All additional clearing up of Scripture must tend to the affording more effectual witness to the Church; and it will not, I am persuaded, be beside the object of this collection to allude to anything which may bring the force of the Word into light, though it may not be of great depth, or of any special importance as to learning. With this purpose, I would notice the second chapter of the first epistle of John. The term “Little children” is the English rendering both for τεκνια and παιδα, and this much obscures the division and the application of the Apostle’s instruction, the beauty of which appears to me to be exceedingly great. The 12Th verse is addressed to the whole of those to whom the Apostle is writing, as in the 1St verse of the chapter, and also again in the 23th-both of which are addressed to all to whom he is writing. It was common to them all to have their sins forgiven, as it was to be warned to abide in Him. Then, in the 13th verse, begins the distinctive address, “I write unto you fathers, young men, little children,” παιδια. In the 14th, again, “I have written unto you fathers, young men.” He then follows out in instruction exactly what young men are liable to, in the strong hope of the vigor of their natural energy, in the which they were the rather to do the will of God, and that did not fade, as the lusts of the world, but abode forever; and then he turns to little children, παιδια, which, as with the utmost parental anxiety, he warns of their liability to be seduced by deception; and while with the utmost consideration and holy honor done to Him whom they loved, he gives them credit for all that the communion of the Spirit could afford them; yet he presents many things before them on which that intelligence could exercise itself. Nothing can be more beautiful than the perfect care with which he parentally provides for their security, strengthening them with reference to Him in whom their strength was, and exquisitely avoiding what might turn them from the use of His care-the suggestion that they could not do without it. He could not, indeed, intimate this without assuming what no man could assume, because of the common in-dwelling of the Spirit in the saints—the same Spirit which dwelt in him. Yet in what wisdom does he bring forth the greater and more deep apprehensions which the Spirit afforded Min, that the same Spirit, leading them, might receive these, and inform their souls by them. As it is, indeed, most exquisitely beautiful in its fitness of address, coming immediately from the Spirit of God, so is it also most instructive to us of the manner of profit in the operation of the Holy Ghost amongst us at any time.
The second series, then, is fathers, to the middle of verse 14; young men, to the end of verse 17; and little children, to the end of verse 27: and then the Apostle resumes the general thread of his discourse. I have merely thrown this out, but the detail of instruction will, I think, there be found to be appropriated with the most exquisite perfection, and to open out the mind and relationship, whether of old or young men, or little children in Christ, in a way which gives us the advantage of all. May His saints abound in the Spirit, which will give them the simplicity of children and the energy of young men, with that acquaintance with Him that is from the beginning-the full purpose of God in Christ, and humble us all in the sense of our weakness. I would only remark, in addition, that the full fact of having the forgiveness of sins is no attainment after previous probation, but the common portion of all the τεκνια; and that παιδια babes in Christ, are owned as having this blessing, even the knowledge of the Father, which is the full spirit of personal liberty and joy, though not that full assurance of understanding which in the knowledge of τ΄θν ὰπ’ άρχῆς could baffle the snares and wiles of Satan, the spirit of Antichrist. The Lord give us to know much of His glory, and keep His Church continually looking to it, for His name’s sake. —Amen.