humility and thankfulness; and when we so embrace it as to found all our bopes of salvation entirely upon it, then we may properly be said to obey the truth. Now this every Christian does ; lie does not merely give his assent to any propositions about Christ, but he " flees to Christ for refuge," and relies upon him as his only Saviour. And the Apostle takes for granted (with good reason too) that they to whom he was writing, had so received Christ: for, however they might have been baptized into the faith of Christ, they were no better than mere heathens, if they had not truly believed in him.]
2. That in obeying the truth they had also " puri- rified their souls" —
[We may cleanse the outward part of our conduct by various means. A regard to our reputation, a self-righteous desire of recommending ourselves to God, or a spirit of pride and self-complacency, will be sufficient to rectify in a measure our external behaviour ; but it is the property of faith alone to purify the heart b. And as nothing but faith will prevail for this end, so wherever faith is, it will infallibly produce this effect0. The faith that has not this fruit is dead ; and will no more avail for our salvation than the faith of devils'1. Well therefore does the Apostle take it for granted, that they, to whom he wrote, experienced this effect of their faith ; seeing that it is the principal intent of the Gospel to ensure and produce ite.]
3. That they had so purified their souls as to have attained an unfeigned love of the brethren —
[As faith purifies the heart, so in a more especial manner it " works by lovef." The love of the brethren never was nor ever can be, found in an unrenewed soul. There may be a semblance of it ; there may be a partial attachment to our own sect and party, or a carnal attachment to a person who is spiritually-minded; but there never can be a love to spiritual persons simply on account of their relation to Christ, and their conformity to his image. But let the smallest portion of true grace be imparted to the soul, and instantly will this love spring \ip in the heart. Many things indeed may occur in the mind to restrain its exercise for a season, and to impede its growth ; but it may be taken for granted that this principle both abides and operates in the heart of every true Christian ; " he that loveth him that begat, cannot but love those who are begotten of him *."]
b Acts xv. 0. c 1 John iii. 3. d Jam. ii. 19,20.
• Tit. ii. 11, 12. f Gal. v. G. e 1 John v. 1.