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

Therefore let us learn to examine our own lives well, before we judge of other mens. For seeing that God doth us the honour to make every of us his own judge: we do but increase our own damnation before him, when we be so rough and severe towards those that have offended, and forget our own sins. Now whereas S. Paul saith that every man shal• have praise in himself only: it is not meant when men examine themselves, they shall find cause in them wherefore to be praised: but that the true praise is that which hath some substantialness in it self: which is, that every man know what he himself is, and judge of himself without comparing with others. As for example: it is always said that a purblind person is clearsighted, among them that are stark blind. And among the black Moors, he that is tawny will seem white. If judgement be given of a white man when he is among a dozen Moors, there will be no whiteness unto his. But if he be brought again among his own countrymen, he will be found to be a far other than he was taken to be. If it be said, Lo here a man that is clearsighted, and yet he is but purblind: his clearsightedness shall be but in comparison of them that are stark blind: for his eyesight is not clear and sound in deed. Even so, too judge by comparison is a very fond thing. Thus ye see in effect what Saint Paul meant to say. He meant not that when we have examined our life, we have wherefore too commend and esteem our selves: but that all the praise […] challenge too themselves, are but wind and smoke, and stark lies, because their gazing is at themselves, as if a man should be in love with his own image.

Therfore let vs learne to examin our owne liues well, before we iudge of other mennes. For seeyng that God dooth vs the honour to make euery of vs his owne iudge: wee do but increase our own damnation before him, when wee be so rough and seuere towardes those that haue offended, and forget our owne sinnes. Now wheras S. Paule saith that euery man shal• haue praise in himselfe only: it is not ment when men examine themselues, they shal find cause in them wherfore to be praysed: but that the true praise is that which hath some substantialnesse in it selfe: which is, that euery mā know what he himselfe is, and iudge of himselfe without comparing with others. As for example: it is alwayes sayd that a purblind person is cleersighted, among thē that are starke blind. And among the black Moores, he that is tawny will seeme white. If iudgement bee giuen of a white man when he is among a dozen Moores, there will be no whitenesse vnto his. But if he bee brought ageine among his owne countrymen, he will bee found to bee a farre other than he was taken to bee. If it bee sayde, Lo heere a man that is cleersighted, and yet he is but purblind: his cleersightednesse shall bee but in comparison of them that are starke blind: for his eyesight is not cleere and sound in deede. Euen so, too iudge by comparison is a very fond thing. Thus yee see in effect what Sainct Paule ment to say. He ment not that when wee haue examined our lyfe, wee haue wherefore too commend and esteeme our selues: but that all the prayse chalenge too themselues, are but wynde and smoke, and starke lyes, bycause their gazing is at themselues, as if a man should bee in loue with his owne image.