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

To bring them back again unto him, he calleth them brethren, and afterward protesteth that he desireth to join with them, and too frame himself to them as much as is possible for him, seeking nothing but that they should yield the like unto him.

To bryng them backe agayne vntoo hym, hee calleth them breethren, and afterwarde protesteth that hee desireth to ioyne wyth them, and too frame hymselfe to them as much as is possible for hym, seekyng nothyng but that they shoulde yeelde the like vntoo hym.

And herein we see what measurableness they ought to keep which have the charge to preach Gods word: that is to wit, they must not foade mens faults by flattery, but rebuke them sharply, to the intent that such as are beguiled by Satan's illusions, may be wakened & as it were scared at Gods judgements. For when men are given to any evil, they lye weltering in it still, unless they be plucked out of it as it were by force. Yea a•• it grieveth and spiteth them if they ⟨p. 201⟩be wrung by the ear too hard, or if they be made to scratch where it did not itch, as the common proverb saith. The more then that men bear with themselves, the less are their faults to be spared, for else it were a betraying of them. That is the cause why S. Paul used so great vehemency, in saying that he was sore afraid, least he had lost his labour, and there leaveth the Galatians as it were in despair. But yet for all this, he intendeth to cheer them up again, that they may come to repentance. And so he seasoneth his sharpness with sweetness, and showeth that the gate is still open for them, if they will submit themselves unto God. Thus ye see two things that are requisite when we will have our exhortations too be profitable. The first is, that there be a liveliness in us too prick forth such as have done amiss, that they may be throughly touched with the knowledge of their since, and mourn and be sorry for them before God: for if they have not that sorriness, they will never yield to follow God. True it is, that to outward sight men may well alter their lewd dispositions: but how soever they pretend, they shall still be full of stubbornness and malice, till they be ashamed of themselves and feel what they have deserved. So then the true preparative too repentance, is to be pricked so nearly as we may feel the evil that is in us, and condemn our selves for it: yea and that we be full of anguish, finding no rest till God have received us to mercy. But yet must we not lye still in such perplexity: