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

it becometh us too have pity and compassion on him. And forasmuch as we may slide every hour, let us learn to call yet earnestlyer upon God, that he may govern us, yea and let us also bear well in mind how Saint Paul addeth, look to thy self that thou also be not tempted. Here he changeth the number. He had said, Brethren if any man be overtaken, help ye to amend him. And now he turneth his tale too every man particularly, saying: Look to thy self: and that is too the end that this warning should be the more vehement, and touch us the nearer. For we see that when one speaketh in general terms, every man thinketh it to be spoken to other men, and there is none of us all but he would shift out himself as much as is possible. Then if it be said, behold, all are inclined to this or that? very well, he speaketh to the whole company, but in the mean while no man is touched with it as he should be. Saint Paul therefore doth expressly change the number here, and he thinketh it not enough too warn all the faithful and the body of the whole Church in common: but he draweth every man aside and saith, look to thy self, and examine what is in thee: for thou also mayest be tempted. Truly there is not any reason that ought sooner to persuade us to be gentle towards such as have done amiss, than when we know that we our selves also have need too be borne withal. And even the very heathen men have alleged the same. For they have said, that it is a great cruelty in a man if he cannot find in his heart to bear with the infirmities of his companions, seeing there is not any man which is not weak himself. It were impossible that any two men should live together in the world, if they be not patient to bear one with another. Then were two men enough too set all the whole world on a broil, if they would not bear one with another. And even they that think themselves to be most perfect, shall find that they themselves had need to be borne withal. For surely if we be not utterly blockish, we will hate the evil that is in our selves. And we need not any man to trouble and vex us: every […] in himself by being grieved at his own imperfections. […] it is so: what remaineth but that the same should induce us to deal mildly and gently with such as are ⟨image 309⟩fallen through infirmity?

it becommeth vs too haue pitie and compassion on him. And forasmuch as we may slyde euerie houre, let vs learne to call yet earnestlyer vppon God, that hee may gouerne vs, yea and let vs also beare well in minde howe Saint Paule addeth, looke to thy selfe that thou also be not tempted. Heere he chaungeth the number. He had sayd, Brethren if any man be ouertaken, helpe ye to amende him. And now he turneth his tale too euery man particularly, saying: Looke to thy selfe: and that is too the ende that thys warning shoulde bee the more vehement, and touch vs the nearer. For we see that when one speaketh in generall termes, euery man thinketh it to be spoken to other men, and there is none of vs all but he would shift out himselfe as much as is possible. Then if it be sayd, behold, all are inclyned to this or that? verie well, he speaketh to the whole companie, but in the meane while no man is touched with it as he should bee. Saint Paule therfore doth expresly change the number here, and he thinketh it not ynough too warne all the faythfull and the bodie of the whole Church in common: but hee draweth euerie man asyde and sayth, looke to thy selfe, and examin what is in thee: for thou also mayest be tempted. Truly there is not any reason that ought sooner to perswade vs to be gentle towardes such as haue done amisse, than when we knowe that we our selues also haue neede too bee borne withall. And euen the verie heathen men haue alledged the same. For they haue sayde, that it is a great crueltie in a man if hee cannot finde in his heart to beare with the infirmityes of his companions, seeing there is not any man whiche is not weake himselfe. It were impossible that anye twoo men shoulde liue togither in the worlde, if they bee not pacient to beare one with another. Then were twoo men ynough too set all the whole worlde on a broyle, if they woulde not beare one with another. And euen they that thinke themselues to be most perfect, shal finde that they themselues had neede to be borne withall. For surely if we be not vtterly blockishe, wee will hate the euill that is in our selues. And we neede not any man to trouble and vexe vs: euerie in himselfe by beeing greeued at his owne imperfections. it is so: what remayneth but that the same should induce vs to deale meeldly and gently with such as are