HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 4.-The vi~lory of the Christian over <1111,tichristian tea;:hers. "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them," etc. Very suggestive are t.he words with which our text begins, "Ye are of God." As having communion with him ; as heartily holding and confessing the truth which unites with him (ver. 2); as Laving been born of him, and being his offspring morally and spiritually, they were of God. The text suggests the following observations. l. 'l'llAT CHRISTIANS ARE EXPOSED TO THE ASSAULTS OF HERETICAL TEACHERS. It was so in St. John's time. There were those that denied that Jesus Christ had come in the flesh, maintaining that his human body was apparent, not real. And others held, with Cerinthus, "that the lEon Christ had entered into the man Jesus at his baptism, and remained with him uutil the commencement of bis sufferings; but denied that Jesus Christ came in the flesh" (Ebrard). Christians are still assailed by the teachers of grave errors, many of which relate to the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. II. 'l.'HAT CHRISTIANS MAY OVERCOME THE ASSAULTS OF HERETICAL TEACHERS. St. John's readers had done so. "Ye have overcome them." By their fidelity to the truth they had obliged the teachers of error to retreat (cf. eh. ii. 14, 19). And their complete and final victory the apostle looks upon as an assured certainty. The false prophets were probably plausible, persuasive, and influential; but they were not irresistible. They had been repulsed; they would be completely vanquished. We are not bound to accept any teaching that is offered to us. If we please, we may refuse to read the questionable book or to hear the teacher of whom we stand in doubt. Or we may read the book and hear the teacher, and then test their teaching by that of our Lord and his apostles, and accept or reject it acconling to its agreement or dis- agreement with the Divine standard. " Despise not prophesyings; prove all things ; hold fast that which is good." III. '!'HAT CIIIlISTIANS MAY OVERCOME THE ASSAULTS OF HERETICAL TEACHES. BECAUSE OF THE PRESENCE OF Goo WlTWN THEM. "ye have o~ercome them: because greater is he that is in you than be that is in the world." He that was in the Christians is God; he that was in the world is Satan, "the prince of this world." 1. Uod dwells in his people. (1) By bis Word. The author whose works have been sympathetically and diligently studied may be said to be in the student. The studtnt knows the views and opinions, the thoughts and theories, the principles and convic- tions, of his favourite author, and sympathizes with them. The godly son! knows God in his Word (Ps. i. 2; cxix. 97); and by means of his Word is filled with his thoughts, feelings, and principles. (2) Dy the faith which tliey exercise in him. Their faith in him is not mere intellectual assent, but spiritual conviction, which makes his existence and presence real unto them. (3) By their love to him (cf. vcrs. 12, 13, 16; John xiv. 23). There is no real spiritual iudwelling apart from love. (!) By his Spirit (cf. ver. 13; John xiv. 16, 17). 2. God is greater than Satan. "Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world." (1) God is independeut, but Satan is dependent. Satan cannot do anything except by permission of the Most High (cf. Job i. 12; ii. 6). But as for God, "he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: aud none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" (2) God is infinite, but Satan is finite. However great the power of the evil one may ho, it is limited. His intelligence is limited, his agencies and instru- ments arc limited, and the duration of his power is limited (Rev. x.x. 1-3). But God is infinite iu intelligence, in wisdom, in power, in duration, in perfection. (3) God is the God of truth, but Satan is the father of lies (John viii. 44). Truth is a permanent and victorious force; falsehood is transient, feeble, and doomed to extiuction. The power or the prince of this world is based uron lies, and, for that reason, its overthrow is certain. But the power of God is the power of truth and holiness, and is therefore destined to continue and grow eternally. (4) "God is love," but Satan is maHguant, 12() TlIE FIRST EPISTLE C1ENEilAL OF JOHN. [err. 1v. 1-1.!t,
However pcl'8istcnt and strong hatred may be, It is not persistent, patient, or powerful as lc1 ve. In lo,·e God dwells in his people for their salvation; but Satan dwells in tho 11·orld for the destruction of the worldly. And the lovin<T, ~r.ving Spirit is immeasurably greater _:md mightier tha~ th~ hating, destroying spirit 3. God's presence within hi• J>eople 1.s the secret of their victory ovei· heretical teachers. "Ye have overcome them : because greater is he," etc. This Presence in the soul imparts power for spiritual conflict and conquest. The most effective safeguard against error in religious faith ancl union is not the subtle and strcng intellect., but the devout and godly spirit and the ~pri~ht life. " The me~k ~,ill he ~ide in judgment," etc.; "'l'he secret of the Lord 1s with them that fear him, etc. (ls. xxv. 9, 14); "If any man willeth to do his will, he shRll know of the teaching," etc. (John vii. 17). In the conflicts of the spiritual life the mightiest weapons are not logical, but devotional. In this sphere the greatest victories are often won upon our knees. The con~ciousness of God's presence within us is the inspiration for the achievement of the sublimest conquests.-W. J.