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

but forasmuch as we be so much given to love ourselves, and the excess of that affection blindeth us in such wise, that it bereaveth us of all reason, equity, and uprightness: therefore God saith that we must love our neighbours as ourselves. For were not that said expressly: we would talk much of loving our neighbours, & say they ought to be loved: but all would be but dissimulation, after the manner of these hypocrites, which protest that they would their enemies no harm, but rather that they wish them good, and could find in their hearts to procure them good. But let us come to the trial that God setteth down here, & let every man look into himself, & then let him judge whether he love him self to much or no, or whether the love that he beareth towards his neighbours, be not overfaynt & cold. To be short, here God meant to remedy the hypocrisy wherewith we be too much blinded. Also he meant to waken men, that they might learn to leave their flattering of themselves when it is said, it is not enough for you to love one an other, but ye must love your neighbours as your selves. And thereby we see how far we be wide from the perfection of the Law, and that it standeth us in hand to fight against our own nature that we may obey God. What is then the true exercise of Christians? It is to acknowledge & bewail their own sinfulness and infirmity in discharging their duty towards God, and thereupon to labour and endeavour to win of them selves from day to day, so as their lusts may not overmaster them, but rather that God may have such superiority, that in stead of loving our selves, we may labour to employ our selves in doing good wheresoever he calleth us. Furthermore S. Paul having showed the perfection of the law, & the mark that we must aim at to rule our life according to Gods word, addeth that if men do bite and snatch one at another like Dogs and Cats, they must needs be consumed in the end. And this is too shame them the more, which are so fleshed in their quarrellings and brawlings, and do so close their eyes against all reason, that they care not what come of it so they may satisfy their lust of revenging. And what shall ye •••ne by it saith Saint Paul? Naturally ye covet too preserve your selves: for that is ⟨p. 261⟩common too us even with the beasts.

but forasmuch as wee be so much giuen to loue ourselues, and the excesse of that affection blindeth vs in such wise, that it bereeueth vs of all reason, equitie, and vprightnesse: therfore God saith that we must loue our neighbours as ourselues. For were not that sayd expresly: we would talke muche of louing our neighbours, & say they ought to be loued: but all would be but dissimulation, after the maner of these hypocrites, whiche protest that they would their enimies no harme, but rather that they wish them good, and could find in their hearts to procure thē good. But let vs come to the triall that God setteth downe heere, & let euery man looke into himself, & then let him iudge whether he loue him self to much or no, or whether the loue that he beareth towards his neybours, be not ouerfaynt & cold. To be short, here God ment to remedie the hypocrisie wherwith we be too much blinded. Also he ment to waken men, that they might learne to leaue their flattering of thēselues when it is sayd, it is not inough for you to loue one an other, but ye must loue your neibours as your selues. And thereby we see how farre we be wide from the perfection of the Lawe, and that it standeth vs in hande to fight agaynst our owne nature that we may obey God. VVhat is then the true exercise of Christians? It is to acknowledge & bewayle their own sinfulnesse and infirmitie in discharging their dutie towards God, and thervpon to labor and indeuer to winne of them selues from day to day, so as their lustes may not ouermaster them, but rather that God may haue such superioritie, that in stead of louing our selues, we may labour to imploy our selues in dooing good whersoeuer he calleth vs. Furthermore S. Paule hauing shewed the perfection of the law, & the mark that wee muste ame at to rule our life according to Gods worde, addeth that if men doo bite and snatche one at another lyke Dogges and Cattes, they muste needes bee consumed in the ende. And this is too shame them the more, whiche are so fleshed in their quarellings and brawlings, and doo so close their eyes agaynst all reason, that they care not what come of it so they maye satisfie their luste of reuenging. And what shall yee ne by it sayth Sainct Paule? Naturally yee couet too preserue youre selues: for that is