John Trapp on 1 John 1

CHAP. I. Verſe 1. That Which Was from the beginning]

CHriſt, the eternall God. See the Note on John 1.2.

Which we have heard, &c.] The man Chriſt Jeſus, the Arch-prophet. [non-Latin text not transcribed].

Which we have ſeen] And what ſo ſure as ſight? See Luk. 1.2. This was denied to many Kings and Prophets, Luk. 10.24. To have ſeen Chriſt in the fleſh was one of the three things that Auſtin wiſhed: which yet Saint Paul ſet no ſuch high price upon, in compariſon of a ſpirituall ſight of him, 2 Cor. 5.16. See the Note there. [non-Latin text not transcribed].

Which we have looked upon] Diligently, and with delight: How ſweet ſhall be the fight of him in heaven? With what unconceivable attention and admiration ſhall we contemplate his glorified body out-ſhining the brighteſt Cherub?

Verſe 2. For the life was manifeſted] Chriſt who is life eſſentiall ſwallowed up death in victory: and brought life and immor. tality to light by the Goſpel, 2 Tim. 1.10.

Verſe 3. Declare we unto you] That (Theophylus-like) ye may be at a certainty, fully perſwaded, Luk. 1.1. having a plerophory or full aſſurance of underſtanding, to the acknowledgement of the myſtery of Chriſt, Coloſ. 3.2. See the Note there.

And truly our fellowſhip] If any ſhould object: Is that ſuch a preferment to have fellowſhip with you? What are you, &c! He anſwereth, As mean as we are, we have fellowſhip with the Father and the Sonne: Union being the ground of communion, all that is theirs is ours.

Verſe 4. And theſe things Write We] Out of the Scriptures, thoſe wells of ſalvation, draw we waters with joy, Iſa. 12.4. ſuck theſe breſts of conſolation, and be ſatisfied, Iſa. 66.11. Nuſquam inveri requiem niſi in libro & clauſtro, Hom. in Geneſ ſaith one. Chryſoſtome brings in a man laden with inward trouble, coming into the Church: where, when he heard this paſſage read, Why are thou cast down my ſoul, &c? hope in God, &c. he preſently recovered comfort.

Verſe 5. That God is light] He is [non-Latin text not transcribed], Light eſſentiall, and they that walk with him muſt be as ſo many chryſtall glaſſes with a ligh[illegible: 1 letter] in the midſt; for can two walk together, and they not be agreed? Am. 3.8.

Verſe 6. If [illegible: 2 letters] ſay that, &c.] As they doe that profeſſe to know God, but in works do deny him, Tic. 1.16. See the Note there.

And walk in darkneſſe] There is a childe of light that walks in darkneſſe, Iſa. 50.10. but that's in another ſenſe. I he wicked alſo, that are here ſaid to walk in darkneſſe have their ſparkles of light, that they have kindled, Iſa. 50.11. but it is but as a light ſmitten out of a flint, which neither warms, nor guides them, but dazelleth their eyes, and goes out, ſo that they lie down in ſorrow.

Verſe 7. We have fellowſhip one, &c.] That is, God and we: inaſmuch as we are made partakers of the divine nature, and are pure as God is pure, 1 Joh 3.3. in quality, though not in an equality.

And the bloud of Jeſus] That whereas Gods pure eye can ſoon finde many a foul flaw in the beſt of us (our righteouſneſſe being mixt, as light and darkneſſe, dimneſſe at leaſt in a painted glaſſe, died with ſome obſcure and dim colour, it is tranſparent and giveth good, but not clear and pure light) loe here a ready remedy, a ſweet ſupport, The bloud of Jeſus Christ his son cleanſeth us from all ſin.

Verſe 8. If we ſay that we have] If any ſhould be ſo ſaucy or rather ſilly, as to ſay with Donatus, Non habeo Domine quod ignoſcas, I have no ſinne for Chriſt to cleanſe me from, he is a loud lier, and may very well have the whetſtone.

Verſe 9. If we confeſſe] Home agnoſcit, Dew ignoſcit. Aug. And Conſeſſio p[illegible: 1 letter]cca[illegible: 1 letter]i eſt vomitus ſordium animae. Judah (his name ſignifies confeſſion) got the kingdome from Reuben.

He is faithfull] And yet Bellarmin[illegible: 1 letter] ſaith,De [illegible: 1 letter]uſtific. l. 1. cap 21. That he cannot finde in all the book of God, and promiſe made to confeſſion of ſin to God.

From all unrighteouſneſſe] All without exception: why then ſhould we put in conditions, and as it were enterline Gods Covenant?

Verſe 10. We make him a liar] For the Scripture hath concluded all under ſin, Rom. 11.32. See the Note there.