V. THIS CBUROH BAD TO BEAB A BORE TRIAL THROUGH UNBANCTIFIED HUMAN AMBITION. In the preceding Epistle the "e.d vance " man (..-poJ:y,,w) is the bane of the Ohurch. Here the ambitious man (,p,>..,nrp,,,,,.,6,,,.,) is such. This spirit showed itself very early among the disciples (Mark ix. 38, 39), and was severely rebukerl by the Lord Jesus (Matt. xviii. 1-4). From no other external cause, perhaps, bas the Cbnrcb had to suffer so much as from this. Let the sad and sorry story of Church history be unfolded, and it will tell us a thousand times over that unholy ambition is the bane of the Ohuroh. The la.test form ofit is" papal infallibility." Priestly assumptions are cripplinc, Ohurches and ruining souls. Lord-deacons and lordly pastor~ are a. Church's ban;. A true and healthy Church life is the analogue of a true and healthy bodily life, where 1 every member fulfils its own functions, a.nd no one interferes with tba.t of another. VI. THOUGH SOME MEMBERS MAY HINDER AND DISOREDrr A CHURCH, YET THERE ARE OTHERS WHO TRULY HELP AND HONOUB IT. Men like Gains a.nd Demetrius abound. They are a. Church's honour and joy. It is very likely that, owing to their unambitious and unpretending worth, they seldom come to the front, unless compelled by circumstances so to do; but their loyalty to the truth, their holy lives, their kindliness and steadfastness, are the honour of the Churches, and the glory of Christ. Doubtless, the "world" will talk more about one Diotrepbes than about twelve men like Gaius, and be well pleased to do so. But "the Lord knoweth them that are his." VII. WHATEVER AND WHEREVER A CHURCH MAY BE, IT IS FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL TO BEAR IN MIND HIS OWN PERSONAL RELATIONS WITH Goo, AND TO ACT ACCORD- INGLY. (Vers.11, 12.) Connection with the holiest Church in the world cannot save us. Association with the most imperfect Church in Christendom cannot hinder our salvation, unless we allow it to do so; in which case, the fault will be our own. Religion is a matter between the soul and God. Strictly so. The question is-Are we born of God? Are we in Christ? le Christ in us, the Hope of glory? And the proof of this lies, not in Church membership, but in the life, and in the life alone. Church membership may be of great service. The fact that it may be made too much of is no argument against it. But ever, ever let us remember that we may be in a Church yet not in the Church. If we are not in Christ, we a.re not in the Church. If we a;re in Christ by a living faith, we a.re in his true Church, by a right which none can di,prove, and which no one ought ever to dispute.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 2.-Ideal prosperity. "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper," etc. 'fhe Authorized Version of this verse seems to carry the meaning that St. John valued physical health and secular prosperity above everything else. The original does not convey such a meaning. Revised Version, "Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." L THE APOSTLE PRAYS THAT HlB FRIEND GAIUB MAY HAVE TEMPORAL PROSPERITY AND PHYSICAL HEALTH. From the expression of this desire in so brief a letter, we may infer that St. John regarded these things as of great importance. 1. Secular prosperity iB desirable. Non-success in business is to be deprecated. For our own ~e.ke, for the sake of our families, and for the sake of our usefulness, prosperity in temporal things is desirable. Wealth is a wonderful power; and in the hands of a wise man it is a great boon both to himself and to others. 2. Physical health is desirable. Health of body, for many obvious reasons, is one of God's best gifts to ma.n. It is important also for other reasons which are not obvious to all. The state of the body exercises a grea.t influence upon the mind and soul. It is the organ and agent of both; and, if it be unhealthy, our impressions of the outward will be untrue, and our influence upon the outward will be limited and feeble. Our spiritual feelings and expressions are consider- ably toned and coloured by our physical condition. II. THE APOSTLE INDICATES THE REMARKABLE SPIBITUAL PROSPERITY OF ms FRIEND Gucs. Thie is clear from his making his spiritual prosperity the mea.sure of the desired bodily health and tempera.I prosperity. The next verse also contributes evidence of this prosperity of soul. It was seen in his growing acquaintance with the truth and his grow- ing conformity to the truth. "Brethren .•• bare witness unto thy truth, eveu as thoa G 'l'HE THIRD EPISTLE OF JOHN. [1-14.