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…

It followeth moreover, that the wretched souls whom our Lord Jesus Christ hath bought so dearly, that he spared not himself to have saved them, do perish, and are given into Satan's possession through our sufferance: and in the mean while we make none account at all of it. Now then, do we not therein bewray that we have not so much as one drop of charity in us? Yes: and that is the cause why I said, that (in so doing) we be traitors too God and too our neighbours. For when we have no better zeal towards Gods name, nor better care of our neighbours welfare, doth not the world see every way that we be full of cruelty and unkindness? Of cruelty I mean towards men, in that we suffer them too perish, even knowing it, and looking upon it: and of unkindness towards God, because we yield him not such honour as he deserveth, when we have not the courage too show, that at leastwise we mislike that men should so derogate Gods authority, and the reverence which they owe too him. Therefore whensoever we be afraid too provoke mens displeasure, or too purchase their ill will, let us think upon the thing that is told us here: namely that we ought at leastwise too fear the Lord, whose we be, and that seeing we be fed at his cost, we must not abide too see such lewdness committed against him, without showing (as much as is possible, and too the uttermost of our ⟨p. 258⟩power and ability) that we do utterly abhor such things: I say, as far as we can: for some times our mouths shall be so shut, as we shall be able too do no more but sigh and lament at such utter disorder, when men become like devils that are let loose, in flinging out into furiousness against God, and they that bear the sword seek nothing but too make a confused medley, too the intent that all goodness may be forgotten. For then (as I said) we have none other remedy, but too be sorry for it, according as it is said of Loth, that it grieved his hart too be in Sodom.¹ Therefore let us not forbear, but let every of us provoke himself too grief and sorrow, when we see things so out of order, and let us give record of it, as far as it may do good.

It followeth moreouer, that the wretched soules whom our Lord Iesus Christ hath bought so deerly, that he spared not himself to haue saued them, doo perish, and are giuen intoo Satans possession through our sufferance: and in the meane whyle wee make none account at all of it. Now then, doo wee not therein bewray that wee haue not so much as one drop of charitie in vs? Yis: and that is the cause why I sayde, that (in so dooing) wee bee traytours too God and too our neyghbours. For when wee haue no better zeale towards Gods name, nor better care of our neyghbours welfare, doth not the world see euery way that wee bee full of crueltie and vnkyndnesse? Of crueltie I meane towardes men, in that wee suffer them too perish, euen knowing it, and looking vppon it: and of vnkyndnesse towardes God, bycause wee yeeld him not such honour as he deserueth, when wee haue not the corage too shewe, that at leastwyse wee mislyke that men should so derogate Gods authortie, and the reuerence which they owe too him. Therefore whensoeuer wee bee afrayd too prouoke mens displeazure, or too purchace their ill will, let vs thinke vppon the thing that is told vs heere: namely that wee ought at leastwyse too feare the Lord, whose wee bee, and that seeyng wee bee fed at his cost, wee must not abyde too see such leaudnesse committed ageinst him, without shewing (as much as is possible, and too the vttermost of our