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

WE have seen this morning, that we must bear with mens infirmities where we see there is any fear of God, or any good seed, and that they be not utterly wilful in wickedness. And so ye see in what cases we ought to be pitiful. But when we see men so proud, that they despise God with stubborn outrage: it is not for us too use any mildness or gentleness in that case, but for as much as they be seen too prance so in their braveries, that loftiness of theirs must be plucked down, when they exalt them selves after that fashion against God. Also I told you therewithal, that too keep a good mean in rebuking such as have done amiss, every man had need too bethink himself: for we must first of all condemn our selves: that is the point which we must begin at. And when we see what we our selves are, and that we have great store of vices in us worthy too be rebuked: then have we there on the other side wherewith too humble our selves, and too restrain us from using too great or excessive rigour towards such as have need too be succoured, and too be borne withal. Saint Paul therefore continueth still the same matter, saying, that he which weeneth him self too be any thing, is nothing, but deceiveth him self: For every man shuts his eyes when he should think upon his own sins. Of a truth there can not be so much as one drop of virtue in us, but by and by we magnify it: but if our vices be apparent to the whole world, in so much that even little children can laugh us to scorn: yet can not we our selves see them. Now S. Paul intending too correct this vice, saith that men are loth too be deceived, and yet nevertheless every man beguiles him self willingly and wittingly, even through his own overw••• […] by this means he bringeth us too the very wellspring (as I said this morning) which is that if men were not vainglorious and ⟨p. 291⟩desirous of estimation, surely there would be another manner of modesty and soberness than is too be seen. But for as much as every man is puffed up with pride, therefore we covet superiority above all men, and seek occasion too tread them under foot, or else to overcountenance them in such wise, as they may seem our underlings. Therefore it is unpossible to redress this outrage of coveting after that sort too carp and bite men:

WE haue sene this morning, that we must beare with mens infirmities where wee see there is any feare of God, or any good seede, and that they be not vtterly wilfull in wickednesse. And so yee see in what caces wee ought to be pitifull. But when wee see men so proud, that they despise God with stubborne outrage: it is not for vs too vse any meeldenesse or gentlenesse in that cace, but for as muche as they bee seene too praunce so in their braueries, that loftinesse of theirs muste bee plucked downe, when they exalte them selues after that fashion agaynst God. Also I tolde you therewithall, that too keepe a good meane in rebuking suche as haue doone amisse, euery man had neede too bethinke himselfe: for wee must first of all condemne oure selues: that is the poynt which wee muste beginne at. And when wee see what wee our selues are, and that wee haue great store of vyces in vs worthy too bee rebuked: then haue wee there on the other side wherwith too humble our selues, and too restrayne vs from vsing too great or excessiue rigour towards suche as haue neede too bee succoured, and too bee borne withall. Sainct Paule therefore continueth still the same matter, saying, that he whiche weeneth him selfe too bee any thing, is nothing, but deceyueth him selfe: For euery man shuts his eyes when he should thinke vpon his owne sinnes. Of a truth there can not be so muche as one droppe of vertue in vs, but by and by we magnifie it: but if our vices be apparant to the whole world, in so muche that euen little children can laugh vs to scorne: yet can not wee our selues see them. Now S. Paule intending too correcte this vyce, sayth that men are lothe too bee deceyued, and yet neuerthelesse euery man beguyles him selfe willingly and wittingly, euen through his owne ouerw by this meanes he bringeth vs too the very welspring (as I sayde this morning) whiche is that if men were not vayneglorious and