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…

Namely that we should love him with all our hart, with all our mind, and with all our power and strength: and our neighbours as our selves. Then if we think too be allowed of God, and charity reign not in us, we deceive our selves. The world may like well of us, but all our whole life shall be utterly loathsome before God, until Charity be settled in our hearts, so as she govern us, and we tend always unto her, yea and work all our works by her. Now then, seeing that love is the true perfection of the faithful, and of all Gods children: let us see what it importeth. For if a man brag that he hath it, and in the mean while have neither lowliness, nor gentleness, nor patience: he maketh the holy Ghost a liar, who not without cause showeth, what is betokened by Charity or love. For he hath not set down the bare word, and only said, be ye charitable: but he hath also showed us what is meant by it. Namely first of all, that we must beat down this pride which beguileth us, and maketh us dose with our horns against God, insomuch that it were right hard for us too be lowly minded towards men, when we cannot hold our selves meekly in obedience under God. Now then, let us fight in such wise, as all pride may be corrected in us: and therewithal enforce our selves always too humility, that we may be kind hearted and fellowlyke with the faithful: which cannot be done but by bearing one with another. The very heathen men had the skill too say, that if we had the wit and discretion too see the vices that are in our selves, we should be patient toward others. For why? I have need too be borne withal my self, and if I do not the like too other folks, how partially do I deal? This consideration alone ought too tame us sufficiently, though there were neither Law nor Gospel. Wherefore inasmuch as we know that charity importeth these three things: let us learn too be patient, not only when any wrong is done us, but also ⟨p. 157⟩when we see our neighbours too be weak and feeble, and not yet come too such perfection as were requisite. And though they be not so well forward and settled in Gods word (as we would wish,) yet let us pity them, and with all meekness endeavour too use such correction towards them, as neither their vices may be nourished, nor the parties themselves be cast in despair.

Namely that wee should loue him with all our hart, with all our mynd, and with all our power and strength: and our neyghbours as our selues. Then if wee thinke too bee allowed of God, and charitie reigne not in vs, wee deceyue our selues. The world may like well of vs, but all our whole lyfe shall bee vtterly lothsome before God, vntill Charitie bee setled in our hartes, so as shee gouerne vs, and wee tend alwayes vntoo hir, yea and woorke all our woorkes by hir. Now then, seeing that loue is the trew perfection of the faithfull, and of all Gods children: let vs see what it importeth. For if a man brag that he hath it, and in the meane whyle haue nother lowlinesse, nor gentlenesse, nor pacience: he maketh the holy Ghost a lyer, who not without cause sheweth, what is betokened by Charitie or loue. For he hath not set downe the bare woord, and only sayd, be yee charitable: but he hath also shewed vs what is ment by it. Namely first of all, that wee must beate downe this pride which beguyleth vs, and maketh vs dosse with our hornes ageinst God, insomuch that it were right hard for vs too bee lowely mynded towardes men, when wee cannot hold our selues meekely in obedience vnder God. Now then, let vs fyght in such wyse, as all pryde may bee corrected in vs: and therwithall inforce our selues alwayes too humilitie, that wee may bee kynd harted and fellowlyke with the faythfull: which cannot bee doone but by bearing one with another. The very heathen men had the skill too say, that if wee had the wit and discretion too see the vyces that are in our selues, we should bee pacient toward others. For why? I haue neede too bee borne withall my selfe, and if I doo not the lyke too other folkes, how partially doo I deale? This consideration alone ought too tame vs sufficiently, though there were nother Lawe nor Gospell. Wherefore in asmuch as wee knowe that charitie importeth these three things: let vs learne too bee pacient, not onely when any wrong is doone vs, but also