Chapter I
The design of the apostle in the text explained. The characters of the several
ages of Christians are drawn from what is found as an excellency in each of
these ages in men s natural life.
This holy apostle, who had an advantage for holiness in his life ahove many of his fellow-apostles, in that he lived the longest of them, and so to
grow up therein ; and in the course of his life had run through all the
several ages or seasons that any Christians do pass through ; and having had experience in other Christians of what was eminent in and proper unto
each age of men in Christ, writes distinctly unto all sorts accordingly, and
sets down what eminency in things spiritual, and therewithal what duties,
belonged unto these several ages.
These ages in Christ he divides into three, according to what nature
divides them into, though custom of speech speaks four.
1. Fathers in Christ.
2. Men grown up, which is translated young men.
3. Babes, or new converts not yet grown up, but true believers all. But this must be noticed by the way, for the right apprehension of these
three ranks or classes of Christians (which hath to our English readers
occasioned a confounding of what the apostle intended should be differenced). The word
* little children, twice so rendered in verses 13 and 14 by the
476 THREE SEVERAL AGES OF CHRISTIANS [CHAP. I.
translators, seems as if little children in the 12th versa were the same with little children spoken of in ver. 13, whereas the words^in the Greek
differ; rexwa, little children, in ver. 12, isfilioli, or little sons ; but ffa/3/a, babes or infants, in ver. 13, is another word. The first, rsxy/a, ver. 12, is the common appellation of saints in this life, involving the whole church, both fathers, young men, babes and all. Our Lord himself first used that word little children of and to his apostles, John xv. 33, and chap. xxi. 5, for they are all sons, as Gal. iii. 26, and but little children all of them whilst in this life, in comparison unto what in the other world they shall be ; unto their elder brethren in heaven made perfect. See 1 Cor. xiii.
* When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child ; but when I became a man, I put away childish things, &c. But in the 13th verse our apostle John distributeth those little children that are Christians into three sorts, expressed by three
10, 11 :
ages in Christ, and terms the new converted ones infants or babes ; which are but one rank or sort distinguished from fathers and young men.
So that this first, this title of little children, ver. 12, denotes the whole church on earth jointly and in common; the second, in ver. 13, the whole church distributively cast into three ranges. In that first he mentions a
privilege common to all three, namely, that
* their sins are forgiven them
in the name of Christ ; as also Eph. iv. 3, this belongs to them all first and last. Even babes have all their sins forgiven at first, as the Colossians from their first conversion, Col. iii. As the title sons or children is com mon, so is this benefit of forgiveness.
This I pass, and handle not. The three several ages are my subject. By which the ages of Christians, according to their years as men, are not so strictly and chiefly intended ; for if the discrimination be meant
according to nature, that is, their ages as they are men, then very infants, that are sanctified, should be intended ; but not so, for it is those only that were capable of understanding this epistle written by John, or else it were
frustrate to have said he wrote unto such babes ; therefore he means not
infants according to the course of nature. And besides, it may and doth
fall out that some old men may be babes in Christ, that is, new converts ; and that Christians long converted, who should (for the time) be, as the
apostle says to the Hebrews, of a full age, yet continue to be babes in
Christ, Heb. v. 12-14, though then they are even old men, as men ; and
if they be in Christ, are to be treated and reverenced by all others as
fathers, 1 Tim. v. 1, 2 ; because old age is found in the way of righteous ness in them, as Prov. xvi. 31. But these are not the fathers that are here meant by John.
So that these sorts of ages are three degrees in Christianity, or in Christ, sorted by their stature in Christ. There is a
* stature in Christ spoken
of, Eph. iv. 13, and these three are the degrees unto that stature. And
therefore the apostle is principally to be understood of what several ages Christians are of as they are grown up into Christ, according as their measure is of the true saving knowledge in them of Christ ; for according to that measure we find their ages computed. Thus the Corinthians, whom
the apostle calls babes, and adds, in Christ, 1 Cor. iii. 1, to shew how he meant it, namely, as they were in Christ ; for otherwise as men they were
grown up in years, yea, and had been some years converted; and suitably as he says these babes in Christ, so you may add the same here to and of
CHAP. I.] IN FAITH AND OBEDIENCE. 477
these whom onr apostle speaks of, and say, to you fathers in Christ, old
disciples, as in the Acts, of much standing and long experience ; and in
like manner, young men in Christ, and babes in Christ.
