386 i. St. John inscribes his epistle to the elect lady; in the truth; and notonly, but also all they truth; that have known the 2 For the truth's sake which dwelleth SECT. churches, to the elect lady', whom I need not name, as her excellent christian graces render 2 John her so gloriously distinguished; and to her chil1.1. dren whom I love in the truth, on those principles which the gospel, the great system of truth, requires with respect to those who so remarkably support and adorn it. Nor indeed do I only love her and them, but they are beloved also by all those who know the truth, and who have had any opportunity of forming any intimate ac2 quaintance with them. These amiable persons are justly dear to us all, because of the truth which in us, and shall be with dwelleth in us, and I doubt not shall be in us for us for ever. ever. And particularly so deeply is it grounded in your mind and heart, that I am persuaded the relish of it will never be lost, be the remaining years of life ever so many, or the events of them ever so trying. May a rich assemblage of every desirable blessing, grace, mercy, [and] peace, be with you all from God the Father of all, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father; and may it animate you to walk in truth, and in universal love, according to the tenor of that glorious gospel with which he hath favoured you. 3 4 3 Grace be with you, God the Father, and mercy, and peace from love. 4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy chil dren walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a to I rejoiced greatly, when, in some of those excursions which I made for the service of the gospel, I found some of thy children walking in a manner agreeable to the system of Divine truth, and according to the commandment which we 5 have received from God the Father. And now I beseech thee, my dear and honoured lady, not as writing to thee a new and unknown command- newcommandment unment, but that which we had from the beginning thee, but that which of our acquaintance with our Divine Master, ning, that we love one and the religion he came to introduce, that we 6 may all love one another. And this is that love which alone can prove acceptable to him, that we should constantly walk according to his commandments; and this is the commandment, as ye have heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it; this was the great end of the gospel, to give us proper directions for our con b The elect lady.] Lord Barrington is Dr. Whitby. Compare Isaiah. liv. 1; duct we had from the begin another. 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. by no means convincing and verse 10, 2117408, 7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who con fess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a decei yer and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. And desires her to beware of seducers. i. 387 duct, and motives to engage us to act accord- SECT. ingly. And these rules and principles have been, so plainly and faithfully delivered to you, that I need not now say any thing more in relation to them. I refer you to those sacred lessons into which 7 at your first conversion to Christianity, you were initiated; because many deceivers are gone out into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. And this is a most certain mark of a deceiver and an antichrist; and if any would go about to refine upon the doctrine of the incarnation and passion of our blessed Redeemer, as if they were allegorical, and expressed mere appearances, and not realities, whatever sublime notions he may pretend, he is to be rejected with abhorrence. Let me 8 therefore beseech you, and all my Christian friends, to whom this letter may come, that ye look to yourselves, and let us all attend to the caution, that we may not lose the things we have already wrought in the service of Christ, but 9 Whosoever trans. persevering and abounding in it, may receive gresseth, and abideth the ample reward which I trust through Divine nut in the doctrine of grace is laid up for us. For it is certain, that he that abideth in the every one who in this respect transgresseth and doctrine of Christ, he remaineth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not hath both the Father an interest in God; but he that remaineth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son whose cause and whose favour are inseunto you, and bring parable. And if any one come unto you, under 10 not this doctrine, re- the character of a religious teacher, and bring ceive him not into your not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, to give him countenance and support, neither wish him good success a. For he that thus supports and maintains him, and wisheth him good success, in a case like this, though he Christ, hath not God; and the Son. 10 If there come any house, neither Eid him God speed. 11 For he that biddeth him God speed, is partaker of his evil deeds. c Come in the flesh.] The Apostle here alludes to the rise of those heretics who affirmed that Christ only came in appear ance. d Wish him good success.] Thus the Jews, as Dr. Lightfoot and Dr. Whitby observe, were forbid to say TN, or Godspeed, to an excommunicated, person, or to come within four cubits of an heretic. But the apostle must not be here understood, as excluding the common offices of humanity to such persons: for that is contrary to all the general precepts of benevolence VOL. X. does to be found in the gospel. But to have re- 3 C 9 11 John 6. 388 Reflections on Christian love; SECT. does not actually engage himself to labour in it, is partaker of his evil deeds, and in the sight of God and man, accessory to the damage, which such a seducer may, in consequence of such encouragement, bring upon the church. 2 John 18. 12 Having many come ; 12 Having many other things to write unto you, things to write unto 13 The children of shall only add, that the children of thine elect, thy elect sister greet. sister salute thee, and I join with them in the thee. Amen. kindest wishes which the sincerest friendship can form. And may God accomplish them. Amen. Ver. 1 IMPROVEMENT. LET us observe this delineation of a love truly Christian; the 2 love, which the apostle, and all who knew the truth, are said to have had towards this elect and excellent lady, for the truth's sake which dwelt in her. Adored be that grace, which preserved her in so high a rank of life, from temptations which could not fail to surround her! that grace, which rendered her an example of wisdom and piety, great and eminent in proportion to her exalted situation! Nor can we forbear reflecting, how happy, in consequence of 3 this, she herself was, possessed of grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and Jesus Christ our Lord, in truth and love! What were all the secular honours by which she was distinguish. ed! What the possession of riches, which in their own nature, and unimproved to the pious and charitable purposes to which she improved them, are very empty and unsatisfactory; what are these, when compared with such important blessings! We cannot but rejoice, at this distance of time, and ignorant as we are of the name, situation, and history, of this worthy lady, that her chil4dren walked in the truth. It was a singular joy to John, and may be so in a degree to all; and may teach us to lift up our hearts to God in prayer, that all Christian parents, especially pious mothers and more particularly those whose character in life is so eminently distinguished, may enjoy this happiness, and see the seed they are Reflections on Christian love. i. 389 with such commendable industry sowing in the minds of their ten- SECT. der offspring, growing up, and bringing forth much fruit. We have, in the beloved apostle, an excellent pattern of a be- Ver. coming care, to make a correspondence with our Christian friends 5, 6 useful: which we shall do, if like him, we are exhorting them to the cultivation of mutual love, and to a constant uniform care in keeping the commandments of God; if we continue warning them against the prevailing sins and errors of the day, and urging them to a holy solicitude, that they may not lose what they have already attained, but may receive full reward for every work of faith, g and labour of love, in consequence of a course of resolute and persevering piety. Persons of the most distinguished goodness have need to be cautioned against that excess of generosity and hospitality, which might sometimes make them partakers with seducers in their evil 10, 11 deeds, by giving them their audience, and wishing them good success, while by their fair speeches, they impose upon the simplicity of open and upright hearts, who, because themselves are void of fraud, are often void of suspicion too. But there is a prudent caution to be observed upon this head; and it is the part of faithful friendship to suggest it; for many deceivers are come out into the world. For our security against them, let us be always upon our guard, and take care to continue in the doctrine of Christ; that so we may have the Father, and the Son; and if we are interested in g their favour, we shall stand in need of nothing, and shall have nothing of which to be afraid. Amen. THE END OE THE FAMILY EXPOSITOR ON THE SECOND 3C 2 |