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…

Prove the Spirits. Because all Prophecies be not true, the Apostle saith here that they must be brought to the trial. And he speaketh not only to the whole body of the church: but also to every faithful man. But it is asked whence we have such a discretion? They which answer, that the word of God is a rule whereby every thing must be tried, which men do publicly set forth, they neither say nothing nor the whole. I grant that doctrines are to be proved by the word of God: but except the spirit of wisdom be present, it will little or nothing profit to have the word of God at hand, whose interpretation we shall not know. Even as, for example, gold is tried in the fire, and with the touch stone: but of them that have skill. For unto the unskilful, neither the touchstone nor the fire can be profitable. Therefore that we may be fit judges, it is needful that we be endued with the spirit of discretion. And because the Apostle should command us this in vain, except we had power to discern, it is for a certainty to be held ⟨image 85⟩that the godly shall never be destitute of the spirit of wisdom, so far as shall be expedient, so that they ask it of the Lord. But so then the spirit shall lead us to a true discerning, if we submit all our senses to the word. For it is (as is said) like unto a touchstone: yea, it ought to be of much more price unto us: because that only is true doctrine which is taken from thence. But here ariseth a hard question: because if every one have right and ability to discern, there can never any certainty be determined: but rather the whole state of Religion shall be uncertain. I answer, that there is a double trial of Doctrine, private and public. Private, whereby every one doth establish his own faith, that he may rest safely in that doctrine, which he knoweth to have come from God. Neither shall consciences find other where safe and quiet resting place then in God.

Prooue the Spirites. Because all Prophecies be not true, the Apostle sayth héere that they must be brought to the trial. And he speketh not only to the whole body of ye church: but also to euery faythfull man. But it is asked whence we haue such a discretion? They which aunswere, that the worde of God is a rule whereby euerye thing must bée tryed, which men doo publikely set foorth, they neither saye nothing nor the whole. I graunt that doctrines are to be proued by the worde of God: but except the spirit of wisedome be present, it will lyttle or nothing profitte to haue the worde of God at hande, whose interpretation we shall not knowe. Euen as, for example, golde is tryed in the fire, and with the touch stone: but of them that haue skill. For vnto the vnskilfull, neyther the touchstone nor ye fire can be profitable. Therfore that we may be fit iudges, it is néedfull that we be indued with the spirite of discretion. And because the Apostle shoulde commaund vs this in vayne, except we had power to discern, it is for a certaintie to be held