We are of God
Not only as the chosen of God, the children of God, regenerated
ones, and believers, but as ministers of the Gospel; they were
chosen, and called, and sent of God to preach the Gospel, and
were qualified for it, by gifts received from him, and had their
doctrine from him, as well as their commission and mission: they
were not of the world, and therefore did not speak of the world,
nor things suited to worldly men; but being of God, they spoke
the words of God, which were agreeable to him, which made for the
glory of the three divine Persons, and were consistent with the
divine perfections; which maintained the honour and dignity of
the persons in the Godhead; which magnified the grace of God in
salvation, and debased the creature:
he that knoweth God;
not only as the God of nature and providence, but as in Christ,
and that not only professionally, but practically; that has an
experimental knowledge of him, that knows him as exercising
lovingkindness, having tasted of his grace and goodness; that
knows him so as to trust in him, and love him; for such a
knowledge of God is meant, as has true real affection to him
joined with it; so that it is he that loves his name, his glory,
his truths, and his ordinances: he
heareth us:
not only externally, constantly attending on the ministry of the
word, as such do; but internally, understanding what is heard,
receiving it in love, cordially embracing it, and firmly
believing it, and acting according to it:
he that is not of God;
who is not born of God, but is as he was when born into the
world, and is of it: and who does not righteousness, nor loves
his brother, nor confesses the divinity, humanity, and offices of
Christ, and so is not on the side of truth, nor has the truth of
grace in him; see ( 1 John 3:10 ) (
4:3 ) ; such a
man
heareth not us;
he is a mere natural man, a carnal and unregenerate man; and such
an one cannot attend on a Gospel ministry, or receive Gospel
doctrines, which are with him senseless, stupid, and foolish
notions, yea, foolishness itself; nor can he know and understand
them through ignorance, and want, of a spiritual discerning; they
are hard sayings, and he cannot hear, nor bear them; and when
this is the case, it is a plain token of unregeneracy, and that
such persons are not of God; see ( John 8:47 ) .
Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of
error;
the difference between truth and error; can distinguish one from
another, and discern who are the true ministers of Christ, and
who are the false teachers; for not only the word of God, the
Scriptures of truth, are the test and standard, the touchstone to
bring them to, and try them by; and the doctrines they severally
bring show who they are; but even their very hearers distinguish
them. Spirits, or men pretending to the Spirit of God, may be
known in a great measure by their followers; they who have the
spirit of error, and are of the world, they are followed, and
caressed, and applauded by the men of the world, by unregenerate
persons; they who have the spirit of truth, and are of God, they
are heard and approved of, and embraced by spiritual men, by such
who know God in Christ, and have tasted that the Lord is
gracious.