for the life was manifested, we have seen it, we testify of it, and denounce unto you, that eternal life which was with the father, and was manifested unto us.

what we have seen and heard, we declare unto you, that ye also may be of the same society with us: and truly associated with the father, and with his son Jesus Christ.

and these things write we unto you, that our joy may be perfect.

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

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 are without sin, we deceive ourselves, and have no regard to truth.

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

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.

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

if we keep his commandments, that is a proof that we know him.

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

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

he that says he is attach'd to Christ, ought to regulate his conduct by his example.

My brethren, I don't prescribe you any new commandment, but the antient precept which you had from the beginning: and that is no other than the word which was originally delivered.

he that says, he is in the light, and yet hates his brother, is still in darkness.

he that loves his brother, abides in the light, and will be secure from stumbling.

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.

I write to you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked spirit. I write to you, little children, because ye have known the father.

I write to you, fathers, because you have known him that is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked spirit.

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

and the world is passing away, with all its vices: but he that obeys the divine will, shall enjoy a life of immortality.

Dear children, the last time is come: as ye have heard that antichrist was to come, accordingly many antichrists have already appeared; whereby we know that we are now in the last times.

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.

who is so great an impostor as he, who denies that Jesus is the Christ? he is antichrist, that denies the father and the son.

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

These things have I written to you concerning those that would seduce you.

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.

since you know that God is the source of virtue, you know that every one who has virtue, derives it from him.

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 hath such an expectation should purify himself, even as he is pure.

he that is vitious, is lawless: for sin is the transgression of the law.

and you know that he appear'd to abolish our sins; and that he was himself without sin.

dear children, let no man deceive you: only he that acts justly is just, as he is just.

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.

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.

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.

whosoever hateth his brother, has the disposition of a murderer: and you know that no murderer has any title to eternal life.

he that possesses the enjoyments of life, and seeing his brother in want, has no compassion for him, how can he be said to have any divine love?

Hereby we shall know that we are true professors, and set our consciences securely at rest.

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

he that observes his commandments, dwelleth in God, and God in him: and hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the spirit which he hath given 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.

ye are of God, my dear children, and you have overcome them: because he that is in you, is superior to him that is 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.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth, is born of God, and knoweth God.

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

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.

Hereby we know that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his spirit.

and we have seen, and do testify, that the father hath sent the son to be the saviour of the world.

whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

and we have known, and are convinced that God hath loved us. God is love; and he that cultivates social affection, dwelleth in God, and God in him.

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.

Fear is a stranger to love; for perfect loves excludes all fear: since pain is the object of fear, he that is affected with fear, cannot be sincere in his love.

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?

besides, 'tis a commandment we have receiv'd from him, that he who would love God, must love his brother also.

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Messiah, is born of God: and every one that loves the father, will likewise be affected with love to his son.

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

for our love of God consists in the observation of his precepts: precepts that are far from being grievous.

for he that is a true christian, overcomes the world: by obtaining faith, we have gain'd a victory over the world.

Who is it that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the son of God?

so that there are three witnesses, the spirit, the water, and the blood: and these three testify the same thing.

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.

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

these things have I written to you, that you may know that you have eternal life, by your believing on the name of the son of God.

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

and since we are sure that he hears all our prayers, we are sure that the petitions we presented to him, will be answered.

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.

we know that we are the children of God, and the rest of the world are subject to the evil spirit.

We know that the son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding to know him that is true: and we are with him that is true, by his son Jesus Christ. "he is the true God, who is the author of eternal life."