2 done, an elder: he takes the modest term which belongs to the teachers of the church in common, though he was not an elder only, but an apostle, a ruler of elders. But he thus reminds the elect lady, the christian matron to whom he wrote, that he had grown old in the faith, and did not in his advancing age repent of the course which his youth had chosen. And now he writes to her as one following the like course, and whom on that account he loved in the truth. And not he only: all they that had known the truth, felt an interest in this godly matron. She loved what they loved: and for that reason their hearts were drawn towards her. Nothing so closely unites one heart to another as the same objects of affection. This bond of union has even a divine sanction. For the Lord declared to his apostles, (John xvi. 26,) "I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God." They were dear to the Father, because his beloved Son was dear to them, and they had joined themselves to him. And in the same spirit John here declares, that all who had known the truth united with him in praying, that grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, might be with this matron and her children. 4. I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 5. And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote 2 I. v. 1. a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. St. Paul had said to the Philippians, "To write the same things to you, to me is not grievous, but for it is safe."3 And so St. John seems to feel, you that to repeat the same precepts was not burthensome to himself; he loved the precept too well to be wearied with it; and it was safe for those whom he addressed. For constantly, whilst they remained in the world, they would be liable to temptation, and in danger of straying from the commandments given to them. In particular he enforces LOVE, as the commandment which they had from the beginning: that "new commandment" which was to be the especial badge, the distinguishing mark of his disciples. And as the commandment itself was new, so likewise was the motive which sanctioned it. "If ye love me, keep my commandments." So the Lord had said: and so after him, his apostle now repeats the truth :— 6. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. 7. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. In proportion to the richness of the spoil, will be the cupidity of the spoiler. Christian faith had sepa 3 Phil. iii. 1. 4 John xiii. 34. 5 Ib. xiv. 15. rated this family from the dominion of Satan; but he would always be endeavouring to regain them. What the Lord said to his apostles would equally apply to all his followers: "Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat." And the deceivers, against whom St. John warns this lady, were doing this work of Satan: they were his instruments, harassing the Christians with doubts and subtleties. They subverted the truth, denying that Jesus Christ was come in the flesh. It was impossible, they said, that human flesh should be the abode of the Godhead. Jesus, they alleged, was a man, like other men: the Spirit of God descended him was not born with him, did not constitute a part of himself: did not live with his life, and remain with him while he yielded his life upon the cross. Thus they overturned the main pillar of the Gospel. For if Christ had not come in the flesh, he had not suffered in the flesh and if he had not suffered, there had been no ransom paid, no propitiation secured. Then indeed would our faith be vain, and the apostles' preaching vain: men would be" yet in their sins," for those sins have received no atonement. Therefore is this a deceiver and an antichrist; one of the agents of Satan, striving to ensnare the sheep, and separate it from the fold. upon The apostle was a faithful shepherd, who "cared for the sheep." He was ever watchful lest one of the flock should be snatched from his hands. He was "jealous with a godly jealousy," lest he should lose the things which he had wrought, miss the recompense of his labours for which he was looking. 6 Luke xxii. 31. 7 1 Cor. xv. 17. The workman loses what he has wrought, when his work is spoiled. If the vessel in the hands of the potter is marred, his labour has been in vain. If it does not become "a vessel to honour, and fit for the master's use," his hopes are frustrated, and his pains wasted. So if the deceiver and the antichrist should succeed in perverting one of the disciples over whom the apostle had rejoiced in hope, he would not receive a full reward: a jewel would be taken from his crown of glory. For St. Paul says concerning the Thessalonian converts, (1 Thess. ii. 19,) "What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy." But if they, concerning whom he had spoken thus triumphantly, should turn aside from the faith, they would be his glory and joy no longer: the signs of his zealous labour, the fruits of his painful teaching, would be wrested from him. Therefore St. John lifts up a warning voice against such deceivers. Look to yourselves. "Beware, lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit." Maintain the simple truth. The Word, the Son of God, "was made flesh, and dwelt among us," and "gave his life a ransom for many." "Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God. And every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God." 2 "Let this word dwell in you:" for it is the word of true wisdom: the wisdom, not of man, but of God: the doctrine, not of earth, but of heaven. 1 Col. ii. 8. 8 Ezek. xviii. 4. 9 2 Tim. iii. 21. 21 John iv. 2, 3. From the belief of this truth salvation comes: and upon the maintenance of this truth, salvation depends. This is the truth: and this truth is life eternal. LECTURE LXXXI. A WARNING AGAINST ENCOURAGING THE 2 JOHN 9-13. 9. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. St. John here continues his warning against those deceivers who were disturbing the churches, and spoiling with false philosophy the simple truths of the Gospel. He declares that whoever turns aside from the original doctrine of Christ, deprives himself of the only means of communion with God. These teachers pretended to know more of God than the Scripture has revealed. They entered upon secret things, above the reach of man's faculties; and pretended that the Godhead could not be clothed in matter, or "made flesh." So that, denying that Jesus Christ had come in the flesh as man, they professed to assert the honour and dignity of God: to magnify and exalt the divine nature. To |