21. 3

go a fishing they say unto him, We also come with thee. They went forth and entered into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach : howbeit the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus therefore saith unto them, Children have ye aught to eat? They answered Him, No. And He said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his coat about him, for he was naked, and cast himself into the sea: but the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits off [about one hundred yards], dragging the net full of fishes. So when they got out upon the land they see a fire of coals there and a fish laid thereon and a loaf of bread. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter therefore went aboard and drew the net to land full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and three : and for all there were so many the net was not rent. Jesus saith unto them, Come breakfast. And none of the disciples durst inquire of Him, Who art Thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus cometh and taketh the loaf and giveth them, and the fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples after that He was risen from the dead.

So when they had breakfasted, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon son of John, lovest thou Me more than these? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed My lambs. He saith to him again a second time, Simon son of John,

21. 16

lovest thou Me? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Be a shepherd to the weak ones of My flock. He saith unto him the third time, Simon son of John, lovest thou Me? Peter was grieved because He said unto him the third time, Lovest thou Me? And he said unto Him, Lord, Thou knowest all things, Thou perceivest that I love Thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed the weak ones of My flock. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself and walkedst whither thou wouldest but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. Now this He spake signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God. And when He had spoken this He saith unto him, Follow Me. Peter, turning about,

seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also leaned back on His breast at the supper and said, Lord who is he that betrayeth Thee? Peter therefore seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he abide while I am coming, what is that to thee? follow thou Me. This saying therefore went forth among the brethren, that that disciple should not die. Yet Jesus said not unto him that he should not die; but, If I will that he abide while I am coming, what is that to thee?

This is the disciple who beareth witness of these things and wrote these things, and we know that his witness is

true.

And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that should be written.

7. 53

SECTION CONCERNING THE ADULTERESS.

[ACCORDING TO JOHN VII. 53-VIII. 11.*]

[And they went every man unto his own house, but Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came unto Him, and He sat down and taught them. And the scribes and the Pharisees bring a woman taken in adultery, and having set her in the midst they say unto Him, Master, this woman hath been taken in adultery, in the very act: now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such what then sayest thou of her? And this they said making trial of Him, that they might have whereof to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her and again He stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. And they, when they heard it, went out one by one, beginning from the eldest, unto the last, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the midst. And Jesus lifted up Himself and said unto her, Woman, where are they? did no man condemn thee? And she said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn thee: go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.]

* A very early interpolation.

THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN.

[See page 520.

The Epistle does not readily yield to analysis, and so rich and full are its thoughts, and so vitally connected are they, that the only sufficient sketch of its plan would be a repetition of it in its own words. There seem to be three leading divisions :

1. True Fellowship with God is Fellowship in His Life in keeping His Commandments and living as Jesus lived.

2. Fellowship with Him is Righteousness and Love.

3. Fellowship with Him is secured to us in Jesus Christ the Son of God.]

THAT WHICH WAS FROM THE BEGINNING, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld and our hands handled, concerning the Word of Life,-and the Life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and declare unto you the Life, the eternal Life which was with the Father and was manifested unto us,-that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ and these things we write that our joy may be made full.

And this is the message which we have heard from Him and announce unto you, that God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have

'fellowship' with Him and are walking in the darkness, we lie and are not doing the truth: but if we walk in the Light as He is in the Light, we have 'fellowship' one with

I. 7

another and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the Truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His Word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous, and He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. And hereby know we that we 'know' Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith I know Him and keepeth not His commandments is a liar, and in him the Truth is not but whoso keepeth His Word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby know we that we are 'in Him': he that saith he abideth 'in Him' ought himself also to walk even as He walked.

Beloved, no new commandment write I unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning: the old commandment is the word which ye heard. Again, a new commandment write I unto you, which thing is a true thing in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the real Light is already shining. He that saith he is in the Light' and hateth his brother is in the darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth 'in the Light,' and there is none occasion of stumbling in him : but he that hateth his brother is in the darkness and in the darkness is walking, and knoweth not whither he is going because the darkness hath blinded his eyes. I write unto you, my little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake: I write unto you, fathers, because ye