And then it _made him useful in his writings, too_. Think of the gospel of St. John. How different it is from all the others! John’s love for Jesus seemed to bring him nearer to his great heart of love than the rest of the brethren. We are not surprised, therefore, to see that love speaking out more clearly and fully in his writings than it does anywhere else. It is only John who gives us that wondrous statement, that glorious, golden epitome of the gospel which is found in the sixteenth verse of his third chapter—“God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” And then think of the marvellous discourses of our Saviour found in the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth chapters of this gospel; and of that most sublime and wonderful prayer of Jesus, for all his people, found in the seventeenth chapter. O, no one can tell what an unspeakable loss the Church of Christ would have sustained if this loving apostle had not written his precious gospel! And then how useful he has been in his epistles, too, as well as in his gospel! Love is the golden thread that runs through them all. Look at the opening words of the third chapter of his first epistle. How the very heart of the loving disciple seems to be speaking out when he exclaims: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God!” It is remarkable that the two shortest verses in the whole Bible, and yet two among those that most melt, and stir our hearts, were written by this apostle. One of these is in his gospel and contains only two words—“_Jesus wept._” The other is in one of his epistles and contains only three words—“_God is love._” If he had never written anything else than these two verses, how well it might be said that he was useful in his writings! And then think of that marvellous book with which the Bible closes. We call it “The Revelation of St. John the Divine.” For, although it is true that there is much in this book that we cannot understand, yet its opening and closing chapters have been an unspeakable blessing to the Church in all ages. When St. John closes the Bible with those last two chapters of the Revelations, it seems as if he had been permitted to leave the gates of heaven ajar on purpose that we might gaze through them in wondering awe. Those jewelled walls; those pearly gates; those golden streets; that river of the water of life, clear as crystal; and all the sparkling imagery employed by this loving apostle in what he here tells us about heaven, how can we sufficiently thank God for permitting his servant John to write such glorious things for us? Truly we may say that his love made him useful in his life and useful in his writings!