phecy as already fulfilled, a second maintaining that none has yet been accomplished, and a third that all are in course of fulfilment, Dr. Arnold's view will commend itself to many minds as simpler than any of these and more discreet. "Predictions," he says, "have a lower historical sense, as well as a higher spiritual sense; (so) that there may be one or more than one typical, imperfect, historical fulfilment of a prophecy, in each of which the higher spiritual fulfilment is shadowed forth more or less distinctly."

I

The two short "sister Epistles" belong apparently to the last days of St. John's life, after his return to Ephesus from exile. The writer describes himself, as Peter had done at the close of his career, as an old man, and seems to be proposing some new journey now that he is free to move whither he lists. Of the two letters the former is addressed to "the elect lady" or the elect Kyria, and the latter to a certain Gaius whom we have no reason for identifying with any person of the same name. mentioned in the writings of St. Paul. The aspect of the Church appears to have changed but little from that which it bore in the first Epistle. Reference is again made to antichrist and many deceivers ; while in both a flash may be seen of the Boanerges zeal darting against men like Diotrephes, as before it had been launched at Cerinthus.

The end of a long life was now at hand: the

Cited in The Dictionary of the Bible, vol. iii. p. 1039 b.

Apostle probably did not survive his return to Ephesus by any length of time. Surrounded by his pupils, Polycarp, Ignatius, Papias and many others, he had yet outlived all the comrades of his youth. Heresies which he regarded as the depths of Satan were rife, saddening his loving spirit. The latest legend of his life is to the effect that, while lingering to the verge of old age and with difficulty led down to the church by the hands of the disciples, nor any longer able to frame continuous sentences, he was wont to reiterate just these words, "Little children, love one another." At last the brethren who were present, being weary of hearing the same words so often, said " Master, why for ever this?" Whereto he replied in sentiment worthy of himself, "Because it is the Lord's command; and if it alone be obeyed, all is done." The voice had said to him "Surely I come quickly;" well might he cry "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." In proportion to the clearness of the heavenly vision he had enjoyed must have been his longing to be gathered to the society of the redeemed and admitted within the jewel-gates of the celestial city. But dearest desire of all would be that of reunion with the Master he loved. True, the descriptions of Christ in the Apocalypse are awe-inspiring, but only to foes; perfect love casteth out fear; and to the beloved disciple He would appear not as wielder of stars and sword but as the Saviour beside whom he reclined at the Supper and from whose dying lips he took his sacred charge. Now he would sit down with Him at another board, and by going complete the roll of glorified apostles.

Travellers tell us that at Ephesus "there is nothing to recall St. John except the rock-hewn tomb called by his name, near the summit of a deserted hill . . overgrown with brushwood and only marked by the broken offerings of a few Greek peasants." Yet around that spot the tradition of his immortality long lingered; and near three centuries later. Augustine was told that the dust about his grave had been seen to rise and fall in gentle heavings. as of the slumbering sea,-fit image of the vitality of his spirit which yet stirs beneath the greed and anger of the world, and will one day stand forth erect to proclaim the dynasty of Love.

XI.

Philip.

"It was not by intellectual power, like the philosophers of Greece, nor by arms and statesmanship, like the conquerors of Rome, nor by the influence of a sacredotal order, like the priestly castes of India or of Egypt, nor even by the patriotic zeal and unshaken endurance of their own Jewish ancestors, that the supremacy of the apostles was established. It was by the transforming energy of simple goodness, devoted with a child-like faith, through a whole life, to the service of God and man.

T