A17649:313
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.
20 But we know that the son of God is come. Because the children of God are ⟨p. 106⟩assailed every way, he doth as we have said encourage and exhort them by this means to a constant resistance, because they fight under the conduct of God, & do certainly know that they are governed by his spirit. And now he showeth, from whence that knowledge is chiefly to be fetched. He sayeth therefore, ye God is so made known unto us in Christ, that now there is no cause of doubting. The Apostle doth not rashly incline into this part. For except our faith were soundly grounded in God, we shall never remain constant in the conflict. For this cause the Apostle teacheth, that by the benefit of Christ we have attained unto an assured knowledge of the true God, that we waver not unstaid. The True God, he understandeth not him that is true, but him who in very deed is God: that he may discern him from all Idols. For it is, [Alethinos,] not [Alethes.] As John. 17.35. This is life eternal, that they know thee the very true God, and whom thou hast sent, Jesus Christ, that he may lighten our minds to the knowledge of God For seeing he is the very image of the invisible God, seeing the only interpreter of the father, seeing the only giver of life: yea life, the light of the world, and truth, so soon as we depart from him, it ⟨image 123⟩is of necessity that we vanish away in our own inventions. But Christ is said, To have given us understanding, not only because he showeth by the doctrine of the Gospel who is the true God, & doth also enlighten us with his spirit: but because we have in Christ him self God manifested in the flesh, as Paul saith. Even as all fullness of the Godhead doeth dwell in him, 1. Tim. 3.16. And all the treasures of knowledge and wisdom are hid, Col. 2.3. and 9. So it cometh to pass, that the open face of God, after a sort doeth shine unto us in Christ. Not that there was none, or a doubtful knowledge of God before the coming of Christ: but because now he hath manifested himself more fully, & as it were in a marvellous clearness. And this is that which Paul saith. 2. Cor. 4.6. That god who in time past commanded the light to shine out of darkness, in the creation of the world, hath now shined in our hearts by the light of the knowledge of his glory in the face of Christ. And we must note, that this gift is peculiar to Gods elect only.