CHAPTER 2 VER. 1. _My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not._ At the end of the last chapter it was said that all who were grown up had sinned, either mortally as heathens, or venially as Christians. But he now exhorts them one by one to be most watchful against the sins th... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that saith he knoweth Him_, that is, with true and saving knowledge, such as leads to eternal life, _and keepeth not His commandments is a liar._ As the Apostle said (Rom 1:21) of the philosophers who knew God, but only in a speculative and barren way, "When they knew God, they glorified Him not... [ Continue Reading ]
_But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected._ This confirms the previous statement, by way of antithesis. The word is spoken of in the singular number, because the law of love comprehends all others, just as a root implies the leaves and fruit, and the whole tree. Perfect... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that saith he abide in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked._ By advancing in virtue, especially in charity, and exhibiting its works more and more every day, as Christ "increased in wisdom and stature." "The true righteousness of the perfect," says S. Leo (_Serm_. ii. _de Quadr_... [ Continue Reading ]
. _write unto you, little children._ Commending what he had said to the several grades whom he addressed. He places them in three classes according to their respective ages. He congratulates them on the gift of the Gospel which they had received, and exhorts them to persevere and make progress there... [ Continue Reading ]
. _write unto You, children._ He here comes round and says the same thing in other words, to enforce it the more, calling them _τεκνία_ in the first instance, and _παιδία_ here. _Because ye have known the Father_, by the words of the Creed. _Morally_, Catherinus beautifully says, "The life of begi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Love not the world._ "There are two loves," says S. Augustine (_in. loc_.), "the love of God and the love of the world. If the love of the world occupy the heart, there is no room for the love of God to enter. Let the love of the world retire, let the love of God enter in; let the better have its o... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the world passeth away and the lust thereof_. See Matthew 24:35; 1Co 7:31; 2 Peter 3:11. See also Wisdom v. 7; S. Bernard, _Epist._ cvii., &c. As S. Jerome says (_Epist._ iii.): "If we were granted the years of Methusalem, yet the previous length would be nothing when it ceased to be, for when... [ Continue Reading ]