proceede from him must not be held of power to binde the consciences of men 2. Cor. 2.12 In all whiche as the Lorde Iesus hath troden the Winepresse alone 2. Cor. 1.24 1. Tim. 4.1 Esa 63.3 and carried captiue for euermore what soeuer might withstande the saluation of his and by his Spirite directed vs into the light and vse of the same so in the like power of the same Spirite he sealeth vnto the consciences of men the sounde warrant of the infinite fauour of GOD in the righteousnesse of his Sonne to the free and sure enioiyng of al the rest Rom. 8.9 And as who so hath not the Spirite of Christ is none of his Gala. 5.22.23 whereby is seuered the states of men so the same Spirite is discerned by his effectes whiche because in this case thei are of two sortes it shall be profitable in a worde to weigh them a parte that in the effectuall triall of the same the children of God maie in a sounde experience of the power of Christ in their owne soules bee cheared vnto constancie in euery good duetie against Sathan and men and the vaine dissemblers Heretiques tyme seruers Epicures and carnall Gospellers with the like who swarme euery where maie if thei had eyes to see perceiue their iust cause to returne and to humble their soules vnto the obedience of the Lorde The first effecte therefore is an inwarde witnesse vnto the soule of the infinite loue and free grace of God by faith in the righteousnesse of Christ Rom. 8.16 and whereby is giuen boldnesse with an assured trust to rest vpon hym in euery distresse and to repaire vnto hym with callyng vpon his name As it is written Gala. 4.6 Because ye are Sonnes God hath sent the Spirit of his Sonne into your hartes criyng Abba Father Whiche although for a tyme it seeme to bee hid and beyng as it were raked vnder the ashes of our owne corruption yet because it is a plâ—dge of the loue of God which is not for a daie but perpetuall in his Sonne For whom he loueth Ihon. 13.1 he loueth them to the ende and working in vs an effectuall callyng Rom. 11.29 which with God is without repentaunce Rom. 8.30 it sealeth vnto vs the truthe of a sure election and so consequently that there is no feare of fallyng awaie because we rest not on any strength of our owne but vpon the resolute coÌ„tinuance of the loue of God and the infinite truth of his worde and grace The other effect is more apparaÌ„tly seen For by faith he doeth purifie the hart Acts. 15.9 Rom. 6.4 Rom. â— 5.6.7.8 causeth a true hatred and continual diying vnto sinne and daiely quickeneth vnto the obedience of the Lorde chaungeth the naturall disposition of the whole soule and body and frameth it to the will of God Psal 69.9 and worketh a feruent loue aboue all thynges vnto the Lord and to those that be his with coÌ„tinuall callyng vpon his name according to his wil. And these effectes as thei are peculier to the Spirite of Christ and haue not been in a right purpose namely for the glorie of God and the good of his in any other then in the Sainctes of God so in whom soeuer these effectes are founde though with much weakenesse Who so hath the fruites of the Spirite hath the Spirite 2. Pet. 1.10 so it be in truth and with out hypocrisie it shall euer bee founde to bee most true that where is the effectes there is the cause to whom thei belong So that by this right discernyng of the fruites of the Spirite of the Lorde Jesus and the hauyng of the same we maie truely gather that we haue hymself so as is meant in the worde of God and so are surely grafted into Christ and maie assure our hartes before him both for our selues and others what soeuer other waies our feare and feelyng be for the tyme. For if at sometymes wee maie finde that in some measure wee haue had these effectes the true fruites of a liuely faithe and so the assuraunces of our election and saluation by Christ then is there no iust cause of any feare if wee mourne vnto the repossessing of our peace againe Rom. 11.29 because the giftes and callynges of God are without repentance And if it bee obiected that wee haue felt the fauour of the Lorde but now it is gone and cleane tourned awaie as that obiection is most vntrue so to thinke on that fashion is to suppose an impossible thyng For God neuer chaungeth his owne purpose but what soeuer he hath purposed shall stand 2. Tim. 2.19 and his counsell shall take effect whatsoeuer lets be against it Wherevpon we maie rightly gather that who soeuer hath a certaine testimonie of his faithe and saluation in all his life maie be assured that it is there stil and shall bee vnto the ende although for a tyme thei feele it not nor perceiue the working of it For it doeth not followe that a little child hath no reasonable soule because he hath not the vse of it or that the Trees be dead in Winter because thei beare no fruite or that there is no Fire because there is no flame Againe Rom. 8.10 2. Cor. 5.17 Reue. 21.5 the Lorde Iesus Christ killeth in vs that is beginneth to kil in vs the whole bodie of sinne and maketh all thinges newe concernyng the qualitie thereof so that our vnderstandyng and iudgement is lightened and gouerned that it beginneth to approue of those good thynges which before it misliked our will also is cleansed to the hatred of sinne and desire of those thynges that be good and our affection beginne to flie and eschewe what is forbidden and to embrace and followe that whiche is commended of the Lorde The whiche inwarde power of the Spirite of Christ if wee feele in effect and working in our owne soule or see the care it leadeth others vnto the conclusion is infallible and plaine that wee haue faith and so consequently Jesus Christ eternall life But it is obiected how can there be assuraunce of the vndoubted fauour of the Lorde and of saluation seeyng all men are sinners not onely in that euery man is corrupted by nature but that the corrupt nature of man doth daily bryng forth effectes accordyng to the same mouynges prouocations consentynges and actions contrarie to the will of God yea seing all doe sinne The aunswere is easie that albeit euery one hath continually in hym those thynges that bee in them selues infinitely offensiue before the Lorde yet the distaunce is not so much betweene heauen and earth as the difference is great betweene sinner and sinner that is betweene hym in whom sinne raigneth and hym in whom sinne is Of the first the Apostle commaundeth such as feare God that sinne doe not raigne in them Rom. 6.12 that is haue power to leade theÌ„ with delight in the waie of euill And
