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…

Now if the excellentest sort of all, have not whereof to vaunt themselves: what shall the meaner sort do, and such as are despised too the worldward, and have nothing too set themselves out withal? They fight against nature, if they will needs vaunt themselves. Too be short, a man shall always find this ancient proverb true, that he which knoweth himself best, will esteem himself least. But we must pass yet further: which is, that we must understand how we be not any thing of our selves, nor can do aught that is any thing worth, and that the good which God hath put into us, ought too serve too teach us meekness. When we once know that well, then shall we be throughly humbled, say I. And the true Lowliness or humility is not too make a fair face, or too pretend a mild countenance, as many do, who will speak gently and lovingly, and look ruefully, and yet for all that, cease not too be as full of pride, as toads within. Too be short, humility importeth such a meekness, as pulleth us down in our selves, and suffereth us not too advance our selves for any degree of honour, nor too seek estimation above our neighbours. Now I have told you, that we shall never be meek, nor never have any gentleness and mildness in us, until we be brought low. For pride doth ever hold scorn of all the world. And we see also, that such as are overweening, and stand in their own conceit, believing themselves too be well worthy, and too deserve too be exalted above the common array, do therewithal become very strange, insomuch that men dare scarce look upon them: they thrust away one, and drive away another a great way of. Therefore we must have learned too humble our selves, too the end we embrace such as are our true brothers, specially sith we know that we have need too be borne with at their hands. For behold, it is said of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he doth easily let us come unto him,¹ because he himself was tempted, and made like unto us, and that he beareth with our weakness and infirmities, because he hath had experience of them in himself. Now it is certain, that our Lord had not any vice in him, for he is the wellspring of all goodness.

Now if the excellētest sort of al, haue not wherof to vaunt thēselues: what shall the meaner sort doo, and such as are dispyzed too the worldward, and haue nothing too set themselues out withall? They fyght ageinst nature, if they will needes vaunt themselues. Too bee short, a man shall alwayes fynd this auncient prouerb trew, that he which knoweth himself best, will esteeme himself least. But wee must passe yit further: which is, that we must vnderstand how we be not any thing of our selues, nor can doo aught that is any thing woorth, and that the good which God hath put intoo vs, ought too serue too teach vs meeknesse. When wee once know that well, then shall wee bee throughly humbled, say I. And the trew Lowlynesse or humilitie is not too make a fayre face, or too pretend a myld countenance, as many doo, who will speake gently and louingly, and looke rufully, and yit for all that, ceasse not too bee as full of pryd, as toades within. Too be short, humility importeth such a meekenesse, as pulleth vs downe in our selues, and suffereth vs not too aduaunce our selues for any degree of honour, nor too seeke estimation aboue our neyghbours. Now I haue told you, that wee shall neuer bee meeke, nor neuer haue any gentlenesse and myldnesse in vs, vntill wee bee brought lowe. For pryde doth euer hold scorne of all the world. And wee see also, that such as are ouerweening, and stand in their owne conceyt, beleeuing themselues too bee well woorthy, and too deserue too bee exalted aboue the common aray, doo therewithall become very straunge, insomuch that men dare scarce looke vppon them: they thrust away one, and driue away another a great way of. Therefore wee must haue learned too humble our selues, too the end wee imbrace such as are our trew brothers, specially sith wee knowe that wee haue neede too bee borne with at their handes. For behold, it is sayd of our Lord Iesus Christ, that he dooth easely let vs come vntoo him,