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…

We saw the last Sunday, that if every of us looked well too himself and too his own vices, we should have enough wherewith to stay our chafing and choler, from wreaking our wrath upon such as offend us. For we be so wayward of our selves already, that a small thing will put us out of patience. And therefore the fault that another man commits against us, be it never so little, will always set us in a chafe. And why? Because we take too much leisure too look upon other mens faults, and in the mean while forget our own. The remedy then which is set us down here to keep us from being so soon and so lightly offended at other mens faults, is, that every of us enter into himself, and vex and chafe himself there, when he sees himself so wretched as all of us are.

WEe saw the last Sōday, that if euery of vs looked well too himself and too his owne vyces, wee shoud haue ynough wherwith to stay our chafing and choler, from wreaking our wrath vppon such as offend vs. For wee bee so wayward of our selues alredy, that a small thing will put vs out of pacience. And therfore the fault that another man committes ageinst vs, be it neuer so little, will alwayes set vs in a chafe. And why? Bycause wee take too much leyzure too looke vppon other mens faultes, and in the meane whyle forget our owne. The remedy then which is set vs downe heere to keepe vs from being so soone and so lyghly offended at other mens faultes, is, that euery of vs enter intoo himself, and vexe and chafe himself there, when he sees himself so wretched as all of vs are.

Now after that Saint Paul hath showed that it were much better and more for our behoof too be be grieved at our own vices, than at every small occasion, when men behave not themselves too our liking: he addeth thereunto, Let not the Sun go down upon your anger. We must not understand by this, that S. Paul meant to acquit such as are soon angry, & soon appeased: for it is a vice worthy of blame. And although it be more excusable than the feeding of a displeasure which turneth too rancour or hatred: yet notwithstanding we cannot be so soon pacified, but that we shall have offended God already with our choler. For we hear what is said even by the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ:¹