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…

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, ⟨image 119⟩Yet God doth not so severely punish them, Therefore he doth not weigh the sins in themselves, but he judgeth of them according to the fatherly kindness of God, which pardoneth the guiltiness, where yet there was offence.

A sinne not vnto death. Least immediately we cast away all hope of their safetye which sinne, he sheweth that God dooth not so seuerely punish their faults, that therfore he dooth vtterly cast them off. Wherevppon it dooth follow, that we must take them for bretheren, séeing the Lord dooth receiue them in the accompt of children. But he denieth that they are sinnes vnto death, not onelye wherein the Saints doo daily offend: but also if at any time it come to passe that they grieuously prouoke the wrath of God. For so long as there remayneth place to forgiuenesse, death dooth not yet wholly raigne. And yet ye Apostle dooth not héere distinguish betwixte veniall and deadly sin, as afterwards was commonly done. For that distinction which preuayled in the Papacie, is most vnsauorie. The Sorbonnists acknowledge almost no sinne to be deadly, except wherein