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¹ 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. ² he is the the victim that has expiated our sins: and not ours only, but likewise the sins of the whole world.

³ if we keep his commandments, that is a proof that we know him. ⁴ he that says, he knows him, and does not keep his commandments, is a lyar, and an enemy to the truth: ⁵ but he that observes his precepts, loves God with a true and perfect love: 'tis by this we know that we are truly christians. ⁶ he that says he is attach'd to Christ, ought to regulate his conduct by his example.

⁷ 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. ⁸ however, it is really, in effect, a new commandment I write unto you, with respect to you: because the darkness is past, and things now appear in their true light. ⁹ he that says, he is in the light, and yet hates his brother, is still in darkness. ¹⁰ he that loves his brother, abides in the light, and will be secure from stumbling. ¹¹ 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.

¹² I write to you, dear children, because your sins are forgiven you upon the account of Christ. ¹³ 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. ¹⁴ 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. ¹⁵ Love not the world, nor let worldly things engage your affections. he that is worldly affected is a stranger to divine love. ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ and the world is passing away, with all its vices: but he that obeys the divine will, shall enjoy a life of immortality.

¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ 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.

²⁰ As for you who have receiv'd the unction of the holy spirit, you know the whole affair. ²¹ 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. ²² 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. ²³ whosoever denieth the son, disowns the father: ²⁴ adhere therefore to what ye have learnt from the beginning. if you adhere to what ye have heard from the beginning, you will still persist to own both the son and the father. ²⁵ and this is the reward that he hath promised us, even eternal life. ²⁶ These things have I written to you concerning those that would seduce you. ²⁷ 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.

²⁸ adhere to that, my dear children, that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. ²⁹ since you know that God is the source of virtue, you know that every one who has virtue, derives it from him.