My scope in handling these is to shew the peculiar appropriation that
belongs to each age, which here the apostle schematizeth them in, to the end that you may have some help to discern what age you are of in Christ. Many are to seek as to the knowledge of their age in Christ. My scope is
also to direct what each sort should aim at, and apply themselves to seek
for at God s hands ; that they computing the time they reckon upon for
their having been in Christ (though the exact time many know not), yet by several workings may guess at, and have lived such or so many years in having had such workings on them, so as for the time they might well be out of their babeship ; they may see what for the time they ought to have attained, and seeing themselves to fall short, to humble themselves
accordingly ; perhaps when old in years, yet babes in Christ still. It is a
great part of wisdom to know the times, so in Esther i. 13 ; and Christ
* discerning the times ; but this is more, to know what the seasons that our particular persons are under, to the end to provoke us
speaks of
still to forget what is behind, and to seek further.
I come now to open these three characters of the three several ages in
particular.
Towards the understanding the difference of these characters in particular, First, Some cautions are to be premised, to prevent a misunderstanding either of the apostle s or my intent.
1. The first and principal one, and which is to be remembered and taken
all along, both as a note and guide of interpretation, and finding out the
apostle s scope, and to prevent mistaking in judging ourselves or others, is, that in designing forth these special characters or notes to these several
ages, his meaning is not as if what is attributed singly were appropriated to the ages mentioned, in such a manner, as that the same are not at all
to be found in the other two. For instance, it is the character of babes
to know the father ; this is not to be understood as if that old Christians did not also continue to know the Father. The like of that other of middle-
* strong, and as if they only did overcome that wicked one. No ; for that knowledge of the Father that
aged Christians, as if they only were
is in babes, may be and is continued in them when grown up to be young men ; and grows up in fathers to a higher degree than in either. And in
like manner spiritual strength to overcome is continued also, yea, and increased in old Christians. We see that love of the Father, and so the
knowledge of him, is common to Christians of all ages
: ver. 15, If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him, that is, he is not a Christian. Likewise, whereas young men are said to have overcome
Satan, that is, his temptations, noting also how that age is incident to them ;
yet babes also have their temptations to sin, and sometimes are enabled to overcome ; they have their deliverances and victories, and babes and suck
lings have strength to still the enemy and the avenger, Ps. viii., which
Christ applies to the little children that cried Hosanna. So as it is not
the meaning that any of these attributes are so peculiar to any of these
sorts, but that there maybe found the same in some degree in each other; but his design is to set forth what is more singular in every of these ages, what more eminent.
Again, These three appropriated notes are to be understood with a potius, with a rather ; as that babes do at that age rather apply themselves to
478 THREE SEVERAL AGES OF CHRISTIANS [CHAP. I.
pursue after, and are fond of the father and his love ; and so of the rest in
Again, Nor as if, when they were babes, they had only this grace of
* New
knowin^ the father, and not of him that was from the beginning.
born babes, says Peter, 1 Epist. ii. 1-3, have tasted that the Lord is
gracious ; and that Lord there meant is Christ, as it follows : yer. 4, lo whom coming, as to a living stone, chosen of God, and precious ; it is
Christ he speaks of.
Moreover, when I say, what is more eminent in any age, I speak it not
comparatively to the other two, as if the other two had less of the love of
the Father, as they grow to be young men or middle-aged Christians, than
when they are babes ; but it is specially in comparison of all other spiritual
excellencies in themselves at that age, that this special character, that is
appropriated thereto, is found eminere, and to abound in the practice of it.
As, for instance, babes (which are the lowest) have their victories as well
as young men, and the knowledge of Christ who was from the beginning,
as fathers are said to have ; yet if you would know what their hearts and
affections are taken up with most, it is the fatherly mercy of God
;_ to cry
Abba, Father, to him, and to seek of him as such the pardon of their sins ;
and perhaps also, further, to have the apprehension of the love ^of the
Father, in his love and design in sending his Son to be a propitiation for
sins (which in the fourth chapter is treated of) so that this comparison. is
(not more or above the other two, but) in respect of other spiritual work
ings of heart in themselves, and which is often more stirring than any
other.
Again, The meaning is negatively, that in comparison to those other two,
babes have not yet attained to the excellency of the other two; that if,
they are not grown up to that strength as to go through those conflicts
and tentations that young men are exercised withal, nor to know Christ in
that manner which fathers have attained unto.
