A17649:184
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.
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.
Therfore the Apostle reasoneth from ye signe and not from the cause. For because no man doth truely loue the brethren, except he which is regenerate by the spirit. Hence it is rightly gathered, that the spirite of God which is lyfe, dooth dwell in them that loue the bretheren. But one should therevpon preposterously inferre that lyfe is attained vnto by loue, séeing ⟨p. 57⟩loue by order is ye later. This Argument should haue more coulour, if loue make vs more assured of our life: that then the assurance of saluation doth consist in act. But the answere therof is also easie. For albeit that faith is confirmed by al ye graces of god, as by helps, yet it ceaseth not to haue his foundation in the onely frée mercie of God. For example, when we inioy the light, we are sure that the Sunne shineth: if the Sunne giue his beams into the place wherin we are, we haue a certaine more cléere sight: but yet albeit ye visible beames doe not pearce through vnto vs, in this same we are satisfied that the Sun yéeldeth out the vse of his shining vnto vs. So after that our fayth is established in Christ, certayne thinges maye come to passe, which maye helpe it: yet in the meane time it resteth in the alone grace of Iesus Christ.