The Pulpit Commentary — 3 John — Section 13

forgiven , • , go in peace." "Being jnetified by faith, let ue have peace with God," eto. The peace nleo which flows from confidence in God as regards the possibilities of the future (see M11tt, vi. 26-84). "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind le stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee." 2. P= in our relati(J11, to men. Tbo absence of jealousy, revenge, bitterness of spirit, etc. The practical recognition of the claims of others upon us. And the exercise of good will, kindness, etc. 3. Pear,e in our own being. The accusations of conscience silenced by the remova.lo()f our guilt tlirough the mercy of God. • "I feel within me A peace above all earthly dignities, A still and quiet conscience." (Shakespeare.) The conflict between the flesh and the spirit ended in the victory of the spirit. The rebellion of passion against principle, and of appetites against aspirn.tions, quelled by the power of the Divine life in the soul. By his grace God establishes order in a man's own being, brings the faculties and propensities of his nature into harmony, and so gives to him inward peace. In this way the peace of the Christian soul is complete. Our Lord bequeathed this peace uato his disciples. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you," etc. (John xiv. 27; xx. 19, 26). 4. Perfect peace in heaven. Here our realization of this peace is variable, Doubts assail us; fears depress us; sickness and sorrow darken and disturb, if they do not distress us. Serenity of spirit is not always ours. But hereafter "God shall wipe a.way every tear from our eyes," etc. (Rev. xxi. 4). III. 'l'HE APOSTLE'S GREETING, "The friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name."-W. J. Vera. 1-14.-The aged presbyter's letter to a private Church-member. "The elder unto Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth." As in the Second Epistle, John takes the familiar official designation of "the elder." 'l'he receiver of the Epistle was regarded by John with more than ordinary affection; for he at once designates Gaius "the beloved," and three times in the course of the short Epistle be addresses him by this designation. He was widely beloved; for the addition here, while emphasizing the apostle's own affection for Gaius, widens the range of affection for him. "·whom I (for my part) love," he says; i.e. he along with many others, not he in opposition to some who withheld love or entertained hate. He loved Gaius as be loved "the elect lady and her children "--in truth. This Epistle contains no statement of the Inro.r- nation; but we know that by the apostle the Incarnation was regarded as the vital 11art of the truth (1 John iv. 1, 2). It was the highest revelation of Godhead, which bound hearts to God, lllld hearts to hearts iu the Christian circle. Attached to the truth himself, he could not love every one alike; but be loved Gaius as a. friend of the truth. I. GAIUB, 1. Bis well-being desired. " Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper aud be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." 'l'his is the salutation thrown into an unusual form. As the foundation of the good wish, Gaius is congratuj lated on his soul-prosperity. 'l'his soul-prosperity is brought out, in what follows, in connection with a satisfactory relation to the truth, and specially the practice of hospitality. In the form given to the good wish, it is implied that there is a relation between s<YUl-prosperity and other prosperity. To wish a man success in business and good bodily health is to wish him well so far ; only the wish does not go far enough. For every man bas an eternal interest as well as a temporal interest, has a soul as well as a body; and, if we are his true well-wishers, we shall wish him well in the whole, and not merely in part, of his well-being. To wish him success in business and good bodily health alone is as though a friend were travelling from Edinburgh to London, and we wished him well as far as York-not saying anything about the rest of the journey. The lower prosperity is not to be sought for a man apart from soul-proe- perity. It might seem from the old translation that it is to be sought above all things; but there is a mistranslation, which has properly been corrected in the Revised trans- lation, John expresses for Gaius the wish that in all things relating to business and health it may be well with him; not, however, without regard to his spiritual con-  14 THE THIRD EPISTLE OF JORN. [1-14,