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…

Seeing that the holy scripture exhorteth us to be kind hearted, meek, and patient one too another, and setteth us down the example of God, who is reconciled too us in the person of his Son our Lord Jesus Christ, and showeth us therewithal that Jesus Christ spared not himself, but showed the love that he bare us, and the care that he had of our salvation, in that he gave himself too so hard and bitter a death: it must needs be that our hearts are harder than steel, if they be not meekened by it. And yet notwithstanding, all these exhortations cannot suffice us, by reason of our wilfulness and corruption. God therefore, too put us too the greater shame, sendeth us back too the order of nature: as if it were said, that although we had never heard any word of Gods mouth, nor never had had any teaching by holy Scripture: yet ought every of us too enter into himself, and too consider his own state, for that will be enough too hold us convicted, without any other witness. And that could the heathen men tell us full well: who having neither belief in God, nor any Religion, could notwithstanding well skill too say, that the wild beasts make not war one against another. For one Woolf eateth not another: the Bears and Lyons that live abroad in the wild woods, have a certain thing that holdeth them in order, so as they hurt not one another. And yet have they no discretion as is among men: but they have as it were a natural •••oving which driveth them too love one another, so as every of them ⟨p. 292⟩liveth (quietly) with his fellow▪ Now then, must it not needs be that men are altogether out of square, and do despise God and nature, seeing they live like Dogs and Cats (as they say,) and every man is as a Woolf or a Fox too his neighbour, so as there is nothing but craftiness and malice, or else utter cruelty? That is the cause why God telleth us that we be all of one flesh, and of one kind. And Isaiah useth the same reason, too persuade us too succour our neighbours, and too have pity and compassion of them they stand in any need. Thou shalt not despise thine own flesh (sayeth he.) For the furthest stranger in the world is never the more separated from us for all that,¹ but both he and we spring both out of one fountain, and we ought too acknowledge him too be our image.