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 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.

Now then, let vs come too our owne members. If my one hand should play legierdemayne, and conuey all things too it self, too the hurt of the other: if my foote should conspyre ageinst my legge, or if my bellye could woorke some pretie slyght ageinst my stomacke: what a thing were it? Now then, if wee bee members of our Lord Iesus Christ, is it not a separating of our selues from his bodie, when wee vse such fyne shiftes and pretie slyghtes, notwithstanding that they be not condemnable afore men? No doubt, but wee will protest ynough with our mouthes that wee bee Christians: but whatsoeuer wee pretend, Iesus Christ will not bee misfashyoned after our fancie. Lyke as he is but one: so will he haue vs to be all one in his bodie, yea euen with this conditiō, that euery of vs serue his neyghbours: which cannot bee doone, except all counterfetting ee first put away, as wee see that the hand dooth yeeld it self simply too the seruice of the rest of the body: and lykewyse the foote and euery other member dooth his dewtie. If anye one bee in daunger, the rest will not sinke asyde, but all imploy themselues too succour it. (Among them) there is no profer of deceyt, but all cling toogither, according too the order of nature. Euen so ought wee too proue our selues too bee the members of Iesus Christ by lyke playne dealing. Saint Paule then applyeth too this particular exhortation, the thing that he had spoken in generall: namely, that if wee bee clenzed from all hipocrisie and fayning before God: wee will shew it in our whole lyfe. For when wee haue too doo one with another, wee will vse no guyle, but walke playnly. That is for one poynt. And therof springeth another: which is, that wee must not prouoke or anger one another. For wee see that if a man but moue vs a little, by and by wee bee in in a chafe, and our passiōs are so excessiue, as there is nother reason nor measure with vs. And when men are so caryed away, they doo so forget themselues, as nothing can wey with them, vse what perswasion yee can. And therfore Saint Paule sayeth, that if we be not quiet one with another, wee cannot bee knit intoo the bodie of our Lord Iesus Christ, and (besydes that,) as much as lyeth in vs, we deface Gods image in vs, by giuing head so too our passions too chafe after that fashyon, and too bee so hot one ageinst another.