[62] The view here advocated of the relation of the Epistle to the Gospel of St. John, and of the brief but complete analytical synopsis in the opening words of the Epistle, appears to us to represent the earliest known interpretation as given by the author of the famous fragment of the Muratorian Canon, the first catalogue of the books of the N. T. (written between the middle and close of the second century). After his statement of the circumstances which led to the composition of the fourth Gospel, and an assertion of the perfect internal unity of the Evangelical narratives, the author of the fragment proceeds. "What wonder then if John brings forward each matter, point by point, with such consecutive order (tam constanter singula), even in his Epistles saying, when he comes to write in his own person (dicens in semetipso), 'what we have seen with our eyes, and heard with our ears, and our hands have handled, these things have we written.' For thus, in orderly arrangement and consecutive language he professes himself not only an eye-witness, but a hearer, and yet further a writer of the wonderful things of the Lord." [So we understand the writer. "Sic enim non solum visorem, sed et auditorem, sed et scriptorem omnium mirabilium Domini, per ordinem profitetur." The fragment, with copious annotations, may be found in _Reliquæ Sacræ_, Routh, Tom. i., 394, 434.] [63] For whatever reason, four classical terms (if we may so call them) of the Christian religion are excluded, or nearly excluded, from the Gospel of St. John, and from its companion document. _Church_, _gospel_, _repentance_, occur nowhere. _Grace_ only once (John i. 14; see, however, 2 John 3; Apoc. i. 4; xxii. 21), _faith_ as a substantive only once. (1 John v. 4, but in Apoc. ii. 13-19; xiii. 10; xiv. 123.) [64] ἡν δε νυξ. John xiii. 30. [65] John xix. 5. [66] Canon. Murator. (apud Routh., _Reliq. Sacræ_, Tom. i., 394). [67] εν τοπω ἡσυχω λεγομενω καταπαυσις. [68] This passage is translated from the Greek text of the manuscript of Patmos, attributed to Prochorus, as given by M. Guérin. (_Description de l'Isle de Patmos_, pp. 25-29.) DISCOURSE III. _THE POLEMICAL ELEMENT IN THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. JOHN._ "Dum Magistri super pectus Fontem haurit intellectûs Et doctrinæ flumina, Fiunt, ipso situ loci, Verbo fides, auris voci, Mens Deo contermina. "Unde mentis per excessus, Carnis, sensûs super gressus, _Errorumque nubila_, Contra veri solis lumen Visum cordis et acumen Figit velut aquila." _Adam of St. Victor_, Seq. xxxii. "Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. Every spirit that confesseth not [that] Jesus Christ [is come in the flesh] is not of God."--1 JOHN iv. 2, 3.