A17649:84
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.
7 AN exposition of the former doctrine, that is, that to love God is ⟨image 37⟩to keep his commandments. And he doth not with mo words tarry in this without cause. First we know that newness is always hated or suspected. Then we do not easily take up an unwonted work. Moreover, when we have embraced some certain kind of doctrine, it is grievous unto us, that any thing therein be changed or innovated. For these causes John showeth, that he techeth nothing of love, but that which the faithful having heard from the very beginning, hath waxed old in the very use. Others do expound oldness otherwise: that is, that Christ prescribeth now no other rule of life in the gospel, then god did once under the law: & that is most true. Neither do I gainsay, but in this sense a little after, he calleth the word of the gospel, the old commandment. But now I take it, that he meaneth only this, That these are the first rudiments of the gospel: that they have ben so trained from the beginning, that there is no cause why they should shun it as unwonted, wherewith they ought to have ben endued long ago. For it is, plain that the relative is put in the place of the cause. Therefore he calleth it Old, not because before many worlds it was delivered to the fathers: but wherein they were instructed immediately from their first entrance of Religion.
7 AN exposttion of the former doctrine, that is, that to loue God is ⟨image 37⟩to kéep his commandements. And he doth not with mo words tarie in this without cause. First we know that newnes is alwaies hated or suspected. Then we do not easely take vp an vnwonted work. Moreouer, when wée haue imbraced some certain kind of doctrine, it is gréeuous vnto vs, yt any thing therin be changed or innouated. For these causes Iohn sheweth, yt he techeth nothing of loue, but that which ye faithful hauing heard from the very beginning, hath waxed old in ye verie vse. Others doo expound oldnes otherwise: that is, that Christ prescribeth now no other rule of life in the gospel, then god did once vnder the law: & that is most true. Neither do I gainsay, but in this sense a little after, he calleth the word of the gospell, ye old cōmandement. But now I take it, that he meaneth onelye this, That these are ye first rudiments of the gospel: yt they haue ben so trained from ye beginning, yt there is no cause why they shuld shun yt as vnwoonted, wherewith they ought to haue ben indued lōg ago. For it is, plain yt ye relatiue is put in ye place of ye cause. Therefore he calleth it Old, not because before many worldes it was deliuered to the fathers: but wherin they wer instructed immediatly from their first entraunce of Religion.