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…

Howbeit Saint Paul addeth moreover, that it is according too the measure of Christ, according unto that which I have declared: that is too wit, that we shall not find perfection in any man alive, but every man hath need too be succoured, and that not only in respect of this common life. True it is, that our Lord showeth us aforehand, how it is his will too hold us linked together, because we would be too fleeting too separate our selves asunder. For every of us cannot be a Baker, every of us cannot be a Husbandman, every of us cannot be a Cutler: insomuch that there is not that man which needeth not the help of one that seemeth his inferior, yea and a rascal in comparison of himself, neither could we live one day in this world, without communicating together. Our Lord bridleth us in this aforehand, because he sees we be as it were harebrained, and would hardly be kept in unity. But here he treateth of the spiritual gifts, whereby God showeth that he is a father too us, and holdeth us as the household folk of his Church. Let the perfectest man that is, examine himself and he shall find, that his receiving of more than other men have, is in such wise, that it is by measure. Howsoever the case stand, let none of us presume too have all: for it must needs be, that a man is too much blinded with pride, if he be of that mind. But when we have our measure, let us consider the two points which I have touched afore:¹ namely, that he which hath received the larger measure, is the more straitly bound too employ every whit of it too the common benefit of the Church. And moreover that he must help himself by his neighbours, and consider that he cannot forbear them, and therefore conform himself quietly unto them, and seek no more but to be as a member of the body, that all of us may hold on together too our head, desirous that Jesus Christ may have such preeminence over us, as every of us may obey him, and he lead us too God his father. And so ye see what Saint Paul meant in speaking of the said measure.

Howbeeit Saint Paule addeth moreouer, that it is according too the meazure of Christ, according vntoo that which I haue declared: that is too wit, that we shal not fynd perfection in any man aliue, but euery man hath neede too bee succored, and that not only in respect of this common lyfe. Trew it is, that our Lord sheweth vs aforehand, how it is his will too hold vs linked toogither, bycause wee would bee too fleeting too separate our selues asunder. For euery of vs cannot bee a Baker, euery of vs cannot bee a Husbandman, euery of vs cannot bee a Cutler: insomuch that there is not that man which needeth not the help of one that seemeth his inferiour, yea and a rascall in comparison of himself, nother could we liue one day in this world, without communicating toogither. Our Lord brydleth vs in this aforehand, bycause he sees wee bee as it were harebrayned, and would hardly bee kept in vnitie. But heere he treateth of the spirituall giftes, wherby God sheweth that he is a father too vs, and holdeth vs as the housholdfolke of his Church. Let the perfectest man that is, examin himself and he shall fynd, that his receyuing of more than other men haue, is in such wyse, that it is by meazure. Howsoeuer the cace stand, let none of vs presume too haue all: for it must needes bee, that a man is too much blynded with pryde, if he bee of that mynd. But when wee haue our meazure, let vs consider the twoo poyntes which I haue touched afore: