A17649:18
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 commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the first Epistle of Saint John, and upon the Epistle of Jude wherein according to the truth of the words of the holy Ghost, he most excellently openeth and cleareth the point of true justification with God, and sanctification by the Spirit of Christ, by the effects that he bringeth forth in the regeneration. Translated into English by W.H.The comentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the first Epistle of Sainct Ihon, and vpon the Epistle of Iude wherein accordyng to the truthe of the woordes of the holie Ghost, he most excellently openeth and cleareth the poinct of true iustification with God, and sanctification by the Spirit of Christ, by the effects that he bryngeth forthe in the regeneration. Translated into Englishe by W.H.
London: printed by John Kyngstone and T. East for John Harrison the younger, 1580London: printed by Ihon Kyngstone and T. East for Iohn Harrison the yonger, 1580
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.
And who may not see the many, yea infinite thousands of such as have in their profession succeeded Esau, as profane as he,1 who contemned and sold his birthright for one mess of meat, but they think they shall safely return in convenient time, yet they are greatly deceived:2 Esau thought not his birthright worth a straw if he perished with hunger, that is, except it might serve him in this life. These contemn the truth of Gods word, the honour of his name, and care of true obedience unto his will, in regard of their pleasure or profit the least that may.3 Esau found no place to repentance, although he sought the blessing with tears: and who can assure them that their portion will not be as his. For howsoever they ⟨image 8⟩outwardly pretend to agree with us in one and the same truth of God, yet we continually see to our intolerable grief, how in the practise of their life, they run headlong to all profaneness, cast the glorious power of the word of God (which should continually bind them to the obedience of his will) out of their sight,4 whilst they account more of gain then of Godliness, and wallow in their vain pleasures and fleshly delights, as is infinitely seen at this day. Who maketh not a tush in his own soul, to give obedience to the Lord in all the actions of his life? If outwardly to brag that we are children of the righteous, to glory in our titles,5 if not rightly to account of the excellency of our high calling with God, if to be hardly drawn to any good way, and to go swiftly to the way of sin, if our filthy gain though but in a vile thing, or beastly delights, be of force to carry us against the obedience of the will of God, be to hold an estate with Esau as it is in deed, if only they have sealed unto them the favour of the Lord, who by the power of the Spirit of Christ, are changed in their whole being, and cheerfully led in the obedience of the will of ⟨image 9⟩