A17647:53
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.
2 Fulfil my joy. And here we may perceive how little careful he was for him self, so that the Church of Christ were in good case. He was kept close in prison, and bound with chains, he was condemned to loose his head: torments were before him, and the executioner at hand to dispatch him: notwithstanding all these did not hinder him, but that he did soundly rejoice to see the Churches flourish: furthermore he esteemeth this an especial thing in the happy state of the Church, if there reign mutual consent and brotherly concord among them. So the 137. Psalm teacheth us, that the chief point of our joy is the remembrance of Jerusalem. And if that were the fullness of Paul his joy, the Philippians had been more than cruel, if by dissentions among them selves, they should have tormented the hart of the holy man with a double sorrow. That ye may think the same thing. The sum is this, that in their opinions & their wills they should consent. For he setteth down consent in doctrine and mutual love: then repeating the same thing (in my judgement) he biddeth them be of one mind, and to think the same thing: these words, [Greek or Hebrew] are of this force, that they should apply them selves one to another: therefore the beginning of love is to agree in opinions: but that is not sufficient, except the harts do increase together into a mutual love. Although it were not absurd to translate it thus: that you should be of the same cogitation, to have mutual love, to be of one mind, and to think the same thing: for the participles are many times used for the Infinitive moods: yet I have followed that sense which seemed to be less strained.
2 Fulfill my ioye. And here we may perceiue howe litle carefull he was for him selfe, so that the Church of Christ were in good case. He was kept close in prison, and bound with chaines, he was condemned to loose his heade: torments were before him, and the executioner at hand to dispatch him: notwithstanding all these did not hinder him, but that he did soundly reioyce to sée the Churches flourish: furthermore he estéemeth this an especiall thing in the happy state of the Church, if there raigne mutuall consent and brotherly concord among them. So the 137. Psalme teacheth vs, that the chiefe point of our ioy is the remembrance of Ierusalem. And if that were the fulnes of Paule his ioye, the Philippians had bene more than cruell, if by dissentions among them selues, they should haue tormented the hart of the holy man with a double sorrowe. That ye may thinke the same thing. The summe is this, that in their opinions & their wills they should consent. For he setteth downe consent in doctrine and mutuall loue: then repeating the same thing (in my iudgement) he biddeth them be of one minde, and to thinke the same thing: these wordes, are of this force, that they should apply them selues one to another: therefore the beginning of loue is to agrée in opinions: but that is not sufficient, except the harts doe encrease together into a mutuall loue. Although it were not absurd to translate it thus: that you should be of the same cogitation, to haue mutual loue, to be of one mind, and to thinke the same thing: for the participles are many times vsed for the Infinitiue moodes: yet I haue followed that sense which séemed to be lesse strained.