A17649:279
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.
It is the Spirit that beareth witness. In ⟨p. 92⟩this member he showeth how the faithful may feel that strength of Christ, namely, because the Spirit doth certify them: and least their faith should waver, he addeth, that the full and sound assurance doth consist in the witness of the Spirit. For the Spirit is called truth, because the authority thereof is undoubted, and ought sufficiently to content us.
It is the Spirite that beareth witnesse. In ⟨p. 92⟩this member he sheweth howe the faithfull may féele that strength of Christ, namely, because the Spirit doth certifie them: and least their faith should wauer, he addeth, that the full and sound assuraunce doth consist in the witnesse of the Spirit. For the Spirite is called truth, because the authoritie therof is vndoubted, and ought sufficiently to content vs.
7 There are three in heaven. All this hath been left out by some, Hierome thinketh that that was done of malice rather then of error: and truly of the Latins only. But seeing that neither indeed the Greek copies do agree between themselves, I dare scarce affirm any thing: yet because ye the text doth run very well, if this part be added, & I see that it is had in the best and most allowed copies: I do willingly receive it, & the sense shall be, ye god to the end he may more plentifully confirm our faith in Christ, doth by a three fold means witness, that we must rest in him. For as our faith doth acknowledge three persons in one being of God, so it is called unto Christ by so many means, that it may rest it self in him. Whereas he saith that three are one, it is not referred unto the being, but rather unto the consent. As if he should say, that the ⟨image 109⟩Father, and his everlasting word, and the Spirit, do with one consent equally approve Christ. Therefore some books have [Eis En] that is, Into one. But, although thou readest [En Eisen] that is, Are one, as it is in other Copies, yet there is no doubt, but that the Father, the Word, and the Spirit, are said to be one, in the self same sense, in which afterwards, Blood, Water, and the Spirit. But whereas the Spirit, which is one witness, is twice rehearsed: the repetition seemeth to be unfit. I answer: Seeing he doth witness diversly of Christ, that a double place of witnessing is fitly given unto him. For the Father, with his everlasting wisdom and the Spirit, doeth pronounce from heaven as by his absolute power, that Jesus is Christ. Therefore in the place the only majesty of his divinity is to be considered of us: and because the spirit dwelling in our harts is the earnest, pledge, and seal, to seal up that decree: by this means he speaketh again in earth by his grace. But because it may be, that all men will not receive this reading: I will so expound those words that follow, as if the Apostle had named these only witnesses on earth.