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

Ye see that the beast which hath neither reason nor understanding, doth notwithstanding labour to preserve himself, and shunneth harm. Much more reason is it that men which discern between good and bad, should have the same endeavour of maintaining themselves, and of continuing safe & sound. But now let us see what followeth upon hatred, quarrelling, brawling, strife, railing, and such other like things. It followeth that we must be all consumed in the end. Needs then must the devil have utterly bereft them of all reason, which rage and rush forth after that fashion in their excessive hatred, and cannot by any means be moderated. Too be short, S. Paul showeth that although there were no Law of God too make us afraid too offend him: yet if we were well advised or had any drop of discretion in us: we should have some stay of ourselves, so as we should not quarrel and brawl one with another as we do. But we run wilfully and as it were of set purpose into our destruction: and that is against nature. Ye see then how devilish men become when they be once chafed, insomuch that they seek their own decay. And why do we hate our enemies? It is because we will needs give bridle to our affections. But mark our excuse: O (say we) they meant me harm, they procured it, and they have done it. Very well-what for that? What shalt thou win by making two devils of one (as the proverb saith)? or by seeking too make the fire too burn hotter which is kindled enough and to much already? It will but double his rage and make him fiercer than he was before. Seeing it is so: why wilt thou go about to end the matter with the destruction of you both? Howbeit, if we should do it in none other respect than that, it were not enough: for therein we should be too fleshly. For if I abstain from all hatred, because I should receive harm by it, I do still seek mine own profit. But God will have us to shut our eyes continually in respect of our owneselues, and to shake of all ill will, and to tread all strife under foot. And why? To the end that he himself may have all masterhood over us. And although men give us cause too hate them for their naughtiness: yet notwithstanding forasmuch a God hath knit us together, let us abide in that unity.

Yee see that the beast which hath nother reason nor vnderstanding, doth notwithstanding labor to preserue himselfe, and shunneth harme. Much more reason is it that men which discerne betweene good and bad, should haue the same indeuer of mainteyning themselues, and of continuing safe & sound. But now let vs see what followeth vpon hatred, quareling, brawling, strife, rayling, and such other like things. It followeth that wee must bee all consumed in the end. Needes then must the diuel haue vtterly bereft them of all reason, which rage and rushe foorth after that fashion in their excessyue hatred, and cannot by any meanes bee moderated. Too bee short, S. Paule sheweth that although there were no Lawe of God too make vs afrayd too offend him: yet if wee were well aduised or had any droppe of discretion in vs: wee should haue some stay of ourselues, so as wee should not quarell and brawle one with another as wee doo. But wee runne wilfully and as it were of set purpose into our destruction: and that is ageinst nature. Yee see then how diuelish men become whē they bee once chafed, insomuch that they seeke their owne decay. And why do wee hate our enemies? It is bicause wee will needes gyue brydle to our affections. But marke our excuce: O (say wee) they ment mee harme, they procured it, and they haue done it. Very wel-what for that? VVhat shalt thou win by making two diuels of one (as the prouerb sayth)? or by seeking too make the fyre too burne hotter which is kindled ynough and to much alreadie? It wyll but dubble his rage and make him feercer than he was before. Seing it is so: why wilt thou go about to end the matter with the destruction of you both? Howbeit, if wee should do it in none other respect than that, it were not ynough: for therin wee should bee too fleshly. For if I absteine from all hatred, bycause I shoulde receyue harme by it, I doo still seeke mine owne profit. But God will haue vs to shet our eyes continually in respect of our owneselues, and to shake of all ill will, and to tread all strife vnder foote. And why? To the end that he himselfe may haue all maysterhod ouer vs. And although men giue vs cause too hate them for their naughtinesse: yet notwithstanding forasmuch a God hath knit vs together, let vs abyde in that vnitie.