in him verily is the love of GoD perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the Word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in Him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His Name's sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the FATHER. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of GOD abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the FATHER is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the FATHER, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of GOD abideth for ever. one. 1 S. John iii. Behold, what manner of love the FATHER hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of : GOD therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. Little children, let no man deceive you he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of GOD was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of GOD doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and He cannot sin, because he is born of GOD. In this the children of GOD are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of GOD, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 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 brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of GOD in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemn us, GoD is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards GOD. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, That we should believe on the Name of His SON JESUS CHRIST, and love one another, as He gave us commandment. And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us. Prayers. Grant, we beseech Thee, merciful LORD, to Thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve Thee with a quiet mind, through JESUS CHRIST Our LORD. Amen. O GOD, from Whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed; Give unto Thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both our hearts may be set to obey Thy commandments, and also that by Thee we being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of JESUS CHRIST Our SAVIOUR. Amen. O my Gon, I desire to feel delight in Thy sweetness alone, to feel joy and pleasure only in what is Thine, to reject, hate, and abhor all worldly things, all that would wean my heart from Thee. Help me to this end, O LORD, with Thy goodness, that gladly and fectly serving Thee in this life, I may with Thy blessed saints see and enjoy Thee for ever in the life to come. Amen. per O LORD MY GOD, abide with me, I beseech Thee, and in Thee let my soul find rest, and let it delight itself in Thee; for what is there that can be compared with that peace which is in Thee, seeing that it passeth all understanding; and better than a continual feast is that repose and quiet of the Spirit in which Thou dwellest. Be it far from me that this or that should trouble me, or anything but Thy displeasure. Nothing can bring me any good, if I lack Thy peace, and what can I lack if I have Thee? Grant me then peace in Thee and Thee alone, through JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. Amen. Glory be to the FATHER, &c. As it was in the beginning, &c. CHAPTER X.-THE DEATH OF THE FAITHFUL. I. TOIL and death were the penalty of the Fall; but there was a blessing in them even from the first; for labour and fear subdued in some measure the folly and violence of men,' and death was an escape from the miseries of this sinful world. By tradition, and by a natural sense of God's justice, the righteous learned to feel that it could not but be better with them in another world. And so, not only the Patriarchs were gathered to their fathers in deep peace-their bones laid in the promised land, and in sepulchres purchased at a price, as in hope of the Resurrection in CHRIST but even virtuous heathens fell asleep sweetly, and talked and meditated to the last of a better state. But far brighter is the hope of a Christian; and the terror and disquiet of death are taken away by Him Who hath conquered it by subjecting Himself to it. "In the death of CHRIST, Death died; because life dying slew death, the fulness of life swallowed up 1 S. Aug. De Vera Rel. xv. death: Death was absorbed in the Body of CHRIST."" Death is no longer death. It is destroyed, together with him who had the power of it. Death is now but the portal of another life. The act of dying has been sanctified for by His own will the Prince of Life" gave up the ghost." The tomb has been sanctified: for He lay in it. The corruption of the body matters not: for the Resurrection of CHRIST has prepared for us a more glorious body, it is but the perishing of the seed. The state after death also is holy and blessed : for He hath passed through it Whose mere touch is consecrating. Our very Baptism is a Baptism into death. Our growth in grace is a dying to the world. This life is death; but death is life. 1. The act of dying has been sanctified. In our LORD it was an act of atonement, the payment of our ransom. But now that the ransom is paid, and the atonement made, everything is changed. It is true that death is still the consequence of sin, and should be accepted meekly, in a spirit of penitence; but then the sting of death is drawn by the death of sin. Our death is now a following of the Second Adam, not of the first. We may even make it a commemoration of CHRIST's death, a celebration and pleading of the Cross. Surely we show forth the LORD's death, if, having crucified our sins, we take His words upon our lips, and die in the faith of His Death. "FATHER, into Thy Hands I commend my spirit !" This is seen Our LORD died by His own will. in His dying before the thieves, and in the mighty voice, and in the bowing down of His Head. It was an act of the will. "Who so sleeps when he will, as JESUS died when He willed? Who so puts off his garment when he will, as He put off the flesh when He willed ?" "I lay down My life," He said, "that I might take it again. No man taketh it from Me, but 1 S. Aug. In Johan. Ev. tr. xii. § 11. |