Rankine’s sister Margaret was the first wife of John Lapraik about whom Burns also composed an Epistle. Rankine was one of the first to find out that Burns had impregnated Elizabeth Paton ...

Usually it is to the Gospel that the reader turns first in order to explore that contribution; the First Epistle is treated as a supplement, while 2 and 3 John--because of their brevity--receive ...

The two brief letters of John shed light on the longer First Epistle. It is much like a sermon or homily and deals with the big issues of faith and life that were being confronted by the Early Church.

Written on 17 September 1785, Burns once again continues his discussion of his religious attack on the Auld Lichts in this epistle, addressed to John McMath, a native of Galston, who graduated at ...