A17649:183
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.
14 HE commendeth love unto us by an excellent speech: because it is a testimony of our being delivered from death to life. Whereupon it followeth, that if we love our brethren, we are happy, and if we hate them, we are miserable. There is no man that doth not desire to escape and to be delivered from death, therefore they must need be more then blind, who by fostering of hatred do willingly pamper their own death. Further, when the apostle saith, that by love it is known that we have passed into life, he meaneth not that man is his own deliverer, as if by loving the brethren he delivered himself from death, & obtained life for himself. For he doth not dispute here of the cause of salvation: but seeing love is the principal fruit of the spirit, it is also a certain note of regeneration.
14 HE commendeth loue vnto vs by an excellent speach: because it is a testimonie of our being deliuered from death to lyfe. Wherevpon it followeth, that if wée loue our bretheren, we are happie, and if wée hate them, we are miserable. Ther is no man that dooth not desire to escape and to be delyuered from death, therefore they must néede be more then blinde, who by fostering of hatred doo willingly pamper their own death. Further, when the apostle saith, that by loue it is knowen that we haue passed into life, he meaneth not that man is his own deliuerer, as if by louing the bretheren hée deliuered himselfe from death, & obtained life for himselfe. For he dooth not dispute héere of ye cause of saluation: but séeing loue is the principall fruite of the spirite, it is also a certaine note of regeneration.
Therefore the Apostle reasoneth from the sign and not from the cause. For because no man doth truly love the brethren, except he which is regenerate by the spirit. Hence it is rightly gathered, that the spirit of God which is life, doth dwell in them that love the brethren. But one should thereupon preposterously infer that life is attained unto by love, seeing ⟨p. 57⟩love by order is the later. This Argument should have more colour, if love make us more assured of our life: that then the assurance of salvation doth consist in act. But the answer thereof is also easy. For albeit that faith is confirmed by all the graces of god, as by helps, yet it ceaseth not to have his foundation in the only free mercy of God. For example, when we enjoy the light, we are sure that the Sun shineth: if the Sun give his beams into the place wherein we are, we have a certain more clear sight: but yet albeit the visible beams do not pierce through unto us, in this same we are satisfied that the Sun yieldeth out the use of his shining unto us. So after that our faith is established in Christ, certain things may come to pass, which may help it: yet in the mean time it resteth in the alone grace of Jesus Christ.