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A17649 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.; Commentaire sur l'épistre canonique de S. Jean. English Calvin, Jean, 1509-1564.; Calvin, Jean, 1509-1564. Exposition sur l'épistre de S. Jude. aut; W. H. 1580 (1580) STC 4404; ESTC S107184 123,116 300

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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
according to diuers respects that it is apte and most fitly profitable to faith God did therefore put his sonne betwixt to reconcile himself vnto vs because he loued vs but that loue was hidde because in the meane time we were enimies to God dayly prouoking his indignation Then the feare and terrour of an euill conscience didde take from vs all taste of lyfe Therefore inasmuch as pertaineth to the féeling of our faith God beginneth to loue vs in Christ And albeit the Apostle doo héere intreat of the first reconciliation yet let vs knowe that this is the perpetuall benefite of Christ that by putting away our sinnes he might make God at one with vs. And this the Papists also in some parte doo graunt but afterwards they lessen this grace and almost bring it to nothing in bringing in fayned satisfactions But if men redéeme themselues with the price of works then Christ shall not be an onely reconcilement as he is called héere 11 Beloued if God haue so loued vs we ought also to loue one another 12 No man hath seene God at any time If we loue one another God dwelleth in vs his loue is perfect in vs. 13 In this we knowe that we abide in him and he in vs because he hath giuen vs of his spirite 14 And wee haue seene and doo beare witnesse that the father hath sent his sonne the sauiour of the world 15 He that confesseth that Iesus is the sonne of God in him dwelleth God and he in God 16 And we haue knowen and beleeued the loue that God hath in vs. 11 NOw the Apostle applyeth to his purpose that which he lately spake of the frée loue of God that is that by the example of God he might exhorte vs to brotherly loue As also Paule setteth Christ forth vnto vs who offered himselfe vnto his father a sacrifice of a swéete smell that euery one of vs might bestowe our selues to our bretherens good Ephe 5.2 And Iohn dooth admonish vs that our loue must not be for rewarde when he biddeth vs loue our bretheren as God loued vs. For that must bée repeated That wée were loued fréelye And in déede when wée respect our owne priuate commodite or render to our friends acquaintance lyke for lyke it is certaynly selfe loue and cannot bée accounted for true charitie that of the Apostle is héere required 12 No man hath seene God The sam● words are had in the first chapter of the gospell ver 18. But Iohn Baptist respecteth no● the same ende altogether in that place for he onely sheweth that God cannot otherwise bée knowen then he hath manifested himselfe in Christ The same doctrine the apostle doth héere extend further that we comprehend the power of God by faith and loue that we may know that we are his children and that he dwelleth in vs. Yet he first speaketh of loue when he sayth That God dweleth in vs if we loue one another because it is perfect that is his loue truly approued in vs as if he should say that God dooth shewe himselfe to be present when by his spirite he frameth our hearts to the loue of our bretheren In the same sense he repeateth that which he had said once alreadie That we know by the spirite which he hath giuen vs that h● dwelleth in vs. For it is a confirmation of the next sentence because loue is an effect of the spirite Therefore this is the effect séeing loue is of the spirite of God we cannot truly and with a sincere heart loue our Bretheren but the spirite showeth foorth his power By this meanes he is testified to dwel in vs. Further God dwelleth in vs by his spirite Therefore by loue we shall proue that wée ●aue God dwelling in vs. Againe whosoe●er boasteth that he hath God and dooth not ●oue the bretheren by this one testimonie his ●anitie is confuted because he pulleth God ●rom himselfe When he saith And his loue ●s perfect he taketh the note of coupling toge●her in stéede of a perticular causall And the ●oue of God may be taken two wayes either wherewith we loue him or which he inspireth into vs. That God hath giuen vs his spirite and giuen vs of his spirite is all to one effect for we knowe that the spirit is giuen to euery one by measure 14 And we haue seene Now he expoundeth the other part of the knowledge of God which we haue touched that he communicateth himselfe with vs in his Sonne and offereth to be inioyed Wherevpon it foloweth that he is perceiued of vs by faith For héereto is the Apostles purpose that we are so vnited to God by faith loue that he dwelleth truly in vs and by the effect of his power dooth after a sort shew himselfe visible which otherwise cannot be séene When hée saith We haue seene and testifie he setteth out himselfe and other Apostles and he meaneth not euerie séeing but that which is ioyned to faith whereby they acknowledged i● Christ the glorie of God as also it followeth That he was sent to be the sauior of the world which knowledge procéedeth