4 And these things we write to new commandment to you, but an you, that you may rejoice, and old commandment which you had your joy may be full, from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you

8 Again a new commandment I

5 And this is the declaration which we have heard from him, have heard. and declare unto you: That God is 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.

Directions what to write to the angels or bishops of Ephesus, &c.

My little children, these things

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 you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one..

I write to you that you may not sin. But if any man sin, I we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the just:

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.

14 I write unto you, babes, because you have known the Father. write unto you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.

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, 4 He who saith that he knoweth is the concupiscence of the flesh, him, and keepeth not his command-and the concupiscence of the eyes, ments, is a liar, and the truth is not and the pride of life, which is not in him: of the Father, but is of the world.

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.

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, 1 write not alare become many Antichrists

last days there shall come deceitful things are to be dissolved, what scoffers, walking after their own manner of people ought you to be lusts, in holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of the Lord, by which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with the burn-»

5. For this they are wilfully ig-ing heat? norant of, that the heavens were 13 But we look for new heavens before, and the earth, out of water, and a new earth according to his and through water, consisting by promises, in which justice dwelleth. the word of God.

8 But of this one thing be not ignorant, my beloved, that one day 16 As also in all his epistles. with the Lord is as a thousand speaking in them of these things; years, and a thousand years as one in which are certain things hard to day. be understood, which the unlearn9 The Lord delayeth not his pro-ed and unstable wrest, as they do mise, as some imagine: but dealeth also the other scriptures to their patiently for your sake, not willing own destruction. that any should perish, but that all should return to penance.

4 And these things we write to new commandment to you, but an you, that you may rejoice, and old commandment which you had your joy may be full, from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you

8 Again a new commandment I

5 And this is the declaration which we have heard from him, have heard. and declare unto you: That God is 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.

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 you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one.

CHAP. II. Directions what to write to the angels or bishops of Ephesus, &c. little children, these things ΜΥ 14 I write unto you, babes, bewrite to you that you cause you have known the Father. 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.

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, 4 He who saith that he knoweth is the concupiscence of the flesh, him, and keepeth not his command-and the concupiscence of the eyes, ments, is a liar, and the truth is not and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is of the world.

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.

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, 1 write not alare become many Antichrists

whereby we know that it is the last hour.

19 They went out from us; but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have remained with us: but that they may be manifest, that they are not all of us.

abide in him: that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be confounded by him at his coming.

29 If you know, that he is just, know ye, that every one also, who doth justice, is born of him. CHAP. III.

20 But you have the unction from the Holy one, and know all things: B

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.

Of the love of God to us. EHOLD what manner of charity 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. *✨

2 Dearly beloved, we are now 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.

26 These things have I written to you, concerning them that seduce you.

6 Whosoever abideth in him, sinneth not: and whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, nor known him. 7 Little children, let no man de27 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, chap. x. 12. Philip ii. 12, Revel. iii. 11.

deth in him, and he cannot sin, be- God is greater than our heart, and cause he is born of God. knoweth all things.

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 22 And whatsoever we shall ask, not his brother. we shall receive of him: because we keep his commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight.

11 For this is the declaration, which you have heard from the beginning, that you should love one another.

12 Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one, and killed his brother. And wherefore did he kill him? Because his own works were wicked: and his brother's just.

13 Wonder not, brethren, if the world hate you.

14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren He that loveth not, abideth in death.

23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son JESUS Christ: and love one another, as he hath given commandment unto us.

24 And he that keepeth his commandments, abideth in him, and he in him. And in this we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. CHAP. IV.

not.

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'ding in himself.

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 2 By this is the spirit of God brethren. known. Every spirit, which confesseth that JESUS Christ is come in the flesh, is of God:

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,

3 And every spirit, that dissolveth JESUS, is not of God: and this is Antichrist, of whom you have heard that he cometh, and he is now already in the world.

4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome him. Because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

5 They are of the world: there

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.