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…

So then let us mark, that Saint Paul exhorteth us here too true steadfastness, too the intent we should never be weary of well doing, though we have never so many occasions too thrust us aside. For even such as are best minded (too see too) do nevertheless take pitch at it, when men show themselves unkind towards them: and when they consider, that for their well doing men will requite them with all evil, they be sore grieved at it, and become quite out of hart. And that is a cause why so few continue in the fear of God, and walk as they ought too do: for it seemeth too them, that they have lost their labour in doing well. Again, there followeth this inconvenience also, that the wicked take occasion too rush out so much more into all manner of harmfulness: so that if a man live in simplicity, and bear the wrongs patiently that are done unto him: all men will be doing with him, and every man would eat him up, as if he were a sheep among an hundred Wolves. Such as are easily entreated too give of their goods too their neighbours, seem too be set out too the spoil, and every man will be catching all that ever he can from them. When men see so lea•de dealings in th• world, it maketh every man too take out his own share, as men say. But contrariwise it is told us here, that if we be rooted and grounded in charity, although men thrust us aside, and discourage us by their unthankfulness: yet will we not cease too hold out in well doing, because we have a good and deep root.

So then let vs marke, that Saint Paule exhorteth vs here too true stedfastnesse, too the intent we should neuer bee weery of wel doing, though wee haue neuer so many occasions too thrust vs aside. For euen such as are best mynded (too see too) doo neuerthelesse take pritch at it, when men shewe themselues vnkind towardes them: and when they consider, that for their well dooing men wyll requite them with all euyll, they bee sore greeued at it, and become quite out of hart. And that is a cause why so fewe continue in the feare of God, and walke as they ought too doo: for it seemeth too them, that they haue lost their labour in doing well. Agein, there foloweth this inconuenience also, that the wicked take occasion too rush out so much more intoo all maner of harmfulnesse: so that if a man liue in simplicitie, and beare the wrongs paciently that are doone vntoo hym: all men wyll bee dooing with him, and euery man would eate hym vp, as if he were a sheepe among an hundred Woolues. Such as are easily intreated too giue of their goodes too their neighbours, seeme too bee set out too the spoyle, and euery man wyll bee catching al that euer he can from them. When men see so leade dealings in th world, it maketh euery man too take out his owne share, as men say. But contrariwise it is told vs heere, that if wee bee rooted and grounded in charitie, although men thrust vs aside, and discorage vs by their vnthankfulnesse: yit wyll wee not ceasse too hold out in well dooing, bicause wee haue a good and deepe roote.