My dear children, these things I write unto you, that ye may avoid sin. but if any man has failed, we have an advocate with the father, Jesus Christ the just.

When

beloved, we are now the sons of God, tho' it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know, that when this change shall be, his immediate presence will give us a divine resemblance.

whosoever therefore shall be asham'd of me, and of my doctrine in this degenerate and corrupted age, of him likewise shall the son of man be asham'd, when he shall come with the glory of his father, accompanied with holy angels.

Christ is your life, and when he shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory.

to observe these precepts, to lead an unspotted life without reproof until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,

I have nothing more to do, but to receive the crown of virtue reserv'd for me, which the Lord, the just judge, will give me in that day: and not only to me, but to those also, who have long'd for his appearance.

in expectation of that desirable happiness, the glorious appearance of the supreme God, and of our saviour Jesus Christ,

so Christ being once offered up to take away the sins of many; he shall appear the second time, without making any further expiation to save those who expect him.

that your faith being put to a more advantageous proof, than that of gold, which loses by the essay, may redound to your praise and highest honour at the appearance of Jesus Christ:

that when the sovereign pastor shall appear, you may carry off a glorious crown, that will never fade.

See! he is coming on the clouds; and every eye shall see him, even they who pierced him: then all the tribes of the earth will smite their breasts at the sight: even so it will be.

Have

beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we may securely confide in God.

the divine love to us will be in the highest degree, if our condition in this world be the same as was that of Christ Jesus; so that we may appear with confidence in the day of judgment.

as it is written, "behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling-stone, and a rock of offence: and whosoever believeth in him, shall not be ashamed."

At his

so that you will be deficient in no gift; during your expectation of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

but every one in proper order: Christ has the precedence, next they who were Christians shall rise at his advent.

that by the sanctity of your affections, you may stand unreprov'd in the presence of God our father, when our Lord Jesus Christ shall come with all his holy angels.

Now may the God of peace make you intirely holy: may every part of you, your spirit, soul, and body be preserved irreprovable at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"where is the promise of his coming? for since our fathers are dead, the state of things is the same it has ever been since the beginning of the world."

General references

beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we may securely confide in God.