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 we see the thing that is said, namely that God doth in such wise correct his children,¹ that the chastisements which he useth begin at his own house,² and at his own household folk. Yet for all that, he thundereth not against poor sinners, but waiteth for them patiently, encouraging them, drawing them, bearing with them, setting his grace before them, and showing them that he is ready to receive them, and hath his arms stretched out to embrace them, if they will come unto him. Ye see then that the first thing which we have to consider, is that we must fashion our […] example of our God, so as we oppress […] the first dash in whom we see any infirmity, but rather labour to win them, because they ⟨p. 286⟩be as lost souls. And hereupon we may also gather, that such as nowadays would have vices cloaked, yea and borne out under pretence that God is patient and gentle, do falsely corrupt the holy scripture. For nowadays, if never so detestable crimes be committed, by and by they allege mercy, ô they must be pitied: yea, but such folk blaspheme God in that they would have us too be more merciful than he is. Surely we know him too be the welspring• of all goodness, and it is enough for us if we can follow him a great way off, and it were a thing to be greatly desired that we could come nearer and nearer unto him. But when we have strained our selves too the uttermost, it is very much if we can have in us but some little spark of the mercy which is infinite in God.³ Nevertheless God promiseth not his grace, but to such as return unto him. True it is that he toucheth them with his holy spirit, and changeth their minds: but yet must repentance always be matched with forgiveness of sins. Now after what manner is it that men would be pitiful? It is that they might mock God too his face, that men should wink at their lewdness, yea and sooth them up in it, that God should be rejected, and that such as are ready to do still worse and worse, should be borne withal and borne out. But I have told you that it is too cursed a blasphemy, when men transform good into evil after that fashion. Then according to Saint Pauls exhortation, let us learn to bring a meekness that may be of Gods spirit, not too allow of the evil, or to deface the good, but too amend things modestly with discretion.