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

And note we, that in general God hath in this place condemned all injuries, all slanders, so that if we do but open our mouth to speak evil, in what sort soever, of our neighbours, we are condemned as false witnesses before God. But by this it is not meant, that we should hide & keep close the wickedness which is manifestly known: for as we have before showed, that under this colour of covering of sins, we must not nourish & foster them by flatteries or lies so we must not under this shadow, that we are forbidden to hurt our neighbours by word, say, that black is white: & this is diligently to be noted. For there are some which would have nothing condemned what ever it be: yea, they would have men frame their speech so to colour & disguise things, that if they saw theft committed, they should call it by some other name: they would in no wise, that vices should be condemned by their proper titles. A man shall set this in many: yea, when one shall sharply reprove such wicked livers, as shall not only have offended God them selves, but shall be the cause, that the rest, with whom they live, shall be drawn unto a lose and dissolute life, which shall be as pestilent and infections sores to rot and corrupt all the rest: when one (I say) shall reprove them, if he touch them as he ought, to the quick, incontinently there shall be some of these nice and delicate fellows, to say, O Sir: should you so speak in the pulpit? A man shall see blasphemies to reign, a man shall see manifest impiety against God and his word, a man shall see such villainous rebellions, as none more, a man shall see such ⟨p. 82⟩enormous and outrageous offences, that it is not possible to bear with them, except a man will be a traitor to God. And well, one shall cry out against these things, and ye shall have this reply made: What? Doeth not the Gospel teach you to win all the world by mildness? Hath not Jesus Christ called sinners unto him in all leve and gentleness, pardoning them their trespasses? Must they then which preach the Gospel use such rigour? Lo, what shall be said: as if Christ would that his grace should be abused, that vices should have their float & full sail, that men should dissemble & cloak them, & that they should not be reproved & condemned.

And note we, that in generall God hath in this place condemned all iniuries, all slaunders, so that if we doe but open our mouth to speake euill, in what sort soeuer, of our neighbours, we are condemned as false witnesses before God. But by this it is not meant, that we should hide & keepe close the wickednesse which is manifestly knowen: for as we haue before shewed, that vnder this colour of couering of sins, we must not nourish & foster them by flatteries or lies so we must not vnder this shadowe, that we are forbiden to hurt our neighbors by word, say, that black is white: & this is diligently to be noted. For there are some which would haue nothing condemned what euer it be: yea, they would haue men frame their speach so to colour & disguise things, that if they saw theft cō mitted, they should call it by some other name: they would in no wise, that vices should be condemned by their proper titles. A man shal set this in manie: yea, when one shall sharplie reproue such wicked liuers, as shall not onelie haue offended God them selues, but shall be the cause, that the rest, with whom they liue, shalbe drawen vnto a lose and dissolute life, which shalbe as pestilent and infections sores to rot and corrupt all the rest: when one (I say) shall reproue them, if he touche them as he ought, to the quicke, incontinentlie there shall be some of these nice and delicate felowes, to say, O Sir: should you so speake in the pulpit? A man shall see blasphemies to reigne, a man shall see manifest impietie against God and his woorde, a man shall see such villanous rebellions, as none more, a man shall see such