A17647:41
A commentary of M. John Calvin upon the Epistle to the PhilippiansA commentarie of M. Iohn Caluine vppon the Epistle to the Philippians
A commentary of M. John Calvin upon the Epistle to the Philippians wherein is set out the necessity and profit of affliction unto the faithful, the benefit of God his word, the fruits, of unity and humility, free justification by faith in Jesus Christ without our own merits, the assurance, joy, and contented minds of the godly, and their perseverance in godliness unto the end. With many other comfortable and profitable points of religion. Translated out of Latin by W.B.A commentarie of M. Iohn Caluine vppon the Epistle to the Philippians wherein is set out the necessitie and profite of affliction vnto the faithfull, the benefite of God his word, the fruits, of vnitie and humilitie, free iustification by faith in Iesus Christ without our owne merites, the assurance, ioy, and contented mindes of the godlie, and their perseueraunce in godlinesse vnto the end. With many other comfortable and profitable pointes of religion. Translated out of Latine by W.B.
London: printed by John Windet for Nicolas Lyng, 1584
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.
Truly whosoever believeth in Christ, should be so courageous, that at the mention of death he should lift up his head, being joyful for the tidings of his redemption: whereby it appeareth how many are Christians only in name, when the greater part hearing the mention of death, as if they never had heard any word of Christ: they do not only wax fearful, but become almost dead. O a good conscience? how much dost thou excel? and how much doest thou prevail? but faith is the foundation of a good conscience: yea […] of the conscience. To be dissolved. This manner of speaking is to […] men call death the destruction of man, as though the whole man perished. Paul here warneth us, that death is dissolution of the soul from the body: and this straight after he expresseth better, showing what the estate of the faithful is after death: namely that they abide and dwell with Christ. We are also with Christ in this life, so far as his kingdom is within us, and Christ dwelleth in us by faith, and he hath promised that he will be with us even unto the end of the world: but that presence we only perceive by hope: therefore according to our feeling, we are said to be strangers from him. 2. Cor. 5.6. This place is of force to refute the dotage of them, who dream that the souls divided from the bodies are asleep: for Paul witnesseth openly, that we enjoy the presence of Christ, when we are dissolved.
Truely whosoeuer beléeueth in Christ, should be so couragious, that at the mention of death he should lift vp his head, being ioyfull for the tidings of his redemption: whereby it appeareth how many are Christians onely in name, when the greater part hearing the mention of death, as if they neuer had heard any word of Christ: they doe not onely waxe fearefull, but become almost deade. O a good conscience? how much dost thou excell? and how much doest thou preuaile? but faith is the foundation of a good conscience: yea 〈…〉 of the conscience. To be dissolued. This manner of speaking is to 〈…〉 men call death the destruction of man, as though the whole man perished. Paule here warneth vs, that death is dissolution of the soule from the bodie: and this straight after he expresseth better, shewing what the estate of the faithfull is after death: namely that they abide and dwell with Christ. We are also with Christ in this life, so farre as his kingdome is within vs, and Christ dwelleth in vs by faith, and he hath promised that he will be with vs euen vnto the ende of the world: but that presence we onely perceiue by hope: therefore according to our féeling, we are sayd to be strangers from him.