14 brethren, if the world hate you. We know, that we are passed from death to life, because we love the brethren: 15 he that, loveth not his brother abideth in death. Who

soever hateth his brother is a murderer, and ye know no 16 murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby we know 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 good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from 18 him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My beloved

children, let us love not in word, neither in tongue, but 19 in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are 20 of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For

if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart,

V. 14. We know-As if he had said, We ourselves could not love our brethren, unless we were passed from spiritual death to life, that is, born of God. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death-That is, is not born of God. And he that is not born of God, cannot love his brother.

V. 15. He, I say, abideth in spiritual death, is void of the life of God. For whosoever hateth his brother-And there is no medium between loving and hating him, is-In God's account, a murderer: every degree of hatred being degree of the same temper, which moved Cain to murder his brother-And no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. But every loving believer hath. For love is the beginning of eternal life. It is the same, in substance, with glory.

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V. 16. The word God is not in the original. It was omitted by the apostle just as the particular name is omitted by Mary, when she says to the gardener, Sir, if thou hast born him hence: and by the church, when she says, Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, (Sol. Song, i. 1,) in both which places there is a language, a very emphatical language, even in silence. It declares how totally the thoughts were possessed by the blessed and glorious subject. It expresses also the superlative dignity and amiableness of the person meant; as though he, and he alone, was, or deserved to be, both known and admired by all. Because he laid down his life-Not merely for sinners, but for us in particular. From this truth believed, from this blessing enjoyed, the love of our brethren takes its rise, which may very justly be admitted as an evidence that our faith is no delusion.

V. 17. But whoso hath this world's good-Worldly substance, far less valuable than life, and seeth his brother have need-(The very sight of want knocks at the door of the spectator's heart,) and shutteth up-Whether asked or not, his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him-Certainly not at all, however he may talk (ver. 18) of loving God.

V. 18. Not in word-Only, but in deed-In action: not in tongue-By empty professions, but in truth.

V. 19. And hereby we know-We have a farther proof, by this real, operative love, that we are of the truth-That we have true faith, that we are true children of God, and shall assure our hearts before him-Shall enjoy the assurance of his favour, and the testimony of a good conscience toward God. The heart, in St. John's language, is the conscience. The word conscience is not found in his writings.

V. 20. For if-We have not this testimony, if in any thing our heart-Our own conscience, condemn us-Much more does God, who is greater than our · heart-An infinitely holier and a more impartial Judge, and knoweth all things So that there is no hope of hiding it from him.

21 and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn 22 us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in 23 his sight. And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love 24 one another, as he hath given us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments, abideth in him, and he in him and hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

'CHAP. IV. 1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby ye know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesseth 3 Jesus Christ, who is come in the flesh, is of God. And every spirit which confesseth not Jesus Christ, who is come in the flesh, is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and 4 now already it is in the world. Ye are of God, beloved children, and have overcome them; because greater is he 5 that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world; therefore speak they of the world, and the

V. 21. If our heart condemn us not-If our conscience, duly enlightened by the word and Spirit of God, and comparing all our thoughts, words, and works, with that word, pronounce, that they agree therewith, then have we confidence toward God-Not only our consciousness of his favour continues and increases, but we have a full persuasion, that whatsoever we ask, we shall receive of him.

V. 23. And this is his commandment-All his commandments in one word, that we should believe and love-In the manner and degree which he hath taught. This is the greatest and most important command that ever issued from the throne of glory. If this be neglected, no other can be kept: if this be observed, all others are easy.

V. 24. And he that keepeth his commandments-That thus believes and loves, abideth in him and God in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us—Which witnesses with our spirits that we are his children, and brings forth his fruits of peace, love, boliness. This is the transition to the treating of the Holy Spirit, which immediately follows.

CHAP. IV. Ver. 1. Believe not every spirit-Whereby any teacher is actu ated: but try the spirits-By the rule which follows. We are to try all spirits by the written word: To the law and to the testimony! If any man speak not according to these, the spirit which actuates him is not of God.

