These two verses ring in all our ears as if they meant something very great. What is the greatness there? Is it only the music of a favoured Apostle discoursing about high and heavenly things, music that touches us and uplifts us for the moment by its unearthliness, yet not a thing which we can seize and keep for ordinary use? Or is it the greatness of strong and simple wisdom, which we can turn to practical account always if only we can find out what it means? The question answers itself the moment it is fairly asked. We may be willing in our lazy, careless way to listen to the text as if it were only a string of beautiful words from a very holy man. But we cannot think that the true account of the matter, if we pay the least attention to St. John's tone. There is no mark of angelic dreaming there. He uses none but the weightiest words, and they fall one after another like the blows of a well-aimed hammer. Clearly he was in terrible earnest himself, and only anxious to carry his earnestness unbroken and uncooled to the hearts of his people. He was speaking what he knew; and what he knew was just that which it most concerns us to know.