The Nevv Testament of Iesus Christ, translated faithfully into English, out of the authentical Latin, according to the best corrected copies of the same, diligently conferred vvith the Greeke and other editions in diuers languages; vvith arguments of bookes and chapters, annotations, and other necessarie helpes, for the better vnderstanding of the text, and specially for the discouerie of the corruptions of diuers late translations, and for cleering the controversies in religion, of these daies: in the English College of Rhemes

THE ARGVMENT OF S. IOHNS THREE EPISTLES.

OF S. Iohn vvas said in the Argument before his Gospel. Novv here folovv his three Epistles: one to al Catholikes (though* 1.1 some auncients do cal it, Ad Parthos:) the other tvvo being very short, vnto a certaine Ladie, & to one Gai∣us. The effect of al is, to vvitnes vnto them the certaintie of the Catholike faith, and to exhort them to continue still in it: also to loue the Catholike Church▪ and so, neither to become heretikes, nor Schismatikes: but rather to auoid al such, as the forerunners of Antichrist, and to remember, that Catholikes neede not to goe to schole to any such Masters, hauing at home in the Catholike Church, the doctrine of the holy Ghost him self, vvho vvas giuen to the Church visibly in the beginning, to leade her into al truth, and to continue vvith her for euer. Therfore he saith▪ That vvhich you haue heard from the beginning,* 1.2 let it abide in you. Likevvise a litle after. v. 27. and ep. 2. v. 6. This is the commaundement, that as you haue heard from the beginning, you vvalke in the same, because many seducers are gone out into the vvorld. and v. 8. & 9.

And not only thus in general, but also in particular he expresseth the pointes vvhich the heretikes did then call in question. Some vvere about Christ him self. for they denied that IESVS is Christ, that he is the very sonne of God, that he is incarnate. Ep. 1. c. 2. v. 22. and Ep. 2. v. 7. And against such it vvas that he vvrote his Gospel also, as he there signifieth. Ioh. 20. v. 31. Other pointes are about our iustification,* 1.3 against onely faith, and for good vvorkes, as also S. Aug. noted, vvhose vvordes vvere cited before. Herevpon he saith: If vve say vve haue societie vvith God,* 1.4 and vvalke in darkenes, vve lie. Ep. 1. c. 1. Againe, He that saith he knovveth God, and keepeth not his commaundements, is a lier. Againe, This is the charitie of God, that vve keepe his cōmaunde∣ments, and his commaundements are not heauie. Finally, Children let no man seduce you, he that doth iustice, is iust, euen as he is iust. Ep. 1. c. 3. v. 7. 8. 9. likevvise c. 2. v. 29. and in deede in all the three Epistles through out, he doth inculcate good vvorkes and keeping the commaundements, against the heresie of only faith.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Higinus ep. 2. to. 1. Cōcil. August. li. 2. Euang. quaest. q. 39.
• * 1.2

  1. Ioh. 2. v. 24.
• * 1.3

  De fid. & op. c. 14.
• * 1.4

  1. Ioh. •• & 5.