4 And these things we write to you, that you may rejoice, and your joy may be full,

new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning. The old com5 And this is the declaration mandment is the word which you which we have heard from him, have heard. and declare unto you: That God is 8 Again a new commandment I light, and in him there is no dark-write unto you, which thing is true both in him and in you: because

ness.

6 If we say that we have fellow-the darkness is passed and the true ship with him, and walk in dark- light now shineth.

ness, we lie, and do not the truth. 9 He that saith he is in the light,

7 But if we walk in the light, as and hateth his brother, is in darkhe also is in the light; we have fel-ness even until now.

lowship one with another, and the 10 He that loveth his brother, blood of JESUS Christ his Son abideth in the light, and there is no cleanseth us from all sin. scandal in him.

8 If we say that we have no sin; we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins; he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity.

10 If we say that we have not sinned; we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

CHAP. II.

11 But he that hateth his brother, is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth: because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.

12 I write unto you, little children,because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

13 I write unto you, fathers, because you have known him, who is from the beginning. I write unto Directions what to write to the an-you, young men, because you have gels or bishops of Ephesus, &c. overcome the wicked one.

Me child you that you cause you have known the Father. Y little children, these things 14 I write unto you, babes, be

may not sin. But if any man sin, I write unto you, young men, bewe have an advocate with the Fa-cause you are strong, and the word ther, JESUS Christ the just : of God abideth in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

3 And by this we know that we have known him, if we keep his commandments.

4 He who saith that he knoweth him,and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him:

5 But he that keepeth his word, in him in very deed the charity of God is perfected: and by this we know that we are in him.

6 He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also to walk, even as he walked.

15 Love not the world, nor the the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, is the concupiscence of the flesh, and the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away, and the concupiscence thereof. But he that doth the will of God, abideth for ever.

18 Little children, it is the last hour: and as you have heard that Antichrist cometh: even now there 7 Dearly beloved, I write not al are become many Antichrists

whereby we know that it is the last abide in him: that when he shal hour. appear, we may have confidence, 19 They went out from us; but and not be confounded by him at they were not of us. For if they his coming. had been of us, they would no

29 If you know, that he is just, doubt have remained with us: but know ye, that every one also, who that they may be manifest, that doth justice, is born of him. they are not all of us.

20 But you have the unction from

the Holy one, and know all things:

21 I have not written to you as to them that know not the truth, but as to them that know it: and that no lie is of the truth.

22 Who is a liar, but he who denieth that JESUS is the Christ? This is Antichrist, who denieth the Father and the Son.

23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father. He that confesseth the Son, hath the Father also.

24 As for you, let that which you have heard from the beginning, abide in you. If that abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning, you also shall abide in the Son and in the Father.

CHAP. III.

Of the love of God to us.
EHOLD what manner of cha-

B
rity the Father hath bestowed
upon us, that we should be called,
and should be the sons of God.
Therefore the world knoweth not
us, because it knew not him.

now

2 Dearly beloved, we are the sons of God; and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be. We know, that, when he shall appear, we shall be like to him: because we shall see him as he is.

3 And every one that hath this hope in him, sanctifieth himself, as he also is holy.

4 Whosoever committeth sin, committeth also iniquity: and sin is iniquity.

5 And you know that he appear25 And this is the promise which ed to take away our sins: and in he hath promised us, life everlast-him there is no sin. ing. 6 Whosoever abideth in him, 26 These things have I written to sinneth not: and whosoever sinneth you, concerning them that seduce hath not seen him, nor known him. you. 7 Little children, let no man de

27 And as for you, let the unc-ceive you. He that doth justice, is tion, which you have received from just: even as he is just. him, abide in you. And you have 8 He that committeth sin, is of no need that any man teach you: the devil: for the devil sinneth from but as his unction teacheth you the beginning. For this purpose, the of all things, and is truth, and is Son of God appeared, that he might no lie. And as it hath taught you, destroy the works of the devil. abide in him.

28 And now, little children,

9 Whosoever is born of God committeth not sin: for his seed abi

Ver 20. Know all things. The true children of God's church, remaining in unity, under the guidance of their lawful pastors, partake of the unction of the Holy Ghost, promised to the church and her pastors; and meet here with all necessary knowledge and instruction, so as to have no need to seek it elsewhere, since it can be only found in that society of which they are members.

Ver. 4. Iniquity dvouía, transgression of the law.

Ver. 6. Sinneth not, viz. mortally. See chap. i. 8. p. 285.

Ver. 9. Committeth not sin, &c. That is, as long as he keepeth in himself this seed of grace and this divine generation, by which he is born of God. But then he may fall from this happy state, by the abuse of his free-will, as appears from Rom. xi. 20, 21, 22. 1 Cor. ix. 27. ap. x. 12. Philip ii. 12. Revel. ii. 11.

1

10 In this the children of God 21 Dearly beloved, if our heart are manifest, and the children of do not reprehend us, we have conthe devil. Whosoever is not just, fidence towards God. is not of God, nor he that loveth not his brother.

15 Whosoever hateth his brother, What spirits are of God, and what is a murderer. And you know that

no murderer hath eternal life abi-DE

EARLY beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits 16 In this we have known the if they be of God: because many charity of God, because he hath false prophets are gone out into laid down his life for us: and we the world. ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

17 He that hath the substance of this world, and shall see his brother in need, and shall put up his bowels from him: how doth the charity of God abide in him?

