14 We know that we have paffed from death unto life, be caule we love the brethren: he that loveth not his brother abi deth in death. 15 Whofoever hateth his brother, is a murderer, and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. D.67 ciple, and because the Purity of your A. D. 67. 14 & 15. Bear it therefore patient- of your being true Difciples of Chrift, and entitled to the future Happiness promised in his Gospel. As, on the contrary, the fpightful and malicious Temper of those Zealots demonftrates them to be in an unregenerate State; nay, in the Eye of God (who judges by the inward Principle of the Heart, and not by the outward Actions only) to be no less than Murderers, and confequently void of all true Hopes of Eternal Salvation, 16 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 bre. 16. When you confider that amazing Inftance of Divine Love, in the Death of Chrift, for the Redemption of Mankind, you cannot think it too much, that, in Imitation of fo wondrous an Example, Chriflians fhould be obliged, not only to bear and forbear, but to be ready to offer their own Lives, whenever the Religion of Chrift, the Good of his Church, and the Welfare of their Chriftian Brethren, calls them to it. thren. 17 But whofo hath this world's good, and feeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his 17. How infinitely fhort of this Love then, nay, how contrary to this Divine Pattern are those Men, who, while they have Power and Ability * Ver. 16. Hereby perceive we the Love of God.] Note, The Words of God] are not in the Greek: The Text is, iv rytų żyvánaμ» cür dɣár Hereby we have experienced Love, i. e. the greatest Love, because He, i. e. Chrift, laid down bis Life for us. A.D.67. his bowels of com- 18 My little chil- and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall affure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Ability to do Good, remain unmoved at the Wants of their Fellow Chriflians? 18. Remember, dear Brethren, the Charity of a Chriftian Disciple is not to express itself in fair Pretences, and kind Speeches, but in Actions of Bounty and Liberality. 19, 20 & 21. This will fhew us to be Chriftians indeed, and while the impartial Teftimony, and inward Senfe of our own Consciences, affures us of the fincere Performance of our Duty; we may fafely conclude, that God, the Searcher of Hearts, and Standard of all Truth, will approve of, and reward us. 21 Beloved, if our And, on the contrary, whoever, heart condemn us not, by the clear Conviction of his own then have we confi- Mind, knows and feels himself to dence towards God. be a Hypocritical Tranfgreffor of his Moral Duty, must be affured, that God, who knows him better than he does himself, cannot fail to be his more fevere Judge and Revenger. 22. This Sincerity will warrant our perfect Dependance upon God, and the Senfe of having done our Duty, to the beft of our Power, fully fecures us, that all our Chriftian Prayers fhall be answered in the most seasonable Time, and in the best Manner. 23 & 24. For, in fhort, true Faith in the Doctrine of Christ, and true Charity to Mankind, efpecially to our Chriftian Brethren, is the Sum total of our Duty. And You, that have already duly performed it, have a fufficient Pledge and 24 And he that keepeth his commandments, dwelleth in him, and he in him: and hereby we know and Earnest of your Acceptance with A. D.67. that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. CHAP. IV. The CONTENTS. A Caution against falfe Prophets and Pretenders to Infpiration. The Rule whereby to judge of them. The Exbortation to Love and Charity renewed, as the proper Badge and Token of a true Chriftian. B Eloved, believe not every fpirit, but try the fpirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. I. ΤΗ HE Time being now come, wherein the Jews expect the Appearance of their Meffiah, according to the Scripture Prophecies; there are fo many Impoftors, that fet themselves up for Chrifts, and fo many Pretenders to Infpiration and Miracles, among the Heretical Teachers of thefe Times, all ftriving to gain Belief, by Diabolical Delufions and Forgeries; that it highly concerns you to look well, and examine them throughly to prevent your being impofed upon, 2 Hereby know ye the fpirit of God: Every spirit that confeffeth that Jefus Chrift is come in the flefh, is of God. 3 And every fpirit that confeffeth * not that 2 & 3. Now, you have a fafe Rule, whereby to judge of all Pretences to Prophecy, Miracles, or InSpiration of any kind. Your Chriftian Religion, both as to the Life, Doctrine and Death, &c. of Chrift, being, in fo ample and unexceptionable a manner, confirmed by God; you *Ver. 3. Confefeth not that Jefus Chrift is come in the Flesh. He points at Cerinthus. See the Pref. § 3 4. D. 67. that Jefus Chrift is come in the flesh, is not of God and this is that spirit of antichrift, whereof you have heard that it See and compare * Cor. xii. 3. fhould come, and e- in the world. you ought to conclude, that, whatever Jewish or Heretical Pretender fets up against the Great Truth of the Incarnation of Jefus Chrift*, denying him to be the true Meffiah t, or faying, that our Jefus is not the real and very Chrift, the Word and Son of God; let him pretend to what Gifts and Miracles he will, to confirm it by, is an Impoftor, acting by Diabolical Delusions and Conjurations; and one of thofe very Antichrifts and False Prophets, the Forerunners of the Great Antichrift foretold by Chrift and the Apostles. On the contrary, whatever Chriftian works any Miracles in Confirmation of the true Articles of our Faith, fo unconteftably eftablifh'd before-hand, muft be thought to perform them by the Spirit of God; it being impoffible to conceive, the Devil would lend his Power toward fupporting a Religion fo oppofite and deftructive to his Own Kingdom; or, that Chrift fhould give the Power of His Spirit to fuch as embrace not His True Faith . 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world, 4. Thus, the Powers of the Ho ly Ghoft difplayed by Chrift, conferred on us his Apoftles, and refiding Yet upon many Members of your feveral Churches, give Teftimony to Your Religion, far fuperiour to what thefe Worldly-minded Impoftors can pretend to, in Favour of their Falfe Doctrines. 5 They are of the world; therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We 5 & 6. You cannot but perceive too, an Effential Mark of Diftinction between Thefe, and a truly Christian Prophet: The One have no other Views but of Temporal Power, Greatness, That Fefus Chrift is come in the Flesh: Or thus, 'Ineu Xpisòv iv σapxi lanλvtóra, That Jefus is the Chrift come in the Fle Dr. Mill fays many Copies read it o aud revino, which dif folveth Jefus. Of which fee the Notes on $ 3. of the Pref. to this Epiftle |