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…

And that he doeth, least they might carry any with them to destruction unawares. He sayeth they are the followers of Cain, who being unkind to God, perverting his worship with an evil and a wicked heart, did bereave him self of the birthright. He sayeth they were deceived with reward as Balaam, because they corrupt the doctrine of godliness for filthy lucre sake. But the Metaphor which he useth, expresseth somewhat more. He sayeth they are caste away: That is, because their intemperateness is cast away, as water that is spilt. Thirdly he sayeth, that they follow the gainsaying of Chore: Because ⟨image 139⟩they trouble the good estate of the church. 12 Blots in your love feasts. They which read, amongst your Charities, do not, in my judgement express the natural meaning sufficiently. For he calleth [Greek or Hebrew] Feasts, which were used amongst the godly, for to testify their godly unity. He sayeth that such banquets are defiled of unclean men, which dissolutely after cram themselves. For there was great sparing and moderation. It was not therefore meet, that raveners should be admitted thither, which afterward should intemperately cram their paunch otherwhere. Many copies have banqueting together with you. Which reading if it be better like, the sense shall be, that they were not a reproach, but grievous and troublesome, as, they that should without fear stuff their Bellies, of the common charges of the Church.

And that he doeth, least thei might cary any with theim to destruction vnawares. He saieth thei are the followers of Cain, who beeyng vnkinde to God, peruertyng his worshippe with an euill and a wicked harte, did bereaue hym self of the birtheright. He saieth thei were deceiued with rewarde as Balaam, because thei corrupt the doctrine of godlinesse for filthie lucre sake. But the Metaphor whiche he vseth, expresseth somewhat more. He saieth thei are caste awaie: That is, because their intemperatnesse is cast awaie, as water that is spilte. Thirdlie he saieth, that thei followe the gainsaiyng of Chore: Because ⟨image 139⟩thei trouble the good estate of the church. 12 Blottes in your louefeastes. Thei which read, emongst your Charities, doe not, in my iudgement expresse the naturall meanyng sufficiently. For he calleth 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Feastes, whiche were vsed emongest the godlie, for to testifie their godlie vnitie. He saieth that suche bankettes are defiled of vncleane men, whiche dissolutely after cramme themselues. For there was great sparyng and moderatiō. It was not therfore meete, that raueners should bee admitted thether, whiche afterwarde should intemperatlie cramme their paunche otherwhere. Many copies haue bākettyng together with you. Whiche readyng if it bee better like, the sense shalbe, that thei were not a reproche, but greeuous and troublesome, as, thei that should without feare stuffe their Bellies, of the common charges of the Churche.