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…

The compassion therefore whereunto our Lord Jesus exhorteth us, is not a rocking of us asleep in our infirmities through flattery: but a holding of our selves in measure, and a tempering of our rigour in such wise, as oil may always be mingled with our vinegar, as they say. That is in effect the thing whereto Saint Paul meant too bring us. For although every man do his best too be pitiful, so as he may show no over great rigour towards his neighbours: yet is it as contrary too our nature as any thing can be. For (as I have said already) this self-love of ours doth so blind us, that we make the least scapes in the world, too be heinous sins and offences unpardonable. By means whereof if any man anger us, too our seeming his fault ought not in any wise too be forgiven. So then, mercifulness shall never be found in men, unless they fight it out too the uttermost, (against their own affections.) As for single teaching, it will not boot in that behalf. We have this (Churlishness) so deeply rooted in our harts, that if we be told of our duty, it doth but half move us. For this cause Saint Paul setteth Gods example afore us here, who hath forgiven us in his only Son. And immediately thereunto he addeth our Lord Jesus Christ, who spared not him self for our redemption and salvation. The thing then that can break all hardness in us, the thing that can mortify all our excessive passions, the thing that can reclaim all our cruelty, pull down all our pride and loftiness, and sweeten all our bitterness, is to have an eye too Gods behaving of himself towards us.¹ Now he hath loved the world so well, that he hath given his only Son too death for our sakes. If we compare our selves with God, what a distance is there betwixt us? So then, the greatest wrongs that we can possibly imagine (too be done unto us:) are nothing in comparison of the least fault that we commit against God. For a man cannot deuyze to break Gods will never so little, but the same is an encountering of his sovereign dominion, a violating of his majesty, and an overthrowing of his righteousness: which are things too precious (too be abused. What like thing is too be found in man? can it be said, that if one have misused us, it ought too be esteemed as if a man had infringed ⟨p. 237⟩Gods righteousness?

The compassion therefore whereuntoo our Lord Iesus exhorteth vs, is not a rocking of vs asleep in our infirmities through flatterie: but a holding of our selues in measure, and a tempering of our rigour in such wyse, as oyle may alwayes bee mingled with our vineger, as they say. That is in effett the thing whertoo Saint Paule ment too bring vs. For although euery man doo his best too bee pitiful, so as he may shew no ouer greate rigour towards his neyghbours: yit is it as contrarie too our nature as any thing can bee. For (as I haue sayd alredye) this selfloue of ours dooth so blynd vs, that wee make the least scapes in the world, too bee heynous sinnes and offences vnpardonable. By meanes wherof if any man anger vs, too our seeming his fault ought not in any wyse too bee forgiuen. So then, mercifulnesse shall neuer bee found in men, vnlesse they fyght it out too the vttermost, (ageinst their owne affections.) As for single teaching, it wil not boote in that behalf. Wee haue this (Churlishnesse) so deeply rooted in our harts, that if wee bee told of our dewtie, it dooth but half moue vs. For this cause Saint Paule setteth Gods example afore vs heere, who hath forgiuen vs in his only sonne. And immediatly therunto he addeth our Lord Iesus Christe, who spared not him self for our redemption and saluation. The thing then that can breake all hardnesse in vs, the thing that can mortifye all our excessiue passions, the thing that can reclayme all our crueltie, pull downe all our pryde and loftinesse, and sweeten all our bitternesse, is to haue an eye too Gods behauing of himselfe towardes vs.