from the inlightening of the spirite 15 He that shall confesse He that repeateth that generall rule That we are vnited to God by Christ and that we cannot bée ioyned to Christ except God abide in vs. And faith and confession are put without difference in the same sense For albeit that hypocrites doo most falsly bragge that they haue faith yet the apostle dooth héere acknowledge none in the order of such as confesse except such as doo indéede and from the heart beléeue Further when he sayth That Iesus is the Sonne of God he comprehendeth the whole summe of faith in these fewe wordes For there is nothing néedfull to saluation which faith findeth not in Christ But after he hath spoken in general that men are so grafted into Christ that Christ dooth ioine them to god he addeth a reason which they hadde séene themselues that hée might applye the generall sentence to them vnto whome hée writeth Then followeth an exhortation that they maye loue others as they themselues are loued of God Wherefore this is the order and this is the continuaunce of his speach The faith of Christ causeth that God abideth in men But we are the pertakers of this grace Further séeing God is loue no man can abide in him except he loue his bretheren Therefore it is good that loue doo raygne in vs seeing God hath ioyned himselfe vnto vs. 16 We haue knowen and haue beleeued It is as if he shoulde haue sayde Wée haue knowen by beléeuing For such a knowledge is not had but by faith But hence wée gather how much a wauering and doubtfull opinion differeth from Faith Further albeit he goeth about in this place to applye the next sentence to the Readers as I haue sayd alreadie yet he defineth the substance of faith diuerslye First hée had sayde Whosoeuer beléeueth that Iesus is the sonne of God And
now he sayth By Faith we know the loue of God towardes vs. Whereby it appeareth that the fatherly loue of God is apprehended in Christ and that they knowe not any thing at all in Christ for certaine excepte it bée onelye such as acknowledge themselues by his grace to be the children o● God For therefore the Father doth set forth his sonne vnto vs that he might adopt vs in him God is loue It is as it were the lesse proposition in the syllogisme because he reasoneth from faith to loue after this manner God dwelleth in vs by Faith but God is loue therfore wheresoeuer God remayneth there loue must néedes flourish Héerevpon it followeth that loue is necessarily knit vnto faith 17 In this is loue perfect in vs that wee might haue boldnesse in the daye of iudgement that as he is we also are in this world 18 There is no feare in loue but perfect loue casteth out all feare because feare hath painfulnesse in it And he that feareth is not perfect in loue 17 THere are two mēbers of this speach that then we are made pertakers of the diuine adoption when we so resemble god as children doo their father and then that this boldnes is an incomperable good because that without it we are most miserable Therefore in the first place he sheweth vpon what conditiō god hath imbraced vs in loue and how in effect we inioye this grace which he hath giuen vs in Christ Therefore the loue of god towards vs is héere to be vnderstood He saith it is Perfect because it is poured out in full measure and perfourmed so throughlye as if it were absolute on all partes But he affirmeth that there are none pertakers of this good except such as béeing conformable vnto God doo approue themselues to be his Children The argument therefore is of those things which be ioyned together That we may haue boldnesse Now he beginneth to shew the fruite of the loue of God towards vs albeit he will afterwards shewe it more cléerely by the contrarie But yet this is inestimable felicitie that we dare stande boldly before God For by nature we fly from the ●ight of God and worthely For séeing he is the Iudge of the world and our sinnes doo presse vs with guiltinesse it is of necessitie that together with God death and hell come into our minde Hence is the feare which I spake off that men flye from God as much as lyeth in them Iohn denieth that the faithfull are afraid when there is mention made to them of the last iudgement but rather to come bold and chéerefull to the iudgement seate of God because they are assuredly perswaded of his fatherly loue Therefore so much hath euery one profited in the faith as he is rightlye prepared in minde to waite for the daye of iudgement As he is By these wordes as I said alreadie he dooth meane agayne that this is requyred of vs that we resemble the image of God Such therefore as God is in heuen such dooth he commaunde vs to bée in this worlde that we may be accompted his children For the image of God when it doth appeare in vs it is as a seale of his adoption But so hée séemeth to place parte of our trust in workes Therefore héere the Papists doo stroute themselues as if Iohn denyed that trust to haue an assured confidence of saluation by the alone grace of God except works did helpe together But they are deceiued in that that they weigh not that the Apostle dooth not héere fetch his Argument from the cause but the place is of things ioyned together And wée