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…

Pauls, whensoever we be moved too impatience for any displeasure or wrong, so as we have any desire of revenge: let us learn, let us learn ⟨image 256⟩I say, too gather our wits about us, and too consider what we be. For first of all, if a man have committed any fault against us, we our selves do the like or far worse. On the other side let us consider how God hath redeemed us, yea and specially by that most precious pledge of the blood shed of his only Son. And have we deserved that? Again, what cause hath moved God too be so merciful towards us? Nothing else but our wretchedness. Now seeing that he which is so good, and that he being not of our nature hath notwithstanding had compassion of our wretchedness wherein we were plunged: what shall we do? Ought not we too have much more compassion one of another, because we find the things in our selves which we pardon in our neighbours? God can find no infirmities in himself: & how then shall he be moved too forgive us? Truly even because he is the wellspring of all goodness and mercy. But when I see the thing that grieveth me in my neighbour, if I examine well my self, I shall find the like there, or else much more. Should not all these things persuade me too some compassion, if I forgot not my self too much? The way then too make us easily forgive many faults, and too bear with many vices that may mislike us in our neighbours, is, too cast our eyes upon the inestimable love which God hath borne us in the person of his Son.

Paules, whensoeuer wee bee moued too impaciencie for any displeasure or wrong, so as we haue any desire of reuenge: let vs learne, let vs learne ⟨image 256⟩I say, too gather our wittes aboute vs, and too consider what wee bee. For first of all, if a man haue committed any fault ageinst vs, wee our selues doo the lyke or farre woorse. On the other syde let vs consider how God hath redeemed vs, yea and specially by that most precious pledge of the blud shed of his onely sonne. And haue we deserued that? Agein, what cause hath moued God too bee so mercifull towardes vs? Nothing else but our wretchednesse. Now seeing that he which is so good, and that he beyng not of our nature hath notwithstanding had compassion of our wretchednesse wherin wee were plundged: what shall wee doo? Ought not wee too haue much more compassion one of another, bycause wee fynd the things in our selues which wee pardon in our neyghbours? God can fynd no infirmities in himselfe: & howe then shall he bee moued too forgiue vs? Truely euen bycause he is the welspring of all goodnesse and mercy. But when I see the thing that greeueth mee in my neyghbour, if I examin well my selfe, I shall fynd the lyke there, or else much more. Should not all these things perswade mee too some compassion, if I forgat not my selfe too much? The way then too make vs easly forgiue many faultes, and too beare with many vyces that may mislyke vs in our neyghbours, is, too cast our eyes vppon the inestimable loue which God hath borne vs in the person of his sonne.