Again we meet the words love and truth. Transparency of speech and life is an essential condition of soul health. It would not be desir-

able to express the wish of vy. 2 to all our friends, because if their bodies were to correspond to the condition of their souls, they would suddenly fall into ill-health. In the old legend mirrors were blurred with mist when any approached who were out of harmony with truth, v. 4.

The Christian must always act worthily of God, especially toward strangers, vs. 5, 6. ‘‘For the sake of the Name,’’ v. 7, R.V—as children we must maintain the family honor. Such hospitality makes us fellow-workers with the truth. There is a Boanergic touch in y. 10. The threefold witness to Demetrius should stir our desire to emulate his character. What will it not be when the dimness of earthly converse is exchanged for the face-to-face intercourse of eternity! v. 14.

What is the theme of the first Epistle? What distinguishing feature of the Epistle appears in the outline?

What is their relation to the Gospel of John? What is the probable date of these Epistles?

(Each question applies to the paragraph of corresponding

What was the nature of the fellowship which John wished to share with others?

What is the best evidence of union with Christ?

Why does the Apostle address those of various ages?

With what announcement does the third chapter open?

How may we know that we have “passed from death unto life’?

How does the Christian overcome the world?

What is the greatest affirmation of this Epistle?

What is the threefold witness to our redemption?

What four things is the Christian privileged to know!

John revolve? Why is hospitality a Christian grace?

The James mentioned in v. 1 is almost certainly the brother of our Lord, who was the well-known and universally revered leader of the mother church at Jerusalem, and the writer of the Epistle that bears his name. Jude, therefore, was also related to our Lord as brother; see Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3. These two were probably with the Apostles after the Ascension, and finally engaged in evangelistic efforts. See Acts 1:14; 1 Cor. 9:5.

We have no certain information concerning him, but Eusebius states that when Domitian ordered all the posterity of David to be slain, “some of the heretics accused the descendants of Jude, as the brother of our Saviour according to the flesh, because they were of the family of David, and as such were also related to Christ.” It appears from the historian’s subsequent statement that these people made a good confession before their persecutors.

The Epistle was probably addressed to churches eastward of Judaea, among whom Jude had labored; and was probably written about A.D. 66. There are remarkable similarities between this Hpistle and 2 Peter, indicating close communication between the two writers, as they looked out on the heretical teachers of the age and the low state of prevailing morals.

Jude 1-11. Kept is the keynote of this Epistle. It occurs in vs. 1, 6, 21, and in another form in v. 24, Many evil doctrines and practices were intruding into the Church. Certain persons had erept in, who quoted the mercy of God as an excuse for immorality and practically disowned the teachings of the Lord Jesus.

In contrast with these were the disciples whom Jude addresses and who owned the Lord Jesus as their beloved ‘‘Despot,’’ (the Greek for Master, v, 4 RY.) They were kept for him, as the others were kept in chains. Let us also keep ourselves in the love of God, v. 21. It is much easier to live consistently in hours of storm than in hours of ease.

Let us be warned against drifting back from our first faith. Let us take heed from the fate of fallen angels, of Sodom and Gomorrah, of Cain and Balaam, of Korah and others. Let us watch and pray and earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints, v. 3, bearing it through the world as the pilgrim host bore the sacred vessels in the days of Ezra. See Ezra 8: 28.

Jude 12-25. What traps and pitfalls beset us! How many have fallen who had as good or a better chance than we! The angels kept not their first estate; Adam, though created in innocency, fell; Cain was rejected; Balaam, who saw with open eyes, was slain; Korah, who had carried a censer filled with holy fire, was hurled into the abyss! How can we expect to stand! Be of good cheer! He is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless, v. 24.

In the succession of terrible metaphors in vs. 12 and 13, notice that in each case there is promise with-

out fulfilment and appearance without reality. Such is much of the Christian profession of the present day. And from time to time, as Enoch foretold, the day of the Lord comes, with its retribution for all such.

The four exquisite admonitions of vs. 20 and 21 are worth pondering. Keep yourselves in the main current of God’s love. Build your character after the likeness of Christ. Pray in the Holy Spirit; keep at the oriel window of hope. Christ is able to keep, and when at last we are presented by him to the Father, we shall realize how much we owe him,

(a) What is the theme of this Epistle? (b) How is it illustrated?

(c) What is known of the author of this Epistle? (d@) To whom was it addressed? (e) What is its relation to 2 Peter?

(Each question applies to the paragraph of corresponding number in the Comments.)