Sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the.X.Commandments of the Law, given of GodSermons of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the.X.Commandementes of the Lawe, geuen of God

At least let us do to an other as we would that one should do unto us: for nature hath taught us this, and we need not to go to school to learn it. There shall need then no other evidence to condemn us, than this which our Lord hath already shown us by experience. When we shall bear in mind to commune thus with our own hearts, without all doubt we shall be touched with some pity to help them which stand in need and necessity: and that we shall be moved to compassion, seeing them endure misery: so that if we have the power and ability to succour and relieve them, every one of us will employ him self herein. Ye see then what we have to note upon this place, when it is said, Thou wast a stranger in the land of Egypt: It behoveth therefore that now thou also ease them which are under thy hand: for when thou wast a servant, thou couldest have been very willing that one should have borne with thee, and released thee of some part of thy misery. But now let us come unto them which were not of the people of God, but did only traffic, and had intercourse of merchandise among them. GOD willeth that they also aswell observe the rest: and yet they were not sanctified of GOD, and this sign could not appertain unto them (as we have already said.) It seemeth then that GOD unhalloweth the sacrament, when he communicateth it unto the unfaithful, and those which were not circumcised, to bear the mark and sign of the covenant, to them which had ⟨p. 45⟩neither the law nor the promises. But we are to observe, that this which God speaketh here of strangers, extendeth it self only, and belongeth unto this people which he had chosen and adopted. For we know that if things contrary to the service of God be permitted, although one shall happily say, These which offend, are not of our society and company, we shall notwithstanding be induced by their evil examples to follow them. If the strangers had been permitted to labour among the people of the Jews, what might have happened hereby? The Jews would have had dealings with them, and so have defiled themselves: they would have made small difference between this day & others. For when examples are set before our eyes, we are easily led away to that which is evil.

At least let vs doe to an other as wee would that one should doe vnto vs: for nature hath taught vs this, and wee neede not to goe to schole to learne it. There shall neede then no other euidence to condemne vs, than this whiche our Lorde hath alreadie shewen vs by experience. When wee shall beare in minde to commen thus with our owne heartes, without all doubt wee shalbe touched with some pitie to helpe them whiche stand in neede and necessitie: and that we shalbe moued to compassion, seeing them endure miserie: so that if wee haue the power and abilitie to succour and relieue them, euerie one of vs will employ him selfe herein. Yee see then what wee haue to note vppon this place, when it is said, Thou wast a straunger in the land of Egypt: It behoueth therefore that nowe thou also ease them whiche are vnder thy hande: for when thou wast a seruant, thou couldest haue bene verie willing that one should haue borne with thee, and released thee of some part of thy miserie. But nowe let vs come vnto them which were not of the people of God, but did onely traffike, and had entercourse of merchandize among them. GOD willeth that they also aswell obserue the rest: and yet they were not sanctified of GOD, and this signe could not apperteine vnto them (as wee haue alreadie said.) It seemeth then that GOD vnhalloweth the sacrament, when he communicateth it vnto the vnfaithfull, and those which were not circumcised, to beare the marke and signe of the couenaunt, to them whiche had