in him puryfieth himselfe euen as hee is pure 1 THE second Argument is from the dignitie and excellencie of our calling Our heauenlye Father sayth hée hath vouchsafed to dignifie vs with no small honour séeing hée hath adopted vs to bée his sonnes This so greate fauour ought to kindle in vs the studie of godlynesse that wée maye bée lyke vnto him and it canne no other way be done except he which confesseth himselfe to bée one of the sonnes of GOD doe purifie himselfe And the more vehement the exhortation is the more is set foorth vnto vs the grace of almightie God For wheras he sayth that loue is giuen vs hée sheweth that this commeth of méere liberalitie that God accepteth vs for his children For whence become we of such account but by the loue of God Furthermore his frée loue is héere manifestlye spoken of It is indéede an vnproper kinde of spéech but the Apostle had rather speake vnproperlye then not to expresse that which was of necessitie to bée knowen Briefelye hée signifieth that the more plentifull the loue of GOD is shewed vppon vs the more wée are bound vnto him as Paule to the Romanes the 12.1 beséecheth the Romanes by the mercies of God that they would offer themselues vnto him an holye Sacrifice In the meane time we are taught that as I sayde the adoption of all the godlye is frée and dependeth not vppon anie respect of workes For that which the Schoole men say that they are adopted whom god did foresée to be worthie is plainely made of none effect by these wordes For by this meanes the gift of God should not haue bene frée This chiefe point of doctrine is principally néedfull to holde For séeing that the onely cause of our saluation is adoption and that the Apostle witnesseth that the same doth issue from the méere and alone loue of God there is nothing remaineth to our owne worthinesse or the desert of works For why are we sonnes Verily because God hath begunne to loue vs fréely when we were more worthie of hatred then of loue And séeing that the spirit is the pledge of our adoptiō hence it followeth that if there be anie good thing in vs it must not be so set against the grace of God that rather it must be ascribed vnto it as receiued from it The Name whereof he speaketh cannot be a vaine title For it is God who pronounceth vs with his owne mouth to be his sonnes as he gaue a name to Abraham according to the thing it selfe Therefore the world This temptation doth vehemently assayle our faith that wée should not so be accounted for the children of God or haue anie note of such excellencie séene in vs that rather the whole world almost doth hold vs for a mocking stocke Therefore by the present condition it can hardly be gathered that God is our Father for the diuell inuenteth all wayes to darken his blessing He giueth a remedie to this offence when hée saith That it is not yet knowen What manner of men we are because the world knoweth not God therefore it is no meruaile if it contempne his children Of which thing ther was a notable paterne in Isaac Iacob For when each of them was elected of God the one Ismael scoffed and iested at Gen. 21.9 27.41 the other Esau persecuted which threatenings with swoord Therfore howsoeuer we séeme to be oppressed in the world our saluatiō remaineth neuertheles founde in good state 2 We are now the sonnes of God Now he descendeth to euery ones proper feeling For albeit the wicked doe not intice vs to cast away our hope yet our present estate is far frō the glory of the childrē of God For in respect of the body we are dust a thing of nothing death is euer before our eies we are in danger of many miseries the soule is subiect to infinit euils so that we alwaies find hel in our selues How much more néed is ther that al our sences be drawen frō the beholding of things present least the miseries wherwith we are compassed doeth driue vs out of the hope of the happinesse that yet appeareth not For this is the Apostles counsell that wée shall doe foolishlye if we measure what God hath giuen vnto vs by our present condition but that we must holde fast by an assured faith that which yet appeareth not And we know that when we shall be made manifest This condition must be chaunged into an Aduerb of time where or when Further this worde shall appeare is taken otherwise then before The Apostle sayde a lyttle before that it appereth not yet what we shal be since the fruit of our adoption is hid because our felicitie is in heauen and we are straungers farre from thence in the earth because this fraile life that is subiect to an hundreth deaths is farre vnlike to that eternall glorye which belongeth to the children of God because being shut vp after a slauishe manner in the prison of flesh we are farre distaunt from the frée dominion of heauen and earth But nowe he referreth this note to Christ When hee shall appeare For hée teacheth the same thing that Paule doeth vnto the Collos chapter 3. verse 3. where he sayth Your life is hidde with Christ but when Christ which is your lyfe shall appeare then shall yée also appeare with him in glory And indéede our fayth can no other waye remaine stedie then while it looketh vnto the comming of Christ For this is the cause why God doeth deferre the manifestation of our glory because Christ is not yet made manifest in the power of his kingdome This I say is the onely prop of our faith that we may paciently waite for the life that is promised vs. So soone as any one dooth turne aside but a lyttle from Christ it cannot be chosen but hée shall faint By the word Knowe he noteth out the certaintie of Faith that he maye discerne it from opinion Neither is héere noted a simple and vniuersal knowledge but that which euery one ought to apply to himselfe that he may know of a truth that he shall once bée made lyke vnto Christ Therefore howsoeuer the giuing forth of our glorie is deferred to the cōming of Christ yet the knowledge of it is most excellently assured Like He dooth not meane that we shall be equall but there must néedes be some difference betwéene the head and the members but we shall be like him because hée shall make our vile bodie like to his glorious bodie as Paule teacheth Phil. 3.21 For the Apostle goeth about to shew that this is the last end of our adoption that that which by order went before in Christ be at the last fulfilled in vs. Yet the reason that is added séemeth to bée weake For if the beholding of Christ shall make vs lyke vnto Christ the wicked shall haue the same glorie with vs who also shall sée him I aunswere that this is
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 Praiyng in the Spirite This is the waie of continuance if wee bee instructed with the power of God Therefore as often as wee speake of the constantnesse of faithe we muste flie vnto praier And because we commonly praie slaighlie he addeth in the Spirite as if he should saie that there is so greate slacknesse and so greate coldnesse of our fleshe that none can praie a right vnlesse he bee stirred vp with the Spirite of God that wee are so readie to mistruste and fearfulnesse that no man dareth call God Father except the same Spirite doe teache hym For frō hence commeth carefulnesse hence heate andearnestnesse hēce chearfulnesse hence hope of obtainyng hence finally come those vnspeakable gronynges of whiche Paule speaketh Rom. 8. Therefore Iude teacheth not without cause that no man can praie as he ought except the Spirite bee his guide 21 Keepe your selues in Loue. He placeth Loue as the keeper and guide of our life not that he maie set it against the grace of God but because this is the right course of our callyng if we goe forward in Loue. And because many thynges doe intice vs to backsliding that it is hard to keepe our selues sounde vnto God vnto the ende he recalleth the faithfull vnto the laste daie For the verie waityng for that daie ought to staie vs vp that wee neuer fainte Otherwaies wee muste needes quaile euerie moment And it is to bee noted that he will not haue vs to hope for eternall life but from the mercie of Christe For he shall so bee our Iudge that he holdeth the free benefite of Redemption purchased by hym as a rule to iudge by 22 And haue compassion on some He