1 John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whoever does not righteousness is not of God… As there is a God, and a devil, a heaven, and a hell, a kingdom of glory, and a kingdom of darkness, so there are several sorts appertaining to both; and at the day of judgment there shall be a final separation made betwixt both. Now the one of these two sorts are in the very text called the children of God; the other, the "children of the devil." Now to speak of the difference which is betwixt the children of God and the children of the devil. This difference is twofold, either general or particular. The general is the doing or not doing of righteousness; the negative is here only named, but in it as in all negative rules the affirmative is included. By righteousness is understood that holy and righteous course which God requireth of us, whether in general as we be Christians, or in particular according to our places and callings allotted unto us by God. The rule of righteousness is the Scripture; in it the Lord hath showed what is good, that only deserves to be entertained as our Spiritual Counsellor, that alone is able to make a "man wise unto salvation." The doing of righteousness is twofold. 1. Legal, and 2. Evangelical.The legal doing is the perfection of all duties, both in manner and form, both for the number and measure of them; which kind of doing was never found in any mere man since the fall of Adam. The Evangelical doing is mingled with much weakness, and is good only in acceptation with God by Jesus Christ. Of this doing the Spirit of God speaketh here, and it consists upon the concurrence of these following particulars. 1. A caring and studying to prove what is the good will of God, how He will be served, and where. with He will be pleased. 2. An inflamed love and affection to that righteousness which is pleasing unto God. 3. A desire, that if it were possible, the whole course of the life and conversation might be suitable thereunto. 4. A firmness of resolution, to frame and set the whole and continual endeavour to the performance of it. 5. A speedy applying of oneself therein. 6. A careful catching of all opportunities to help forward this good purpose. 7. A diligent survey of ones own courses. 8. A bitter bewailing of slips and infirmities, together with a kind of holy indignation at one's own self, that he should so grossly and ordinarily sin against the Lord. 9. An increase of care (after a soil received) and of watchfulness, together with a fear of running afresh into the same or like offence. And as these things cannot be in an unregenerate person, so they cannot but be in those whom the Lord hath chosen to be His. ( S. Hieron.) Parallel Verses KJV: In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. |
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