfo to walk, even as he walked." Ver 10, "He that loveth his brother abideth in the light." Ver 15, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world." Ver. 24, 29, "Let that therefore abide in you which ye have heard from the beginning. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doth righteoufnefs, is born of him," [ia the most eminent fenfe.] iii. 3, "Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." Ver. 5-9, " And ye know that he was manifefted to take away our fins; and in him, [in his Gofpel] is no fin;" no allowance of fin. "Whofoever abideth in him finneth not: whoFoever finneth, hath not seen him, neither know him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doth righteoufnefs is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth fin is of the Devil,-For this purpose

*

the

Being of the truth, of or in God, knowing God, born of God, fignify our being Chriftians, or, in general, our Chriftian profeffion and principles. But, in particular, may fignify our being eminently and truly Chriftians; which is fpecially denoted by our abiding in God, or in Chrift, having, or holding the Son, and his abiding or dwelling in us, namely, when his Gofpel is a real, permanent principle in our hearts, 2 John 9, or when his love is perfected in us; that is, when it has it's proper effects in our minds and converfatious: in which cafe we have, or bold, life.

the Son of God was manifefted, that he might deftroy the works of the Devil. Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit fin; for his feed remains in him: and he cannot fin, because he is born of God." Ver. 14, "We know that we have paffed from death unto life, because we love the brethren."-Ver. 24, " And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him." iv. 7,8,"Beloved, let us love one another :Every one that loveth is born of God, and knows God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God." Ver. 10, 11,- God fent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Beloved, if God fo loved us, we ought alfo to love one another." Vor. 12,-" If we love one another God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us," that is, has its true and proper effects upon our hearts. Ver. 19, " We love him,” that is, we ought to love him, [274]" becaufe he firft loved us." v. 3, "This is the love of God that we keep his commandments." Ver. 4, "Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world." Ver. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." Ver. 18, "We know that whofoever is born of God finneth not, but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not." 3 John 11," Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doth good is of God: but he that doth evil hath not feen God."

13,

249. Confeq.] In the performance of thefe duties, further bleffings would be given, and they fhould be finally faved. i. 9, "If we confefs our fins, he is faithful and juft to forgive us our fins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." ii. 17,-" He that doth the will of God abideth for ever." Ver. 24,-" If that which ye have heard from the beginning fhall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son and in the Father." Ver. 28, "And now, little children, abide in him; that when he fhall appear, we may have confidence."-iii. 18, 19,-" Let us love in deed and in truth; and hereby we-fhall affure our hearts before him." Ver. 22,"And whatsoever we afk, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do thofe things that are pleafing in his fight." iv. 17, 18, "Herein is our love made perfect;" it is in the Greek, herein, [that is, in loving one another,]" is love [the love which Godshath fhewn to us] made perfect with us, [or has its full effect with regard to our improvement of it] that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: becaufe as he is [good and beneficent] fo are we in this world." v. 12, "He that hath [holdeth] the Son, hath [holdeth] life.” [265 2d note.]

250. Suppof.] But they might live in fin, abuse their privileges, and render them ineffectual. i. 6, "If we fay that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darknefs, we lie and do not the truth." ii. 1, "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye fin not." Ver. 4, "He that faith, I know him, [he that profeffeth Chriftianity] and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." Ver. 9, "He that faith he is in the light, [he that makes profeffion of the Gofpel] and hates his brother, is in darkness even until now," when he is become a Chriftian. Ver. 15,- If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." Ver. 27, 28,-" And even as the anointing has taught you, [that is, by doing as the anointing has taught you] ye shall

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