A17649:303
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.
So great a profit ought not to move us a little, to pray that our brethren's sins may be forgiven them. And when the Apostle con mendeth unto us [Sumpathian] a compassion, he doth withal admonish, how much we are to take heed of cruelty in condemning our brethren, and too much sharpness in despairing of their safety.
So great a profite ought not to mooue vs a lyttle, to pray that our bretherens sins may be forgiuen them. And when the Apostle cō mendeth vnto vs [Sumpathian] a compassion, he dooth withall admonish, how much we are to take héede of crueltie in condemning our bretheren, and too much sharpnesse in despairing of their safetie.
A sin not unto death. Least immediately we cast away all hope of their safety which sin, he showeth that God doth not so severely punish their faults, that therefore he doth utterly cast them off. Whereupon it doth follow, that we must take them for brethren, seeing the Lord doth receive them in the account of children. But he denieth that they are sins unto death, not only wherein the Saints do daily offend: but also if at any time it come to pass that they grievously provoke the wrath of God. For so long as there remaineth place to forgiveness, death doth not yet wholly reign. And yet the Apostle doth not here distinguish betwixt venial and deadly sin, as afterwards was commonly done. For that distinction which prevailed in the Papacy, is most unsavoury. The Sorbonists acknowledge almost no sin to be deadly, except wherein ⟨p. 102⟩there appeareth such gross uncleanness, that it may be felt with hands. So amongst venial sins they account the most horrible filthiness, which lurketh in the mind. Finally, all the fruits of original sin, so that they break not out into external act, they think to be done away with a light sprinkling of holy water. And what marvel when they do not account the blasphemous doubtings of the grace of God, and whatsoever lusts and concupiscences to be sin, so that the consent be not withal? If the mind of man be shaken with unbelief, if impatience do provoke him, that he murmur against God, how much soever monstrous lusts do move him: all this is lighter with the papists, then that he be overtaken in sin, at the least after baptism. Therefore it is no marvel if of grievous offences they can make venial sins: for they weigh them with their own & not with the balance of god. But among the faithful this principle must be undoubted, that whatsoever is contrary to the law of god, is sin, & that deadly by his own nature. For where the transgression of the law is, there is sin & death. Then what shall be the sense of the apostles words? He denieth those sins to be deadly, which albeit they are worthy of death,