1. For the Father. Faith, love, obedience,
etc., are peculiarly and distinctly yielded by the saints unto him; and he
is peculiarly manifested in those ways as acting peculiarly
towards them: which should draw them forth and stir them up thereunto. He
gives testimony unto, and beareth witness of, his Son, 1 John v. 9, “This is the witness of
God which he hath testified of his Son.” In his bearing witness he is an
object of belief. When he gives testimony (which he doth as the Father,
because he doth it of the Son) he is to he received in it by faith. And
this is affirmed, verse
10, “He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the
witness in himself.” To believe on the Son of God in this place, is to
receive the Lord Christ as the Son, the Son given unto us, Isa. ix. 6; 1 Cor. i.
30; Matt.
v. 16, 45, vi. 1, 4, 6, 8, vii. 21, xii. 50; Luke xxiv. 49; John
iv. 23, vi. 45, xii. 26, xiv. 6, 21, 23, xv. 1, xvi. 25, 27, xx.
17; Gal. i. 1,
3; Eph. ii. 18, v. 20;
1 Thess. i. 1; James i. 17; 1 Pet. i.
17; 1 John ii.
13, etc. for all the ends of the Father’s love, upon
the credit of the Father’s testimony; and, therefore, therein is faith
immediately acted on the Father. So it follows in the next words, “he that
believeth not God” (that is, the Father, who bears witness to the Son)
“hath made him a liar.” “Ye believe in God,” saith our Saviour, John xiv. 1; that is, the Father as
such, for he adds, “Believe also in me;” or, “Believe you in God; believe
also in me.” God, as the prima
Veritas, upon whose authority is founded, and whereunto all
divine faith is ultimately resolved, is not to be considered ὑποστατικῶς, as peculiarly expressive of any
person, but οὐδιωδῶς, comprehending
the whole Deity; which undividedly is the prime object thereof. But in
this particular it is the testimony and authority of the Father (as such)
therein, of which we speak, and whereupon faith is distinctly fixed on him;
— which, if it were not so, the Son could not add, “Believe also in
me.”