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

And truly we ought to walk continually in fear ⟨p. 288⟩and carefulness, not that we should not always rest upon Gods grace and favour, but that we must not be reckless. For faith importeth not that we should be careless of all things: but rather (as Saint Paul showeth us in the second to the Philippians) that forasmuch as we be not able to do any thing of our selves: God must be fain to guide us by his spirit, and when he hath given us will, he must also give us power to perform it. Forsomuch therefore as we hold all of God: it behoveth us to walk in fear and carefulness. And so when we consider our faults past, and look well upon our present state, we have continual cause to cast down our eyes. In deed when God vouchsafeth us the courage to maintain goodness, and too condemn naughtiness, he granteth us great grace in making us judges, notwithstanding that we deserve to have our mouths stopped. Yet nevertheless it behoveth us too learn to be lowly minded in rebuking the faults [in other men] which we have already condemned in our selves, seeing that we our selves may daily and hourly, yea and every minute of an hour fall. Then sith the case standeth so: let us pity such as offend, for they be all of them mirrors of our own frailty, because we see there what we our selves are furtherforth than God holdeth us up by the grace of his holy spirit. Moreover, in admonishing such as have done amiss, we may yet (as I told you before) offend God in being too hasty, too rigorous, and too unkind. Although then that it be a commendable virtue to admonish our neighbours: yet if we be too lavish, all will turn into vice, except our Lord do so restrain us, as we keep an even hand and swerve not aside too any of the two vices that I have touched afore. Thus ye see what we have too remember concerning this saying of Saint Paul. Now he sayeth expressly, you that be spiritual: meaning to do us to wit, that we be the more bound too hear with the weaklings, when God hath strengthened us by his power, according also as is declared in the fourteenth too the Romans. And in deed if God distribute his grace more too one man than too another: it is not […] or that man with all, but rather too hold up such as are not able […] go:

And truly we ought to walke continually in feare ⟨p. 288⟩and carefulnesse, not that wee shoulde not alwayes rest vppon Gods grace and fauour, but that wee must not be retchlesse. For fayth importeth not that we should bee carelesse of all things: but rather (as Saint Paule sheweth vs in the second to the Philippians) that forasmuch as we be not able to do any thing of our selues: God must be faine to guide vs by his spirite, and when he hath giuen vs will, he must also giue vs power to performe it. Forsomuch therefore as we holde all of God: it behoueth vs to walke in feare and carefulnesse. And so when wee consider our faultes past, and looke well vpon our present state, we haue continuall cause to cast downe our eyes. In deede when God vouchsafeth vs the courage to maintaine goodnesse, and too condemne naughtinesse, hee graunteth vs great grace in making vs iudges, notwithstanding that we deserue to haue our mouthes stopped. Yet neuerthelesse it behoueth vs too learne to be lowly mynded in rebuking the faultes [in other men] which we haue alreadie condemned in our selues, seing that we our selues maye dayly and hourely, yea and euerie minute of an houre fall. Then sith the cace standeth so: let vs pitie such as offende, for they be all of them myrrours of our owne frailtie, bycause wee see there what we our selues are furtherforth than God holdeth vs vp by the grace of his holy spirite. Moreouer, in admonishing such as haue done amisse, we may yet (as I tolde you before) offend God in being too hastie, too rygorous, and too vnkinde. Although then that it be a commendable vertue to admonish our neighbours: yet if we be too lauish, all will turne into vice, except our Lorde doo so restreyne vs, as wee keepe an euen hande and swarue not asyde too any of the twoo vyces that I haue touched afore. Thus ye see what wee haue too remember concerning this saying of Sainct Paule. Nowe hee sayeth expressely, you that bee spirituall: meening to do vs to wit, that we bee the more bounde too heare with the weakelings, when God hath strengthned vs by his power, according also as is declared in the fourtenth too the Romanes. And in deede if God distribute his grace more too one man than too another: it is not or that man with all, but rather too hold vp such as are not able go: