A16078:548
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…
A harmony upon the the three Evangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke with the commentary of M. John Calvin: faithfully translated out of Latin into English, by E.P. Whereunto is also added a commentary upon the Evangelist S. John, by the same author.A harmonie vpon the the three Euangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke with the commentarie of M. Iohn Caluine: faithfully translated out of Latine into English, by E.P. Whereunto is also added a commentarie vpon the Euangelist S. Iohn, by the same authour.
Londini: printed by Thomas Dawson, 1584
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But Christ meant nothing less, then to change or alter any thing in the commandments. For God hath therein once established a perfect rule of life, whereof he will never repent. But because that the law was corrupted with adulterous comments, and was wrested into a profane sense, Christ delivereth the same from such corruptions, and showeth the right understanding of it, from the which the Jews were fallen away. And the doctrine of the law doth not only begin, but also performeth an upright life: as may be gathered out of this one Chapter, in that it requireth a perfect love of God and our neighbour: so that he that is endued with such a love, wanteth nothing of ⟨p. 171⟩the chief perfection. Therefore the law, by the commandments of good life, leadeth men to the mark of righteousness. Therefore Paul accounteth it weak, not in respect of it self, but in respect of our flesh. For if the law did only give an entrance to true and perfect righteousness,1 then was Moses protestation in vain; I take heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before thee the way of life & death.2 Again, & now O Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but that thou shouldest wholly cleave unto him. This promise were also in vain,3 and to no purpose, he that doth these things shall live in them. And it evidently appeareth out of other places of scripture, that Christ meant not to alter any thing in the commandments. For he commandeth them, that would through their good works enter into life, to observe nothing but the commandments of the law: and neither he nor his Apostles do give any other precepts of godly and holy life. And truly they do great injury to God the author of the law, which imagine that he did only frame the eyes, hands, and feet to a feigned show of good works, and that only the Gospel teacheth us to love GOD from the heart. Therefore let that error pass, that the wants of the law are here amended by Christ: for we may not imagine Christ to be a new lawgiver, to add any thing to the eternal righteousness of his father: but as a faithful interpreter he is to be heard, that we might know, what manner of law it is, to what purpose it tendeth, and how far it reacheth.