A harmony upon the the three Evangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke with the commentary…A harmonie vpon the the three Euangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke with the commentarie…

He that believeth in him may not perish. This is a singular commendation of faith, that it delivereth us from eternal destruction. For his meaning was plainly to express, that although we seem to be borne unto death, yet is there certain deliverance offered in the faith of Christ: so that death which doth otherwise hang over our heads is no whit to be feared. And he added also the universal note, both that he may invite all men in general unto the participation of life, and also that he may cut off all excuse from the unbelievers. To the same end tendeth the word world which he used before. For although there shall nothing be found in the world that is worthy of Gods favour, yet he showeth that he is favourable unto the whole world, when he calleth all men without exception unto the faith of Christ, which is nothing else but the entrance into life. But yet let us remember that life is promised unto all those who shall believe in Christ, so commonly, that yet faith is not common unto all men. For Christ lieth open unto all men: yet god doth only open the eyes of the elect, that they may seek him by faith. Furthermore, herein appeareth the wonderful effect of faith, because we do thereby receive Christ as he is given us of the father: namely, that he may make us heirs of eternal life being delivered from the guiltiness of eternal death: because he hath purged our sins by the sacrifice of his death, least any thing should hinder God from taking us for his children. Therefore seeing that faith doth embrace Christ with the efficacy of his death, & fruit of his resurrection: it is no marvel if we do also thereby enjoy the life of Christ: yet it doth not appear sufficiently as yet, why and how faith doth make us partakers of life, whether it be because Christ doth regenerate us by his spirit, that the righteousness of God may live and be of force in us, or whether it be because, being purged by his blood from sins, we are judged just before god through free pardon. Truly it is certain, that these two are always joined together: but because we entreat in this place of the certainty of salvation, we must especially note this reason, that we do live for this cause, because God doth love us freely in not imputing unto us our sins.

Hee that beleeueth in him may not perishe. This is a singuler commendation of faith, that it deliuereth vs from eternal destruction. For his meaning was plainely to expresse, that although we seeme to be borne vnto death, yet is there certaine deliuerance offered in the faith of Christe: so that death which doth otherwise hang ouer our heads is no whit to bee feared. And he added also the vniuersall note, both that hee may inuite all men in generall vnto the participation of life, and also that hee may cut off all excuse from the vnbeleeuers. To the same ende tendeth the worde worlde which hee vsed before. For although there shal nothing be founde in the worlde that is worthie of Gods fauour, yet he sheweth that he is fauourable vnto the whole worlde, when hee calleth all men without exception vnto the faith of Christ, which is nothing els but the entrance into life. But yet let vs remember that life is promised vnto all those who shall beleeue in Christe, so commonly, that yet faith is not common vnto all men. For Christe lyeth open vnto all men: yet god doth onely open the eyes of the elect, that they may seeke him by faith. Furthermore, herein appeareth the wonderfull effect of faith, because we doe thereby receiue Christe as he is giuen vs of the father: namely, that he may make vs heires of eternall life being deliuered from the giltinesse of eternall death: because he hath purged our sinnes by the sacrifice of his death, least any thing should hinder God frō taking vs for his children. Therefore seeing that faith doth imbrace Christe with the efficacie of his death, & fruit of his resurrectiō: it is no maruell if we do also thereby enioy the life of Christe: yet it doth not appeare sufficiently as yet, why and how faith doth make vs partakers of life, whether it bee because Christe doth regenerate vs by his spirite, that the righteousnesse of God may liue and be of force in vs, or whether it be because, beeyng purged by his blood from sinnes, we are iudged iust before god through free pardon. Truely it is certaine, that these two are alwayes ioyned together: but because we intreate in this place of the certaintie of saluation, wee must especially note this reason, that we do liue for this cause, because God doth loue vs freely in not imputing vnto vs our sinnes.