Observe here, the compellation. First, MY LITTLE CHILDREN. The apostle calls the Christians to whom he wrote, CHILDREN, LITTLE CHILDREN; his little children. He calls them children, because converted to Christianity; LITTLE CHILDREN, because younger and tender Christians, of. low stature in religion... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. That. Christian may be assured of his salvation; to know that we know, is to be assured that we know; not only to have the vital, but the fiducial act of faith. Some Christians can say, "We know that we know him." Observe, 2. The nature of true Christian knowledge discovered: it is... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. An high and honorable privilege supposed to be claimed, and that is union with Christ, and abiding in him; HE THAT SAITH HE ABIDETH IN HIM. The abiding in Christ is. great privilege, and the true and real Christian doth truly and really abide in Christ. Observe, 2.. great and impor... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle here exhorts Christians to the great duty of brotherly love, assuring them, that it was no new commandment which he enjoined them, but that which they were taught, not only in and by the Old Testament, but at the first preaching of the gospel amongst them; and in these respects the comma... [ Continue Reading ]
Two things are here to be considered, namely, the grace and duty proposed and enforced, and the sin or vice specified and opposed. Observe, 1. The grace proposed, or the duty recommended, namely, the love of our brother: HE THAT LOVETH HIS BROTHER ABIDETH IN THE LIGHT, AND THERE IS NO OCCASION OF S... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The care which God has taken, not only to have his word preached, but written; I WRITE UNTO YOU, partly to supply his ministers' absence, that their writings might be instead of vocal instructions, partly to perpetuate truth unto posterity, and to transmit divine revelations to futu... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. That our apostle doth not, as he did before, direct his advice to any one particular sort or rank of Christians in special, but unto all in general; LOVE NOT THE WORLD, &C. Observe, 2. That the prohibition here is not absoltue, but comparatively only. It is not an ORDINATA CHARITAS... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having warned them against the danger of covetousness in the foregoing verses, he cautions them against the danger of deceit in these; he tells them, that this is the last time of the Jewish dispensation, and that the destruction of their city, temple, and polity, was now at hand; and as... [ Continue Reading ]
As if our apostle had said, "Although there are many antichrists and seducers abroad in the world, yet the most holy God hath anointed you with his Holy Spirit, which will preserve you from pernicious error, and lead you into all necessary truth, if you obey and follow him" Observe here, 1. privile... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The character given of the gospel; it is THE TRUTH, the word of truth, the way of truth, confirmed by real miracles. It is divine truth, universal truth, effectual truth, and no lie; for Almighty God would never have set the seal of his omnipotency to. lie, and have confirmed it by... [ Continue Reading ]
These words are an exhortation to hold fast, and not to forsake the doctrine of Christianity, which from the beginning they have received, and not to turn to novelties. LET THAT ABIDE IN YOU WHICH YE HAVE HEARD FROM THE BEGINNING; that is, from the first preaching of the gospel. Note here, What is... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. How gracious Almighty God is to enforce his commands with promises of reward; he required of us adherence to the truth, and perseverance in it, in the former verse; here he promises eternal life, by way of encouragement, in this verse. Observe, 2. The benefit promised, LIFE, ETERNA... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here the pious care which St. John expresses for their preservation from heretics and seducers, THESE THINGS HAVE. WRITTEN TO YOU CONCERNING THEM THAT SEDUCE YOU. That is, to arm them against the seducers then amongst them; intimating, that men are naturally prone to error, yea, to fundamen... [ Continue Reading ]
Still our apostle reinforces his foregoing exhortaion to abide fixedly in Christ; that is, in the doctrine of Christ, in true Christianity; AND NOW, LITTLE CHILDREN, ABIDE IN HIM: And the argument which he makes use of is very forcible and cogent, namely, THAT WHEN CHRIST SHALL APPEAR, WE MAY HAVE C... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle concludes the chapter with an exhortation to holiness and righteousness; assuring them, that if they be sensible (as they must necessarily be) that God is righteous, essentially and infinitely holy and righteous; they may and ought to know also, that whosoever is born of him and doth rec... [ Continue Reading ]