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.

8 If we say, that wee haue no sinne, wee deceiue our selues, and the Truth is not in vs.

9 If we confesse our sinnes, hee is faith∣full and iust, that hee maye forgiue vs our sinnes, and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteous∣nesse.

10 If we say we haue no sinne, we make him a lier, and his word is not in vs.

NOW he commendeth that grace by ne∣cessitie. For because no man is frée from sinne: he sheweth that we are all cast away and without hope of remedie, except y^e Lord doo help vs by y^e way of forgiuenesse. This is the reason why he so vehemently vrgeth, that no man is innocent: that all maye the bet∣ter knowe, that they haue néede of mercye, which maye deliuer them from banishment, and so they might the more be stirred vp to the obtayning of this same so necessarye a good.

By the name of sinne is noted not one∣lye a wicked and defiled inclination: but the fault which doth truely make vs guiltie before GOD.

Further, séeing the speach is generall: it followeth, that none of the Saints, which are, which were, or which shall be, are ex∣empted from this number. Wherefore Au∣gustine dooth excéeding fitlie refell the cauill of the Pelagians with this testimonie, and dooth also wiselye weigh, that the confession of guyltinesse is required, not for humilities sake: but lest in lying we deceiue our selues. When he addeth, The truth is not in vs. Af∣ter his manner he confirmeth the former sen∣tence by rehearsing it againe: albeit it is not a simple rehearsing as other where, but he sayth they are deceiued because they glo∣rie in lying.

9 If wee confesse. Againe, hée pro∣miseth the faythfull, that GOD will be fa∣uourable vnto them, so that they acknow∣ledge themselues to be sinners. For it is a most excellent thing that wée bée certainlye perswaded, that there is a readie and pre∣pared Reconciliation for vs with GOD, when we haue sinned otherwise wée conti∣nually beare Hell shutte vp within vs. Few indéede doo weigh this, howe miserable and vnhappie a thing the wauering and vnqui∣etetnesse of mans conscience is: But so the case standeth with vs, that hell dooth raigne

where ther is not peace with God. How much more ought we to imbrace this promise with all our heart, which offereth assured forgiue∣nesse to all that doe confesse their sinnes. Fur∣ther, he teacheth that it is founded vppon the faith and righteousnesse of God, because God who hath promised is true and plaine, for they that thinke he is called iust, because he doeth iustifie vs freely, in my iudgement, do reason too subtilly. For this iustice depēdeth of faith, but each of them is anexed to the promise, for otherwise God may be iust, & yet deale with vs in most high iustice: but because he hath bound himselfe to vs by his word, he will not be taken for iust except hée doe forgiue. But this confession when it is referred to God, re∣quireth a sincere affection of the heart, and y^e heart cannot speak to God without newnesse of lyfe. Therefore it doeth containe in it true repentance. God indéede forgiueth fréely: but so, that his easines to mercie, be not an intise∣ment to sinne.

Shall cleanse vs. The word of purging sée∣meth to be taken in another sence then before. For he said we were cleansed by the bloud of Christ, because by his benefit our sins are not laid to our charge. But now after that he hath spoken of forgiuenesse, he addeth also y^e God

doth purge vs from vnrighteousnes, that this second member may be diuers from the ••••rst. So he signifieth that a double fruit doth arise to vs of confession, that God being pacified w^t the sacrifice of Christ, doth forgiue vs, and y^e he doth correct and amend vs. If anie man ob∣iect, y^e while we are in this world, we are ne∣uer purged frō all vnrighteousnesse, as much as belongeth to reformatiō, it is true indéede: but Iohn doth not teach, what God doth now perfect in vs. He is faithful, he saith, y^t he may make vs cleane y^t is not to day nor to morow. For as long as we are cōpassed about w^t flesh, we must be in continual going forward. But that which he hath once begun, he doth dayly proceede to do, till at the last he doth performe it. So Paule saith, That we are elect, that we may appeare before God w^tout reproofe. Eph. 1.4. and else where, y^t the church is cleansed, y^t it may be without spot or wrinkle: Eph. 5.27. Albeit if anie had rather interpret this place otherwise, as if he spake one thing twice, I leaue it frée.

10 Wee make him a lyar. Hée goeth further, that they blaspheame GOD, which claime purenesse vnto themselues. For we sée howe that euerie where hée condempneth all mankinde of sinne. Wherefore hée entereth

battayle with God: whosoeuer séeketh to shunne this determination, and doth reproue him of a lye, as if he did presse them that de∣serued it not. For confirmation sake he ad∣deth, that His word is not in vs. As if he shuld haue sayde, that we cast aside that his so ex∣cellent doctrine, which includeth all vnder guiltinesse. Wherevpon we gather, that then we haue rightly profited in the worde of the Lord, when we are truely humbled, y^t mour∣ning vnder the burden of our sinnes, we learne to flye to the mercie of God, and rest our selues no other where then in the father∣ly frée mercie of God.