1   That vvhich vvas from the beginning, vvhich vve haue heard, vvhich vve haue seen vvith our eies, vvhich vve haue looked vpon, and our handes haue handled of the vvord of life:

2   (and the life vvas manifested: and vve haue seen, and do testifie, and declare vnto you the life eternal vvhich vvas vvith the Father, and hath appeared to vs)

3   that vvhich vve haue seen and haue heard, vve declare vnto you, that09Q1463 you also may haue societie vvith vs, and our societie may be vvith the Father and vvith his Sonne Iesvs Christ.

4   And these things vve vvrite to you, that you may reioyce, and your ioy may be ful.

5   And this is the annuntiation vvhich vve haue heard of him, and declare vnto you, That ^note God is light, and in him there is no darkenesse.

6   If vve shal say that we haue societie vvith him, and vvalke in darkenesse: vve lie, and do not the truth.

7   But if we vvalke in the light, as he also is in the light: vve haue societie one tovvard an other, and ^note09Q1464 the bloud of Iesvs Christ his sonne cleanseth vs09Q1465 from al sinne.

8    ^noteIf vve shal say09Q1466 that vve haue no sinne, vve seduce our selues, and the truth is not in vs.

9   If vve confesse our sinnes: he is faithful & iust, for to forgiue vs our sinnes, and to cleanse vs

from al iniquitie.

10   If vve shal say that vve haue not sinned: vve make him a lier, and his vvord is not in vs. ^{note note note note} Chap. II. If any sinne mortally, he must not dispaire. 3 To knovv God rightly, is not to beleeue onley, but to keepe his commaundements: 7 and that this is no nevv doctrine, but the very primitiue, though a nevv life it is. 9 Therfore he that beleeueth must also loue his brethren: 12 and that men must not loue the vvorld, but doe that vvhich God vvilleth. 18 Many are gone out of the Church and become Seducers, al the ministers of Antichrist: but true Christians must continue in their old faith, considering the revvard, and that they neede not goe to schole to any Heretike, the Holy Ghost himself being the scholemaster of the Church, 29 he doth earnestly inculcate iustice and good vvorkes.

1   My litle children, these things I vvrite to you,09Q1467 that you sinne not. But & if any man shal sinne, vve haue09Q1468 an ^note aduocate vvith the Father, Iesvs Christ the iust:

2   and he is the propitiation for our sinnes: and not for ours only, but also09Q1469 for the vvhole vvorldes.

3   And in this vve know that vve haue knovven him, if vve obserue his commaundements.

4   09Q1470He that saith he knovveth him, and keepeth not his c&obar;maundements: is a lier and the truth is not in him:

5   But he that keepeth his vvord, in him in very deede the charitie of God is perfited: in this vve knovv that vve be in him.

6   He that saith he abideth in him: ought euen as he walked, him self also to vvalke.

7   My deerest, I vvrite not a nevv c&obar;maundement to you, but an old c&obar;mmaundem&ebar;t vvhich you had from the beginning. The old c&obar;maundement is the vvord vvhich you haue heard.

8   Againe ^note a nevv commaundement vvrite I to you, vvhich thing is true both in him and in you: because the darkenesse is passed, and the true light novv shineth.

9   He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother: is in the darkenesse euen vntil novv.

10    ^noteHe that loueth his brother, abideth in the light, and scandal is not in him.

11   But he that hateth his brother: is in the darkenesse, and vvalketh in the darkenesse, and knovveth not vvhither he goeth, because the darkenes hath blinded his eies.

12   I vvrite vnto you litle children, because your sinnes are forgiuen you for his name.

13   I vvrite vnto you fathers, because you haue knovven him vvhich is from the beginning. I vvrite vnto you yong men, because you haue ouercome the vvicked one.

14   I vvrite to you infantes, because you haue knovven the Father. I vvrite vnto you yong men, because you are strong, and the vvord of God abideth in you, & you haue ouercome the vvicked one.

15   Loue not the vvorld, nor those things vvhich are in the vvorld. If any man loue the vvorld, the charitie of the Father is not in him.