willinglys confesse that no man is reconciled to God by Christ excepte together hée be reformed and made agréeable to the Image of God and that they are so conformable that they cannot bée seperated the one from the other The Apostle therefore sayth this most fitlye for he dooth driue all them from the assuraunce of Grace in whome there is not séene any lykenesse of God For it is most certayne that suche are vtterly straungers to the Spirite of GOD and to his sonne Christ Neyther also doo we denye that the newnesse of lyfe auayleth to the confirmation of an assuraunce but that I may speake so that it be taken as a seconde helpe But in the meane time it behooueth vs to bée grounded vpon onely grace Neyther indéede otherwayes shoulde Iohns doctrine agrée with it selfe For common experience dooth shewe and the Papistes themselues are constrayned to graunt that there is alwayes a cause of fearfulnesse in the respect of workes Wherefore no man shal euer come with a quyet and perswaded minde to the iudgement seate of GOD excepte hée determine first with himselfe and willynglye confesse that hée is of him euen freelye beloued But there is no cause that any man shoulde meruaile that the Papists taste none of these things séeing the miserable men knowe no faith but that which is full of doubting And further that hypocrisie dooth ouer spred them with darknesse least they should earnestlye bethinke how fearfull is the Iudgement of God where Christ is not present a mediatour Others passe by the resurrection as if it were a tale but that we may goe foorthe glad and chéereful to méete Christ it doth behoue vs to haue our faith fixed in his grace alone 18 There is no feare Now by contraries he commendeth the excellencie of that good for he saith that we are continuallye tormented vntill God doo deliuer vs from that miserable torment with the remedye of his loue towards vs. The effect is séeing nothing is more miserable than to be vexed with continuall disquiet that we attain vnto this loue of God towardes vs being knowen that we maye quietlye rest without feare Whence appeareth how singular a benefite it is that God dooth vouchsafe vs worthy of his loue Further of this doctrine he will immediately raise an exhortation But before hée exhort vs to our dutie he commendeth this guifte of God to vs which by faith taketh feare from vs. I knowe that all this place is other waies expounded of many but I respect what the Apostle meaneth not what others thinke They saye That there is no feare in loue because when of our owne accord we loue God we are not constrained to his obedience by force and feare Therefore according to them a seruile feare is héere opposed to a voluntarie reuerence Whence also is risen the distinction of seruile childly feare I grant indéed that that is true when we willyngly loue God as a Father that we are no more vrged with the feare of punishment but that doctrine hath no agréement with this place For the Apostle dooeth onely teach that when the loue of God is perceiued and knowen vnto vs by Faith peace is giuen vnto our consciences leaste they be any more disquieted Yet it maye be asked when perfect Loue casteth out feare because being indued with some taste onely of the loue of God
perfectly loued god I answere that it sufficeth so that euery one for the mesure of the grace the is giuen him doo aspire vnto this perfection In the meane time the definitiō is manifest that the perfect loue of God is the due obseruing of his word We know that in him He cōmeth again to the fruit of the gospell wherof he had made mētion that is felowship with God and with his son And so he cōfirmeth the former sentēce by things that folow For if the end of the gospel be that we may haue felowship with god ther cā be no felowship wtout loue no mā cā truly profit in faith but he the cleueth to god frō his hart 6 He that saith he abideth in him As before he proposed vnto vs the light of God as a pattern to folow now also he calleth vs to christ that we may becōe folowers of him Yet he doth not simply exhort to the imitatiō of Christ but by the vnitie which we haue with him he proueth that we ought to be like him The likenes of life works he saith wil proue vs to abide in Christ Further by these words he maketh himselfe an entrance vnto the loue of our brethren which he will immediately adde 7 Brethrē I write no new cōmādemēt to you but an old cōmandemēt which you haue had frō the beginning this old cōmandemēt is that word which ye haue hard frō the beginning 8 Againe a new commandement write I vnto you which is the truth in him and also in you for the darknesse is past and that true light now shineth 9 He that saith he is in that light hateth his brother is in darknesse vntill this time 10 He that loueth his brother abideth in that light there is none occasion of euil in him 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darknesse walketh in darknesse knoweth not whether he goeth because that darknes hath blinded his eyes 7 AN exposttion of the former doctrine that is that to loue God is 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 that any thing therin be changed or innouated For these causes Iohn sheweth that he techeth nothing of loue but that which the faithful hauing heard from the very beginning hath waxed old in the 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 the old cōmandement But now I take it that he meaneth onelye this That these are the first rudiments of the gospel that they haue ben so trained from the beginning that there is no cause why they shuld shun that as vnwoonted wherewith they ought to haue ben indued lōg ago For it is plain that the relatiue is put in the place of the 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 And that auaileth much to the confirmati●n of faith because the readers ought to take ●t to haue procéeded from the same Christ of whom they haue the Gospell The olde commandement is It is pro●able that the name of oldnesse in this place ●s extended further For the speach is more full when he saith The woorde which you heard from the beginning is that old commandement And verily in my iudgement it signifieth that the gospell ought not to be taken as a doctrine newlye sprong vp but which came out from God and is his eternal truth As if he should haue sayde ye ought not to measure the antiquitie of the Gospell by the space of time wherin it is brought vnto you for therein is manifested vnto you the eternall will of God God therefore did not giue vnto you this rule of godlye lyfe when you were first called to the faith of Christ but the same was alwayes firme and approued with him And indéede this finally ought to be accounted antiquitie and deserueth account and reuerence which hath his beginning of God For the counterfait deuises of men by how long prescription of yeares so euer haue not so much authoritie that they shuld ouerthrow the truth of God 8 Againe a new cōmandemēt The interpreters séeme to me not to haue vnderstood the Apostles mind for he calleth that New which g●● by instruction doth as it were dayly renew the faithful may all their life long exercise thē selues therin because they cā require nothin● more excellent For the beginnings which childrē learne afterwards giue place to higher more soūd doctrine Cōtrarily Iohn denieth the doctrine of louing the brethren is such that i● time waxeth out of vse but that it doth perpetually flourish that the highest perfection be no● lesse then the first entrance Further this wa● néedful to be added because as men are more curious thē is méet a great part do euer gréedily desire some new thing Hence commeth that irkesomnes of true doctrine that it begetteth infinit wōders of errors whilst euerie one gapeth a fresh after new quiddities But where this is once set down that the Lord procéedeth in one maner that in all our life he may hold vs in that which we haue lerned ther is giuē a bridle to such desires therfore who so desireth to rech to the point of wisdōe because it belōgeth to the right gouernmēt of life let him profit in loue Which is the truth He proueth that which he hath sayd by reason because in this one commandement of loue which belongeth to the direction of life the whole truth of Christ doth consist Further what other more great reuelation is to be waited for For Christ is in truth the end accōplishment of al things therefore the name of truth hath regard vnto this that they rest as in the point For it is taken for the fulnesse or absolute estate He ioyneth Christ vnto them as the head to the members As if he should haue sayd that the body of the church hath no other perfection or that they shall be soundly knit vnto Christ if an holy loue do mutually flourish among themselues Others expounde it otherwise That which is truth in Christ is also in you But I sée not to what end it serueth Because the darknesse is past He putteth the time present in place of the time past For hée noteth that as soone as Christ hath shined we haue the brightnesse of vnderstanding not the euery of the faithfull vnderstandeth the first daie so much as he ought For Paul also Phi. 3.11 saith that he laboreth to apprehēd that which yet he
vnto vs if we leane vnto workes which haue nothing in themselues but matter of trembling Therefore the faithfull come to the throne of God no other waies then trusting in the mediation of Christ But because the loue of God is euer ioyned with faith to the end that the Apostle may the more dazle the hypocrites he depriueth ●hem of this singuler priueledge which God ●ouchsafeth his children that is least they ●hould thinke to haue entrance to God with ●heir praiers When he saith Because wee keepe his commandements he dooth not mean that our confidence in praying is grounded vpon our workes but this onely he vrgeth that godlinesse and the sincere worshippe of God cannot be seperate from faith And it ought not to séem absurd that he vseth a causall note albeit he dooth not reason of the cause for an inseperable accident vseth sometimes to be put for the cause As if one should saye because the Sun at noonetide doth shine aboue vs that there is then more heat yet it dooeth not followe that heate ariseth of the light 23 And this is his commaundement that wee beleeue in the name of his sonne Iesus Christ loue one an other as he gaue vs commaundement 24 Hee that keepeth his