ioyneth an other exhortation how the faithfull ought to behaue them selues in correctyng their brethren that thei maie bryng them vnto the Lorde And he teacheth that thei are diuerslie to bee dealt with to wit euery manne accordyng to his disposition For towardes the gentle and suche as are willyng to be taught wee must vse gentlenesse Others are more hard therefore to be brought vnder with feare This is the puttyng of a difference whiche he spake of The Participle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is puttyng difference I knowe not why Erasmus should rather chuse to translate it Passiuelie seyng it is doubtfull and the Actiue signification doeth farre better agree with the text Therefore the somme is that if wee will prouide for the safetie of them that do fall We must consider the inclination of euery manne that thei whiche are gentle and tractable bee gently called backe into the waie as worthie of compassion but if any be stubberne let hym bee corrected more sharpely And because sharpenesse is almoste hurtfull he excuseth it by the necessitie because thei cannot otherwaies bee preserued whiche dooe not followe good counsailes of their owne accorde Further he vseth an excellent borowed speeche For where there is no daunger of burnyng wee doubte not with violence to pull hym whom we desire to haue safe neither in deede were it inough to beeken with their finger or gentely to reache out the hande So also their safetie is to bee prouided for whiche would not come vnto God vnleast thei were hardly drawne The old interpretation doeth farre differ whiche readyng is yet found in many Greeke copies Reprooue theim that are iudged saith the old interpreter But that former sence dooeth better agree and in my iudgemente it is true and naturall The woorde to keepe is translated vnto menne not that thei are authours of safetie but Ministers 23 Hatyng This place whiche otherwaies dooeth seeme darcke shall haue no hardnesse the borowed speeche beyng wel expounded He willeth that the faithfull doe not onely take heede of the touchyng of vices But that no infection doe fasten vpon them he teacheth that whatsoeuer is nere and alied be auoided As if we speake of in chastitie wee will saie that all prouocations to luste muste bee taken awaie That shal bee yet made more plaine if the speeche bee made full to wit that we hate not onely the fleshe but the garmēt which is defiled with the touching of it For this note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. and serueth to amplification Therefore he doeth not so muche permitt euill to bee nourished by sufferaunce that rather he bideth all preparations and all additions as thei call them to be cutte of 24 And to hym that is able to keepe He shutteth vp his Epistle with the praise of God in whiche he sheweth that our exhortations can dooe nothyng neither our endeuours except the effecte proceede frō the power of God Some copies haue Them whiche readyng if wee receiue the sence shal bee in deede it is your parte to endeuour that thei maie be safe but it pertaineth to God onely to performe the same Yet the other readyng pleaseth me better in whiche also there is an alludyng vnto the former sentence For after that he hath exhorted the faithfull to saue that whiche was lost to the ende that thei might knowe that al endeuours will be to none effecte excepte God woorke He doeth in deede witnesse that thei can not otherwise bee saued then by the power of God Albeeit in this laste parte there is an other Verbe that is to saie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whiche soundeth to keepe So he should haue respect to that former member where he saied Saue or Keepe your selues FINIS An Epistle of M. Ihon Caluin containyng diuers necessarie poinctes of knowledge tendyng to constancie in the truthe in the tyme of affliction written to a Freend Caluin N.S.D. To certaine controuersies of godly Bretheren THE calamitie of the Church N. doeth not a little greeue vs but because God doeth now seeme to loose the races of Sathan and the wicked that he maie exercize those that bee his we must paciently beare our estate In the meane tyme he is to be intreated that for his mercies sake he will spare the weaknesse of his tender and little flocke But who so thinketh that it goeth miserablie with the Churche so often as it is assailed with the furie or cruell
the realmes of obedience in this case for my whole desire is quite contrarie First that bothe the housbande and the wife should obey the Lorde bothe as Christians and in their seuerall place thei that are to gouerne to gouerne in and accordyng to the Lorde Collo 3.17 and thei that are to obey to obey in and accordyng to the Lorde Acts. 4.19 If any intende otherwayes their authoritie will bee without the Lorde and deserueth to bee so taken Againe I aske seyng the Lorde hath appointed this vnto all his children 1. Thes 4 1.2 that whatsoeuer thei haue gained of knowledge practize in the worde of God 2. Pet. 3.18 Psalm 84.7 thei still grow and goe forwarde to full perfection whether thei be men or women who shall prescribe a sufficiēcie or dare saie that thei haue enough J wish we maie in this cleare light of knowledge leaue winking as it were at noone dayes and tremble thus to dallie or thus to deale vniustly with the most holie truth of the Lorde and to presse vniust iniuries vppon the soules of our poore bretheren least in carelesse greeuyng the consciences of the Lordes annointed we violently bryng vpon our selues the heauie wrathe and indignation of God If we in the truth of an humble soule do weigh the seuerall testimonies of the worde of the Lorde to the right guiding of his seruaunts to the assuraunce of his grace in the obedience of his will we shall easily be made able to meete with all these mischeefes and many moe that might otherwaies preuaile to turne vs out of the waie And as the Spirite of God hath amongst infinite other places of Scripture to that effect by the Apostle Sainct Ihon in his first Epistle proued that true iustification and eternall life is onely by Iesus Christ and shewed further that there is no assuraunce of this grace of the Lorde where is not the effectuall power of the Spirite of the Sonne of God in the iustified who are vnited vnto hym as the members vnto the head and receiue of his fulnesse to leade them in a continuall true obedience of his will reuealed in his worde and in the truthe thereof that thei might stand out immouably vnto the end exhorted to beware of false teachers and all that deceiue and reasoning from the effect to the cause he proueth the truthe of the loue of God towarde vs by our loue to the bretheren Which beyng well considered of vs and applied to our seuerall vse in the direction of the Spirite of Christ will not onely arme vs against Sathan in the former euilles but make vs effectuallie wise in the waie of life And as the same Epistle of Sainct Jhon is most sweete and plentifull in it self being full of plaine witnesse of the grace of God and effectuall testimonies who bee his So is it most clerely profitably opened and made plaine by the reuerende and moste worthie seruaunt of Iesus Christ M. Caluin in his tyme. Whiche his labours in regarde of the greate good thei might doe to many fearing the Lorde that want the knowledge of the tongue wherein he wrote I haue as