The Pulpit Commentary — 2 John — Section 17

and warmed by tbought.e of God's love. It is different when a house is occupied, 'J'hC're are signs of life, there is a feeling of warmth. And so is it with the soul when it, is lightoo up with God's truth and warmed with the influences of his Spirit. The truth is also said, very confidently, to be with us for ever. It is to be thought of not merely as occupant, but as companion. As the psalmist had the testimonies as hi■ counsellors, so we enjoy the eociety, the enlivening presence, of the truth. It is a c0111panionship which will never be broken up. In heaven there will be greater open- ness of nature to the tn1th-a. keener insight, a more tender sensibility, a reo.dier mem0ry, a richer suggest.iveness, a livelier imagination in the service of the truth. The truth shall be with us for ever in ever fuller revelation, The truth is eo great that it will require a finite mind a whole eternity to think it out. 'l'he companionship of which we are never to be deprived ie a companionship that admits of no monotony, that ever opens up new elements of enjoyment. 2. Salutation. (1) The three words of saJutation. "Grace, mercy, peace, shall be with us." While John passes from a wish into assurance, and includes himself in the salutation, he uses the three Pauline words. What we need for ourselves and others is to be dealt with, not according to our deserts, but according to the freeness and richness of grace. This will be manifested in merciful visitations suited to our need. And the result will be peace within, and even peace from without so far as it is salutary. (2) Source looked to in salutation . .. From God the Father, anc. from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father." It is to God that we look for blessing, first in his absolute Fatherhood, and then in his Fatherhood as historically manifested in his Son. Laying hold on what God absolutely is, and then on what he has explicitly shown himself to be, there is no limit to what we may expect of blessing. (3) How the blessing is realized in us. "In truth and Jove." 'l'bese a.re the two words which give character to the Epistle. If we are blessed by God we must have love; but love must be no vague sentiment, temporary ebullition-it must be called forth, sustained, tempered by truth. Religious people who are orthodox, but ha"'e a want of warmth. are unattractive enough, and are apt to produce revulsion against the truth. Religious people, again, who abound in feeling, but have not clear perceptions of truth. are apt to be imprudent, and thus to bring religion into contempt. IL MAIN PORTION. 1. Counsel. (1) Foundation. "I rejoice greatly that I have found certain of thy children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the l<'ather." It is quite Pauline thus to begin with words of praise. The accurate translation is, "I rejoiced greatly that I have found of thy children." 'l'he joy is referred to its initial moment: the ground of it still continues. The lady and her children were all loved by John; but, in bestowing praise, he is careful not to go beyond his position of observation. He had come into contact with some of her children, whose walk was according to his mind. It was characterized by truth ; and that was as God wished it to be. lt was so appointed for the household by the great Father. What greater joy can there be for a mother than to be told of this one and that one of her children walking according to Divine rule? (2) Nature. !l'he old commandment, "And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote to thee a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another." It is "in the exercise of the full privilege of Christian fellowship" that he beseeches. He makes his appeal more direct by designating her as in ver.1. In language very eimila1· to 1 John ii. 7, he points to familiarity with the commandment. With great delicacy he includes himself in the reference of the commandment. He was doing what Christian love demanded toward her in counselling and warning her; she must do what Christian love demanded toward him in attending to his counsel and warning. The summary of the comma1idments. "And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. 'l'his is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it." The first statement closely resembles what is found in 1 John v. 3. If we love (without distinction of object here), we shall endeavour to walk after the Divine com- mandments. Those commandmeuts (separate expressions of the Divine will) a.re summarized in one, viz. walking in love with one another, to which, as a familiar commB,Ddment, the lady and her children are directed. 2. Warning. (1) F01mdation in the number of false teacher,. " For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, even they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. 'l'his is the deceiver and the antichrist." There is a transition here frolll love to truth, 'fhe false te110hors  1-13.] 'l'HE l:lEGOND EP1S'£LE OF JOHN. 17