A17649:95
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.
For his name. The material cause is assigned, least we should feel other means to reconcile us to God. For it will not be enough to hold, that God forgiveth our sins, except we come rightly to Christ, and to that price which he paid for us upon the cross. And that is so much the more to be observed, because we see this way stopped up by the craft of Satan and vile inventions of men: While foolish men go about to please God by divers satisfactions, and invent innumerable kinds of reconcilements to redeem them selves. For how many means we bring in before God to deserve pardon, by so many stops are we driven from his presence. Therefore John not content with this simple Doctrine, that God forgiveth us our sins, addeth by name, that he is favourable to us in respect of Christ, that he may shut out all other means. And that we may enjoy this benefit, it is of necessity also that we pass by and forget all other means, and embrace only the name of Christ.
For his name. The materiall cause is assigned, least we should féele other meanes to reconcile vs to God. For it wil not be inough to hold, that God forgiueth our sinnes, except we come rightly to Christ, and to that price which he paid for vs vpon the crosse. And that is so much the more to be obserued, because we sée this waie stopped vp by the crafte of Sathan and vile inuentions of men: While foolish men go about to please God by diuers satisfactions, and inuent innumerable kinds of reconcilements to redéeme thē selues. For how many meanes we bring in before God to deserue pardon, by so many stoppes are we driuen from his presence. Therfore Iohn not content with this simple Doctrine, that God forgiueth vs our sins, addeth by name, that he is fauourable to vs in respect of Christ, that hée maye shutte out all other meanes. And that we may inioye this benefit, it is of necessitie also that we passe by and forget al other meanes, and imbrace only the name of Christ.
I write to you Fathers. Now he cometh to the reckoning up of the ages, that he may show that that he teacheth agreeth to every one. For general speech doth sometimes affect the less: yea, which is our untowardness, there are but few which think that ye belongeth to them, that together is directed to all. Old men for the most part withdraw themselves, as if they were too old to learn. Children as if they were not of ripe age, refuse to hear: Men of middle age, because they are busied with other matters, they do not hereto give their mind. Therefore least any should disburden himself, he applieth the Gospel to every ones use. And he setteth down three ages: which partition of the life of man is most usually received.