18 My little children, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed, and in truth.

19 In this we know that we are the truth and in his sight shall persuade our hearts.

20 For if our heart reprehend us,

Ver. 1. Try the spirits, viz. by examining whether their teaching be agreeable to the rule of the Catholic faith, and the doctrine of the church. For as he says, v. 6. He that knoweth God heareth us (the pastors of the church.) By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Ver. 2. Every spirit which confesseth, &c. Not that the confession of this point of faith alone, is, at all times, and in all cases, sufficient: but that with relation to that time, and for that part of the Christian doctrine, which was then particularly to be confessed, taught, and maintained, against the heretics of those days: this was the most proper token, by which true teachers might be distinguished from the false.

fore of the world they speak, and abideth in God, and God in him. the world heareth them.

6 We are of God. He that knoweth God, heareth us. He that is not of God, heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

7 Dearly beloved, let us love one another: for charity is of God. And every one that loveth, is born of God, and knoweth God.

8 He that loveth not, knoweth not God: for God is charity.

9 By this hath the charity of God appeared towards us, because God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we may live by him.

10 In this is charity: not as though we had loved God, but because he hath first loved us, and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins.

11 My dearest, if God bath so loved us; we also ought to love one another.

12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abideth in us, and his charity is perfected in us.

13 In this we know that we abide in him, and he in us; because he hath given us of his spirit.

14 And we have seen, and do testify, that the Father hath sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world.

15 Whosoever shall confess that JESUS is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God.

17 In this is the charity of God perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment: because as he is, we also are in this world.

18 Fear is not in charity : but perfect charity casteth out fear, because fear hath pain. And he that feareth, is not perfected in charity.

19 Let us therefore love God, because God first hath loved us.

20 If any man say, I love God, and hateth his brother; he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother, whom he seeth, how can he love God whom he seeth not?

21 And this commandment we have from God, that he, who loveth God, love also his brother. CHAP. V. Of them that are born of God and of true charity. is the Christ, is born VHOSOEVER believeth that

W

of God. And every one that loveth him who begot, loveth him also who is born of him.

2 In this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God,and keep his commandments.

3 For this is the charity of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not heavy.

4 For whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world: And this is the victory which overcometh the world, our faith.

5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that JESUS is the Son of God?

16 And we have known, and have believed the charity, which God hath to us. God is charity: and he that abideth in charity, 6 This is he that came by water

Ver. 18. Fear is not in charity, &c. Perfect charity, or love, banisheth human fear, that is, the fear of men; as also all perplexing fear, which makes men mistrust or despair of of God's mercy; and that kind of servile fear, which makes them fear the punishment of sin more than the offence of God. But it no ways excludes the wholesome fear of Go judgments, so often recommended in holy writ; nor that fear and trembling, with which we are told to work out our salvation. Philip ii. 12.

Ver. 1. Is born of God. That is, is justified and become a child of God. Not that the bare belief of this one article is of itself sufficient: but so as to take along with it its proper attendants, viz. the faith of all revealed truths, love, repentance, and obedience to God's law.

and blood, JESUS Christ: not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit which testifieth, that Christ is the truth.

7 And there are three who give testimony in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. And these three are one.

8 And there are three that give testimony on earth: the spirit, and the water, and the blood, and these three are one.

14 And this is the confidence which we have towards him: That, whatsoever we shall ask according to his will, he heareth us.

15 And we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask we know that we have the petitions which we request of him.

16 He that knoweth his brother to sin a sin which is not to death, let him ask, and life shali be given to him, who sinneth not There is a sin unto

9 If we receive the testimony of to death. men, the testimony of God is great-death: for that I say not that any er. For this is the testimony of God man ask. which is greater, because he hath testified of his Son.

17 All iniquity is sin. And there is a sin unto death.

10 He that believeth in the Son 18 We know that whosoever is of God, hath the testimony of God born of God, sinneth not: but the in himself. He that believeth not generation of God preserveth him, the Son,maketh him a liar: because and the wicked one toucheth him he believeth not in the testimony which God hath testified of hisSon. 11 And this is the testimony, that God hath given to us eternal life. And this life is in his Son.

12 He that hath the Son, hath life. He that hath not the hath not life.

not.

19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world is seated in wickedness.

20 And we know that the Son of God is come: and he hath given us Son understanding, that we may know the true God, and may be in his true Son, this is the true God, and life eternal.

13 These things I write to you, that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God.

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Ver. 16. A sin unto death. Some understand this of final impenitence, or of dying in mortal sin: which is the only sin that never can be remitted. But it is probable he may also comprise under this name the sin of apostacy from the faith, and some other such heinous sins as are seldom and hardly remitted: and therefore he gives little encouragement to such as pray for these sinners, to expect to obtain what they ask.

Ver. 18. Sinneth not. See the annotation on chap. iii. 6, &c.

The second EPISTLE of St. JOHN the Apostle.

He recommends walking in truth,

THE

&c.

3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and from Christ JESUS the Son of the Father, in truth, and charity.

ancient to the lady elect and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not I only, but 4 I was exceeding glad, that I also all they that have known the found of thy children walking in truth, truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

2 For the sake of the truth, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.

5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as writing a new commandment