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 Saint Paul had said no more but thus: my friends, let not the Sun go down upon your anger, for if rancour do once settle, it will not be easily put away: it had bin much, and that warning ought too have sufficed us. But the threat which he setteth down with it in that he sayeth, Give not place too the Devil, ought too make the hairs stand up upon our heads. Some in deed have expounded it too be spoken of the enemies of the faith, which seek occasion of slandering it: but it is easy too be seen by the words them selves, how he intended too warn us of a thing which we ought too be more afraid of, and which will scare us worse: that is too wit, that the devil getteth as it were the mastery and dominion over us, when we feed any grudge and heartburning against our brethren. Now then, which of us will not quake for fear, when he heareth of his subjection unto Satan, as if he were in his bonds like a prisoner? And yet for all that we take no heed of the things that are told us here. For S. Paul hath uttered Gods sentence, which is, that if we pursue our anger and heartburning against such as have offended us, it is all one as if we wilfully passed an obligation too Satan, too be held as thralls under his tyranny. So much the more therefore doth it stand us on hand too bethink our selves advisedly, that if that vice cannot be thoroughly amended at the first brunt, we may at leastwise be well ware that it do not so settle in us, as that we cannot be set at one again, or that we should pursue our quarrels, or that men should not be able too weigh with us, until we have taken some ⟨image 239⟩revengement. Let us take heed (I say) that we enter not into such bondage of Satan. And even for that cause is it said, that when men do fret and chafe after that fashion, of one devil there are made •wayne. And why? For God is already offended at my neighbour for doing me wrong, and if I also fall to stomaking of the matter on my part, & will needs requite him with the like: the devil hath won us both. I ought too pity the soul that is after a sort stayed away already, and in the high way too perdition: I ought too seek too be at one with him again, and too salve the sore as much as is possible: now if I also do let the reins loose, and cast my self into Satan's slavery through the cursed liberty that I take:

Now if Saint Paule had sayd no more but thus: my freends, let not the Sunne go downe vppon your anger, for if rancour doo once settle, it will not bee easly put away: it had bin much, and that warning ought too haue suffyzed vs. But the threate which he setteth downe with it in that he sayeth, Giue not place too the Diuel, ought too make the heares stand vp vpon our heads. Some in deede haue expounded it too bee spoken of the enemies of the fayth, which seeke occasion of slaundering it: but it is easie too bee seene by the woords them selues, how hee intended too warne vs of a thing which wee ought too bee more afrayd of, and which will scare vs woorse: that is too wit, that the diuell getteth as it were the maystrie and dominion ouer vs, when wee feede any grudge and hartburning ageinst our brethren. Now then, which of vs wil not quake for feare, when he heareth of his subiecton vntoo Satan, as if he were in his bonds lyke a prisoner? And yit for all that we take no heede of the things that are told vs heere. For S. Paul hath vttered Gods sentence, which is, that if wee pursue our anger and hartburning ageinst such as haue offended vs, it is all one as if wee wilfully passed an obligation too Satan, too bee hild as thralles vnder his tyrannie. So much the more therfyre dooth it stand vs on hand too bethink our selues aduyzedly, that if that vyce cannot be througly amended at the first brunt, wee may at lestwyze bee well ware that it doo not so settle in vs, as that we cannot bee set at one agein, or that wee should pursue our quarells, or that men should not bee able too wey with vs, vntill wee haue taken some