SERMON XXX.
And this is Ms commandment, that ive should believe in the name of his Son, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. — 1 John iii. 23.
The apostle instanceth what commandments we should observe if we would keep a good conscience. Two are mentioned — faith in Christ, and an unfeigned love to the brethren ; both are introduced by a preface suitable to the occasion. Therefore I shall first explain the preface ; secondly, the particular duties mentioned. First, In the preface take notice —
1. Of the unity, agreement, and fair accord between these duties; though two duties are mentioned, yet but one commandment.
2. The excellency of them, ' His commandment.'
1. The unity and agreement between gospel duties. He had said ' commandments ' in the former verse ; and here are two duties speci- fied, yet these are not ' his commandments,' but ' his commandment,' a change of numbers often used by the sacred writers. The whole gospel is but one commandment : 1 Tim. i. 5, ' The end of the com- mandment is charity ; ' that is, of the gospel institution.
2. The excellency ; this is the commandment which is signalised by Christ's authority, and expressly charged on us, and to which other duties are reduced. It is such an expression as you have, John vi. 29, ' This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.' The context there standetli thus ; thousands being fed by a miracle, many followed him for the loaves, therefore Christ telleth them of spiritual bread. He came down from heaven, not to supply hungry stomachs, but to comfort hungry consciences : ' Labour not for the meat that perisheth, but for the meat that endureth for ever, which the Son of man shall give you ; for him hath the Father sent.' That direction occasioned a question. What shall we do that we may labour or work the works of God ? Christ answereth them, ' This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.' There is a meiosis in the expression ; you talk of works, this is the work. As if a man should come to a charitable physician, Sir, I am grievously tormented
VeU. 23.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. 211
with such a disease, what shall I give 3'ou for the cure ? and his answer should he, This is that 5'ou shall give me, to be confident of my skill and fidelity to help you, and use the means which I prescribe for your recovery : ' This is the work of God/ So here ; this is the command- ment.
Secondly, The particular duties mentioned are faith in Christ and love to the brethren.
1. Faith in Jesus Christ, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ. The name of Christ is Christ himself, or Christ considered as revealed in the gospel ; then we believe in the name of Jesus Christ when we believe all that is revealed in the gospel con- cerning Jesus Christ, i.e., assent with an affiance to the doctrine con- cerning his person, offices, benefits, and the way how we come to attain them according to the covenant of grace. This is to believe in his name, to assent to what is said concerning his person and offices, and to consent to deal with him upon these terms, depending upon him to obtain these benefits in the appointed way. The same expression is used, John iii. 18, 'Because he believeth not in the name of the Son of God.' So Acts X. 43, ' Through his name whosoever believeth on him shall receive the remission of sins.' So John xx. 31, * These things are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that, believing, ye may have life through his name ; ' that is, obtain salvation according to the way appointed in the scriptures or the new covenant.
2. For love : ' And love one another, as he gave commandment.' By * one another,' he meaneth principally that christians should love one another. Christians are bound to love all men, even their enemies, Mat. V. 44. Yet seeing God is to be loved chiefly, and others in subor- dination to him, as Mat. xxii. 38, 39, it followetli that those ought to have most of our love who love God most, and are most beloved of him, and are made partakers of the divine nature, and resemble God most. But not only the duty, but the manner is here enforced : * As he hath given us commandment ; ' and that is, that when the case requireth it, we must lay down our lives for the brethren : John xiii. 34, ' A new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another.' There is the substance of the duty, and then it followeth, ' As I have loved you, that ye also love one another.' There is the manner again : John XV. 12, 13, ' This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you : greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends ;' meaning thereby, not only to com- mend his own love to us, to heighten our gratitude, but also to commend his example tons, and to heighten our charity and love to the brethren.