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

And in good sooth that is the order which all men ought to keep, that are desirous too build up Gods Church. It is true that mens vices ought not to be spared, & specially if there appear any hinderance ⟨p. 249⟩of the pure doctrine, or too the overthrowing of faith: then must we have a fiery zeal too fight manfully, and to maintain the quarrel of our God. Yet notwithstanding we must labour to the uttermost of our power to bring those back that are gone astray, and to keep still those that are yet in good way, though they be weak and go not forward with such strength and courage as were requisite and to be wished. Ye see then what the duty of those is which have the charge to bear abroad Gods word committed unto them: that is to wit, that in reproving such as were gone astray, their using of severity & rigour should be such, as yet nevertheless they should show some good hope, to the intent that their hearers be not utterly over grieved, and thereupon fall into wilfulness, and shake off all good doctrine. But every of us must apply this too his own use. For what causeth us now and then to gnash our teeth when God rebuketh us, and to be forepossessed with such stubbornness that we rebel against him? It is because we be past hope, and thereupon play double or quit as they say. Therefore our Lord laboureth too bring us back when he seeth us so forlorn, or rather in the way of perdition, and he would still fain win us too himself again, howbeit that in the mean while we know not the end and intent that he aimeth at. By reason whereof we shut the gate against him, so as he can not by any means compass us. So much the more then ought we to mind well the thing that is showed us here by Saint Paul which is that if our sores be rubbed, although it grieve us and sting us too be sharply rebuked: yet we must not cease too abide it patiently, because God meaneth not too throw us headlong into the bottomless pit, but rather calleth us home too himself. And now according hereunto, let us mark that there is none other remedy for all our vices, than too yield our selves too that which God telleth us. For Saint Paul presupposeth that which was true:

And in good sooth that is the order which all men ought to keepe, that are desirous too builde vp Gods Churche. It is true that mens vyces ought not to be spared, & specially if there appere any hinderance ⟨p. 249⟩of the pure doctrine, or too the ouerthrowing of fayth: then muste wee haue a firie zele too fight manfully, and to maynteyne the quarell of our God. Yet notwithstanding we must labour to the vttermoste of our power to bring those backe that are gone astray, and to keepe still those that are yet in good way, though they be weake and go not forwarde with such strength and corage as were requisite and to be wished. Ye see then what the duetie of those is which haue the charge to beare abrode Gods woord cōmitted vnto them: that is to wit, that in reprouing suche as were gone astray, their vsing of seueritie & rigour should be such, as yet neuerthelesse they should shew some good hope, to the intent that their hearers be not vtterly ouer greeued, and therevpon fall intoo wilfulnesse, and shake off all good doctrine. But euery of vs muste apply this too his owne vse. For what causeth vs now and then to gnash our teeth when God rebuketh vs, and to be forepossessed with such stubbornnesse that we rebell agaynst him? It is bycause wee be past hope, and therevpon play double or quit as they say. Therefore our Lord laboreth too bring vs backe when he seeth vs so forlorne, or rather in the way of perdition, and he would still fayne win vs too himselfe againe, howbeeit that in the meane whyle wee knowe not the end and intent that he ameth at. By reason whereof wee shet the gate agaynst him, so as he can not by any meanes compasse vs. So much the more then ought we to minde well the thing that is shewed vs heere by Sainct Paule which is that if our sores bee rubbed, although it greeue vs and sting vs too bee sharply rebuked: yet wee muste not ceasse too abyde it patiently, bycause God meeneth not too throwe vs headlong intoo the bottomlesse pit, but rather calleth vs home too himselfe. And nowe according herevntoo, let vs marke that there is none other remedie for all our vyces, than too yeeld our selues too that which God telleth vs. For Sainct Paule presupposeth that which was true: