And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
Ver. 3. We know that we know him] By a reflex act of the soul; hence the assurance of faith, the fruit of fruitfulness, 1 Corinthians 15:58 .
That we know him] With a knowledge not apprehensive only, but affective too.
If we keep his commandments] Si facimus praecepta, etiamsi non perficiamus; If we think upon his commandments to do them, Psalms 103:18, aim at them, as at a mark, Psalms 119:6 .
" Non semper feriet quodcunque minabitur arcus. "
Wish well to an exact obedience which yet we cannot attain to,Psalms 119:4,5; be doing at it as we can, following after righteousness,Proverbs 15:9, as a poor aprentice follows his trade, though he be nothing less than his craftmaster; and lastly, be humbled for our daily aberrations, resolving and striving to do better: this is that evangelical keeping of God's commandments, which God (measuring the deed by the desire, and the desire by the sincerity thereof) will accept and crown, through Christ our propitiation.