20. St. _John_ therefore is well consistent with himself, as well as with the other holy writers: as will yet more evidently appear, if we place all his assertions touching this matter in one view. He declares, _first_, The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. _Secondly_, No man can say, I have not sinned, I have no sin to be cleansed from. _Thirdly_, But God is ready both to forgive our past sins, and to save us from them for the time to come. _Fourthly, These things I write unto you_, saith the apostle, _that you may not sin: but if any man should sin_, or _have sinned_ (as the word might be rendered) he need not continue in sin, seeing _we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous_. Thus far all is clear. But lest any doubt should remain, in a point of so vast importance, the apostle resumes this subject in the third chapter, and largely explains his own meaning. _Little children_, saith he, _let no man deceive you_ (as tho’ I had given any encouragement to those that continue in sin.) _He that doth righteousness, is righteous even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil: for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin: for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil._ (Verses 7‒10.) Here the point, which till then might possibly have admitted of some doubt in weak minds, is purposely settled by the last of the inspired writers, and decided in the clearest manner. In conformity therefore both to the doctrine of St. _John_, and to the whole tenor of the New Testament, we fix this conclusion, “A Christian is so far perfect, as not to commit sin.”