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 too confirm the matter yet better, he sayeth, that every of us hath received grace according too the measure of Christs gift, or giving. Wherein S. Paul showeth us, that God useth a wonderful manner too draw us too him: which is, by dealing forth his gifts in such wise unto us, as every of us hath need too be helped and succoured of his neighbours. For of our selves we be so wedded too our selves, as there is none of us but he would be as alone, were it not that necessity constraineth and bindeth us too those whom we have need of. God therefore too correct the pride and presumption that are too deeply rooted in mankind, hath so dealt forth his gifts by certain measure, as every man perceiveth well, that he is bound and beholden too him for the things he hath received,¹ and that there is no such perfection in himself that he can forbear other men, but that we must be fain too communicate together, and that with such mutual good will, as every of us endeavour too make the things that God hath given him, available too the profit and furtherance of his brethren: and therewithal be contented too borrow of other men, and too suffer himself too be helped and succoured at their hands, according as he sees himself too have need thereof. And this serveth too bring us back again, too the thing that we have seen afore, namely, that we shall never have agreement among us, without humility and meekness. We see then whereat S. Paul aimed. He handleth the same matter in the .xii. Chapter of the first Epistle too the Corinthians. For there he taketh the similitude of a mans body,² too show that we be too far out of our wits, when every of us despiseth his neighbours and is wedded too himself. How now, sayeth he? Our members or limbs have no particular understanding by themselves: the hand hath no wit too conceive by reason what his office is: no more have the fingers that are fastened too it, no nor yet the legs, nor the feet. Then is there not any part of the body that hath any private understanding too it self. But yet notwithstanding, the hand doth willingly acknowledge it self bound too serve all the rest of the body, so as it never refuseth too do it. If there be any ache, if there be any disease, or if there be any other need, always the hand is walking from to side too the other.

Now too confirme the matter yit better, he sayeth, that euery of vs hath receyued grace according too the measure of Christes gift, or giuing. Wherin S. Paule sheweth vs, that God vseth a wonderfull maner too drawe vs too him: which is, by dealing foorth his giftes in such wise vntoo vs, as euery of vs hath neede too bee helped and succored of his neyghbours. For of our selues wee bee so wedded too our selues, as there is none of vs but he would be as alone, were it not that necessitie constreyneth and byndeth vs too those whom wee haue neede of. God therfore too correct the pryde and presumption that are too deepely rooted in mankynd, hath so delt foorth his giftes by certeyne measure, as euery man perceyueth well, that he is bound and beholden too him for the things he hath receyued,