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

Paul saith in this text, that the whole law consisteth in this point, that we love our neighbours. But it behoveth us to mark, that by this word neighbour, God meaneth not our kinsfolk & friends, at whose hands we hope for some profit or advantage, or which have deserved some recompense at our hands: but he will have us to have an eye to the common alliance which he hath set among us. Therefore we be all formed after his image, & we bear his mark. Besides this, we be all of one nature, & that ought to hold us in true unity & brotherhood. But many make them selves unworthy of it: for some be full of wiliness & malice like foxes: some are full of pride like lions: some are like ravening wolves, that seek nothing but to devour all: and othersome are full of shrewd turns and harmfulness [like Apes.] All these (as much as in them is) do cut themselves off from the array & company of neighbours: but in this case we may observe Gods order. And although men on their side deserve not to be counted & taken for neighbours: yet notwithstanding in bearing them love, we show it is good reason that God should overweigh our own naughtiness. We see then that such as are our enemies & labour to devour us, do notwithstanding not cease to be our neighbours, in respect of the order that God hath set And for the same cause also our Lord Jesus Christ telleth us,¹ that it is no charity to recompense him that hath done us a good turn or service, nor to love those whom we like off, or at whose hands we look for some profit. For the heathen do as much as that comes too, but they do it not to obey God & his law, and when we have regard of our own profit, it is rather a loving of our selves than any point of charity. For the marks that charity shooteth at are God and the communion or fellowship that ought to be among us, as I have said afore. Now then we see it is a true proof that we be desirous to love God, when we endeavour to do good even too them that are unworthy of it. Moreover the adding of this saying, as our selves, is not to the intent that every man should first love him self, and then afterward love his neighbour next. But our Lord meant too rip up the sore th•• hindereth us too live in charity: which is (as I have told you already) that if men were not ⟨image 283⟩so given to selfelove as they be, there would be good love & agreement among all men: