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

Now it is certain that in fighting against such an adversary, they shall not be the stronger party. Therefore let us suffer our selves too be rebuked sharply when need shall require. And if we wist not of the evil that was in us, we ought too mistrust our selves so much the more, and not seek starting holes to defend our selves withal, but rather enter into examination of our selves, and every of us become his own judge, that by means thereof we may not enter into account with our God, nor he be compelled to cite us too here the sentence of damnation. Thus ye see how we ought to receive the chastisements, that are put to us, and that we must not be too much grieved at them, because they prepare and dispose us too humility, but let us in the mean while wait for the coming of the sweet that followeth afterward. For the thing that keepeth many men from receiving the warnings that are given them, is that they be fully resolved of the matter aforehand: so that if a man speak a word too them that mislyketh them, they stop their ears at it, or else their hearts are so hardened and dulled, as they cannot by any means afterward conceive what is put too them for their welfare and profit. A man may talk to them of Gods mercy, and protest to them well enough: and a man may well enough (as ye would say) show them with his finger that his seeking is nothing else but to bring them to salvation, but they be utterly deaf: and that is because they be fully bent of themselves too reject Gods word. Therefore let us be patient and modest, when men steppe too us upon the sudden, too assail us roughly by showing us our faults: let us be quiet at it, and tarry till he have spoken the last word. And so let us interlace and knit these two things together: that is too wit, the ⟨image 225⟩rigour which we must take hold of that we may have a true and lively feeling of our sins, to be sorry for them, and to ask God forgiveness, and to be abashed in our selves: and then let us assure our selves that God will always be merciful to us: and when we have so indited our selves, let us also hope too be quitted at his hand, and that the more he condemneth us by his word, the more he intendeth to bear us up, to the end he be not enforced to come against us with armed hand, and with his sword in his fist.

Nowe it is certaine that in fighting against suche an aduersarie, they shall not be the stronger partie. Therefore let vs suffer our selues too bee rebuked sharply when neede shall require. And if wee wist not of the euill that was in vs, wee ought too mistrust our selues so much the more, and not seeke startingholes to defende our selues withall, but rather enter into examination of our selues, and euerie of vs become his owne iudge, that by meanes thereof wee may not enter intoo account with our God, nor hee bee compelled to cite vs too heere the sentence of damnation. Thus yee see howe we ought to receyue the chastizements, that are put to vs, and that wee must not be too much greeued at them, bycause they prepare and dispose vs too humilitie, but let vs in the meane while wayte for the comming of the sweete that followeth afterwarde. For the thing that keepeth many men from receiuing the warnings that are giuen them, is that they bee fully resolued of the matter aforehande: so that if a man speake a woorde too them that mislyketh them, they stoppe their eares at it, or else their hearts are so hardened and dulled, as they cannot by any meanes afterwarde conceiue what is put too them for their welfare and profite. A man maye talke to them of Gods mercie, and protest to them well ynoughe: and a man may well ynough (as ye woulde say) shew them with his finger that his seeking is nothing else but to bring them to saluation, but they be vtterly deafe: and that is bycause they bee fully bente of themselues too reiect Gods woorde. Therefore let vs bee patient and modest, when men steppe too vs vppon the sodaine, too assayle vs roughly by shewing vs our faultes: let vs be quiet at it, and tarie till hee haue spoken the last woorde. And so let vs interlace and knitte these twoo things togither: that is too witte, the