A17649:378
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.
THE calamity of the Church N. doeth not a little grieve us: but because God doeth now seem to loose the races of Satan and the wicked, that he may exercise those that be his, we must patiently bear our estate. In the mean time he is to be entreated, that for his mercies sake he will spare the weakness of his tender and little flock. But who so thinketh that it goeth miserably ⟨image 147⟩with the Church, so often as it is assailed with the fury or cruel violence of enemies, do not yet know the very ground of Christian warfare. Hence is that doubtfulness that hath crept into the minds of many, and now doeth possess them. Whether it be lawful for the godly to have secrete meetings, and in the night. For we see that judgement is chiefly given by the success, then the which, there is nothing more out of order. Of late when without danger they might come together, they also thought that without all controversy their obedience was acceptable to God: now when trouble is sprung up, do they dispute whether they suffer punishment for their rashness? By this means will shortly be condemned the confession of faith, which doeth more kindle the rage of the wicked. Finally, according to these Judgers it will not be good to follow Christ, except in prosperity. Paul did not without cause,1 place the scoffings of Israel in the highest degree of persecution: because therein is more danger by deriding, and reproaches, then by armed ⟨image 148⟩cruelty. If the wicked see us pressed with adversity, they triumph at our afflictions. Here if our constancy doth begin to quail, they hurt more grievously with their words then with sword. But that saying of Paul was to be held: because we trust in the living God, we must not only suffer persecution, but slanders. Let us therefore call to remembrance the example of Christ, whom Satan laboured to wound with his venomous Dart. He trusted in God, let him deliver him if he will, least we stumble so oft as we seem to be given unto the desire of the enemies. But if at the first push the Brethren be either feared or disquieted, it is your duty to stay them up, least they fall down, or also to raise them up, that they may again recover their strength: and not therefore to fail from their godly endeavour, because it gave the wicked an occasion to be cruel.