This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1860 Excerpt: ... has to say is contained in the three words, --love, truth, obedience; and all that he insists on is that one should abide in the teaching of Christ himself. "I love you in the truth," "for the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever."--"lam glad that your children walk in the truth."--"I beseech you, that we love one another." "And this is love, --that we walk after his commandment." You will notice, also, that not now, as when he wrote the Gospel, does he insist on the doctrine of the Divinity of Jesus, or the Word; but rather on the doctrine of the HuManity. The chief danger seems now to him to be, of forgetting the Humanity of Jesus, --that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh; that is, as a real man. But, to him, all things were finally taken up into these broader generalizations of Truth, Love, and Obedience. This is one of the blessings of age, when it thus enlarges mind and heart. Age should always liberalize; and it usually does liberalize. Those whom we knew years ago--earnest but narrow zealots for some special form of Christianity--we meet again, and find them ripened and mellowed, and with sympathies grown so large that they can embrace all who love the truth and obey the good. Notice, again, that John calls this Christian lady to whom he writes the "Elect" or "Chosen" lady. All Christians are called, in the New Testament, "elect." But this word "elect," and this doctrine of "election," have been much misunderstood, and great harm done by the error. It is supposed to mean those arbitrarily chosen by God for eternal happiness in heaven, without regard to character: but, in reality, it refers, not to heaven, but to earth; not to eternity, but to time; not to reward, but to privilege; not to enjoyment, but to labor. It means, c...