My little children; believers; an endearing appellation from an aged apostle.

These things; what he has just said of God's readiness to forgive the sins of those who confess them. 1 John 1:7; 1 John 1:9.

That ye sin not; the offer of forgiveness is made to us that we may be encouraged to forsake sin and return to God. Psalms 130:4.

An advocate; in the original the word is the same that is rendered "Comforter," John 14:16-26; John 15:26; John 16:7, where it is applied to the Holy Spirit. Under the general idea of Helper, or Counsellor, it includes both these special meanings of Advocate and Comforter. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the true antidote both to presumption and despair.

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Old Testament