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…

But ye &c. ¹He showeth the way whereby they may overturn all the engines of Satan, to wit, having love so joined with faith, as though they did watch in a Hold until the coming of Christ. But as he is much and usual in borrowed speeches, so here also he hath his manner of speech which must briefly be noted. He commandeth in the first place that they build themselves in faith. Whereby he signifieth that the foundation of faith must be held fast: but that the first instruction is not sufficient unless they strive daily to go forward, which have already laid ⟨image 144⟩the foundation in a right faith. He calleth their faith most holy, that they may rest soundly upon it, and leaning unto the strength thereof, may never waver. But for as much as the whole perfection of man doeth consist in faith, it seemeth to be an unseemly thing that he biddeth to build an other building, as though faith did only begin a man. The Apostle answereth this question, when he addeth by and by, that men are builded upon faith, love being joined withal. Unless it may be that some man had rather take it thus, that men are builded in faith, so far as they profit therein. And truly they daily going forward in faith, do cause that it riseth into a full building. By this means the Apostle would teach, that we must grow in faith, that we must be earnest in prayer, and that we must hold fast our calling in love.

BVt ye &c. ¹He sheweth the waie whereby thei may ouerturne all the engines of Sathan, to wit, hauyng loue so ioyned with faith, as though thei did watche in a Holde vntill the commyng of Christ. But as he is much and vsuall in borrowed spéeches, so here also he hath his maner of speeche whiche must breefly bee noted. He commaundeth in the first place that thei builde themselues in faithe. Whereby he signifieth that the foūdation of faith must be helde fast: but that the first instruction is not sufficient vnlesse thei striue daily to goe forwarde, whiche haue alreadie laied ⟨image 144⟩the foundation in a right faith. He calleth their faithe moste holy, that thei maie rest soundly vppon it, and leanyng vnto the strength thereof, maie neuer wauer. But for as muche as the whole perfection of man doeth consist in faith, it seemeth to be an vnseemely thyng that he biddeth to builde an other buildyng, as though faith did onely begin a man. The Apostle aunswereth this question, when he addeth by and by, that men are builded vpon faithe, loue being ioyned withall. Vnleast it may be that some man had rather take it thus, that men are builded in faithe, so farre as thei profite therein. And truely they daily goyng forwarde in faithe, doe cause that it riseth into a full buildyng. By this meanes the Apostle would teach, that we must growe in faithe, that wee must bee earnest in praier, and that wee must holde fast our callyng in loue.