my other occasions haue giuen me leaue translated into the Englishe tongue and offryng my poore labours therein to the Churche of GOD I haue been bolde to commende the first fruites as it were vnto you right hartely praiyng that whatsoeuer the Lord shall therein open vnto you that maie concerne you through conuersion continuaunce or cherefull constancie in the Lorde that you will applie it nere vnto your soules and that you maie so alwaies profite in the same as may more more seale vp vnto your seuerall consciences the effectuall assuraunce of the eternall grace of God in Iesus Christ and make you able to stand vnder the burthens that you do or shall indure from tyme to tyme for the honour of his name Maister Caluin also vpon Iude and an Epistle of his owne written to a freend J haue as I might translated likewise and deliuered withall to the Printe praiyng that the one and other maie doe that good to Gods Churche and namely to your selues that I hartely wishe and that you maie euer remaine together in the vnitie of truthe and in all holy fellowship among your selues and with the whole Church of God growing vp from strength to strength to a full measure of perfection in Iesus Christ to whose mercies I shall not cease by his grace to cōmend you and the whole Church of God for euer Yours assuredly in the Lorde W. H. THE COMENTAries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the first Epistle of Iohn The Argument THis Epistle is most agréeable to his spirit who before others was therfore beloued of Christ that he might make him familiar vnto vs. Further it contayneth Doctrine mixt with exhortations It disputeth of the eternall deitie of Christ together also of the incomparable grace which being made manifest to the world he brought with him generally of all his benefits and chiefly it commendeth and extolleth the inestimable grace of the adoption of the Lord. Thence it taketh the occasion to exhort Sometimes it doth generally admonish to religious and holye lyfe and againe by name it giueth preceptes of loue but none of these it doth prosecute in continuaunce For euerie where in teaching and exhorting he is diuerse but especially he is plentifull in vrging to brotherly loue It also toucheth other thinges briefly as of taking héede of seducers and such other lyke But euerie thing maye be obserued in his place CHAP. 1. 1 THat which was from the beginning which we haue heard which we haue seene with our eies which wee haue looked vppon which our hands haue handled of the word of lyfe 2 And that life was made manifest and wee haue seene and beare witnesse and doo shewe vnto you that eternall lyfe which was with the Father and is made manifest vnto vs. HEe sheweth that in the beginning lyfe was giuen vnto vs in Christ which thing as it is an incomperable good so it ought to rauish and inflame all our sences with a wonderfull loue and desire of it Indéede this is spoken in fewe and simple wordes That lyfe is made manifest But if wée doe account howe miserable and horrible the condition of death is and agayne of what worthynesse the kingdome of GOD and his immortall glorye is we shall héere perceiue some more excellent thing then can bée expressed with anye wordes This therefore is the purpose of the Apostle when hée hath shewed the most excellent good thing yea the chiefe and alone happynesse which GOD hath vouchsafed vs in his Sonne to lighten our mindes But because the greatnesse of the maker did require that the truth should be certaine and approoued hée tourneth much in this part For all these Which wee haue seene which wee haue hard which wee haue looked vppon c. are effectuall to establish the credite of the Gospell Nor indéed doeth hée adde
hath not attained vnto but because the knowledge of Christ is sufficient to expell darknesse therfore daily goinges forward are necessarye and euerye ones faith hath first a beginning before it come to perfection But because GOD continueth the tenour of the same doctrine wherein he biddeth vs to increase the knowledge of the Gospell is worthely called the true light where Christ the sonne of righteousnesse doth shine So the way is shut vp to the malepeartnesse of men who indeauour to corrupte the purenesse of the Gospell with their owne counterfait inuentions and with good warrantise it is lawfull to condempne with most bitter cursing the whole Popish diuinitie which doth wholy darken this true light 9 He that saith he is in the light He doth prosecute his Metaphor He hath sayd that loue is the onely rule whereby our lyfe must bée squared he hath sayde that this lawe is appointed to vs in the Gospell Finally he hath sayd that there is as it were the noone lyght which ought to continue our eyes in the beholding thereof Now of the contrarie he gathereth that they are all blinde and doe erre in darknesse which are strangers from loue And whereas he first set downe the loue in God and nowe of brethren there is no more repugnaunce then betwixt the effect and the cause Finally they are so knit together of themselues that they cannot bée separated Iohn will after saie in the third chapter that we doe falsely boast of the loue of God except wée loue the brethren And that is most true But now he taketh the loue to our brethren as a testimonie whereby we proue that wée loue God In summe séeing loue doth so respect God that in God it comprehēdeth men there is no absurditie in that that the Apostle disputing of loue doth referre it indifferently sometimes to God and sometimes to the brethren And this is a common vse of the Scripture Often times the whole perfection of life is placed in the loue of God Againe Paule Rom. 13.8 teacheth that he fulfilleth the lawe which loueth his brother And Christ sheweth that these are the principal things of the lawe Righteousnesse iudgement and truth Mat. 23.23 And both is true and doth most fitly agrée because both the loue God directeth vs to the loue of men we do indéed witnesse our diuine affection towards god by louing of men at his commandement Whatsoeuer it be let this euer remaine firme that loue is the rule of the direction of lyfe which is so much the more diligently to be marked because all almost do rather choose any thing then this onely commandement of God To the same effect belongeth that which followeth That ther is no offence where is the desire of loue for he that so frameth his life shal neuer offend 11 He that hateth his brother Againe he admonisheth that although thou make an excellent shew of vertue yet there is nothing that is not filthie where loue is absent Conferre this place with the 13. of the 1. Cor. and it shal néed no long exposition But this doctrine is therefore obscure to the worlde because the greater part are astonished with I know not what maskes So a counterfait holynesse almost dazeleth all their eies In the meane time loue is neglected or else is reiected into some extreame corner 12 I write to you little children because your sinnes are forgiuen you for his names sake 13 I write to you Fathers because you haue knowen him which is from the beginning I write vnto you young men because you haue ouercome that wicked one 14 I write vnto you children because you haue knowen the Father I haue written to you Fathers because you haue knowen him which is from the beginning I haue written vnto you young men because you