V. 2. Every spirit-Or teacher, which confesseth-Both with heart and voice, Jesus Christ who is come in the flesh, is of God-This his coming pre-supposes, contains, and draws after it, the whole doctrine of Christ.

V. 3. Ye have heard-From our Lord, and us, that it cometh.

V. 4. Ye have overcome these, seducers, because greater is the Spirit of Christ that is in you, than the spirit of antichrist that is in the world.

V. 5. They-Those false prophets, are of the world—Of the number of those

6 world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God, heareth us: he that is not of God, heareth not us: hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of 7 error. Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of

God, and every one that loveth is born of God, and 8 knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; 9 for God is love. Hereby was manifested the love of God

toward us, because God sent his only begotten Son into 10 the world, that we might live through him. Herein is

love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and 11 sent his Son, a propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God 12 so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man

hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, 13 God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us.. Hereby

we know that we abide in him, and he in us, because he 14 hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and tes

tify, that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the 15 world. Whosoever shall confess, that Jesus is the Son 16 of God, God abideth in him, and he in God. And we

know and believe the love that God hath to us. God is love, and he that abideth in love, abideth in God, and God 17 in him. Hereby is our love made perfect, that we may

that know not God: therefore speak they of the world-From the same prin ciple, wisdom, spirit, and of consequence the world heareth them—With approbation.

V. 6. We-Apostles, are of God-Immediately taught, and sent by him. Hereby we know-From what is said, ver. 2-6.

V. 7. Let us love one another-From the doctrine he has just been defending, he draws this exhortation. It is by the Spirit, that the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts. Every one that truly loveth God and his neighbour, is born of God.

V. 8. God is love-This little sentence brought St John more sweetness, even in the time he was writing it, than the whole world can bring. God is often styled holy, righteous, wise; but not holiness, righteousness, or wisdom, in the abstract; as he is said to be love: intimating that this is his darling, his reigning attribute; the attribute that sheds an amiable glory on all his other perfections.

V. 12. If we love one another, God abideth in us-This is treated of ver. 13 -16, and his love is perfected-Has its full effect, in us-This is treated of, ver. 17-19.

V. 14. And in consequence of this, we have seen and testify, that the Father sent the Son-These are the foundation and the criteria of our abiding in God and God in us, the communion of the Spirit, and the confession of the Son.

V. 15. Whosoever shall-From a principle of loving faith, openly confessIn the face of all opposition and danger, that Jesus is the Son of God, abideth in him.

V. 16. And we know and believe-By the same Spirit, the love that God hath

to us.

V. 17. Hereby-That is, by this communion with God, is our love made perfect that we may-That is, so that we shall have boldness in the day of judg

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have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, 18 so are we in this world. There is no fear in love,

but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath tor19 ment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We 20 love him because he first loved us. If any man say, I love : God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he 21 love God, whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God, love his brother also.

CHAP. V. 1. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God; and every one who loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when S we love God and keep his commandments. For this is

the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and 4 his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is

ment When all the stout-hearted shall tremble; because as he-Christ, isAll love, so are we-Who are fathers in Christ, even in this world.

V. 18. There is no fear in love-No slavish fear can be where love reigns: but perfect, adult love casteth out slavish fear; because such fear hath torment, and so is inconsistent with the happiness of love. A natural mau has neither fear nor love; one that has awakened, fear without love: a babe in Christ, Jove and fear; a father in Christ, love without fear.

V. 19. We love him, because he first loved us-This is the sum of all religion, the genuine model of Christianity. None can say more: why should any one say less? or less intelligibly?

V. 20. Whom he hath seen Who is daily presented to his senses, to raise his esteem, or move his kindness or compassion toward him.

