1 John 2:13 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him that is from the beginning. I write to you, young men… I. WHO ARE FATHERS, OR IN THE HIGHEST RANK OF CHRISTIANITY. 1. They are such as are more delightfully employed in the exercises of godliness. I ascribe this to fathers, partly because they are acquainted with the pleasures of obedience (1 John 5:3); and partly because by long custom they have inured themselves thereto, so that it is become another nature to them. They are alive unto God; and what a man doth with naturalness, he doth it frequently, constantly, and easily. 2. They do more wisely manage the affairs of the spiritual life. They know the craft of Satan (2 Corinthians 2:11); they have felt the bitterness of sin (Psalm 51:6); they know what hindrances they shall have from the devil, world, and flesh, and how they may resist and grow wise to salvation. Experience hath made them wise to decline the rocks upon which they dashed heretofore. 3. They are more fixed in the truth against the seduction of error. The long experience of the fruit of duties confirms them against those delusions which would draw us from them. 4. Their hearts are brought into a more settled, heavenly temper. A tree that hath long stood out against many stormy winds is the more firmly rooted; so a seasoned Christian that hath gone through all weathers. But men that have not solid rooting wave hither and thither. There is initial grace, and a radicated state of grace. 5. They oftener meditate of God, His Word and works and providence. They have had a long time to make provision and hoard up spiritual treasure; and now they bring it forth (Matthew 12:31). Meditation is a difficult work for young beginners; they are not as yet cleansed from vain thoughts, nor have inured themselves to self-government. But now long experience hath taught the aged Christian what a hindrance it is to have their hearts pestered with vanities, how it deadeneth their prayers; and therefore they throng themselves with holy thoughts of God in Christ, who is the beloved of their souls. 6. They can more feelingly than others speak of the shortness, misery, and sinfulness of the present life (Genesis 47:8, 9). They know the disappointments of a naughty world. 7. They are more weaned from the delights of sense, and have long used to moderate themselves within the bounds of sobriety (Titus 2:2). 8. They think and speak of the world to come, and the blessed state of the faithful in the most lively manner, as apprehending it sure and near (2 Corinthians 4:16). 9. They attain unto greater soundness and integrity in the essentials of religion (Titus 2:2). II. HOW MUCH IT CONCERNETH FATHERS IN YEARS TO BE FATHERS IN GRACE, and to be more eminently religious than others, that they may be a pattern to them. 1. It conduceth to God's honour. If young men and children only should profess religion, you would take it for indiscretion and hotness of spirit; young ponies, they know not what they do. Fathers, when they served God in their ripest age and yet are not weary of His service, this is an honour to Him. 2. For your own comfort, what a support is godliness to old age, when decays of nature are recompensed with the increase of grace, the weakness of body with soundness of mind (2 Corinthians 4:16). The mind is vigorous when the body is weak. When the eye is dim, as in old Israel, it can see God the invisible one. III. THE AGED IN YEARS AND GRACE MUST BE WRITTEN UNTO. 1. That they may persevere in godliness. They are not yet out of the reach of temptations. Partly by their own security. A man of long standing, being secure of salvation, may grow remiss and negligent. And if he go round in his accustomed tract of duties, may carry it as if he were now past all danger, and so insensibly decayeth. Well, then, there needeth watchfulness to the very last. Man is a very changeable creature; therefore we should always stand upon our guard. Partly because the course of temptations may be altered; the devil doth not always play the same game. We had need be provided for all weathers (Philippians 4:12). 2. That their growth may be promoted; that they may be stirred up to more seriousness, diligence, and more fruitfulness. (1) After so long a standing, and so much means, more growth and tendency towards perfection may be justly expected from them (Psalm 92:13, 14). (2) Their manifold experience should make them better. It is a miserable thing to pass under so many providences, and not to be improved by them (Deuteronomy 29:2-6). (T. Manton, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. |
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