are styled" deceivere," by which we are to understand that they were not only aside from tho truth in their teaching, but that they practised the art of deception in teaching what resembled Christianity while not actw.lly Christianity. It would have been morn honest to have openly denounced Christianity; but there would have been less chance of success, as they would never have been able to ingratiate themselves with the friends of Christianity. 'l'hcso deceivers were numerotl8, and they were everywhere (having "gons forth into the world"); as the lady there was an entertainer of the Christian teachers, there was every likelihood of some of them corning her way, and falsely representina themselves to be Christian teachers. How were they to be known? IIere we com; upon the design of the Epistle, They were to be known (in accordance with the leadiucr thought of the ]'irst Epistlo) by their confessing not that Jesus Christ cometh in th~ flesh. She was to put to them the shibboleth of the Incarnation. Did they reco;;nize in their teaching, plainly, without mystification, not merely the past but the present coming in the flesh of Jesus Christ? Was that flesh of his a manifestation of a union formed between his Divine nature and human nature, which still remains and operates as a great fact? He who could not give satisfaction on that point was to be set down as personally the representative of the deceiver (who has designs on Christians) and the antichrist (whose task is to thwart Christ). (2) Dange:r to be feared from the false teachers. "Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought, but tbat ye receive a full reward. Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in t>e teaching of Christ, bath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same bath U•Jth the Father and the Son." A good work had been wrought by John and his associa'.cs on the lady and her children, in their Christian faith, love, enlightenment, actisity. '£here was a reward corresponding to the work. If they looked to themselves (a~ to their being influenced), the reward would be obtained in full. If they did not look to themselves, the reward would be lost. '.!.'he reward was not to be expected under the influence of a teacher of the advanced school. He is here happily described as goiug beyond and not abiding in the teaching of Christ, He went beyond what Christ taught, with the penalty attached, tbat there was the absence of God from his teaching. The reward was only to be expected under the influence of a true Christian teacher. He really progressed, but only in the way of opening up what Christ taught, with the blessing attached that he had the Father and the Son in his teaching, i.e. Divine love in its most tender manifestation in the Incarnation. Having both the Father and the Son in his teaching, this became the reward of them tbat looked to thel.llselves in hearing. (3) Course to be followed with the false teachers. " If any one cometh unto you, aod bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and give him no greetiog: for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works." As many false teachers were going forth into the world, John assumes the coming of one of them to their door. If he came as destitute, it would not be undutiful on their part to relieve him. But he would come bringing teaching, not, however, the true teaching of the Incarnation. This being the case, they were not to receive him into their house (extend to him hospitality); they were not to give him the greeting preliminary to this; they were not to be thus friendly to him in his capacity as teacher-claiming falsely to be a Christian teacher. That would be friendship on an entirely wrong footing. Among those who actually possess Christian faith and Christian knowledge, how many are there who, under the influence of a secret vanity, think they must play a magnanimous part, and exhil.iit at once the firmness of their faith and the largeness of their charity, and therefore do not seek to avoid personal intercourse with even notorious enemies of the Christian faith? They are so firmly grounded that they can venture on this without fear of being per- verted I '£hey stand so spiritually high, and their views a.re so broad and free, that there is no danger for themselves, but much advantage to those with whom they hold this fellowship I But this is a soul-imperilling delusion. A Christian man should have to do with these deniers of Christ only for the one sole end of their conversion; as soon as he sees that his great object is spurned, he has nothing more to do with them. Any compromise, which would let them think in their own way, and nevertheless continue personal intimate fellowship, is altogether of evil; it is a denial of the Lord, who will not have his light pnt under a bushel. 'l'he ground on which John condemns frater• nizing with the open enemies or false friends of Christianity is tbis, that he that giveth any of them greeting partaketh in his evil works. A false teacher comes to our door II, JOHN, O ]8 'l'HE SEUOND EPISTLE OF JOHN. [1-18.
(literally or figuratively); we give him friendly greeting 11.nd receive hlru into our house; he remains a time with ua, and, when le&ving, we bid him "God-apeed," Are wo not tl\ereby making ourselves po.rt&kers in his evil works P We are giving him excellent fllCi!ities for doing bad work on ourselves and on the members of our homes; and we arc sending him forth with the influence of our name (so far as that goes), thus opening doors for more perverting work. III. CosoLUSION. I. RertS011,for 'brevity. "Having many things to write unto you, I wou Id not wri t.e them with paper and ink : but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be fulfilled." His end of cautioning the Indy and her children bas been served. The burden of the Lord is on his mind as he thinks of their circumstances and needs-messages from the Lord to them. These he does not put down in writing, using paper and ink; he hopes to pay 11, visit to them, when be will haYc the advantage of speaking face to face. Hearing from his lips the messages at present reserved, their joy will then be fulfilled. 2. Salutation. "The children of thine elect sister salnte thee." The "elect sist.cr" was not with the apostle, to send her salutation. Her children (of whom we are to think well) send their salutations to the "elect lady." They must have been cognizant of the fact of the letter being sent, and also of its pu11Jort. It is plea...~nt to find the children in two homes so sympathetic with their mothers &nd with the apostle on the great matters of life,-R. F. HOMILE'rICAL INDEX TO
THE SECOND EPISTLE OF JOHN.