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…

Furthermore let us mark also, that kind heartednesse is the mother of patience, and the continual bringer forth of that fruit: and that if we be too stern, it is a sign that there is cruelty in us, and that we be as wild beasts. And thereby also we be convicted of pride and overweening, & that we have not well learned the Lesson that S. Paul copieth us out here. In deed we ought too be grieved at the faults of our neighbours, & we must not feed them by our flattery, as the common fashion of the world is. But yet must our zeal be so measured, as we must bear with a great sort (for we our selves also have need too be borne withal) and not be hastier with other folks, then we would that they should be with us, but always keep this natural uprightness, of not doing that thing to our neighbour, which we would not have done too our selves, which is the sum of the Law and the Prophets as our Lord Jesus Christ sayeth. Ye see then how our zeal ought too be mingled with kind hartednesse:¹ for if it be sauced altogether with vinegar, what will come of it? There will be no taste or savour in it. Therefore it must have some oil put unto it. And so there must be some temperature in all corrections too sweeten them withal, that they be not over rigorous. Too be short, S. Paul meant too show us here, that although we ought not too bolster out any evil, but rather too be moved with Godly zeal to condemn such as deserve it: yet notwithstanding we must not reject the weaklings, as though they were utter reprobates or castaways, but labour too win them too our God, according as we have seen already, that that way ought too be observed. For there are two evil extremities: but look whatsoever God hath ordained by his holy spirit, that will always be found too be for every mans welfare.

Furthermore let vs marke also, that kinde heartednesse is the mother of pacience, and the continuall bringer foorth of that frute: and that if wee bee too sterne, it is a signe that there is crueltie in vs, and that wee be as wild beasts. And therby also we be conuicted of pryde and ouerweening, & that we haue not well learned the Lesson that S. Paule copyeth vs out heere. In deede wee ought too bee greeued at the faults of our neighbours, & wee must not feede them by our flattery, as the common fashion of the world is. But yit must our zeale bee so measured, as we must beare with a great sort (for we our selues also haue neede too bee borne withall) and not bee hastier with other folkes, then we would that they should bee with vs, but alwayes kepe this naturall vprightnesse, of not dooing that thing to our neighbour, which wee would not haue doone too our selues, which is the summe of the Lawe and the Prophets as our Lord Iesus Christ sayeth. Yee see then how our zeale ought too bee mingled with kynd hartednesse: