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

as soon as a man had committed any fault, we should as it were plunge him in despair, and this is seen too much, for that cause therefore Saint Paul telleth us that the meekness or mildness of Gods children must try it self by relieving such as are fallen through weakness, yea and that in such sort, as it may be known that their salvation is procured. Now I have told you that there are two extremities or two vices whereof we must beware. The one is, that we wink when any of our friends have offended God, in so much that even when he hath given some cause of stumbling, we let it slip because we be loth too purchase his displeasure by rebuking him. And now adays ye see that the common way of maintaining friendship in the world, as too give leave and licence of all misdoing, through Devilish dissimulation. For no man can abide too have his galled back rubbed, neither do any men take warnings in good worth, saving they whom God hath touched, and to whom he hath given the spirit of obedience too yield themselves teachable. Therefore such manner of men as these,¹ will say with David, that they had lever too be […] and with all sharpness, than too have the ointments of the flatter […] ••ich serve but too rock men asleep in their vices. Nevertheless ye shall commonly see, that all men covet ⟨image 306⟩to be borne withal, and to have no word spoken to them what soever they do, nor to have their heads troubled with their vices and misdoings. Every man verifieth this, in so much that God is forgotten, & (as the Prophet Isaiah sayeth) there is no defender any where that maintaineth the truth,² for there is as great confusion and disorder as may be, and yet men do let all slip. True it is that if wrong be done to any man, he will not stick to say that such licentiousness ought too be redressed: but he sayeth not so for any zeal he hath to maintain the honour of God, it is but only for his own peculiar advantage, and for the regard that he hath to himself. Thus ye see that God hath not any proctors or Advocates to plead his case, but every man is for himself. Therefore when we see any man do amiss, let us learn that it is no love nor charity too cloak his evil doings, so as we should dissemble them and make no countenance at all of them: but that if we have a care of him that is so fallen, we must turn him away.