Sermons of M. John Calvin upon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the GalatiansSermons of M. Iohn Caluine vpon the Epistle of Saincte Paule to the Galathians

Nevertheless he exhorteth us all generally, for so much as God hath knit us all together, and set us in the world with condition that every of us should consider wherein he may be able too help such as have need of him. Let us apply our life thereunto, that we pervert not the order of nature. Furthermore for as much as we be so lither and cold, and shall also find many occasions too hinder and break off the zeal that we have too discharge our duty. Let us overleap all encumbrances, and pluck up a good heart that we quail not. And the more that the world is now adays come too the top of iniquity, unthankfulness, and malice: the more doth it stand us in hand too tread down such temptations, rather having an eye unto GOD, than to the unworthiness of the persons that are too be succoured. For how much lewdness soever there be throughout the whole world: yet will God continue always unchangeable in his purpose: that is too wit, he will have every of us to consider his own ability, and the measure that is given unto him, and that we be not borne too ourselves, (for God hath not created us to that intent) but he will have every of us to thrust forth and as it were too constrain himself to help such as desire succour of him: and although they crave it not, yet if we see them in necessity, he will have us too relieve them by such means as he offereth. The very heathen men had skill enough too speak such language. Therefore it is double shame too us if we know not wherefore God hath created us, and wherefore he showeth himself so bountiful towards us. Truly he could well have disposed the world in such wise, as no man should have wanted, and every man might have forborne other. But he offereth us matter of pity and compassion, too show whither there be any kindheartedness in us or no. Now we must also mark well the promise that Saint Paul addeth: which is, […] we shall reap or gat••• in seasonable time. True it is that we were not too be excused, though there were no reward at all, but that God should say simply that he will have it so•• ⟨image 330⟩for it is sufficient that he hath set us in the world, and fed us with his bounteousness, and it requireth at leastwise that we should be wholly at his commandment:

Neuerthelesse he exhorteth vs all generally, for so much as God hath knit vs all togither, and set vs in the world with condition that euery of vs should consider wherein he may bee able too helpe such as haue neede of him. Let vs apply our lyfe thervntoo, that wee peruert not the order of nature. Furthermore for as much as wee bee so lither and colde, and shall also finde many occasions too hinder and breake off the zeale that wee haue too discharge our duetie. Let vs ouerleape all incomberances, and plucke vp a good harte that wee quayle not. And the more that the worlde is nowe adayes come too the top of inquitie, vnthankfulnesse, and malice: the more doothe it stande vs in hande too treade downe suche temptations, rather hauyng an eye vntoo GOD, than to the vnworthinesse of the persons that are too bee succoured. For howe muche lewdnesse soeuer there bee throughout the whole world: yet will God continue alwayes vnchaungeable in his purpse: that is too wit, he will haue euery of vs to consider his owne abilitie, and the measure that is giuen vnto him, and that wee bee not borne too ourselues, (for God hath not created vs to that intent) but he will haue euery of vs to thrust forth and as it were too constreine himselfe to helpe such as desire succour of him: and although they craue it not, yet if wee see them in necessitie, he will haue vs too releeue them by suche meanes as he offereth. The verye heathen men had skill ynough too speake suche language. Therefore it is dubble shame too vs if wee knowe not wherefore God hath created vs, and wherfore he sheweth himselfe so bountifull towardes vs. Truely he coulde well haue disposed the worlde in suche wise, as no manne shoulde haue wanted, and euery man might haue forborne other. But he offereth vs matter of pitie and compassion, too shewe whither there bee any kyndhartednesse in vs or no. Nowe we must also marke well the promise that Sainct Paule addeth: which is, wee shall reape or gat in seasonable time. True it is that wee were not too bee excused, thoughe there were no rewarde at all, but that God shoulde saye simply that he wyll haue it so