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

For what a thing were it if it were otherwise, so as our Lord Jesus Christ should have set up dumb Idols in his Church under the title and shadow of shepherds, and that it should be lawful for them to find fault and rebuke, yea and too mar and falsify all things, and in the mean while no man should open his lips against them? Gods Church should become as it were a Swines sty, infected with all filthiness, and there should be no remedy to help it. Let us mark well then, that God will not have any such preeminence to be in his Church, as should hinder the continual course of his word, so as it should not be able to bridle all such as are in any superiority above others. For it behoveth us to give ear to our Lord Jesus Christ, and he must have the mastership that is given him of God his father, so as every man must yield himself thereunto, and none of us pretend to have any exemption. That is the thing which is showed us in the person of Saint Peter. On the other part, we see also after what sort the faults that are committed ought to be rebuked: that is to say, openly before all men, and not only in secrete: which thing is well worthy too be marked. For there are many that can find in their hearts too give cause of offence, who after they have set all in a broil, would have a man do no more to them, but tell them softly in their ear that they have done am•sse. For the common divinity is this.¹ What I pray you? Is it not said that each should reprove other secretly? Is it meet that a man should be so defamed when he hath done amiss? No verily, if he have not offended in such wise, as his fault engendereth trouble in the whole Church. For even our Lord Jesus Christ doth expressly set ⟨image 95⟩down the same difference, so that if any man have done amiss and I know it, I must rebuke him betwixt him and me. But if the fault be notorious and open, and an occasion too bring in evil example, if he were not told of it: then must I not any more keep that order of rowning him secretly in the ear, but condemn the fault as it deserveth, that others may take warning by it. And this is meant, not only of private persons, but also of such as are in highest degree:

For what a thing were it if it were otherwise, so as our Lorde Iesus Christ shoulde haue sette vp dumbe Idols in his Church vnder the title and shadow of shepherds, and that it should be lawfull for them to finde fault and rebuke, yea and too marre and falsifie all things, and in the meane while no man shoulde open his lyppes agaynst them? Gods Churche shoulde become as it were a Swynes stye, infected with all filthinesse, and there shoulde bee no remedie to helpe it. Let vs marke well then, that God will not haue any such preeminence to bee in his Church, as shoulde hinder the continuall course of his worde, so as it should not be able to bridle all such as are in any superioritie aboue others. For it behoueth vs to giue eare to our Lorde Iesus Christ, and hee must haue the maystership that is gyuen him of God his father, so as euery man must yeelde himselfe therevntoo, and none of vs pretend to haue any exemption. That is the thing which is shewed vs in the person of Saint Peter. On the other part, we see also after what sort the faultes that are committed ought to be rebuked: that is to say, openly before all men, and not only in secrete: which thing is well worthie too bee marked. For there are many that can fynde in theyr heartes too giue cause of offence, who after they haue set all in a broile, woulde haue a man do no more to them, but tel them softly in their eare that they haue done amsse. For the common diuinitie is this.