are strong and the worde of God doeth abide in you and you haue ouercome that euill one 12 LIttle children This yet is a generall Sentence And hée doeth not speake to them of young yeares but generallye hée vnderstandeth by lyttle Children men of all ages as it is noted in the first Chapter and in this also a lyttle after This I saye because sundrie Interpreters doe verye ill to restraine it to children But Iohn when hée will speake of Children hée will call them Paidia that is By Infancie which name agréeth to the age But hée as a spirituall Father calleth olde men as well as Children Tecnia by the name of lyttle Children Immediatlye indéede hée will applye seuerall sentences to euerye age Yet they are not a lyttle deceiued which doe beginne from hence But rather least the former exhortation might altogether darken the frée forgiuenesse of sinnes this Doctrine which is proper to Faith hée doeth vrge agayne As in déede this foundation ought alwayes stedfastlye to bée kepte that eternall lyfe is layde vp for vs thorough the onelye grace of Iesus Christe Holynesse of lyfe indéede must be vrged the feare of God must be diligently taught men must be vehemently prouoked to repentaunce the newnes of lyfe with his fruits must be commended yet this must alwayes bée taken héede off that the doctrine of Faith be not strangled which approueth Christ the alone author of saluation of all good things but rather is this meane to be kept that faith maye alwaies holde the chiefe place Iohn doth prescribe vs this order when he hath diligentlye preached of good workes least yet more should séeme to be attributed to them then is méet he doth so carefully recall vs to the grace of Christ Your sinnes are forgiuen you Without this trust the appearaunce of holinesse will be nothing else but inconstaunt and vaine Yea they that setting aside the forgiuenesse of sinnes doe rest in other duties doe builde without a foundation In the meane time Iohn doth teach that there is nothing more fit to stirre men vp to the feare of GOD then while they are truely taught what good they haue receiued by Christ as Paul Ph. 2.1 doth beséech them by the bowells of the mercie of God By which appeareth how lewd is that slaunder of the Papistes who saye that the desire of well doing waxeth colde while that is extolled which only maketh obedient children to God For thence he taketh occasion to exhort because we know that God is so louing vnto vs that he doeth not impute our sinnes vnto vs. 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
coÌ„mit whoredome â—o steale to kill because there can be no sin â—her the spirit of God raigneth But the Apostle meaneth far another thing For the Apostle â—enieth that the faithful can sin because God â—ath written his lawe in their heartes as it â—s in the Prophet Iere. 31.31 By this are knowne In few words he conâ—ludeth that they do in vaine challenge to themâ—elues a name amoÌ„gst the childreÌ„ of God which â—o not approue theÌ„selues to be such by a godly 〈◊〉 holy life forasmuch as by this marke they â—iffer from the children of the Diuell Further he doth not so meane that they 〈◊〉 made manifest that they may be openly knowen to all the world but this onely he meaneth that the fruit and effect of the diuine adoption doth alwaies shew forth in the lyfe Hee that doeth not righteousnesse is not 〈◊〉 God nor he that loueth not his brother 11 Because this is the preaching which you haue heard from the beginning that we loâ—â— one another 12 Not of Caine which was of that wicked one and slew his brother and wherefore slewâ—â— he him Because his owne workes were euill and his brothers good 13 Meruaile not my brethren if the worlâ— hate you HE that doth not righteousnes To do righteousnesse and to commit sinne are héere set one against another Therfore to do righteousnesse is nothing else then from the heart to feare God and to walke in his preceptes as farre as mans frailtie will beare For albeit that righteousnes if it be takeÌ„ precisely is no other thing then the full obseruing of the lawe from which the faithfull are alwayes farre of yet because God doth not lay theyr â—â—fences faultes to their charge this percel â—f obedience which they performe vnto God â—s called righteousnesse And Iohn sheweth plainly that they are not of God whosoeuer â—ine not righteously because whosoeuer God â—alleth he doth renue theÌ„ by his spirit Therefore the newnesse of life is a perpetuall witnesse of Gods frée election And which loueth not his brother He applyeth a generall doctrine to his purpose For hetherto he hath exhorted the faithfull to brotherly loue Now by the same he sheweth the summe of true righteousnesse wherefore this part is added in stéed of an exposition But I haue sayd before after what sort whole righteousnesse is comprehended vnder brotherlye loue The loue of God indéede hath the first place but because of that dependeth brotherly loue amongst men ofteÌ„times by a Sinadoch that is contained vnder this this again vnder that Therefore as euerie one is giuen to humanitie and well doing so he saith that he is iust and so accounted because loue is the fulfilling of the law He coÌ„firmeth this sentence when hée sayeth that the faithfull haue ben so taught froÌ„ the beginning for by these words he sheweth that this definition which he giueth ought not to séeme straunge vnto them 12 Not as Caine. Another confirmatiâ—â— is taken of the contrarie because hatred raiâ—â—neth in the reprobate and children of the dâ—uell and holdeth as it were the chiefetie 〈◊〉 their life of which thing he setteth dowâ—â— Caine as an example In the meane time 〈◊〉 maketh to their comfort as he concludeth at 〈◊〉 last Meruaile not if the world hate you This exposition is to be diligently noted for in the manner of life men are alwaies deceiued because they place holinesse in figured workes while they tormeÌ„t themselues with trifles they thinke they are twice acceptable to God Euen as Monkes doe proudly tearme theyr kinde of life the state of perfection And in Poperie there is not thought anie other worship of God then that filth of superstitions But the Apostle doth especially shew that we are approued of God if we loue oâ—eâ—â—â—other Againe that the diuell raigneth where hatred grudge enuie and displeasures dooeth raign Yet it is together to be kept in memorie that I touched of late that brotherly loue because it ariseth of the loue of GOD as the effect of the cause is not separated from it but rather is commended of Iohn for this cause for that it is an approouing of our holynesse before GOD. When he sayeth that Caine was by this cause enforced to the slaying of his Brother because his owne works were euill Hée meaneth that which I haue noted alreadie that where wickednesse beareth the swaie hatred possesseth all the partes of life Hée maketh mention of the iust works of Abel that we may learne to beare it paciently if the world prouoked with no iniury doe hate vs without cause 14 Wee knowe that wee are translated from death to life because we loue the bretheren He that loueth not his brother abideth in death 15 Euerie one that hateth his brother is a manslayer you know that no manslayer hath eternall life abiding in him 16 By this haue wee knowen loue because hee layde downe his lyfe for vs and we ought to lay downe our liues for the bretheren 17 If anie man haue this worldes good and seeth his brother haue neede and shutteth vp his compassion froÌ„ him how dwelleth the loue of God in him 18 My little children let vs not loue in word and tongue but in deede and truth 14 HE commendeth loue vnto vs by an excellent speach because it is a testimonie of our being deliuered from death to lyfe Wherevpon it followeth that if wée loue our bretheren we are happie and if wée hate them we are miserable Ther is no man that dooth not desire to escape and to be delyuered from death therefore they must néede be more then blinde who by fostering of hatred doo willingly pamper their own death Further when the apostle saith that by loue it is knowen that we haue passed into life he meaneth not that man is his own deliuerer as if by louing the bretheren hée deliuered himselfe from death obtained life for himselfe For he dooth not dispute héere of the cause of saluation but séeing loue is the principall fruite of the spirite it is also a certaine note of regeneration Therfore the Apostle reasoneth from the signe and not from the cause For because no man doth truely loue the brethren except he which is regenerate by the spirit Hence it is rightly gathered that the spirite of God which is lyfe dooth dwell in them that loue the bretheren But one should therevpon preposterously inferre that lyfe is attained vnto by loue séeing loue by order is the later This Argument should haue more coulour if loue make vs more assured of our life that then the assurance of saluation doth consist in act But the answere therof is also easie For albeit that faith is confirmed by al the graces of god as by helps yet it ceaseth not to haue his foundation in the onely frée mercie of God For example when we inioy the light we are sure that the Sunne shineth if the Sunne giue his beams into the place wherin we are we haue a certaine more cléere sight
I aunswere that there is a double triall of Doctrine priuate and publyke Priuate wherby euery one dooth establish his owne faith that he may rest safely in that doctrine which hée knoweth to haue come from God Neither shall consciences finde other where safe and quiet resting place then in God The publyke tryall belongeth to the common consent and good of the Church For because there is perill least phantasticall men shuld rise vp which might rashly boast them selues that they wer indued with the spirit of God this remedie is of necessitie that the faithfull come together and séeke the meane of an holy and pure consent But séeing that that olde Prouerbe is too â—rue How many heads so many wits it is certaine that this is the singular worke of God that al ouerthwarting béeing mastred he maketh vs to thinke all one thing and to grow into an holy vnitie of faith And wheras vnder this pretence whatsoeuer thinges are at anie time decreed in counsailes the Papistes will haue to be taken for true Oracles because the Church did once proue them to be of God that is too childish For howsoeuer that be an ordinarie waie to séeke a consent to gather a godly and an holy counsell where the controuersies out of the worde of God may be determined yet God hath neuer bound vs to the decrées of euerie counsel Nor yet so soone as an hundred or moe Bishops are come together into one certayne place it by and by followeth that they haue rightly called vpon God and asked at his mouth what was the truth yea ther is nothing more apparaunt then that they haue often gone a side from the sincere worde of God Therefore héere also ought the triall which the Apostle prescribeth to be of force that the spirits might be tried 2 In this knowe ye He annexeth a special marke whereby one may better discerne true Prophets from false Albeit he héere onely repeateth that we had before that is that Christ as he is the marke wherto true faith nimeth so he is the rocke at whom all Heretikes doe stumble Therefore so long as wée remaine in Christ the matter is safe but when we goe aside from him faith is peryshed and all truth is made voyde But wée may remember what this confession contayneth For when the Apostle saith that Christ is come hence wée gather that hée was with the Father before whereby is shewed his eternall Deitie When hée sayth That hee is come in the flesh hée signifieth that in putting on the flesh hée is made a very man of the same nature with vs that hée might bée our brother saue that hée was frée from all sinne and corruption Finally when hée sayth hée is come wée must consider the cause of his comming for hée is not sent of his Father in vaine Héerevppon dependeth the office and power of Christ Therefore euen as the olde Heretikes haue erred from this faith partlye denying the diuine nature and partlye the humane nature of Christ euen so doe the Papistes at this daye albeit they doe confesse Christ to bée GOD and man yet they hold â—ot this confession which the Apostle requyâ—eth because they spoyle Christ of his powâ—r and authoritie for when they haue estaâ—lished theyr frée will theyr merites of â—orkes theyr fained worshippes satisfacâ—ions and the supportations of Saintes â—owe small a remainder is lefte to Christ This therefore meaneth the Apostle séeâ—ng that the knowledge of Christ compreâ—endeth in it selfe all the Doctrine of godâ—ynesse therefore we must fixe and cast our eyes thether least wée bée deceiued And in truth Christ is the ende of the lawe and the Prophettes Neither learne wée anye other thing by the Gospell then his power and grace 2 And this is the Spirite of Antichrist This the Apostle addeth to the ende that hée maye make the sleyghtes which seduce vs from Christ to be the more detestable For wée haue sayde that the Doctrine of the kingdome of Antichrist is vsuall and well knowen that the faythfull béeing admonyshed of the dispearsion of the Church which was to come might carefully take héede to themselues They did therefore worthelye abhorre thâ— name as infamous and vnluckie Nowâ— the Apostle saith they are members of thiâ— kingdome whosoeuer withdraw froÌ„ Christ But he sayeth that the spirite of Antichriâ—â— should come and was now in the worlde in a diuerse meaning For he meant that he was then in the world alreadie because the mysterie of his wickednesse beganne to worke 2. Thes 27. And yet because that the truth of God was not as yet ouerwhelmed with false and vntrue assertions superstition had not yet preuailed to the corruption of the worship of God the worlde had not yet falne from Christ by a wicked distrust the tyrannie set against the kingdome of Christ did not yet manifestly shew it selfe therefore he saith that he was to come 4 Little children ye are of God haue ouercome them because hee is greater that is in you then he that is in the worlde 5 They are of the world therefore they speake of the worlde and the worlde heareth them 6 We are of God He that knoweth God heareth vs. He that is not of God heareth vs not In this we knowe the spirite of truth and â—â—e spirite of errour 4 You are of God He had spoken of one Antichrist now he maketh mention of moe â—ut the plurall number is referred to the false Prophets which euen then had come abroad before the head was extant Further the purpose of the Apostle is to giue courage to the faythfull that they might resist the deceiuers strongly without feare For much chéerefulnesse faileth when there