Again, It may also be that not simply what their hearts do most abound
in at that age, more than in any other age ; but what is the top excellency
which at that age they arrive at, in comparison to whatever else is in them ;
and so to the excellency of the thing itself at that age, he aims to set forth.
The thoughts of babes may perhaps be exercised more about humiliation
for sin, or the like ; yet this of knowing the Father is the top excellency of
any other exercise of grace they have in them.
Again, There is to be an allowance given to the liberty which God s free
grace, in his various dealings with his children, is pleased to reserve to
himself, and doth take and will take, according to his good pleasure ; and
his free grace will not be bound to such accessory rules as are not simply
essential to our being Christians, nor of the essence of that Being, in the
state of grace, and concern the bene esse, the well-being of them only ; but
his special grace will break in, where and how it pleaseth him. Some are
begotten strong men in Christ (which is the property of the young men
here), as Paul was from the first. He can ripen his corn soon, for his
gathering them into his floor, as is seen in many converts, who shoot up to
a strange degree and stature of holiness and communion with the Father
and Son, when God means to take them to heaven to himself. Enoch
attained to a higher strain of perfection, in three hundred years, than his
fellow-patriarchs in nine hundred ; it is therefore what, in the ordinary
course of God s dispensation, falls out, plerumque, and for the most part. And to shew in what seasons saints converted grow up into, there are
CHAP. I.] 1JS FAITH AND OBEDIENCE. 479
several seasons, for buds to shoot forth in one month, then blossoms in
another, &c.
Lastly, These characters, although they belong not simply unto Christians,
according to their ages as men in this world (as was said), but to their
degrees of stature in Christ, yet the characters are borrowed from, and
assimilated unto what is found as an excellency in each of these ages, in men s natural life, and not without a great elegancy transferred to the like
falling out, in these ages in Christ.
1. Wisdom and experimental knowledge and remembrance of things long since past, is that which old men delight in, and is eminent in men wise ;
* Fathers, you have known him who is from the
answering to which is,
beginning.
2. The glory of young men, and men grown up, is their strength : Prov.
xx. 29, The glory ofyoung men is their strength, wrestlings and victories ; answerable to which is, Young men, you are strong, and have overcome
that wicked one.
3. Infants, they rejoice in the sight and presence of their fathers and
parents, and in their talking of them ; answerably, Babes, you have known the Father.
A second thing to be premised, is an account . touching my method in
handling these characters, because I shall not keep to the order the apostle hath set them in ; which we see is fathers first, and the condition of young men or middle-aged Christians in the middle, and babes last; he proceeding and keeping to the order of time, and the due honour to be given, as to
fathers first. But my aim in handling them being only to set out the just difference of the distinct characters appropriated here to them, especially between those two, of babes and fathers, whose character in common is to know and have communion with one of these two persons, but distinguished by some special acquaintance with the Father the one, or with Christ the
other. Whereas in his mention of the middle-aged, he doth not all speak of their communion with either of these two persons (though it is to be
supposed such a communion with each is, in the measure of their age in
Christianity, found in them also) ; but their character carries us only to
consider their conflicts with sin and Satan, and their overcomings, to set them forth by. Hence I judge it meet, as to my now mentioned purpose, to link the handling the characters of those two, babes and fathers, together,
finding it also to be the fairest and best way to come to discern the differ ence between them, in respect to the difference of their communion, whilst we view and compare them together
: the knowledge of, and communion
with, the Father in the one ; and of and with Christ by the other ; and
then after this despatch to treat apart, and singly by itself, that of middle-
aged Christians last, but these other two first.
And, thirdly, because a fellowship and communion with one of these
persons, in a more eminent manner, is the difference the apostle intendeth, when he says, babes know the Father, and fathers Christ, I shall therefore
enlarge my discourse, and take into my method the point of communion
with these persons, not in the latitude thereof, but especially the point of
inequality of communion with these persons (which is apparent from the
instances of these two ages in the text) which Christians may, and do often meet withal in successive times of their lives (and not only at those two
ages), sometimes to be more with one person, sometimes with the other,
ss God is pleased to dispense it ; and then, in the end, to give a more
apecial account how, and why, babes know the Father, and fathers Christ.
460 THREE SEVERAL AGES OF CHRISTIANS [CHAP. II.
The whole of what concerns these things, to which I limit myself, I shall
proceed to p>*ove, by God s grace, and explain by thesejgradual approaches, fetched from out of the third and fourth verses of chap, i., compared with the words of this 13th verse of chap. ii.