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…

And forasmuch as it is a thing as hard to be kept as any, & a thing that doth greatly hinder us: therefore Saint Paul addeth, that it behoveth us too be mild, gentle, and courteous one too another. Here he setteth down the contraries too the bitterness and spitefulness that he spake of. And he bringeth us back too this principle, that inasmuch as we be men, God hath created us after his own image, and that inasmuch as he hath called us too the belief of his Gospel, thereby he hath marked us new again, and there we behold his image, which ought too move us too the Gentleness whereof he speaketh. Therefore let us mark well that we cannot despise the least that is, without dishonouring God. For (as I told you afore) all men are made after his image. Now were it tolerable that an earthly worm should esteem it self so much, and exalt it self so far as too set light by his maker? Let us make no excuse in this behalf, for all that we can allege will stand us in no stead. And (as I said) seeing that God hath inhonored men so highly as too give them so excellent a nature: it is good reason that we should yield honour and reverence too his majesty, and not tread them under foot by whom he representeth him self unto us. Again, if a man consider him self well, shall he not see his own nature as it were in a glass, in all his neighbours? (Yes:) For the greatest personages in the world, cannot say that they be made of any other stuff, than the rest of Adams children are. Seeing it is so then, what cause have we too be so proud as too disdain those that are like us, & are allied too us by such a kindred as cannot be worn out? Howbeit, there is yet a more peculiar reason as in respect of the faithful. For in them God hath engraved his image new again, which was as good as defaced by Adams sin. Then sith it is so, let us learn too be gentle and courteous one too another, and not too be so churlish, as no man may have access too us, nor yet so strange and scornful, as too separate our selves from the common array and company of other men. This is the thing that S. Paul meant by the gentleness or courtesy that he spake of.

And forasmuch as it is a thing as hard to bee kept as any, & a thing that dooth greatly hinder vs: therfore Saint Paule addeth, that it behoueth vs too bee myld, gentle, and courteous one too another. Heere he setteth downe the contraries too the bitternesse and spytefulnesse that he spake of. And he bringeth vs backe too this principle, that in asmuch as wee bee men, God hath created vs after his owne image, and that inasmuch as he hath called vs too the beleef of his Gospell, therby he hath marked vs new agein, and there wee behold his image, which ought too moue vs too the Gentlenesse wherof he speaketh. Therfore let vs mark well that we cannot despyze the least that is, without dishonoring God. For (as I told you afore) all men are made after his image. Now were it tollerable that an earthly woorme should esteeme it self so much, and exalt it self so farre as too set lyght by his maker? Let vs make no excuce in this behalf, for all that wee can alledge will stand vs in no sted. And (as I sayd) seeing that God hath inhonored men so hyghly as too giue them so excellent a nature: it is good reason that wee should yeeld honour and reuerence too his maiestie, and not tread them vnder foote by whom he representeth him self vntoo vs. Agein, if a man consider him self well, shall he not see his owne nature as it were in a glasse, in all his neyghbours? (Yis:) For the greatest personages in the worlde, cannot say that they bee made of any otheer stuffe, than the rest of Adams children are. Seeing it is so then, what cause haue we too bee so proud as too disdeyne those that are lyke vs, & are alyed too vs by such a kinred as cannot be worne out? Howbeit, there is yit a more peculiar reason as in respect of the faithfull. For in them God hath ingraued his image new agein, which was as good as defaced by Adams sinne. Then sith it is so, let vs learne too bee gentle and courteous one too another, and not too bee so churlish, as no man may haue accesse too vs, nor yit so straunge and scornefull, as too separate our selues from the common aray and company of other men. This is the thing that S. Paule ment by the gentlenesse or courtesie that he spake of.