11 As we must be judged of God after death, let us live as we would wish to die. AUGUST 24, DEC. 21. in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto 16 15 If God seem to delay just recompence, be patient. He mercifully wishes all men to repent, and therefore often gives, even to the most wicked, time for repentance. 16 In St. Paul's Epistles, are obscure passages, which relate to persons and circumstances long since passed away. But the doctrines of the apostle are misunderstood and rejected by those chiefly who wish to misapply them. you ; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 17 This valediction is the more af fecting, as bearing the last expression of love from the apostle to his people. He soon passed, by martyrdom, to his reward. The first Epistle general of John. CHAPTER I. APRIL 25, AUGUST 24, Dec. 21. THAT which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen 1 Jesus, having risen from the dead, deigned to permit his apostles even to handle Him, that they might satisfy themselves of the reality of St. John in his with our eyes, which we have his resurrection. looked upon, and our hands Gospel terms Christ "the Word." have handled, of the Word of life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested 3 unto us;) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: 3 The object of St. John is to reunite us with God through Christthat we may be one with Christ, as Christ with God. 4 Such glad tidings may indeed give fulness of joy. 5 This light is even now searching your heart. Walk then in the light. and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth in us. 8 Self-righteousness is a fatal deceit. us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. What greater encouragement to repentance? God is not only so loving and merciful that He inclines to pardon the penitent, but we are permitted to appeal to his faithfulness and justice such full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world did our Lord and Saviour offer. CHAPTER II. APRIL 26, AUGust 25, Dec. 22. 'My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. ◄ He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his com 1 To attain holiness and innocency of life, should be the great aim of every follower of the holy Jesus. If men would obey, they would gladly know and believe. So reasoned our blessed Lord himself. (John vii. 17.) A belief in the atonement of Christ, mandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But 7 without obedience to his commandments, is utterly vain. whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's 7 To love our brethren is both an old and new commandment. Its principle is old; even as the eternal law of God. Its extent under the Gospel is new. Christians hold all men as brethren. Love" one another," saith our Lord to his disciples, " as I have loved you." 13 The object of this epistle is to strengthen the weak, confirm the strong, animate the hopeful, and encourage all in their course of holiness and peace. 15 The love of this world is conquered, where there is hope of heaven sake. 13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is the world, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 18 Little children, it is the last time and as ye have heard in the next. not in him. For all that is in and the lust of the eyes, and 17 O that eternal abiding with God in heaven! When my heart rests in that expectation, how deeply do I feel the vanity of all here, and patiently "tarry the Lord's leisure." 18 This is the last dispensation which God will vouchsafe to man. that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19"They left us, because their were never sincere in their christian 20 So St. John terms the gifts of the Holy Ghost ; as also in ver. 27. 22 He who denies Jesus Christ to be the Lord and Saviour of the world, cuts himself off from all hope of that peace here and that happiness hereafter, which the Gospelers. had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with 27 The gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit. in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye krow that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. 1 CHAPTER III. APRIL 27, August 26, Dec. 23. BEHOLD, what manner of 1 St. John here states our present love the Father hath be- privileged condition in Christ Jesus. stowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the 2 Here he pictures our future ad sons of God, and it doth not vancement, when we shall be made like unto Christ, whose followers we are. yet appear what we shall be : but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Who6 No man, who cherishes a truly soever abideth in him sin- christian faith and hope, sinneth wilneth not whosoever sinneth fully. 9 A holy life is a clear proof to men, that we are the children of God-a wicked life, that we are the children hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He 8 Conscience confirms this truth. that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked of the Devil. 12 Wicked men often envy the very virtues which they will not practise. But where envy is, there is hatred. 14 In a christian heart, love to God and love to man are united. one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: 15 the brethren. He that loveth 15 Root out of your heart envy and hatred and malice. You know not to what crimes they may lead you. and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's 17 As Christ loved us, we ought also to love one another. good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in |