THE

HE elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;

The bonds of the gospel. Phile. 13.

Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 1 Th. 1. 4. Every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him. 1 Jno. 5. 1.-Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently. 1 Pe. 1. 22.

hath given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. Eph. 5. 2.

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. 1 Jno. 2. 7_10.

6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment,

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. Col. 3. 16.-Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1 Pe. 1. 23.

3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 Jno. 4.

I know [Abraham], that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. Ge. 18. 19.

David... charged Solomon his son, saying, Keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses: that the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel. 1 Ki, 2. 1, 3, 4.

5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

This is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 1 Jno. 3. 11.-Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord. Le. 19. 18.-A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Jno. 13. 34, 35.-Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and

I should walk in it.

This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 1 Jno. 5. 3.-If ye love me, keep my commandments. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Jno. 14. 15, 21.

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.

1 Jno. 2. 18; 4. 1-3.

Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Mat. 24. 4, 5, 23, 24.

There shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 2 Pe. 2. 1, 2.

8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. He. 12. 15.-Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Re. 3. 11.

Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father. 1 Jno. 2. 23.-He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Jno. 5. 23.-No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Jno. 14. 6.

I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Jno. 8. 42.-If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. Jno. 15. 10.Thou art my portion, O Lord; I have said that I would keep thy words. Ps. 119. 57.

10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. Ro. 16. 17.-Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If

Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God. Ps. 119. 115.-Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. Ps. 139. 21, 22.

12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

I long to see you,

that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Ro. 1. 11, 12.And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; that I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. Ro. 15. 29, 30, 32.

I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. Jno. 16. 22.-Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 1 Co. 13. 12.

13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius. 1 Co. 1. 14.Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Ro. 16. 23.

Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 1 Jno. 3. 18.

2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; all these things shall be added unto you. Mat. 6. 33.

and

3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy. 1 Th. 2. 19, 20.-Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. Phi. 1. 27.

Though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 1 Co. 4. 15.

5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Pe. 4. 9, 10.-Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. He. 13. 1, 2.

6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt

do well:

They determined that Paul and Barnabas ... should go up to Jerusalem. And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice. Ac. 15. 2, 3.

Walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. 1 Th. 2. 12.

7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye

yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. Ac. 20. 33, 34; 1 Co. 9. 11-14.

8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow helpers to the truth.

He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. Mat. 10. 40.

9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

Be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. Mat. 23. 8.-And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. Mar. 10. 44.

10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction. 2 Co. 13. 10.

11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. Ps. 37. 27.-Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well. Is. 1. 16, 17.

If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. 1 Jno. 2. 29.-Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 1 Jno. 3. 6.-In many things we offend all. Ja. 3. 2.-Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Ro. 7. 20.

12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.

13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:

14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by

name.

James, the son of Alphæus, Ac. 1. 13; Ja. 1. 1.

Judas the brother of James.

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. Jno. 17. 15.Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. 1 Pe. 1. 5.

3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. Phi. 1. 27.-Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 1 Ti. 6. 12.

4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

There shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 Pe. 2. 1. God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction. Ro. 9. 22.

God our Saviour, who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1 Ti. 2. 3, 4.

5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterwards destroyed them that believed

not.

Among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. Nu. 26. 64.-They could not enter in because of unbelief. He. 3. 19.

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. He. 3. 12.

6 And the angels which kept not their first

estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment. 2 Pe. 2. 4.-The devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: ... and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Re. 20. 10, 12.

7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly. 2 Pe. 2. 6.-The Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; and he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. Ge. 19. 24, 25.

Then shall he say unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Mat. 25. 41.

8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 2 Pe. 2. 10.

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 1 Co. 3. 16, 17.

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. Ro. 13. 1, 2.

9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 2 Pe. 2. 11. He buried [Moses] in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.

10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

These, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption. 2 Pe. 2. 12; Ro. 1. 21, 22.

11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. Ge. 4. 5.-Cain... 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. 1 Jno. 3. 12.

Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. 2 Pe. 2. 15.-Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. Tit. 1.11.-The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. Nu. 22. 7, 21.

Korah, Dathan and Abiram,... with certain of the children of Israel, gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy. And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. Nu. 16. 1–3, 32, 33.

When the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Ac. 13. 45.

12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

[These] shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you. 2 Pe. 2. 13.

In eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 1 Co. 11. 21.

These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest. 2 Pe. 2. 17.

Carried about with every wind of doctrine. Eph. 4. 14.

If after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 2 Pe. 2. 20.

Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Mat. 15. 13.

13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. Is. 57. 20.-To whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 2 Pe. 2. 17.

14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

Adam, Sheth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered, Henoch. 1 Ch. 1. 1_3.

Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the

judgment was set, and the books were opened. Da. 7. 10.— When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. Mat. 25. 31.-The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. 2 Th. 1. 7.

15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

Before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Mat. 25. 32, 33.

Whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Mat. 12. 32, 36, 37.

16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

When they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 2 Pe. 2. 18. To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress. Pr. 28. 21.

17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

mockers in the last time, who should walk after 18 How that they told you there should be their own ungodly lusts.

Be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour; knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts. 2 Pe. 3. 2, 3.-The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. 1 Ti. 4. 1.

19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 1 Jno. 2. 18, 19.

The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Co. 2. 14.

20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,