A17649:97
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.
From whence also that famous song of the Lacedaemonians had three degrees: whereof the first song, That you are we shall be: the last, That which you are we have been: but the middle sort, We are that which the one have been, and the other shall be. John doth distribute the course of mans life into these three degrees, and he beginneth with old men: and saith that the Gospel doeth ⟨p. 26⟩belong to them, because thence they may learn to know the eternal son of God. The waywardness of old men is known: and especially because they measure wisdom by the number of years, they are made unapt to be taught.
From whence also that famous song of the Lacedemonians had thrée degrées: whereof the first song, That you are wée shall be: the last, That which you are we haue béene: but the middle sorte, Wée are that which the one haue béene, and the other shall bée. Iohn doth distribute the course of mannes lyfe into these thrée degrées, and hée beginneth with olde men: and sayth that the Gospell doeth ⟨p. 26⟩belong to them, because thence they maye learne to knowe the eternall sonne of God. The waywardnesse of olde men is knowen: and especially because they measure wisedome by the number of yeares, they are made vnapt to be taught.
Furthermore, this lewdness Horace in the book of the art of Poetry, doeth worthily note in them, that praising the time of their youth, they despise whatsoever is done or said. John doth wisely remedy this evil, when he saith, that in the Gospel is contained not only old wisdom, but that which bringeth us to the very eternity of GOD. Whereon it followeth, that there is nothing here which they may disdain. Whereas he saith, that Christ was from the beginning. I refer it as well to his divine presence, wherein he is coeternal with the Father, as to that power whereof the Apostle speaketh to the Hebrews. 13.8. Where he saith he was yesterday as he is to day. As if he had said: If oldness do like you, you have Christ, who exceedeth all antiquity. Wherefore be not ashamed to be his Disciples, who comprehendeth all worlds in himself. In the mean time is to be noted, which is indeed the old Religion, verily even that which is