commaundements abideth in him and hee in him And by this we knowe that hee abideth in vs by the spirite which he hath giuen vs. 23 ANd this is his commandement Againe he applieth a generall sentence to his purpose The effect is that wée are at such disagréement with God that wée are driuen from his presence excepte we are knit together by brotherly loue among our selues Albeit he dooth not héere commende loue alone as before but he ioyneth it as a companion and handmaide of Faith The schoolemen depraue these wordes with theyr own deuices as if we obtained fréedome to pray partly by faith and partly by works Wher Iohn requireth this to the right manner of praying that we kéepe the commaundements of God and after teacheth that this perfourmaunce standeth in faith and Loue they gather that the assurance of praying must be gathered of these two But I haue sundry times already shewed that héere is not handled from whence or by what means men get this vnto themselues that they dare call vpon God For héere the question is not of the cause or dignitie Iohn onely sheweth that God vouchsafeth the honour and priuiledge of his conference to none but to his children and those that indéede are regenerate by his spirite Therfore this is the course of spéech where the reuerence and feare of God doth not beare the swaie it cannot be the God shuld heare vs. But if our purpose be to obey his precepts we must consider what hée commandeth But he doth not separate fayth from loue but he requireth each of vs as if it were in one fellowship And this is the reason why he hath put Commandement in the singular number But this place is verie excellent because he sheweth as plainely as briefly wherein consisteth the whole perfection of an holy lyfe There is no cause why we shuld alleadge hardnesse when God doth not carie vs about by long by walks but setteth down vnto vs simple and in one word what pleaseth him Adde moreouer that in this shortnesse there is no darknesse bicause he sheweth vs plainly the beginning end to liue wel and because héere is onely mention of brotherly loue passing by the loue of God the reson is as we haue sayd els where that brotherly loue as it issueth from the alone loue of God so is it a certaine and true proofe thereof In the name of his son The name hath respect to the preaching this relation is to be noted because few vnderstād what it is to beléeue in Christ By this spéech is easie to gather that this onely is a true faith which imbraceth Christ for such a one as he is preached in the Gospel Whereon also it commeth to passe that there is no fayth without Doctrine as Paule also teacheth Rom. 10.14 And this also together is to be noted that the Apostle includeth faith in the knowledge of Christ For he is the liuely image of the father and in him are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge Wherefore so soone as euer we decline from him wée canne doe nothing but wander in errour 23 He that keepeth his commaundements He confirmeth that which he had sayd before That the fellowshippe which we haue with God is manifest by that meanes if we loue one another Not that the fellowshippe beginneth there but because it cannot be idle and without his effect whersoeuer it doth begin to haue a being And he proueth that by a reson annexed because God doth not abide in vs except his spirit doe dwell in vs. But his spirit wheresoeuer he is it is of necessitie that he shew forth his force power in working Whence it is easie to gather that no other remaine in God and are vnited vnto him except such as kéep his commandements When therfore he saith And in this we know And the note of coupling together for that it is put for the rendering of a cause is as much as for or because But the circumstaunce of the present cause must be weighed For albeit this sentence agrée in words with that of Paule Rom. 8.15 where he saith that the spirite beareth witnesse in our hearts that wée are the Children of God and that by him we crye Abba Father yet in the sense there is some difference For Paul speaketh of the assuraunce of frée adoption which the Spirite of God sealeth vp in our heartes and Iohn héere hath respect to the effects which the spirite dwelling in vs dooth bring foorth As Paule also himselfe when he saith that they are the Children of God which are ledde by the Spirite of God For there also he disputeth of the mortifieng of the flesh and newnesse of life This is the effect that thereby it is manifest whether we are the Children of God if his Spirite doo rule and gouerne our life In the meane time Iohn teacheth whatsoeuer good workes is in vs that it commeth from the grace of the Spirite and that this Spirite is not gotten by our own righteousnesse but is fréely giuen vnto vs. Chap. 4. 1 BEloued beleeue not euery spirite but trie the spirits whether they be of God or no because many false Prophets are gone out into the world 2 In this knowe ye the spirit of God euerie spirite which confesseth that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God 3 And euerie spirite which confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is of that Antichrist of whom ye haue heard that he should come and euen now he is in the world HE commeth againe to the former doctrine which he had handeled in the seconde Chapter For manye as vseth to bée done in newe matters did abuse the name of
