The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the first Epistle of Saint John, and…The comentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the first Epistle of Sainct Ihon, and…

You have heard that Antichrist. He speaketh as of a thing known. Whence it is easy to gather, that the faithful were taught ⟨image 48⟩and admonished from the beginning […] the dissipation of the Church which was t• come: both that they might carefully keep• themselves in the faith which they have received, and also that they might instruct th•• posterity to beware. For so God would have the Church to be tried, that none should b•• deceived, except wittingly and willingly, and that there should be no excuse of ignorance. But we see the whole world almost to have been miserably deceived, as if there had never been word spoken of Antichrist. Furthermore, in the Popedom, there is nothing more of account and usual, then that Antichrist shall come. In the mean time they are so besotted, that they espy not his tyranny that is yoked unto their necks. The same thing in truth is come unto them, that was unto the Jews. For albeit they hold the promises of the Messiah, yet are they further off from Christ, then if they had never heard of his name: for the imagined Messiah which they have feigned to themselves, hath utterly turned them away from the son of God. And if any by the Law and the prophets go about to bring them to the knowledge of Christ, he shall do nothing but loose his labour. The Papists imagine an ⟨p. 32⟩Antichrist, which shall vex the Church for three years and a half. All the notes whereby the spirit of God doth point out Antichrist, do evidently appear in the Pope: but that three years Antichrist doth hold the foolish Papists occupied, least in seeing they should see. Let us remember therefore, that the spirit of God did not only show that Antichrist should come, but together set down sure marks, by which he might be known.

You haue heard that Antechrist. He speketh as of a thing knowen. Whence it is easie to gather, that the faithfull wer taught ⟨image 48⟩and admonyshed from the beginning 〈…〉 the dissipation of the Church which was t come: both that they might carefullye keep themselues in the faith which they haue receiued, and also that they might instruct th posteritie to beware. For so God would haue the Church to be tried, that none shoulde b deceiued, except wittinglye and willinglye, and that there shoulde be no excuse of ignoraunce. But we sée the whole world almost to haue bene miserably deceiued, as if there had neuer bene word spoken of Antichrist. Furthermore, in the Popedome, there is nothing more of account and vsuall, then that Antichrist shall come. In the meane time they are so besotted, that they espie not his tirannie that is yoaked vnto their necks. The same thing in truth is come vnto them, that was vnto the Iewes. For albeit they holde the promises of the Messiah, yet are they further off from Christ, then if they had neuer heard of his name: for the imagined Messiah which they haue fained to themselues, hath vtterly tourned them awaye from the sonne of God. And if any by the Lawe and the prophets go about to bring them to the knowledge of Christ, he shal doo nothing but loose his labour. The Papistes imagine an