16   because ^note al that is in the vvorld, is the concupiscence of the flesh, & the concupiscence of the eies, and the pride of life, vvhich is not of the Father, but is of the vvorld.

17   And the vvorld passeth

and the concupiscence thereof. But he that doeth the vvil of God, abideth for euer.

18   Litle children, it is the last houre, & as you haue heard, that ^note Antichrist commeth: now there are become09Q1471 many antichristes: vvhereby vve knovv, that it is the last houre.

19   09Q1472They vvent out from vs: but09Q1473 they ^note vvere not of vs. for if they had been of vs, they vvould surely haue remained with vs: but09Q1474 that they may be manifest that they are not al of vs.

20   But you haue ^note the vnction from the Holy one, and 09Q1475 knovv al things.

21   I haue not vvritten to you as to them that knovv not the truth, but as to them that knovv it: and that no lie is of the truth.

22   Vvho is a lier, but he vvhich denieth that Iesvs is not Christ? This is Antichrist vvhich denieth the Father and the Sonne.

23   Euery one that denieth the Sonne, neither hath he the Father. He that confesseth the Sonne, hath the Father also.

24   You, that vvhich you haue ^note heard from the beginning, let it abide in you. If that abide in you vvhich you haue heard from the beginning, you also shal abide in the Sonne & the Father.

25   And this is the promis vvhich he promised vs, life euerlasting.

26   These things haue I vvritten to you concerning them that seduce you.

27   And you, the vnction vvhich you haue receiued from him, let it abide in you. And you haue no neede that any man teache you: but as his vnction teacheth you of al things, and it is true, and it is no lie. And as it hath taught you, abide ^note in him.

28   And now litle children abide in him: that vvhen he shal appeare, vve may haue confidence, and not be c&obar;founded of him in his c&obar;ming.

29   If you know that he is iust, knovv ye that euery one also ^note vvhich doeth iustice, is borne of him. ^{note note}

^{note note note note}

^{note note note} Chap. III. It is not for the sonnes of God, to sinne mortally, but for the sonnes of the Diuel, vvherby they are knovven one from an other, & not by onely faith. 11 True faith is, that vve also loue our brethren, giuing both our life and substance for them. 19 Such vnfeined loue may haue great confidence before God. 23 because the keeping of his c&obar;maundements doth much please him, vvhich consist in faith and charitie.

1   See vvhat maner of charitie the Father hath giu&ebar; vs, that vve should be named and be ^note the sonnes of God. For this cause the world doth not knovv vs, because it hath not knovven him.

2   My deerest, novv vve are the sonnes of God: & it hath not yet appeared vvhat we shal be. Vve know that wh&ebar; he shal appeare, we shal be like to him: because vve shal ^note see him as he is.

3   And euery one that hath this hope in him, ^note sanctifieth him self, as he also is holy.

4   Euery one that committeth sinne, committeth also iniquitie: and09Q1476 sinne is iniquitie.

5   And ^note you knovv that he appeared to take away our sinnes: ^note and sinne in him there is none.

6   Euery one that abideth in him,09Q1477 sinneth not: and euery one that sinneth, hath not seen him, nor knovven him.

7   Litle children, let no m&abar; seduce you. 09Q1478He that doeth iustice, is iust: euen as he also is iust.

8    ^noteHe that committeth sinne,

is of the deuil: because the deuil09Q1479 sinneth from the beginning. For this, appeared the Sonne of God, that he might dissolue the vvorkes of the deuil.

9   Euery one that is borne of God, committeth not sinne: because his seede abideth in him, and he can not sinne because he is borne of God.

10   In this are the children of God manifest, and the children of the deuil. Euery one that is not iust, is not of God, and he that loueth not his brother. ^note

11   because this is the annuntiation, vvhich you haue heard from the beginning, ^note That you loue one an other.

12   Not as ^note Cain, vvho vvas of the vvicked, and killed his brother. And for vvhat cause killed he him? Because his vvorkes vvere vvicked: but his brothers, iust.

