A17705:889
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 sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the Ephesians. Translated out of French into English by Arthur GoldingThe sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the Ephesians. Translated out of French into English by Arthur Golding
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Lucas Harison, 1577
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Again, if there be any hope for us to win those that are so unruly: let us continually assay too draw them too repentance, yea, let us strain our selves too it. For many men allege this proverb too lightly, that a man must not cast pearls among swine. And they bear them selves on hand, that men are swine, before they have tried what they be. Though they have bin of light behaviour, yea, or even loose and lawless, so as the devil hath after a sort carried them away: yet must we labour too win them again,1 and have good hope of it, according too Saint Pauls saying, that Charity hopeth well of all things. So then, until such time as men show themselves utterly wilful in evil, and that their diseases appear too be utterly uncurable, let us endeavour too be good Physicians too them, by the advisements that God shall put into our mouth. And so ye see what S. Paul intended, in saying, that the unbelievers think themselves too be hidden, when they be not perceived nor rebuked, and that when they be let go at rovers, they be as it were in the dark, and thereupon conceive the more boldness too do wickedly.
Agein, if there be any hope for vs to win those that are so vnruly: let vs continually assay too draw them too repentance, yea, let vs streyne our selues too it. For many men alledge this prouerbe too lyghtly, that a man must not cast perles among swyne. And they beare them selues on hand, that men are swyne, before they haue tryed what they bee. Though they haue bin of lyght behauiour, yea, or euen looce and lawlesse, so as the diuell hath after a sort caryed them away: yit must wee labour too win them agein,1 and haue good hope of it, according too Saint Paules saying, that Charitie hopeth well of all things. So then, vntill such tyme as men shewe themselues vtterly wilfull in euil, and that their diseases appeere too bee vtterly vncurable, let vs indeuer too bee good Phisitions too them, by the aduyzements that God shall put intoo our mouth. And so yee see what S. Paule intended, in saying, that the vnbeleeuers thinke themselues too bee hidden, when they bee not perceyued nor rebuked, and that when they bee let go at rouers, they bee as it were in the darke, and theruppon conceyue the more boldnesse too doo wickedly.