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…

Now as touching the word Rebuke: it signifieth properly too discover the thing that was hid. And he allotteth this office unto preaching, according whereunto he taunteth the vainglory that reigned in the Church of Corinth,¹ for their speaking with strange tongues too the intent too be commended, and that men might say of him, This man is a great Clerk, this man can speak all languages: and yet in the mean while there was no edifying at all. Likewise in these days, in the popedom the Organs are piping at one side, and there is chanting of four parts on the other side, and there is such store of gewgaws, that the simile people are ravished, but never a whit edified. But Saint Paul sayeth, that when we be come together in the name of God, we must endeavour too fare the better by it. And how may that be? It is (s•yeth he) when good men, and such as are already inured too fear & serve God, are edified by his word. And not only that, but also if an unbeliever comes in, which was erst a mocker, and never had any remorse of conscience, and hear what is uttered in the name of God, (that is too wit, that we cannot scape (Gods hand,) but must needs come before the judgment seat of our Lord Jesus Christ, and how dearly Jesus Christ hath payed for us, and what a traitorousness it is for us too make the sacrifice of his death and passion unavailable:) I say, when an unbeliever hears all this, and that we be exhorted too fear God, and stirred up too love him for the infinite grace which he uttereth towards us: Although he were ⟨p. 259⟩erst as a brute beast (saith S. Paul) yet shall he enter into himself & be rebuked. For he useth there the same word which he useth here, the meaning whereof is,² that whereas his conscience was as good as dead afore, and he in manner brutish: he was enforced too enter into examination of him self, and too be ashamed, so as he could not but give glory unto God. Not that this befalleth too all indifferently: but we see that a number of folk which were gone astray, and had forgotten God, and had no regard at all of their own soul health, shall be so touched at one sermon, that they appear too be changed all their life after. Now look what is done in common assembly: the same ought every man too practise by him self. For we be not here too the intent that every man should profit him self only: