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 if a man should demand, Is every man then alike and equal in the Church? Saint Paul, in speaking of portion and measure, meaneth not that God hath distributed like portion too every member. For the leg is not the eye: and yet nevertheless, the leg, according too his quality, hath that which it needeth. And for the same cause also Saint Paul sayeth, that the members should be so knit together, as they might make up one whole body through love, and by that mean have every one wherewith too be contented. There are then two things which we must mark: namely that Gods gifts are divers, and that some are much more excellent than other. For the Eye is an excellenter member than the foot, and we see also how it is had in honour: and the mouth is more than the leg. Mark it then for one point, that there is such diversity, that our Lord exalteth and honoureth whom he listeth more than others. There are both great and small in the Church, and all must not be teachers and Prophets. But yet this diversity letteth not, but that every member hath his desire, and that which is meet for it, so as the foot envieth not the hand, nor the hand the foot, no more than any of them both envieth the eyes. Too what purpose should it serve the hand too have sight? It were a thing which not only could do it no good, but also should do it harm. If every member had all offices in it self, surely the body should be confounded and come to nought. So then the hand hath his perfection in that which belongeth unto him, I mean in his degree: and likewise the foot. Howbeit S. Pauls meaning is, that it ought too suffice us, that the Church be edified in common▪ For if our neighbours be enriched with Gods gifts: the same redoundeth partly unto us. And on the other side, if we have received a larger measure of grace: we be the more bound too impart the same too such as have need of it. That therefore is the thing which Saint Paul meaneth too set down in this text, saying, that if the knitting be after that manner, the body shall be well builded and made up.

Now if a man shoulde demaunde, Is euery man then alyke and equall in the Church? Saint Paule, in speaking of portion and measure, meaneth not that God hath distributed lyke portion too euerye member. For the legge is not the eye: and yit •euerthelesse, the leg, according too his qualitie, hath that which it needeth. And for the same cause also Saint Paule sayeth, that the members should bee so knit togither, as they myght make vp one whole body through loue, and by that meane haue euerye one wherewith too bee contented. There are then twoo things which wee must marke: namely that Gods gifts are diuers, and that some are much more excellent than other. For the Eye is an excellenter member than the foote, and wee see also how it is had in honour: and the mouth is more than the leg. Marke it then for one poynt, that there is such diuersitie, that our Lord exalteth and honoreth whom he listeth more than others. There are both great and small in the Church, and all must not bee teachers and Prophets. But yit this diuersitie letteth not, but that euery member hath his desyre, and that which is meete for it, so as the foote enuyeth not the hand, nor the hand the foote, no more than any of them both enuyeth the eyes. Too what purpose should it serue the hand too haue syght? It were a thing which not only could doo it no good, but also should doo it harme. If euery member had al offices in it self, surely the bodie should be confounded and come to nought. So then the hand hath his perfection in that which belongeth vntoo him, I meane in his degree: and lykewyse the foote. Howbeit S. Paules meaning is, that it ought too suffyze vs, that the Church bee edifyed in common For if our neyghboures bee inriched with Gods giftes: the same redoundeth partly vntoo vs. And on the other syde, if wee haue receyued a larger measure of grace: wee bee the more bound too imparte the same too such as haue neede of it. That therefore is the thing which Saynt Paule meaneth too set downe in this text, saying, that if the knittyng bee after that manner, the bodye shall bee well buylded and made vp.