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…

The name it self of sin seemeth to some to be but a light thing: but iniquity or transgression of the law, cannot so easily be forgiven. But the Apostle doth not make sins equal, when he condemneth all sinners of iniquity, but he laboureth simply to teach, that sin ariseth of the contempt of God, & that by sinning the righteousness of the law is broken. Wherefore this doctrine of John hath none agreement with that doting Paradox of the Stoics, Furthermore to sin, in this place doth not signify to offend in some work, nor is the name of sin taken for every offence: but he calleth the sin, when men run headlong into evil with the whole affection of the hart. And he doth not mean the others sin, except they which are addicted to sin. Neither ⟨p. 48⟩are the faithful, who are still entangled with the affections of the flesh, taken for wicked, albeit they are not clean and pure from sin: but because sin doth not reign in them, John saith that they sin not: as I will anon express more at large. The sum of this sentence is, That their wicked life who give them selves leave to sin, is abominable to god, and cannot be endured of him, seeing it is contrary to his law. Hence it doth not follow nor can it be gathered, that the faithful are wicked: because they desire to be subject to God, & they mislike with themselves because of their sins, & that for every offence. And again, as much as in them lieth, they frame their lives to the obedience of the law. But where the desire or usual course of sinning is with deliberation, there is the transgression of the law.

The name it selfe of sin séemeth to some to be but a light thing: but iniquitie or trāsgression of the lawe, cannot so easely be forgiuen. But the Apostle dooth not make sins equall, when he condemneth all sinners of iniquitie, but he laboureth simplye to teach, that sinne ariseth of the contempt of God, & that by sinning the righteousnesse of the law is broken. Wherefore this doctrine of Iohn hath none agréement with that doating Paradox of ye Stoikes, Furthermore to sinne, in this place doth not signifie to offend in some work, nor is ye name of sin taken for euerye offence: but he calleth ye sin, when men runne headlong into euil with ye whole affection of the hart. And he doth not meane ye others sin, except they which are addicted to sin. Neither ⟨p. 48⟩are ye faithfull, who are still intangled with the affections of the flesh, taken for wicked, albeit they are not cleane and pure from sin: but because sin doth not raigne in thē, Iohn saith that they sinne not: as I wil anone expresse more at large. The summe of this sentence is, That their wicked life who giue thē selues leaue to sinne, is abhominable to god, and cannot be indured of him, séeing it is contrarie to his law. Hence it doth not folow nor can it be gathered, that the faithfull are wicked: because they desire to be subiect to God, & they mislike with themselues because of their sins, & that for euery offence. And againe, as much as in them lieth, they frame their liues to the obedience of the law. But where the desire or vsual course of sinning is wt deliberatiō, there is ye trāsgressiō of ye law.