The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not your disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands? He answered for today and said unto them, Well has not Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. How is it in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For the truth's sake,
which dwell in all of us for ever. Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. And now i beseech thee, Lady, not as though i wrote a new commandment unto you, but that which we had from the beginnig, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. For mant deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God.
Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should beieve abd be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for awhile believe, and in time of tribulation and temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which is an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therfore ought to receive such, that we might be a fellowship to the truth. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that does evil have not seen God. Let this be the house where we can feel His strength, know His authority, and feel our conviction.