s●crete Againe forasmuch as Christ is giue● vnto vs for our sanctification doeth brin● also with him the spirit of regeneration Fina●ly forasmuch as hée doth ingrafte vs into h●● bodie this also is another reason wh● no man can haue faith vnlesse he be borne 〈◊〉 God Doth loue him which is begotten Augustine and certaine other of the olde writers did drawe this vnto Christ but falsly Fo● vnder the singular number the Apostle n●teth all the faithfull And the Text doet● plainely shew that he hath no other purpose but that he may deriue mutuall loue towarde● the brethren from faith as from the fountaine And the argument is taken from the common order of nature But he transferreth that vnto God which is séene in men And it is to be noted that the Apostle doeth not therefore speake of the faithfull onely passing by them which are without because they onely are to be beloued and that no care or consideration is to be had of the other but he doeth teach vs by this instruction to loue al men without exception séeing he doth bidde vs to beginne ●ith the godly 2 In this we knowe In these wordes ●e briefly sheweth what is true loue to wit ●hat which is referred vnto God Hetherto he ●ath taught that the true loue of God is no ●here but where the bretheren are loued al●o because this is a perpetual effect And now ●e teacheth that men are loued aright and in ●rder when as God hath the first place And ●his definition is necessarie For it commeth ●ften to passe that we doe loue men without God as prophane and carnal friendship doth ●end to no other end then to priuate commo●itie or other vaine respectes Therefore as ●efore he vrged the effect so now he vrgeth ye●ause For his meaning is that mutuall loue ●●e so had in account among vs that God bée preferred He ioyneth with the loue of God the obseruation of the lawe and worthely For séeing we loue God as the Father and Lord it cannot be but that reuerence bée ioyned with loue Further God cannot be separated from himselfe Therefore séeing hée is the fountaine of all iustice and vprightnesse it is necessarie that he which loueth him doe frame all his affections to the obedience of righteousnesse Therefore the loue of God is no idle thing But we gather also out of this place what is the true obseruation of the lawe For if we obeye God in kéeping his commaundementes inforced onely by feare we are far of from true obedience Therefore this is first that our harts do auow thēselues vnto God in a frée reuerence and then let the life bée framed vnto the rule of the Lawe This is the meaning of Moses Deu. 10.12 When in gathering the summe of the lawe hée sayth Israel what doeth the Lorde thy God require of thée but that thou loue him and obey him 3 His commaundements are not greeuous This is added least the hardnesse as it commeth to passe doe disable or diminish our indeauour For they which enter a godly and holye life with a chéerefull minde and great zeale and after hauing experience of their owne inabilitie doe waxe slowe Therfore Iohn that he maye stirre vp our indeauours denieth that the commaundements of God are gréeuous But it may be obiected on the contrary that we haue experience of a far other thing and the Scripture doth also witnesse that the yoke of the lawe is not to bée borne Act. 15.10 The reason also is manyfest For séeing the denying of our selues is as it were an entraunce to kéepe the Lawe shal we say that it is an easie thing for a man to deny himselfe Yea rather for as much as the lawe is spirituall as Paul teacheth Rom. 7.14 we are nothing but flesh there must needs be a great strife betwixt vs the lawe of God I answere that this hardnesse is not of the nature of the Lawe but of the fault of our faith which Paule also plainelye expresseth because after that he sayd that it is impossible for the law to giue vs righteousnes he by and by layeth the fault vpon the flesh This answere doth very wel reconcile the sentences of Paul and Dauid which in shew doe séeme much to differ Paul maketh the lawe the minister of death he saith it worketh nothing but the wrath of God 2. Cor. 3.7 that it was giuen that sinne might increase Rom. 4.15 that it liueth that it may slaie vs. Rom. 7.10 and 13. Dauid contrarily saith that it is swéeter vnto him then honnie and more to bée desired then golde Psalme 19.9 Among other praises thereof hée setteth these that it chéereth the heartes it conuerteth vnto the Lorde and quickneth But Paule compareth the law with the corrupt nature of man Hence is that greate conflict But Dauid teacheth howe they are affected whome God hath begotten agayne with his Spirite Hence is that swéetnesse and delight whereof the flesh tasteth not Neither truely hath Iohn ouerpassed this distinction For least anie should take this generally that the commaundements of God are not gréeuous hée restraineth it to the children of God Whereby he signifieth that this is brought to passe by the power of the spirit that it is not gréeuous vnto vs nor troublesome to obey God Yet