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cate or Paraclete, the one called in below. The Lord links us to the Fa ther, and the Spirit links us to the Lord, and thus our life is absolutely Assured. We have an advocate, a Paraclete with the Father, and it is the duty of that Paraclete to deal with our sins, if we should sin. And re member, He is Jesus Christ the righteous—no partiality, no permis sion, no allowance. Jesus Christ the righteous is one who deals with the believer’s sins. Bishop Westcott some where points out that the Greek word for “ have” involves not only obtaining, but retaining—to have and to hold, to get and to keep. And if you read it thus, both in the Gospel and the Epistles o f St. John, I think you will have a very helpful suggestion. We have, we possess, we have obtained, and we retain an advocate with the Father. It is one of those permanent facts altogether independent of our life. Some years ago a man was preach ing in London from St. John 5:24, “ He that believeth hath everlasting life.” In order to point the present tense he indulged in a little phrase that was not quite grammatical, but was true theologically. “H-a-t-h spells got it.” One would not follow his English expression, but one would be thankful if every one followed the real ity of his testimony.. “ He that believ- eth hath” ; “We have an advocate.” 5. Fifthly, we have an anointing (2:20, 27). I referred to this yester day in connection with the Holy Spirit, and I only now call your attention to it in connection with the words, “ Ye have,” and “ ye know.” I wonder whether we have studied these two verses, 20, and 27, with their marvel ous revelation of the independence, in the, true sense of the word, of the be liever of human teaching, because of his being possessed of the anointing of the Holy Ghost. How often when we are reading a book like “ Butler’s An
alogy,” we wish that the author could be at our side to tell us what is meant by some of those difficult sentences. But when we open the Bible we have the Interpreter with us and in us. We have the anointing, and “ Ye know.” The Holy Ghost never gives brains where they do not exist, but He gives wonderful spiritual perception and in sight. “ God cleanses hearts in this life; He cleanses brains in the life to come.” But even now there is a great deal of spiritual insight given to an ointed ones, to those who yield them selves to God. 6. Sixthly, we are children of God (3 :2 ): “ Now are we the sons of God.” Here again you will notice it is not was, or will be, but are, and it is just as real from God’s point of view as the “ have” from ours. That is only one o f seven titles of God’s people found in .this Epistle, and I feel in clined, with Bishop Westcott, to think that whenever a title occurs, the con text is in harmony with it. Do you know the seven? Believers are called “ children,” they are called “ little chil dren,” they are called “my little boys,” they are called “ young men,” they are called “ fathers,” they are called “ brethren” ; and lastly they are called “ beloved.” Westcott suggests—and you will see it as you look at each of these passages—that the apostle has something specific to say to Christian people from those seven different points of view or aspects. 7. The seventh and last of our pos sessions is that “we are of Go d” (4 :6 ). Nothing could be more astounding, nothing could be more presumptuous if the apostle was not resting on revel ation, than for any man to say, “We are of God.” Now these are God’s facts, and as I have mentioned briefly seven, I beg o f you to ponder them, and realize that they are altogether independent of our feelings. Also never forget this—may we always have it in mind—that every fact of
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