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…

Wherefore too the intent we may fare the better by this doctrine, let us weigh well these words of Saint Paul, that never any ⟨p. 295⟩man hated his own flesh, but that every man nourisheth and cherisheth it. Need we a schoolmaster too teach us this? Needeth God too send us his Angels from heaven, or need we too take much pain too learn this art or cunning? (No:) we be but too much given to it already by nature. Sith it is so, every of us bears his own evidence rolled in record against himself, and his own indictment ready framed: there shall need no long examination before God. For the more careful that men have bin for their own bodies, the more forecasting they have bin for the maintenance of it, and (to be short) the mo signs that they show of loving themselves: the greevouslyer shall they be condemned before God, because they have not done the like towards them which are their own flesh, yea though they were most unknown and of the furthest country in the world, as I said afore. And if this be general for all: what shall become of it, when the son setteth himself with all outrage and stubbornness against his father, so as he hath no meekness too suffer himself too be governed by him, but even utterly shaketh him of, for whom he ought to spend himself even too the death? Also when the fathers on their side use nothing but bitterness towards their children, or govern them in such wise, as they do but provoke them to impatience: When the husbands deal so roughly with their wives, as it may utterly discourage them, and cast them into sorrow, so as they shall let themselves loose, and fall disorderedly too all manner of lewdness: When the women likewise be stiffenecked, and cannot be brought to good order: I say, when these disorders are among us: let us assure our selves there needeth none other record too condemn us, than the care that every of us hath had of himself, in that we have bin mindful of our own welfare, and laboured (earnestly) for it, and in the mean while broken the bond that our Lord had set among us, and every of us drawn alone by himself, and forgotten all duty of loving kindness, insomuch that we would (if we had could) have made every of us a new world. Truly there is no man of that ability, that he can forbear the help of his neighbours:

Wherfore too the intent wee may fare the better by this doctrine, let vs wey well these woordes of Saint Paule, that neuer any ⟨p. 295⟩