c. Of the confirmation and fruit- of this abiding by the Spirit, ch. iv. throughout :
To which subject ch. iii. 24 prepares the way, to be compared with ch. iv. 13.
II. By a Summing up, or comprehensive statement (Congeries) of the testimony of the Father and Son and Spirit: on which depends faith on Jesus Christ, the being bom of God, love towards God and His children, the keeping of His commandments, and victory over the world, ch. v. 1-12.
The parts often begin and end in a similar manner; just as the Con- clusion answers to the Exordium. See above on ch. ii. 12. Some- times there is a previous allusion in some preceding part, and a re- capitulation in a subsequent part. Every part treats of the Divine benefit, and the duty of the faithful : and the duty is derived from the benefit by the most befitting inferences, of love towards God, of the imitation of Jesus Christ, of the love of the brethren : and although many things may appear to be repeated without order, yet these same inferences are formed in the most methodical manner, by regarding the subject in a different point of view from different causes.
The seventh verse therefore contains a recapitulation, which not only treats of the Father and the Son, but also of the Spirit. What the sun is in the universe, the needle in the mariner’s compass, or the heart in the body, that is the 7th verse of chapter v. in this dis- cussion. First take an edition without this verse, and then an edi- tion which contains it ; and you will easily perceive what is required by the whole tenor of John’s discourse.
(2.) The connection of the verses is indissoluble, in this text : ver. 6. This is He who came hy water and blood , Jesus Christ , not in water only , but in water and blood : and it is the Spirit which beareth witness; because the Spirit is truth. 7. Because there are three that bear witness on earth , the spirit and the water and the blood ; and these three agree in one. 8. And there are three that bear witness in heaven , the Father and the Word and the Spirit ; and these three are one. 9. If we receive the witness of men , the witness of God is greater.
Lest any confusion should arise, we remind the reader, that that which is spoken of by us in the further consideration of this passage,