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…

For he shall ever hear some good sentence, and he never goes from him without carrying away of some good. And it is nature that month them to say so. Therefore let us learn too abhor and shun such plaginesse, when a man shall have his tongue so loose too speak words that smell of the pump (as men say), and one shall hold the one side, and another the other, and that in stead of receiving good, a man shall feel himself too be stung by Satan. And in deed, of a very truth when such words enter into our harts ere we be aware of them, they be stings that Satan giveth us in secret & unespied. Seeing then that they be so, can it be said, that such a man is worthy too be heard? Should we not hate him rather as a deadly plague?

For he shall euer heare some good sentence, and he neuer goes from him without carying away of some good. And it is nature that moneth them to say so. Therfore let vs learne too abhorre and shun such plaginesse, when a man shall haue his tung so looce too speake woords that smell of the pump (as men say), and one shall hold the one syde, and another the other, and that in stead of receyuing good, a man shall feele himself too bee stung by Satan. And in deede, of a very truthe when such words enter into our harts ere we be aware of them, they be stings that Satā giueth vs in secret & vnespyed. Seing then that they be so, can it be sayd, that such a man is worthie too bee heard? Should wee not hate him rather as a deadly plague?

Ye see then that the thing which we have to mark in the first place, is that our Lord hath given us tongues too make one another privy of our minds, and that is too the intent we should make them serve too ⟨image 245⟩the benefit of our neighbours, and thereabouts ought we to employ them wholly. And the tongue which is the mean too utter our harts and minds one too another, ought too guide all the residue, as having the superiority over them.¹ On the other side, not without cause is it termed by the name of glory, too show whereabouts we ought too employ it, and too what use, namely too the honouring of God. Therefore if we looked well upon the order of nature, it ought to be sufficiently printed in our harts, that our words should be necessary, and too the furtherance of our neighbours welfare and profit. The first point therefore which we have too bear in mind, is that our Lord will have all the parts of us too serve too doing good, and specially our tongue, so as the drift of all our talk be too edify. As for example, one hath need of Counsel, another of warning; another of rebuking, and another too be put in mind of some thing, or else to be taught, because he is utterly ignorant: and again, it extendeth too all things in this present life. True it is that the principal thing which we have too look unto, is too teach the ignorant, and too show them the way of salvation. Besides that, if any man misbehave him self, so as he be negligent and slothful, he must be spurred forward by good exhortations: and if he be unruly, he must be shamed, (as much as lieth in us,) that it may bring him back too the seruis of God. Again, a man must comfort such as are in heaviness, and give counsel too such as are in distress, too the intent they fall not into despair. Too be short, we must endeavour too hold back the poor sules that should else go too destruction. And of all others that is the principal benefit. But yet if we see a poor man that is like too be deceived, we must give him some warning of it. And when we be once come too that point, it is certain that we shall give our selves continually to the benefit and behoof of our neighbours, yea even infinite ways, as well in respect of the body as of the soul.