into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 1 John iv. (Read on St. John's day the whole of his Epistles.)

CATECHISM.

Q. What is thy duty towards thy neighbour? A. My duty towards my neighbour, is to love him as myself, and to do to all men as I would they should do to me.

HISTORICAL NOTICE.

St. John seems to have had a great friendship with St. Peter, for they always liked to be together. He outlived all the other Apostles many years; and after founding several Churches, he spent the latter part of his life in the neighbourhood of Ephesus, where he had enough to do in opposing the Gnostic heresy. The story of his miraculous escape from martyrdom is not generally believed, but we may surely still call him, “a martyr in will, though not in deed." He was however banished by Domitian to the Isle of Patmos, where he was so highly favored with those Revelations which he has given us.

On the accession of Nerva to the empire, he was allowed to return to Ephesus, where he continued till his death to take care of the neighbouring Churches. Both his Gospel and his Epistles are thought to have been written toward the end of his life. He lived to a great age, and died A.D. 98. An affecting anecdote is recorded of him, that when he was become too infirm to preach, he used to be carried by his disciples to the public assemblies, and there he would repeat continually, "Little children, love one to another." The same lesson, which the beloved disciple had himself so well learnt from his Lord, he would teach to others with his latest breath: and his affectionate advice seems not to have been lost on the Church. The Charity of the Christians marked them for a long period, as a race quite distinct from the Heathen. Their religion did that for them which Paganism had never done, and the world saw now, what it had never seen before. any Church were in distress or persecution, it was sure of the most generous aid from the other Churches: The poor of each Church were maintained in comfort; and in times of contagion, Christians attended on the sick and dying with a zeal and affection, such as nothing could ever kindle but the love of Christ. In

If

those days the light of charity shone in all its brightness, and the Divine words of the Apostle were realized; "Charity suffereth long and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." Such was the practice of the early Church: and though the progress of corruption soon dimmed this heavenly light, yet has it never wholly ceased to shine; and amid the darkest shadows of the Church's history, those that are willing may still discern its rays. Neither shall it ever cease to shine, till that day when all things in earth and heaven shall be filled with its brightness, and love shall begin its eternal reign. "Charity never faileth."

WHEATLY ON THE COMMON PRAYER.

"As there are three kinds of martyrdom, the first both in will and deed, which is the highest, the second in will but not in deed; the third in deed but not in will; so the Church commemorates these martyrs in the same order: St. Stephen first, who suffered death both in will

and deed; St. John the Evangelist next, who suffered martyrdom in will but not in deed; the holy Innocents last, who suffered in deed but not in will."

The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us. -God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. We joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.-Romans v.

PRAYER.

O Almighty God, who hast made known unto us by the Apostle St. John, that whosoever loveth not, knoweth not Thee, have mercy upon us. Grant unto us a true spirit of love towards our brethren, that we may prove, that we do know Thee, and have passed from death unto life. We love by nature, but we love ourselves; we are hateful and hating one another; and though Thou hast in mercy renewed us, we have still daily need to bewail our selfishness. Enable us to know and believe the love that Thou hast toward us, in reconciling us through Christ unto Thyself; that so our hearts may be filled with love to Thee, and that

we, in loving Thee, may love also our brethren. Make us to love, first our relations, next our friends, and lastly our enemies: Take away from us every thing that is contrary to this spirit, and enable us in speaking the truth boldly, ever to speak the truth in love. Make us to love, not in word nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth, that so we may know we are of the truth, and assure our hearts before Thee. Grant us, O heavenly Father, so to begin to love in this life; that hereafter, when faith shall be lost in sight, and hope shall yield to triumph, we may continue to live with Thee in love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER OF A CHILD.

O blessed Lord, who hast died for me, grant me grace to imitate thy beloved disciple St. John in his love to thee. He taught that command which thou gavest, that we should love one another for thy sake. Do thou therefore so enable me to love my brethren, that hereafter I may dwell with thee, where love shall reign for ever. Amen.

COLLECT FOR QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY.

O Lord, who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth; send