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 telleth us, that yet in such faults we must be pitiful still, and bear with such a man through the spirit of meekness. Howbeit we must mark well all the words that are set down here: and thereby we shall gather the meaning of the Apostle. For in very deed here is nothing superfluous, but every word hath his weight. For in saying that we must endeavour too amend him again that is fallen: he showeth that the gentleness which many men use in flattering such as have done amiss, savoureth nothing at all of Christianity. Therefore mens vices must be rebuked, and we must labour too bring back the party into the right way, which is strayed out of it. For if a man uphold him in his naughtiness, and foade him in it: he betrayeth him, because he rocketh him a sleep, and by that means sinketh him the deeper in destruction. Ye see then that the mean which Saint Paul hath appointed, is that if a man have done amiss, he should be amended, howbeit that the same must be done with the spirit of gentleness and meekness. He could well enough have used the word Meekness without the word Spirit: but he hath […] do us to wit that we must have a hearty […] procure the welfare & salvation of such as have need too be warned and exhorted when ⟨p. 284⟩they have committed a fault: and therewithal he meant also to express that the same proceedeth of God. For like as he is the fountain of all goodness: so also doth he give his children some meekness, too the intent they should follow him and frame themselves after his example.¹ We know that the manner of the holy Scripture is to term the gifts of the holy Ghost, the spirit of truth, the spirit of the fear of God, the spirit of wisdom, & such other like, because the fullness of all goodness is in him. Ye see then that the sum of that which S. Paul teacheth here, is that we must not only love virtue and like well of such as walk in all perfection, and in whom we can find no blame: but overmore we must be gentle, in bearing with the faults of such as are not yet so well confirmed in the fear of God as were requisite, too the end we may bring them back again into the right way, that are turned aside or thrust out of it. For if there should be no mildness nor gentleness in us:

Paule telleth vs, that yet in such faultes wee must bee pitifull still, and beare with suche a man through the spirite of meekenesse. Howbeeit wee must marke well all the woordes that are set downe here: and therby wee shall gather the meening of the Apostle. For in very deede heere is nothing superfluous, but euery woorde hath his weyght. For in saying that wee muste indeuer too amend him agayne that is fallen: he sheweth that the gentlenesse whiche many men vse in flattering suche as haue done amisse, sauoreth nothing at all of Christianitie. Therefore mennes vyces muste bee rebuked, and wee muste labour too bring backe the partie intoo the right way, which is strayed out of it. For if a man vpholde him in his naughtinesse, and foade him in it: he betrayeth him, bycause he rocketh him a sleepe, and by that meanes sinketh him the deeper in destruction. Yee see then that the meane whiche Sainct Paule hath appoynted, is that if a man haue done amisse, he shoulde bee amended, howbeit that the same muste bee done with the spirite of gentlenesse and meekenesse. He could well ynough haue vsed the woord Meekenesse without the woorde Spirit: but he hath do vs to wit that we must haue a hartie procure the welfare & saluation of such as haue neede too bee warned and exhorted when