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…

The one of these evil customs, is, that a man cannot be well taken with the world, except he flatter. Who so intendeth to maintain himself, must play the blinkard and shut his eyes, when he sees a number of things in his friends worthy of blame. And yet in the mean while is not such silence a secret betraying? For we see, that they whom we pretend to love, are in the high way to destruction, and wholly hardened in their naughtiness: and yet notwithstanding, whereas we ought to waken them, or else too set a looking glass before them, that they might behold their lewdness, and be ashamed of it, we wink at it. In stead of so doing, every of us doth cokes other, and cloaketh the things that ought too be sharply rebuked: insomuch that those flatteries are no better but plasters too ease the sore, and in the mean while to feed the root of it within.

The one of these euill customes, is, that a man cannot be wel taken with the world, except he flatter. Who so intendeth to mainteyne himself, must play the blinkard and shut his eyes, when he sees a number of things in his freends woorthy of blame. And yit in the meane while is not such silence a secret betraying? For we see, that they whom wee pretend to loue, are in the high way to destruction, and wholly hardened in their naughtinesse: and yit notwithstanding, wheras we ought to waken them, or else too set a looking glasse before them, that they might behold their leaudenesse, and be ashamed of it, wee winke at it. In steade of so dooing, euery of vs dooth cokes other, and cloketh the things that ought too bee sharpely rebuked: insomuch that those flatteries are no better but playsters too ease the sore, and in the meane whyle to feede the roote of it within.

The other evil extremity, is when we be so rigorous, that every little fault is enough too make us too storm. Sith it is so, we shall never have the spirit of meekness aforesaid, if we be not guided and governed by Gods spirit (as I said afore.) And hereby a man may see and judge, that there is a certain pride lurking within us, wherethrough we take to much upon our selves. To be short, there is never any over great rigour without cruelty, nor cruelty without pride. Whosoever despiseth his neighbours, setteth to much by himself: & he that can bear with nothing, but is so terribly stern, that all sins are (in his opinion) unpardonable: showeth also that there is no manhood or humanity in him. So much the more therefore doth it stand us on hand, to bear in mind that which S. Paul showeth us here, which is, too forgive and forbear. Not that we should allow mens vices (as I said afore) nor that they should have leave too do evil without rebuking, but that we should patiently rebuke mens faults and be sorry for them, and in so doing of our duty, not forget also to bear with the frailty and weakness of our neighbours, so as we shame them not, ne strike them into such heaviness, that they fall into despair, when they see there is no forbearing, nor any forgiving at our hands. That then is the thing that we ought to bear in mind. And it is the very cause why S. Paul addeth, that men should bear one with another in charity or love. As if he should say, that forasmuch as we be brothers together, there should need none other rule than that, too make us as well kind hearted, as also patient and lowly. And for proof thereof he sayeth in the thirteenth of the first Epistle