This then is the commission we have from him, to declare unto you, that God is light, and in him there is no darkness.

but he that observes his precepts, loves God with a true and perfect love: 'tis by this we know that we are truly christians.

and this is the reward that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

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.

he that lives in sin, imitates the devil; for the devil was a sinner from the beginning. for this purpose the son of God appeared, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

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.

for this is the doctrine that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

this is the proof of the divine love, Christ expos'd his life for us: and we ought to expose our lives for the brethren.

now this is his commandment, that we believe in his son Jesus Christ, and that we love one another, as he commanded us.

by this you may distinguish the spirit of God: "every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is from God.

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.

by this was the love of God displayed towards us, in that God sent his only begotten son into the world, that we might live thro' him.

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.

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.

by this we may know that we love the children of God, if we love God, and keep his commandments.

if we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater: now this is the testimony, which God has given us of his son.

Now what is testified, is this, that God has given to us eternal life: and this life is by his son.

Besides, we have this confidence in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he will hear us.