is striuing with a doubtfull successe Further it myght cause the godly to feare because that when the kingdome of Christ was scarce sprong vp they sawe the enimyes euen then readie prepared to ouerwhelme it Therefore howsoeuer they must striue he yet sayth that they haue ouercommed because they shall haue an happie issue As if he should haue sayde that in the middest of the conflict they are without daunger because they shall preuaile And this doctrine ought to bée caryed further For whatsoeuer striuings we indure against the world and the flesh yet it is ioyned with a sure victorie Indéede sharpe and harde conflicts remaine for vs and one followeth after another but because we fight in the power of Christ and are prepared with the armour of God in striuing and labouring wée get thâ— victorie As much as belongeth to the circumstaunce of this place it is an excellenâ— consolation that with whatsoeuer sleyghteâ— Sathan set vppon vs yet wée shall stand iâ— the truth of GOD. But the reason that hée addeth straight way is to bée noted because he is greater that is stroÌ„ger which is in vs theÌ„ he that is in the world For that is our infirmitie that before wée ioyne battayle with the enimie we are readie to faint For wee are euen wrapped in ignoraunce
vs But because he speaketh in common to the faithful he might not speake other wayes then that they might loue one another He confirmeth this sentence by a reason aleadged sometimes alreadie that is because no man shall approue himselfe to be the childe of GOD except hée which loueth his bretheren and because the true knowledge of God worketh in vs of necessitie the loue of God Hée opposeth also after his manner the contrarie member That there is no knowledge of God where loue is not in his strength And hée taketh a generall principle because God is loue that is because his nature is to loue men I knowe that manye doe subtillye playe the Philosophers and especially that the olde writers haue abused this place that they might proue the Godhead of the Spirit But the simple meaning of the Apostle is Because God is the fountaine of loue that this affection floweth and is powred out from him wheresoeuer his knowledge commeth Lyke as before hée called him lyght because there is nothing darke in him but rather hée lyghteneth all with his brightnesse Hée speaketh not therefore héere of the béeing of GOD but onelye sheweth what a one hée is to bée perceyued of vs. But there are two thinges to be noted in these wordes of the Apostle that this is the true knowledge of GOD which doeth regenerate vs and frame vs a newe that wée maye become newe creatures then that it cannot bée but that it make vs conformable to GOD. Let goe therefore that foolishe inuention of faith vnformed because if anye man separate faith from loue he doeth euen as if one should goe about to take heate from the Sunne 9 In this hath appeared By manye other witnesses also wée haue the loue of GOD towardes vs approoued For if it shoulde bée asked why the worlde was created why wée are placed in it to holde the Lordshippe of the Earth why wée are preserued in this lyfe that wée maye inioye infinite and innumerable blessinges why wée are created to the hope of a better lyfe why wée are indued with light and vnderstanding there canne bée shewed no other cause of all these then the frée loue of GOD towardes vs. But the Apostle chooseth the principall witnesse in this place and that which farre excelleth all others For this loue of God was not onely infinite that hée spared not his owne son that by his death he might restore vs to lyfe but the goodnesse is more then meruailous which ought to rauish our mindes with admiration Christ therefore is such an excellent and singular agréement of the loue of God towards vs that so oft as we behold him he doeth plainelye confirme this doctrine vnto vs that God is loue That he calleth him Onely begotten it serueth to amplification For in that he sheweth more cléerely howe entirely he loued vs in that he gaue his onely sonne to death for our sake In the meane time hée that is one sonne by nature maketh manye by adoption and grace Euen whome so euer hée grafteth into his bodye by fayth Hée sheweth the ende why Christ was sent of his Father that wée might liue in him For without him wée are all dead But at his comming he brought lyfe vnto vs. And except our own vnbeléefe doe hinder we féele this effect of his grace in our selues 10 In this is loue Hée setteth forth the loue of God more largely by another reason that is because hée gaue his sonne for vs what time wée were enimyes as Paule also teacheth Rom. 5.6 But hée vseth other wordes that GOD béeing prouoked by no loue of men hath loued them freelye of his owne accorde By which wordes hée meant to teach that the loue of God towardes vs was without deseruing Albeit the meaning of the Apostle is to set God before vs to follow yet the doctrine of faith is not to be neglected which hée ioyneth together God hath loued vs fréely why because we wer sinners or euer wée were borne then because in this corruption of our nature we haue an heart that is tourned from him and is not inclinable to right and holy affections If the subtiltie of the Papistes shoulde haue place that euerye one is elected of GOD so farre as he foreséeth him worthye of loue this Doctrine shoulde not stande That hée loued vs first For then our loue towardes GOD shoulde haue the first place by order although that it shoulde bée the last in time But the Apostle doeth take a graunted Rule of the holye Scripture which these prophane Sophisters doe not knowe that wée are borne so wicked and corrupted that then is as it were bred in vs an hatred of god that we desire nothing but that which doth displease him that euery affection of our flesh doth holde continuall warre with his righteousnesse And hee sent his sonne Therefore Christ with all his benefites is proceeded vnto vs from the alone goodnesse of God as from a fountaine And as it is néedfull for vs to knowe this that therefore we haue saluation in Christ because our heauenlye Father hath loued vs of his own accord so when we are to séeke the sound and full assuraunce of the loue of God towards vs it is conuenient that we looke no where but vpon Christ Wherefore they dote to their owne destruction whosoeuer passing by Christ doe seeke what is determined of them in the secrete counsaile of God Further he sheweth again the cause of the comming of Christ and his office when he sheweth that he was sent therfore that he might be a propitiation for our sinnes And indéede we are first taught by these wordes that we were all straungers from God by sinne and that this separation remaineth vntil Christ come in betwixt who may reconcile vs. Secondly we are taught that this is the beginning of our lyfe that God being pacified by the death of his son receiueth vs to fauour For in that that â—he is called A reconciler this properly belongeth to the sacrifice of his death We perceiue then that this belongeth onely to Christ that he put away the sinnes of the world and so take away the hatred that was betwixt vs and God But héere may arise some shew of contrarietie For if God did loue vs before that Christ did offer himselfe to death for vs what néede was there of a newe reconciliation So the death of Christ might séeme superfluous I aunswere when Christ is sayd to reconcile his Father to vs that this is referred to our capacitie For as we are guyltie of euill in our selues we cannot conceiue God but to be angrie and deadlye displeased vntill Christ abolish sinne by his death vntil he deliuer vs with the price of his bloud from death Againe the loue of God requireth righteousnesse Therefore that we may be assured that we are beloued it is of necessitie that we come to Christ in whom onely wée finde righteousnesse Now we sée the varietie of speaking which is vsual in Scripture
their owne priuate braine Although this alone were not sufficient of it self that thei are placed in office vnlesse thei did behaue them selues faithfullie in the same And truelie he comprehendeth bothe whiche saieth that he is the seruaunt of God to witte that he hath GOD the aucthour of the function which he exerciseth and also that he doeth faithfullie execute that whiche is enioyned hym And because verie many doe falslie pretende this title and doe falsly boste them selues to bee that whiche thei are moste farre from wee muste alwaies see whether the thyng it self dooe agree with the profession Brother of James He addeth a name whiche was more knowne and renoumed to the Churche For although the credite and authoritie of doctrine doeth hang vppon no mortall man yet this is a greate staie vnto faithe when as the soundenesse of the man is knowne vnto vs whiche is the teacher And that the authoritie of Iames is not here pretended as of some priuate manne but because that among all men he was taken to be vnto the Churche one of the cheef Apostles of Christe And he was the Sonne of Alpheus as I haue saied in an other place Yea this place maketh for me against Eusebius and others who write that a Disciple I knowe not who called Oblia was he of whom Luke speaketh in the Actes 15.13 21.18 which was more excellent then the Apostles in that Churche But there is no doubte but Iude doeth call hym here his Brother because he was famous amongest the Apostles Therefore it is likely that it was he vnto whom Luke telleth that there was speciall honour giuen by the reste To the whiche are called in God He noteth all the faithfull by this name because that the Lorde hath seperated them vnto hym self But because callyng is nothyng but the effecte of the eternall election it is sometimes taken for it In this place in skilleth little whether waie thou doe expounde it For in deede he commendeth the grace of God whereby he vouchsafeth to chuse thē vnto hymself for a peculiar people And he signifieth that men doe not preuent God neither at any tyme doe come vnto hym vntill he drawe them He calleth theim also sanctified in God the Father whiche wee maie translate by God the Father Yet I haue kept that forme of speeche that the readers might haue their free iudgement For this also maie be the sense that beyng prophane in themselues thei haue sanctification in God Further the maner of Sanctification is When he doeth regenerate vs by his Spirite The other readyng that the cōmon interpreter hath followed is somewhat harder 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to saie to the beloued in God the Father Therefore I iudge that it is corrupted and truely it is founde in fiue bookes He addeth further that thei are kept in Christe For wee should be alwaies Sathans subiecte to Death in so muche as he would catche vs an hundreth tymes euery momente as a readie praie vnlesse wee were safe vnder the defence of Christe whom the Father hath therefore giuen vnto vs to be our keeper that none of those thynges should bee loste whiche he hath receiued into his Faithe and Defence Therefore Iude doeth here shewe a threefold benefite of God in all the godly That he hath made them pertakers of the Gospell by his callyng that he hath regenerate theim into newnesse of life by his Spirite and that he hath kepte theim by the hande of Christe that thei should not faile of their Saluation 2 Mercie vnto you The name of Mercie doeth signifie almoste thesame whiche the name of Grace doeth signifie in the salutations of Paule If any man desire to haue a more curious difference Grace is properly the effecte of Mercie because that God dooeth imbrace vs with his loue not for any other cause but because he hath respect vnto our miseries Loue maie be vnderstood as well of God towardes men as of men emong them selues If thou referre it to God the sense shall be that the trust of the loue of God doeth increase in them and is established euery daie more and more in their hartes Yet that other sense doeth not il agree also that God do then kindle and confirme in them mutuall loue 3 Beloued when I gaue all diligence to write vnto you of the common saluation it was needefull for mee to write vnto you to exhorte you that you should earnestly contende for the maintenaunce of that faithe which was once giuen vnto the Sainctes 4 For there are certaine men crept in which before of old were ordained to this condemnation vngodlie men thei are whiche tourne the grace of our God into wantonnesse and deny God the onely Lorde and our Lorde Iesus Christe 3 WHen I gaue all diligence I haue translated the Greke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vsyng diligence it soundeth woorde for woorde to dooe diligence Further many interpreters doe open this sentence thus That an earnest endeuour did enforce Iude to write As wee are wont to saie that thei whiche doe burne with some earnest desire can not staie them selues therefore accordyng to theim there was a necessitie in this that the desire to write did not suffer Iude to bee silent But I rather thinke that there are here twoo seuerall members That when otherwaies he was readie enough and carefully giuen to write necessitie also did constraine hym He signifieth therefore that he writeth freely and desirouslie vnto them but yet that he was vrged also with necessitie that he should dooe it Because in déede as it foloweth in the course of the texte thei beeyng assaulted of the wicked were to bee instructed to the battell Therefore in this first place Iude testifieth that he had so greate a care of their Saluation that he desired to write of his owne accorde and that in deede withall his harte Then that he might stirre vp their attentiuenesse he saith together that the matter did require it should be so For necessitie giueth sharpe spurres Excepte thei had been premonished how greatelie needefull this exhortation would bee vnto them Thei might haue been slowe and carelesse to read But when he foretelleth that he doeth write by meane of their present necessitie it is as if he should sound a retire to shake of their drousinesse Of the common Saluation Certaine copies adde yours but amisse in my iudgement For he maketh saluation cōmon to theim with hym self And this sorte of doctrine whiche is to be published giueth not a little effecte when one speaketh of his owne feelyng and experience For the speeche will bee but bablyng if wee reason of Saluation emongest other menne whereof wee our selues haue no feelyng Therefore Iude professeth hym self to bee a teacher conning in practise when in the nomber of the godlie he dooeth assemble hym self into the fellowshipp of the same Saluation That I might exhorte you to striue It is worde for worde Exhortyng you But when he noteth the ende of his