[119] The story is given by Socrates. (_H. E._, vi. 8.)
[120] 1 John iv. 7, 12.
[121] 1 John ii. 6, 9, i. 7-10, ii. 1, 2.
[122] 1 John i. 7, ii. 2, iv. 3, 6; 2 John 7-11; 3 John 9, 10.
[123] 1 John iii. 19, v. 14, 15, iv. 2, 3, v. 4, 5, 18.
[124] These sentences do not go so far as the mischievous and antiscriptural legend of later ascetic heretics, who marred the beauty and the purpose of the miracle at Cana, by asserting that John was the bridegroom, and that our Lord took him away from his bride. _Acta Johannis_, XXI. _Act. Apost. Apoc._, Tisch., 275).
[125] This legend no doubt arose from the promise--"if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them" (Mark xvi. 18).
"Virus fidens sorbuit." Adam of St. Victor, _Seq._ XXXIII.
[126]
"Aurum hic de frondibus, Gemmas de silicibus, Fractis de fragminibus, Fecit firmas."--_Ibid._
There is something interesting in the persistency of legends about St. John's power over gems, when connected with the passage, flashing all over with the light of precious stones, whose exquisite disposition is the wonder of lapidaries. Apoc. xxi, 18, 22.
[127] See note B at the end of the Discourse.
[128] 1 John v. 18.
[129] Ibid. v. 19.
[130] Ibid. v. 20.
[131] Said by Luther of Psalm xxii. 1.
SOME GENERAL RULES FOR THE INTERPRETATION OF THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. JOHN.