13    ^noteMaruel not brethren, if the vvorld hate you.

14   Vve knovv that vve are translated from death to life, because vve loue the brethren. He that loueth not, abideth in death.

15   Vvhosoeuer hateth his brother: is a murderer. And you knovv that no murderer hath life euerlasting abiding in him self.

16    ^noteIn this vve haue knovven the charitie of God, because he hath yelded his life for vs: and vve ought to yeld our liues for the brethren. &cross4;

17    ^noteHe that shal haue the substance of the vvorld, and shal ^note see his brother haue neede, and shal shut his bovvels from him: hovv doth the charitie of God abide in him?

18   My litle children, let vs not loue in word, nor in tongue, but in deede and truth. &cross4;

19   in this vve knovv that vve are of the truth: and in his sight vve shal persuade our hartes.

20   For if our hart do reprehend vs: God is greater then our hart, and knovveth al thinges.

21   My deerest, if our hart do not reprehend vs, vve haue confidence tovvard God.

22   and ^note vvhatsoeuer vve shal aske,09Q1480 vve shal receiue of him: because vve keepe his commaundementes, and doe those thinges vvhich are pleasing before him.

23   And ^note this is his commaundement, that vve beleeue in the name of his sonne Iesvs Christ: and ^note loue one an other, as he hath giuen c&obar;maundement vnto vs.

24   And ^note he that keepeth his commaundementes, abideth in him, and he in him. And in this vve knovv that he abideth in vs, by the Spirit vvhich he hath giuen vs.

^{note note note note note} Chap. IIII. Vve may not beleeue al that boast of the spirit, but trie them, vvhether they teach Catholike articles of the faith (namely the incarnation of Christ:) vvhether their doctrine be not vvorldly, and them selues disobedient hearers of the Apostles. 7 Vee must loue one an other, considering the exceding loue of God in sending his sonne to saue vs. 17 An argument of perfect charitie is, if vve haue nothing in our conscience to feare in the day of Iudgement. 19 And an argument that vve loue God is, if vve loue our brethren.

1   My deerest,09Q1481 beleeue not euery spirit, but 09Q1482 proue the spirites if they be of God: because many false prophetes are gone out into the vvorld

2   In this is the spirit of God knovven.09Q1483 euery spirit that confesseth Iesvs Christ to haue come in flesh, is of God:

3   and euery spirit 09Q1484 that dissolueth Iesvs, is not of God: and this is ^note antichrist, of vvhom you haue heard that he commeth, and novv he is

in the vvorld.

4   You are of God, litle children, and haue ouercome him. because greater is he that is in you, then he that is in the vvorld.

5   They are of the vvorld: therfore of the vvorld they speake, and the vvorld heareth them.

6   Vve are of God. ^{note note}He that knovveth God, heareth vs. he that is not of God, heareth vs not.09Q1485 in this vve knovv the spirit of truth, and the spirit of errour.

7   My deerest, let vs loue one an other: because charitie is of God. And euery one that loueth, is borne of God, & knovveth God.

8   He that loueth not, knovveth not God: because God is charitie.

9    ^noteIn this hath the charitie of God appeared in vs, because God hath sent his only-begotten sonne into the vvorld, that vve may liue by him.

10   In this is charitie: not as though vve haue loued him, but because he hath loued vs, and sent his sonne a propitiation for our sinnes.

11   My deerest, if God hath so loued vs: vve also ought to loue one an other.

12    ^noteGod ^note no man hath seen at any time. If vve loue one an other, God abideth in vs, and his charitie in vs is perfited.

13   In this vve knovv that vve abide in him, and he in vs: because he of his Spirit hath giuen to vs.

14   And vve haue seen, and doe testifie, that the Father hath sent his Sonne the Sauiour of the vvorld.

15   Vvhosoeuer shal confesse that Iesvs is the Sonne of God, God abideth in him, and he in God.

16   And vve haue knovven and haue beleeued the charitie, vvhich God hath in vs. God is charitie: and he that abideth in charitie, abideth in God, and God in him.