the question séemeth not as yet to be altogether answered For the faithfull howsoeuer they be gouerned by the spirit of God yet they abide a hard cōbat with their flesh and although they sweate yet they scarce frame themselues vnto theyr duetie by the halfe part Yea rather being set as it were betwéene the sacrifice the alter as the saying is they doe almost faint vnder the burthen We doe sée how that Paule doeth sigh that he is holden prisoner and doth crie out that he is vnhappie because he cannot serue God fréely I aunswere that the lawe is called easie forasmuch as being indued with heuenlye vertue we doe ouercome the desires of the flesh For howsoeuer the flesh doth rebell yet the faithfull doe féele that they are delighted so much in no other thing as that they maye followe God Moreouer it is to be noted that Iohn doeth not speake of the bare law which conteineth nothing besides the commaundements but that he ioyneth with all the fatherlye kindnesse of God whereby the rigour of the lawe is mittigated Therefore séeing wée knowe that wée are mercifullye pardoned of the Lorde if our workes doe not satisfie the lawe that doth make vs a greate deale readyer vnto obedience as it is in Psalme 130.4 There is mercie with thée that thou maist bée feared Hence then is the easinesse of the kéeping the Lawe that the faithfull staide vp by forgiuenesse if in anye point they faile doe not despaire In the meane time the Apostle warneth vs that wée must striue that wée may serue the Lord. For the whole worlde doeth stande agaynst vs least wée shoulde goe forwarde whether God calleth vs. Therefore hée in effect shall kéepe
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 pl●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 cōtinuance of the loue of God and the infinite truth of his worde and grace The other effect is more apparātly seen For by faith he doeth purifie the hart Acts. 15.9 Rom. 6.4 Rom. ● 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 cōtinuall 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 thē with delight in the waie of euill And
cōmit whoredome ●o steale to kill because there can be no sin ●her the spirit of God raigneth But the Apostle meaneth far another thing For the Apostle ●enieth that the faithful can sin because God ●ath written his lawe in their heartes as it ●s in the Prophet Iere. 31.31 By this are knowne In few words he con●ludeth that they do in vaine challenge to them●elues a name amōgst the childrē of God which ●o not approue thēselues to be such by a godly 〈◊〉 holy life forasmuch as by this marke they ●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 lo●● one another 12 Not of Caine which was of that wicked one and slew his brother and wherefore slew●● he him Because his owne workes were euill and his brothers good 13 Meruaile not my brethren if the worl● 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 takē 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 ●●fences faultes to their charge this percel ●f obedience which they performe vnto God ●s called righteousnesse And Iohn sheweth plainly that they are not of God whosoeuer ●ine not righteously because whosoeuer God ●alleth he doth renue thē 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 oftētimes 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 cōfirmeth this sentence when hée sayeth that the faithfull haue ben so taught frō 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 confirmati●● is taken of the contrarie because hatred rai●●neth in the reprobate and children of the d●uell and holdeth as it were the chiefetie 〈◊〉 their life of which thing he setteth dow●● 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 tormēt 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 o●e●●●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 frō 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
but yet albeit the visible beames doe not pearce through vnto vs in this same we are satisfied that the Sun yéeldeth out the vse of his shining vnto vs. So after that our fayth is established in Christ certayne thinges maye come to passe which maye helpe it yet in the meane time it resteth in the alone grace of Iesus Christ 15 Is a manslayer To the end hée maye stirre vs the more vnto loue he sheweth how detestable a thing before God hatred is Ther is no man but he abhorreth man slaughter yea wée al hold the verie name to be execrable And the apostle sheweth that they are al manslayers which hate theyr bretheren Hée coulde not speake anie thing more bitterlie and yet this is not hyperbolical For whō we hate we could affoord that he perished And it is no matter if one kéepe his hands from the euill For the verie desire is condempned before God as much as is the practise Yea also when we our selues do not desire to do hurt if yet we desire that some euil may come vnto our brother from other wher euen then also we are manslaiers Therfore the Apostle doeth define the matter euen as it is where he giueth the name of manslaughter to hatred Wherby is conuinced the foolishnesse of men because when they doe euen loath the name they make almost no account of the fault it selfe And whence is