Saint John The Evangelist.

—that is , whom He specially and emphatically loved—and there can be no manner of doubt that there Avas very much loveable about him , in his own nature , in the genial spirit Avith Avhich he Avas endowed , and in the superadded gifts and graces of

the Holy Spirit Avith which he appears to have been most liberally supplied . It seems to admit of no question that John , like the Saviour himself , was the very personification of love . He breathes it out everywhere , and acts it out on eveiy occasion ,

if we except the single instance in Avhich , exasperated by the conduct of the Samaritans towards his Master , he Avould have called down fire from Heaven to consume them . He kept close to his Divine Head , as did Salome , his pious and devoted

mother ; was Avarmed by His love , and reflected that love on all around him . He Avas present at nearly all the great miracles performed by Christ ; he Avas honoured by seeing his Saviour on the Mount of Transfiguration , revealed in all the glory

of his Godhead ; he was present to Avitness the restoration to life of Jairus' daughter , and the raising of Lazarus from , his apparently hopeless grave ; he was a leader in the triumphant procession into Jerusalem , Avhen the people cried ,

" Hosanna to the son of David ! " and strewed their palm-leaves and branches in the path of Him whom they hoped to see proclaimed as their Great Deliverer and King ; he leaned on the bosom of Christ at the Paschal Supper ; he was at His elbow in the Garden of Gethsemaue Avhen He was

betrayed jand taken before the Hi gh Priests and Scribes ; he was able to get into ^ the Hall of Annas , when all the other disciples , save Peter , had forsaken their Lord ; he Avas the only one present at the crucifixion , even the valiant Peter himself

having fled at the sacrifice ; and , next to Mary Magdalene , he Avas the earliest at the sepulchre to ^ behold the stone rolled back , the grave-clothes in order in the new-made tomb , and the risen and exalted Saviour triumphing over death and the

grave ! More remarkable still , he Avas the trusty and loving friend to Avhom the Saviour , with his dying breath , committed his mother , Mary . The Scripture narrative on this interesting fact is most impressive , John himself being the writer . " Now

there stood by the cross of Jesus , his mother , and Ins mother ' s sister , Mary , the Avife of Cleophas , and Mary Magdalene . When Jesus , therefore , saAv his mother and the disciple standing by Avhom he loved , he saith unto his mother , Woman , behold thy son ! Then saith he to the disci ple ,

Behold thy mother ! And from that hour the disciple took her into his OAVU home . He was thus highly honoured , aud he Avas Avorthy of the honour ; he Avas thus nobly taught , and he learned IIOAV nobly to teach others .

Without entering too minutely into the teachings of John , who can fail to be deeply impressed Avith the length aud breadth , and height and depth , of the tenderness and love which characterise them . No apostle has displayed more , not one even so

much , of the deep compassion and profound sympathy and over-flowing love Avhich distinguished his Great Master . His Gospel is strikingly simple and sublime , and his Epistles are a model of pure , refined , tender , and sublimated doctrine and

precept . John has kind and good advice to give to everybody in every station and condition in life , and he gives it as a venerable father , Avho has studied human nature , knows its weakness and sins , and is entitled to be heard . His favourite

form of address is , "My little children ; " he proceeds on the assumption , that " If we say AVO have no sin , AA' 6 deceive ourselves , and tho truth is not

in us ; " while " if Ave confess our sins , " God " is faithful and just to forgive us our sins , and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness ; " ancl he goes on -to SIIOAV that there is only one right way of serving God , and that is by " keeping his

commandments . " What a glorious set of principles and doctrines are found in the third chapter of his first Epistle , in which purity of thought and life are urged and commended with true apostolic fervour and zeal ! " Little children , " he says ,

" let no man deceive you ; he that doeth righteousness , is righteous ; " " he that committeth sin is of the devil . " " Whoso hath this world ' s goods , and seeth his brother have need , and shutteth up

his bowels of compassion from him , hoAv dwelleth the love of God in him . " "My little children , let us not love in word , neither in tongue , but in deed ancl in truth . " Then , iu the fourth chapter of the same Epistle , see how he dwells ou love to

God and loA r e to man , as the whole sum and substance of tho Gospel ! "Beloved , " ho writes , "let us love one another , for love is of God ; ancl every one that loveth is born of God , aud kuou-oth God ; lie that loveth not , knowefch not God , for

God is love . " " Beloved , if God so loved us , we ought also to love another . " " God is love , aud he that dwelleth in love dwelleth iu God , aud God in him . " "If a man soy I love God , and hateth his brother , he is a liar : for he that lovelii not his