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 as for these roisters that are given too all evil, they be so far off from stooping under their burden, that they rather ride […] triumphing and vaunting themselves, […] though they would utterly defy God. Thus see ye the diversity that is betwixt them which ⟨p. 289⟩are to be borne with, and those against whom all rigour may be used. For the one sort is bowed with the weight of the burden which doth in manner weigh them down: and these are the same whom our Lord Jesus Christ calleth to him, saying: Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you, and you shall find rest for your souls.¹ Our Lord Jesus calleth not all men without exception unto him, but giveth a mark too such as may have access to obtain favour, namely that they be overladen: that is to say, they welter not in their sins, ne take pleasure in them, neither do they boast of them as folk paste shame: but they would fain have ease, and can find none in them selves. Therefore he saith he is ready to deal gently with them. And for the same cause also doth S. Paul in the seventh to the Romans say, that he doth not the good which he would, but the evil which he would not. Now S. Paul speaketh there of him self: in so much that although he were as an Angel of God in respect of his conversation in this world, and as a mirror of all holiness: yet doth he mourn still, and say he is accursed. And why so? Because he was held as a captive in prison, in so much as he was not at liberty too give him self fully unto God: for he was hindered by his own sinfulness. Now if S. Paul were in that taking: how shall we do? By the way we see how this word Burden is to be understood, where it is said that we must bear one another's burdens. Herein Saint Paul exhorteth us to hold up one another: and if any man miss of his duty, we must not therefore give him over, but be inclined to pitifulness still, and use the forementioned meekness. To be short, he saith that we be knit together with such condition, that if any of us be overladen or wax faint, the rest must supply his default and weakness (as I said) even as inclined thereto by nature, without being encouraged by the word of God. If we be going of a journey in a company together, and see any of the […] every of us will help to hearten him:

But as for these roysters that are giuen too all euill, they be so farre off from stouping vnder their burthen, that they rather ryde triumphing and vaunting themselues, though they would vtterly defie God. Thus see yee the diuersitie that is betwixt them which