17   In this is charitie perfited vvith vs,09Q1486 that vve may haue confidence in the day of iudgement: because as he is, vve also are in the vvorld.

18   09Q1487Feare is not in charitie: but perfect charitie casteth out feare, because feare hath painefulnes. and he that feareth, is not perfect in charitie.

19   Let vs therfore loue God, because God first hath loued vs.

20   If any man shal say, that I loue God: and hateth his brother, he is a lier. For he that loueth not his brother vvhom he seeth: God vvhom he seeth not, hovv can he loue?

21    ^noteAnd this commaundement vve haue from God: that he vvhich loueth God, loue also his brother. &cross4;

^{note note note note note note}

^note Chap. V. They that loue God, must loue his natural sonne Iesvs, and his sonnes by adoption, and keepe his commaundements, vvhich to the regenerate are light. 4 But not, vnles they continue in the Catholike faith, namely of this article, that Iesvs is the sonne of God, and therfore able to giue vs life euerlasting, 14 and al our petitions, 16 and our praiers for al our brethren that sinne not vnto death, dying in their mortal sinnes by impenitence. Last of al, he vvarneth them not to communicate vvith Idols.

1   Whosoever beleeueth that Iesvs is Christ, is borne of God. And euery one that loueth him vvhich begat: loueth him also vvhich vvas borne of him.

2   In this vve knovv that vve loue the children of God: vvhen as vve loue God, and keepe his commaundementes.

3   For this is the charitie of God, that vve keepe his commaundementes: ^note and09Q1488 his commaundementes are not heauy.

4   Because al that is borne of God, ouercommeth the vvorld. and this is the victorie vvhich ouercommeth the vvorld, our faith. ^note

5   Vvho is he ^note that ouerc&obar;meth the vvorld, but he that beleeueth that Iesvs is the sonne of God?

6   This is he that came by vvater and bloud Iesvs Christ: not in vvater only, but in vvater and bloud. And it is

the Spirit vvhich testifieth, that Christ is the truth.

7   For there be09Q1489 three vvhich giue testimonie in heauen, the Father, the Vvord, and the Holy Ghost. and these three be one.

8   And there be three vvhich giue testimonie in earth: the spirit, vvater, and bloud. and these three be one.

9   If vve receiue the testimonie of men, the testimonie of God is greater. because this is the testimonie of God vvhich is greater, that he hath testified of his sonne.

10    ^noteHe that beleeueth in the sonne of God, hath the testimonie of God in him self. &cross4; He that beleeueth not the S&obar;ne, maketh him a lier: because he beleeueth not in the testimonie vvhich God hath testified of his sonne.

11   And this is the testimonie, that God hath giuen vs life euerlasting. And this life is in his sonne.

12   He that hath the Sonne, hath life. he that hath not the sonne of God, hath not life.

13   These thinges I vvrite to you, that you may knovv that you haue eternal life which beleeue in the name of the sonne of God.

14   And this is the confidence which vve haue toward him: that, ^note vvhatsoeuer vve shal aske according to his vvill, he heareth vs.

15   And ^note vve knovv that he heareth vs vvhatsoeuer vve shal aske: vve knovv that vve haue the petitions vvhich vve request of him.

16   He that knoweth his brother to sinne a sinne not to death, let him aske, and life shal be giuen him, sinning not to death. There is09Q1490 a sinne to death:09Q1491 for that I say not that any man aske.

17   Ad ^note iniquitie, is sinne. And there is a sinne ^note to death.

18   Vve know that euery one vvhich is borne of God, sinneth not: but the generation of God preserueth him, and the vvicked one toucheth him not.

19   Vve knovv that vve are of God, and the vvhole vvorld is set in vvickednesse.

20   And vve knovv that the sonne of God commeth: and he ^note hath giuen vs vnderstanding, that vve may knovv the true God, & may be in his true sonne. This is the true God, & life euerlasting.

21   My litle children, keepe your selues09Q1492 from Idols. Amen. ^note

^{note note note note}

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