(2) For the meaning of these verses. All interpretations appear to fall into two classes; as St. John is supposed to aim at (_a_) _soothing_ conscience, or (_b_) _awakening_ it. But may he not really intend to leave people to think over a something which he has purposely omitted, and to apply it as required? The saying "God is greater than our hearts, and knoweth all things," probably cuts two ways. If my heart condemn me justly, and with truth, much more so does God who is greater than my heart. But, if my conscience is tenderly sensitive, scrupulous because full of love, God's knowledge of my heart tells in this case on the brighter side, as truly as in the other case it told on the darker side. We may lull our heart. "A tranquil God tranquillises all things, and to see His peacefulness is to be at peace." (_St. Bernard in Cant._) FOOTNOTES: [230] Ver. 11. [231] John xv. 12-17. See also the stress laid upon the unity of believers; surely including love as well as doctrine in the great High-Priestly prayer, John xvii. 21-23. [232] "The message that ye heard _from the beginning_," conf. 1 John ii. 24. [233] "Contrariorum eadem est scientia." [234] This is one of the few references to the Old Testament _history_ in St. John's Epistle (Gen. iv. 1-8). To the _theology_ of the Old Testament there are many references; _e.g._, light and life. 1 John i. 1-5; John i. 4; Ps. xxxvi. 9. There is, however, another historical reference a few verses above (1 John iii. 8)--a passage of primary importance because it recognises the whole narrative of the Fall in Genesis, and affords a commentary upon the words of Christ (John viii. 44). The writer has somewhere seen an interesting suggestion that ver. 12 may contain some allusion to the visit of Apollonius of Tyana to Ephesus. Apollonius incited the mob to kill a beggar-man for the purpose of placing himself on a level with Chalcas and others who caused the sacrifice of human victims. The date of this incident would apparently coincide with the closing years of St. John's life (_Philostrat. vita Apollon._, Act. ii., S. 5). [235] Ver. 14. [236] Vers. 14, 15. [237] Ver. 12. [238] Ver. 16. [239] Ver. 17. [240] Vers. 18, 19. [241] Vers. 20, 21. [242] "For _The Love_ I rather beseech thee" (Phil. v. 9). The addition in the A.V. (_of God_) rather impairs the sweetness and power, the reverential reserve of the original. [243] Of Prof. Westcott. [244] Ver. 17. [245] It is suggestive that on Quinquagesima Sunday, when 1 Cor. xiii. is the Epistle, St. Luke xviii. 31 sqq., is the Gospel. The lyric of love is joined with a fragment of its epic. That fragment tells us of a love which not only proclaimed itself ready to be sacrificed (Luke xviii. 31-33), but condescended individually to the blind importunate mendicant who sat by the wayside begging (vers. 35-43).