The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the…The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the…

And if we regarded well the Prophets reason,¹ surely we should be more moved with this exhortation that is set here: No man ever hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it. If every of us gave himself too consider what care he hath of his own person, how tenderly he cherisheth all the parts of his body even too the least toe of his foot, how carefully he forecasteth that nothing may want him, and how provident he is in all respects for it, so as if any member be ill at ease, he endeavoureth too remedy it, that he may maintain himself in health: I say, if every of us bethought himself throughly after that fashion: surely then would it be a good teaching too us too do the like too our neighbours, that is too say, too all men: and much more consequently, the fathers too their children, and the children too their fathers, the husbands too their wives, and the wives to their husbands, and so forth mutually according as it hath pleased our Lord too link us in nearer bond, as I have said afore. And if any body reply hereunto, •ush, he, or he is not my self: (I answer,) then must it needs follow that thou art no man. For (as I said afore) Gods creating and maintaining of us, are with condition, that we should be all as one mass. For though there be many fingers and many s••ewes in a mans body: yet is that no let but that they be all one thing, neither is it any impeachment why one member should not succour another as well as it self. For it is unkindly that the body should fall too banding, and too dividing of it self into factions: neither is it possible that it should so. Then if every of us be so wedded to his own profit, that in the mean while he disdain others through pride, or else be cruel, so as if he see all the miseries in the world, he hath no compassion too relieve them, nor can find in his har• to bear with any thing, or to forgive it: is it not a sign that we have forgotten our own nature?

And if wee rgarded well the Prophets reason,¹ surely wee shoulde bee more moued with this exhortation that is set heere: No man euer hat•d his ovvne flesh, but nurrisheth and cherisheth it. If euery of vs gaue himselfe too consider what care he hath of his owne person, how tenderly he cherisheth all the partes of his bodie euen too the least toe of his foote, how carefully he forecasteth that nothing may want him, and how prouident he is in all respectes for it, so as if any member bee ill at ease, he indeuereth too remedye it, that he may maynteyne himself in health: I say, if euery of vs bethought himself throughly after that fashyon: surely then would it bee a good teaching too vs too doo the lyke too our neyghbours, that is too say, too al men: and much more consequently, the fathers too their children, and the children too their fathers, the husbandes too their wyues, and the wyues to their husbandes, and so foorth mutually according as it hath pleased our Lord too linke vs in neerer bond, as I haue sayde afore. And if any body reply heereuntoo, ush, he, or he is not my selfe: (I answer,) then must it needes followe that thou art no man. For (as I sayde afore) Gods creating and maynteyning of vs, are with condition, that wee should bee all as one masse. For though there bee many fingers and many sewes in a mans bodie: yit is that no let but that they bee all one thing, nother is it any impeachment why one member should not succour another as well as it selfe. For it is vnkyndly that the bodie should fall too banding, and too deuiding of it selfe intoo factions: nother is it possible that it should so. Then if euery of vs bee so wedded to his owne profit, that in the meane whyle he disdeyne others through pryde, or else bee cruell, so as if hee see all the miseries in the world, he hath no compassion too releeue them, nor can fynd in his har to beare with any thing, or to forgiue it: is it not a signe that wee haue forgotten our owne nature?