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…

but God who seeth deeper than we do, will judge of their doings as they be in deed. And what shall men gain by excusing themselves? (Nothing.) Then is we mark this gear well, we shall see, that in speaking of Lies, S. Paul condemneth the things that men make most account of, as subtlety, and wittiness, and skill to behave a mans self in all company. For (the world says) a man must hold with the hare, and hunt with the hound: he must beware that he be not overwrought: and he must always prevent rather than be prevented. The fashion of the world then is, that every man stand so upon his guard, as he have his nets ready too entrap other men, and to entangle them a hundred times ere they be aware of it. But Saint Paul saith, we must use such a soundness and plain dealing, as we must speak truth one too another. And he bringeth us back too ⟨image 235⟩that which he had […] after, too another purpose: namely, that we be all but one body.

but God who seeth deeper than wee doo, will iudge of their dooings as they bee in deede. And what shall men gayne by excuzing themselues? (Nothing.) Then is wee marke this geere well, we shall see, that in speaking of Lyes, S. Paule condemneth the things that men make most account of, as suttletie, and wittinesse, and skill to behaue a mans selfe in all companie. For (the world sayes) a man must hold with the hare, and hunt with the hound: he must beware that hee bee not ouerraught: and he must alwayes preuent rather than be preuented. The fashion of the world then is, that euery man stand so vppon his gard, as he haue his nettes ready too intrap other men, and to intangle them a hundred times ere they bee aware of it. But Saint Paule sayth, wee must vse such a soundnesse and playne dealing, as wee must speake truthe one too another. And he bringeth vs backe too ⟨image 235⟩that which he had 〈…〉 after, too another purpose: namely, that wee bee all but one body.

Now then, let us come too our own members. If my one hand should play legerdemain, and convey all things too it self, too the hurt of the other: if my foot should conspire against my leg, or if my belly could work some pretty slight against my stomach: what a thing were it? Now then, if we be members of our Lord Jesus Christ, is it not a separating of our selves from his body, when we use such fine shifts and pretty slights, notwithstanding that they be not condemnable afore men? No doubt, but we will protest enough with our mouths that we be Christians: but whatsoever we pretend, Jesus Christ will not be misfashyoned after our fancy. Like as he is but one: so will he have us to be all one in his body, yea even with this condition, that every of us serve his neighbours: which cannot be done, except all counterfeiting ee first put away, as we see that the hand doth yield it self simply too the service of the rest of the body: and likewise the foot and every other member doth his duty. If any one be in danger, the rest will not sink aside, but all employ themselves too succour it. (Among them) there is no proffer of deceit, but all cling together, according too the order of nature. Even so ought we too prove our selves too be the members of Jesus Christ by like plain dealing. Saint Paul then applieth too this particular exhortation, the thing that he had spoken in general: namely, that if we be cleansed from all hypocrisy and feigning before God: we will show it in our whole life. For when we have too do one with another, we will use no guile, but walk plainly. That is for one point. And thereof springeth another: which is, that we must not provoke or anger one another. For we see that if a man but move us a little, by and by we be in in a chafe, and our passions are so excessive, as there is neither reason nor measure with us. And when men are so carried away, they do so forget themselves, as nothing can weigh with them, use what persuasion ye can. And therefore Saint Paul sayeth, that if we be not quiet one with another, we cannot be knit into the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, and (besides that,) as much as lieth in us, we deface Gods image in us, by giving head so too our passions too chafe after that fashion, and too be so hot one against another.