The Apostolical History, Chapter 7 · Section 18
SECT. XVIII.
THE Second Epiſtle of John was written to an eminent Religious Matron *This is the only Epiſtle in the Scripture directed to a Woman., and one (as it ſeems) of great Eſtate, and a great Reliever and Supporter of the Members of the Church in her days.
The Second Epiſtle of Iohn.The Parts are,
1. The Preface.
2. The Contents of the Epiſtle.
3. The Concluſion.
IN the Preface he ſtiles himſelf the Elder, in reſpect of his great age and office in the Church. He addreſſes his Epiſtle to an eminent Gentlewoman (whom, for thoſe eminent graces and virtues that ſhined in her, be judges elect of God); and to her children, who had been religiouſly educated by her, all whom he profeſſes ſincerely to love, as did all others alſo thereabout, who had been brought to a ſaving-knowledg of the Goſpel, and had effectually entertained it. And the ground of his ſincere and cordial love to them, he ſhews was this, That they had embraced the ſame Goſpel-truth with himſelf, and other faithful Chriſtians; and he was confident they would always abide and remain in the ſincere belief and profeſſion thereof. To this Lady and her children he heartily wiſhes an encreaſe of grace, and an abundance of mercy and peace from God the Father, the Fountain of all bleſſings, and from Jeſus Chriſt his Son, the Conduit-pipe by which they are conveyed; and particularly, that they may continue conſtant in the profeſſion of the Truth, and in the exerciſe of Love to one another. From Ver. 1, to 4.
2. He comes to the Contents of the Epiſtle; and in the firſt place he tells her, it was matter of great joy to him, that he had found of her children that had not only taken on them a profeſſion of the truth, but walked in it, ſo that their converſation was framed according to the commandment which they had received from the Father, by the Son [1 Joh. 15.15.]. And this is his command, That we believe in his Son Jeſus Chriſt, and love one another, 1 Joh. 3.23. He tells her, the main thing he had to requeſt of her was, That with the profeſſion of the Goſpel ſhe would conſtantly join the practice of Chriſtian charity, that ſo they may all live in unity, peace, and concord. Which was no new (a)'Twas an old Commandment ratione ſubſtantiae, Lev. 19.18. New, ratione circumſtantiae. New, becauſe purged from the corrupt gloſſes of the Phariſes, and (as it were) made new by Chriſt, becauſe by him further extended, and carried up to a higher pitch. 2. Becauſe preſſed by a new example, even his own, As I have loved you, &c. Joh. 18.34 3. New, becauſe it was never to wax old, but to be always freſh in memory and practice. 4. New, becauſe new-delivered, and more plainly and apertly ſet forth to the world; as a picture done over with new colours, may be call'd a new picture.commandment of his, but that which himſelf and the other Apoſtles had in charge from Chriſt ſtrictly to enjoin, and to oblige all Chriſtians unto, even from the beginning of their call to be Apoſtles and Preachers of the Goſpel. And by this, ſays he, ſhall we make it appear that there is a true love of God in us, if we endeavour to frame our lives according to his commandments …ow this, he tel…s them, is the great commandment, wh… they …rd fr… the beginning, when the Goſp…l was firſt preached unto … ſ…ld believe in Chriſt, and love one another, and ſhould …on…ly perſ… in the pr…ctiſe of theſe duties, walking in the truth, and … love. He ſhews he had reaſon to preſs them to conſtancy herein; for ma…y Im…oſ…ors were come abroad [ſee 1 Joh. 4.3.], who will not own or …knowl…dg that Jeſus Chriſt is come in the fleſh, and ſo ſubvert the very foundation of Chri…ianity: And whoſ…ver doth ſo, he tells them is a deceiver, and one of thoſe Antichriſts of whom he ſpake, 1 Joh. 2.18. Therefore he adviſes them to look to themſelves, that they conſtantly perſevere i… the true faith, and in ſincere obedience to the Goſpel, that ſo they may not loſe(b)Ne perdamus pro ne perdatis. Enallage perſonae per foreign. Piſc. We may lawfully look at the recompence of reward, yet non tantum & praecipuè, but that God alſo may be gl…rified by our works. Mercedem intelligit non meritam, quia omnes ſamus peccatores, & debitores; & fides noſtra ut & charitas imperfecta eſt, ſed mercedem immeritam E… ex gratiâ, propter Chriſtum promiſſam, nobiſ que debitam ob gratuitam Dei promiſſionem, Gom. the fruit of the faith they have hitherto prof…ſſed, or of the afflictions which for Chriſt's ſake th…y have ſuffered, or of the works of piety and charity which they have performed; but continuing faithful to the end, may receive a competent reward and crown. He further declares, That whoſoever tranſgreſſeth by teaching or receiving a doctrine contrary to the Goſpel, or apoſt…tizeth or fall…th off from the Orthodox prof…ſſion, not abiding in the doctrine of Chriſt, hath not the Spirit of God in him, nor is in his favour, nor ſhall partake of his glory. Wh…reas he that abideth ſtedfaſtly and conſtantly in the belief and profeſſion of the doctrine of Chriſt, he hath the Spirit of the Father and the Son dwelling in him, and remaining in their ſavour and love; ſee 1 Joh. 2.24. He forbids them therefore all familiarity and fellowſhip with ſuch Seducers, and not to entertain them when they come to their houſes under pretence to inſtruct them, nor ſo much as courteouſly to ſalute them, or ſhew them any reſpect; that ſo they may manifeſt a diſlike and diſapproving of their Errors. For he that doth not diſcountenance them in their errors (whereby others are ſeduced to their great p…ril…, doth in a ſort encourage them, and ſo partakes with them in their ſins. From Ver. 4, to 12.
In Concluſion, he excuſes the ſhortneſs of his Epiſtle, telling this Lady, That he hoped to come ſhortly and ſ…e her. And though he had many things to write, yet all things were not fit to be written, and beſides, a lively Voice affects more than a Letter. And he hoped at their meeting they ſhould be fill'd with mutual joy at their ſ…eing one another, and c nferring together. And ſo with ſalu…ations from the Children of h…r gracious Siſter (who manifeſted her election by her holy converſation) he ſhuts up his Epiſtle. Ver. 12, 13.