V. 21. And this commandment have we from him-Both God and Christ, that ke who loveth God, love his brother-Every one, whatever his opinions or mode of worship be, purely because he is the child and bears the image of God. Bigotry is properly the want of this pure and universal love. A bigot only Joves those who embrace his opinions and receive his way of worship; and he Joves them for that, and not for Christ's sake,

CHAP. V. Ver. 1. The scope and sum of this whole paragraph appears from the conclusion of it, (ver. 13.) These things have I written to you who believe, that ye may know that ye who believe have eternal life. So faith is the first and last point with St. John also. Every one who loveth God that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him-Hath a natural affection to all his brethren.

V. 2. Hereby we know-This is a plain proof, that we love the children of God-As his children.

V. 3. For this is the love of God-The only sure proof of it, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous-To any that are born of God.

V. 4. For whatsoever-This expression implies the most unlimited univer sality, is born of God overcometh the world-Conquers whatever it can lay in the way, either to allure or fright the children of God, from keeping his com mandments. And this is the victory-The grand means of overcoming, even our faith-Seeing all things are possible to him that believeth.

born of God overcometh the world; and this is the vic5tory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is be that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that 6 Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood; even Jesus Christ; not by the water only, but by the water and the blood: and it is the Spirit who tes7 tifieth; because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that testify on earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the 8 blood, and these three agree in one. And there are three that testify in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the

V. 5. Who is he that overcometh the world-That is superior to all worldly care, desire, fear? Every believer, and none else. The seventh verse (usually so reckoned) is a brief recapitulation of all which has before been advanced concerning the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. It is cited, in conjunction with the sixth and eighth, by Tertullian, Cyprian, and an uninterrupted train of fathers. And indeed what the sun is in the world, what the heart is in a man, what the needle is in the mariner's compass, this verse is in the epistle. By this, the sixth, eighth, and ninth verses, are indissolubly connected: as will be evident, beyond all contradiction, when they are accurately considered. V. 6. This is he-St. John here shews the immovable foundation of that faith that Jesus is the Son of God: not only the testimony of man, but the firm, indubitable testimony of God, who came-Jesus is he of whom it was promised that he should come: and who accordingly is come. And this the Spirit, and the water, and the blood testify: Even Jesus-Who coming by water and blood, is by this very thing demonstrated to be the Christ; not by the water only Wherein he was baptized; but by the water and the blood-Which he shed when he had finished the work his Father had given him to do. He not only undertook at his baptism to fulfil all righteousness, but on the cross accomplished what he had undertaken: in token whereof, when all was finished, blood and water came out of his side. And it is the Spirit who likewise testifieth Of Jesus Christ, namely, by Moses and all the prophets, by John the Baptist, by all the apostles, and in all the writings of the New Testament. And against his testimony there can be no exception, because the Spirit is truth The very God of truth.

V. 7. What Bengelius has advanced both concerning the transposition of these two verses, and the authority of the controverted verse, partly in his Gnomen, and partly in his Apparatus Criticus, will abundantly satisfy any impartial person. For there are three that testify-Literally, testifying or bearing witness-The participle is put for the noun witnesses, to intimate, that the act of testifying, and the effect of it, are continually present. Properly, persons only can testify: and that three are described testifying on earth, as if they were persons, is elegantly subservient to the three persons testifying in heaven; the Spirit-In the word, confirmed by miracles; the water-Of baptism, wherein we are dedicated to the Son, (with the Father and the Spirit,) typifying his spotless purity; and the inward purifying of our nature; and the blood -Represented in the Lord's Supper, and applied to the consciences of believers. And these three-Harmoniously agree in one-In bearing the same testimony, that Jesus Christ is the divine, the complete, the only Saviour of the world.

V. 8. And there are three that testify in heaven-The testimony of the Spirit, the water, and the blood, is by an eminent gradation corroborated by three, who still give a greater testimony, the Father-Who clearly testified of his Son both at his baptism, and at his transfiguration; the Word-Who testified of himself, on many occasions, while he was on earth: and again, with still greater solemnity, after his ascension into heaven, (Rev. i. 5. xix. 13.) And