if we say that we have communion with him, and walk in darkness, we lye, and do not act sincerely:

if we say that we have not sinned, we impeach his veracity, and discredit his word.

he is the the victim that has expiated our sins: and not ours only, but likewise the sins of the whole world.

he that says, he knows him, and does not keep his commandments, is a lyar, and an enemy to the truth:

but he that hates his brother, is in darkness, he walks in darkness, and knows not whither he is going, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Love not the world, nor let worldly things engage your affections. he that is worldly affected is a stranger to divine love.

for what the world is so full of, sensuality, avarice, and pride, is not deriv'd from the creator, but is the offspring of a vicious world.

they went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that it might be manifest, that they were not all of us.

I have not written to you, as to people unacquainted with the truth of the gospel: but as to such who know it, and know that it cannot give rise to any imposture.

but as the unction which ye have received from him, abides in you, you don't need any instruction: being then fully instructed by his unction, which is true and not fallacious, adhere to what that has taught you.

adhere to that, my dear children, that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

Consider what proof the father has given us of his love, in allowing us to be called the sons of God: therefore the world does not know us, because it knew him not.

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 adheres to him, sinneth not: whosoever sinneth, hath not seen him, he does not know him.

whosoever is born of God, does not commit sin; for the divine principle remaineth in him: he will not sin, because he is born of God.

In this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: he that does not practise virtue, and fraternal benevolence, is not of God.

not acting like Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother: but why did he slay him? because his own actions were evil, and his brother's were virtuous.

Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

as for us, we know, that we have passed from a state of death to that of life, because we love our brethren: he that does not love his brother, is in a destructive state.

my dear children, let not our love be only in the language of our lips, but in the real effects of the heart.

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

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

and every spirit that does not own that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not from God." this is that anti-christian spirit which you have heard was to come, and even now it appears in the world.

we are of God: he that knoweth God, heareth us; he that is not of God, heareth not us. by this we distinguish the spirit of truth from the spirit of imposture.

he that has not social affection, does not know God; for God is love.

and what heightens his love, was this, that it was not we who first loved God, but it was he that first loved us, and sent his son to expiate our sins.

if a man says he loves God, and yet hates his brother, he is a lyar: for he that does not love his brother, who is before his eyes, how can he love God who is invisible?

it appear'd by the water, and by the blood, who he was, even Jesus the Messiah; not by the water only, but by the water and by the blood: besides, the spirit is a witness too, now the spirit is truth itself.

he that believeth on the son of God, hath the testimony of God thereto: he that does not believe God, impeaches his veracity, because he does not believe the testimony that God gave of his son.

he that receives the son, is intitled to life; and he that does not receive the son of God, has no title to life.

If any man see his brother commit a sin, which is not a mortal sin, let him pray to God, who will grant him life, for such as do not commit a mortal sin. there is a sin unto death: in which case I do not enjoin any prayer to be made.

every thing that is contrary to virtue, is a sin: but every sin is not a mortal sin:

we know that a true christian will not commit such a sin, for he that is the child of God keeps upon his guard, so that the wicked spirit does not approach him.