that Euen because the outward face of things doth occupie all our sences before God the inwarde affection is regarded Wherefore least anye doe anye more lessen so excéeding an euill let vs learne to call backe our iudgements to the iudgement feate of God 16 By this wee knowe Now he sheweth what is true loue For it were not inoughe to prayse it excepte the power of it were knowen And hée setteth forth a perfect rule of loue in the example of Christ because in not sparing his owne lyfe hée made it knowen howe much hée loued vs. Therefore hée biddeth vs labour to this point The summe is that therein is our loue commended if wée transferre the loue of our selues vnto our bretheren So as euerie one after a sorte forgetting himselfe take care for others It is indéede most certaine that wée are not farre vnlyke vnto Christ but the Apostle doeth commend vnto vs imitation because albeit we attain not vnto him yet it is good that wée followe his steppes a farre off Indéede when the Apostle giueth counsaile to hypocrites that they cast awaye vaine boasting which bragge that they haue the fayth of Christ without brotherlye loue hée doeth shewe that excepte this desire doeth preuayle in our heartes wée haue nothing to doe with Christ Neyther yet as I sayde doeth hée so set before vs the loue of Christ that hée requireth an equall loue of vs. For what shoulde that bée else but a driuing of all at once to desperation But so he will haue our affections framed that wée maye desire to bestowe both our life and death first to the glorie of God and then to the good of our neighbour There is another difference betwixt vs and Christ that there cannot bée the same power of our death For neither is the wrath of God pacified by our bloud nor lyfe attayned vnto by our death nor the debt of others is paide But the Apostle by this comparison did not respect what was the end or effect of the death of Christ but he onelye woulde that our lyfe should be conformed to his example 17 If anie haue this worlds good Nowe he preacheth of the common offices of loue which procéed from that chiefe fountaine that is when we are prepared to reache out our selues euen vnto death for our brethren Albeit he séemeth to reason from the more to the lesse For he that refuseth to ease the want of his brother with his good while his life is not touched much lesse will he bestowe his lyfe Therefore hée denyeth that there is loue in vs if we leaue our bretheren destitute of our helpe But he accompteth so highly of externall liberalitie that together he sheweth most fitly what is the true way to do well what kinde of affectiō ought to guide the same Let therfore this be the first proposition That no man doth truly loue the brethren but hée wil shew forth the same in effect as oft as occasion doth require Another how much riches anie man hath accordingly he is bound to reléeue the brethren because the Lord by this meanes doth minister vnto vs matter to exercise our loue The third that euery ones necessitie is to be cōsidered because as euerye one néedeth meate drinke or anye other thing wherof we haue store he doeth euen so craue our duetie The fourth that ther is no liberality doth please god except it be ioyned Te Sumpatheia to a cōpassion many séeme to be liberall which yet are not anye whit touched with the miseries of their brethren But the Apostle biddeth vs to open our bowells which is done when wée put vpon vs almost the same féeling that we may bewaile together the euills of others no other waies then as our owne The loue of God Heare the question is of the loue of brethren Therfore why doth he name the loue of God Verily the principle must be kept that it cannot be but it is the loue of God shoulde beget in vs the loue of our bretheren And by this meanes God taketh an experience of our loue towardes him while he commaundeth vs to loue men for his sake as it is in the 16. Psalme My dooing well extendeth not vnto thée but my will and my desire is vnto the Saints which are in the earth 18 Let vs not loue in word Ther is a granting in this first part For we cannot loue onely with the tongue but because manye doe fasly boast of this the Apostle giueth the name of the thing to their dissimulation as vseth often to be done Albeit in the other part he reproueth their vanitie when he denieth that it is the truth except it be in déede For thus the words are to be resolued let vs not professe with tongue that we loue but let vs approue it by déede because this is the ryght condition of loue 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth shal perswade our hearts before him 20 But if our heartes accuse vs truely God is greater then our hearts knoweth all things 21 Beloued if our hearts accuse vs not wee haue trust towards God 22 And if we aske anie thing we receiue it of him because we keepe his commandements and doe those things that are pleasaunt before him 19 HE taketh the name of Truth héere in another sence but it is an excellent giuing of a name that if we loue our bretheren truely we haue héereby a testimonie that we are borne of God who is the truth or that the truth of God hath place in vs. But let vs alwayes remember that we haue not