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

Thus ye see what we have to mark well here. And soothly if we search well the cause why many are inflamed with such inordinate zeal, and storm so extremely against small faults: it is that they think not upon themselves. Now then the order that we must keep in this behalf, is first to condemn the evil whatsoever it is: mark that for one point. For if we condemn the evil but in this man or that man, & overslip it in others: it is a token that we be not led with a right meaning mind to the end that God should be served & honoured, but that there is some secrete root of malice in us,¹ according as Solomon saith, that enmity bewrayeth vices, and every man findeth fault with him to whom he beareth any grudge. Ye see then that the first rule which we must keep, is too condemn the evil wheresoever it be found, even because it is contrary to Gods will. That is one point. The second is, that every of us must examine himself. For surely the nearer that any evil is to our selves, so much the more must we have it. If I see a despiser of God, it will grieve me more than if he were ten leagues off from me, and that I knew not his faults. Now then it standeth us on hand to have an eye to our selves. For let us take this similitude, the nearer neighbours that we be, and the more familiarity that there is among men, the more must we put the thing in ure which I have spoken of: that is to wit, the more must every of us show other his faults when he hath offended. For God hath knit us together with condition that if I have a friend, I must reform him rather than a stranger. But now when evil is to be condemned, who is nearer too me than my self? Ye see then wherein a man shall know whether we seek the honour of God and the cleansing away of vice or no: namely, if we be rough and sharp in bridling of our selves, and that when we rebuke others, we first condemn all our own vices, and show that we mislike them, and that we seek too amend them as much as we can. Ye see then that the way for us to judge of our neighbours, is first of all to condemn our selves. And this warning serveth not only for the things past, but also for the things to come. S. Paul therefore saith not, […] hast offended heretofore: but he say•• […] that thou […] tempted hereafter.

Thus ye see what we haue to marke well here. And soothly if we search well the cause why many are inflamed with such inordinate zeale, and storme so extreemely agaynst small faults: it is that they thinke not vpon themselues. Now then the order that we must keepe in this behalf, is first to condemne the euill whatsoeuer it is: marke that for one point. For if we cōdemne the euill but in this mā or that mā, & ouerslip it in others: it is a tokē that we be not led with a right meening minde to the end that God should be serued & honored, but that there is some secrete roote of malice in vs,