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

Now then, seeing it is so that we execute Gods office in rebuking such as have done amiss: how shall we be fit for that purpose, except he guide and direct us thereunto? Therefore let us learn to desire him to guide and rule us by his holy spirit, when any admonition is to be made, to bring such back again as are gone out of the right way. And herewithall we must mark also (as I have said afore) that Saint Paul speaketh not here of such as are sopped in wickedness, in contempt of God and in rebelliousness, but of such as are overtaken, so as they have some good will to do well, and yet notwithstanding do fall through infirmity. Therefore this matter must be handled very skilfully and discreetly. For if we will deal alike with all men, it is certain that we shall oftentimes do wrong too such as have need too be borne withal, and in the mean while do nothing but inflame the despisers of God, and make them more malapart than they were before. Then (as I said) we must put a difference between the one and the other. For when the Prophet Ezekiel speaketh of the good shepherd:¹ he saith that he must bear with the sheep that are weak, and if any of them be infected, he must heal them by good medicines. But if he should keep one manner of usage without putting a difference between one and another, how should he show himself to be a shepherd in so doing? In like case is it with all such as deal with the rebuking of their neighbours that have done amiss. As for example, if there be a shameless naughtipacke, that daily runneth headlong into all naughtiness, which maketh none account of Gods word, nor doth any thing but [mar others] like a scabbed Ram that spreadeth his infection through the whole flock: or if there be a varlet that is given over to all wickedness: such a one is not overtaken with sin. And why? For he hath already given over the service of God, he hath utterly shaken off his yoke, and (as I said afore) is become a mad beast that pusheth with his horns against heaven. Such manner of men deserve not too be borne withal by gentleness: and in this text Saint Paul doth quite cut them off and shut them out of doors. But when […] overthrown by infirmity, and that the […] hath caught him unawares, and yet that the good seed of the fear of God which he had is not ⟨p. 287⟩utterly waterslaine in him:

Nowe then, seeing it is so that we execute Gods office in rebuking such as haue done amisse: how shall we be fit for that purpose, except he guide and direct vs therevnto? Therefore let vs learne to desire him to guide and rule vs by his holy spirite, when any admonition is to be made, to bring such backe againe as are gone out of the right way. And herewithall wee must marke also (as I haue sayd afore) that Saint Paule speaketh not heere of such as are saped in wickednesse, in contempt of God and in rebelliousnesse, but of such as are ouertaken, so as they haue some good will to doo well, and yet notwithstanding doo fall through infirmitie. Therefore this matter must be handled very skilfully and discretely. For if we will deale alike with all men, it is certaine that we shall oftentymes do wrong too such as haue neede too bee borne withall, and in the meane while doo nothing but inflame the despyzers of God, and make them more malapart than they were before. Then (as I sayd) we must put a difference betwene the one and the other. For when the Prophete Ezechiell speaketh of the good shepheard: