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

Now contrariwise, when I will advertise my neighbour, so that I shall seek to do him good, that I shall be led by no evil affection, but that I would procure his salvation as far as lieth in me, I may say, Unhappy man that thou art, take heed to thy self, it seemeth thou wouldest sell thy self unto Satan, it seemeth thou wouldest captive thy self under his cursed servitude and bondage: thou showest well that thou art past all sense, and enraged, when thou wilt receive no admonition, regard no warning: wilt thou needs perish mischievously and miserably? Go cayt•e: thou art worthy to be hated and spat at of all men. I may use to say all these words with a man, and yet do him no injury. And why? For I can not otherwise bring him to him self, to amend him. Therefore, when I see that Satan hath so hardened him, that I must hammer him with great blows to awaken him, I may here proceed with such vehemency of words: and behold also, how I shall seek hereby to cover his faults. For what other end and purpose have I? What other thing shoot I at, but that they should be pardoned him of God, and that before the world he should no longer be defamed and made a reproach? It grieveth me that men point at him with their fingers, that he is become a reproach and byword to all, that he is as it were on a scaffold or stage exposed to all ignominy and shame. This grieveth me (I say) and therefore I seek to bring him into the right way, so that I use no injury towards him, in this manner of proceeding which I observe. Now, in the mean time we must take heed, that we loose not the bridle to any excessive bitterness of reprehending. For albeit we have a good zeal, & are not moved with any ill will: yet notwithstanding, we shall very much offend, when we shall be over bitter in reproving.¹ Lo, why Saint Paul expressly warneth us of this, that we reprove with all gentleness those which have offended. Consider saith he, that thou mayest also fall and offend. Let us therefore use such mildness and gentleness towards our neighbours, as we would be used towards us in the like case. But how ever it be, let us speak of vices so, that we disguise them not, to make them seem nothing, & let us seek roughly to reform them which have offended: ⟨p. 83⟩reproving them in such sort, as they are able to bear, and as we see them disposed:

Now contrariwise, when I will aduertise my neighbour, so that I shall seeke to do him good, that I shalbe led by no euill affection, but that I would procure his saluation as farre as lieth in me, I may say, Vnhappie man that thou art, take heede to thy selfe, it seemeth thou wouldest sell thy selfe vnto Satan, it seemeth thou wouldest captiue thy selfe vnder his cursed seruitude and bondage: thou shewest well that thou art past all sense, and enraged, when thou wilt receive no admonition, regard no warning: wilt thou needes perish mischieuouslie and miserablie? Go cayte: thou art worthie to be hated and spat at of all men. I may vse to say all these words with a man, and yet do him no iniurie. And why? For I can not otherwise bring him to him selfe, to amend him. Therfore, when I see that Sathan hath so hardened him, that I must hammer him with great blowes to awaken him, I may here proceede with such vehemencie of words: and behold also, how I shall seeke hereby to couer his faultes. For what other end and purpose haue I? What other thing shoote I at, but that they should be pardoned him of God, and that before the world he should no longer be defamed and made a reproch? It grieueth me that men point at him with their fingers, that he is become a reproch and byword to all, that he is as it were on a scaffold or stage exposed to all ignominie and shame. This grieueth me (I say) and therfore I seeke to bring him into the right way, so that I vse no iniurie towards him, in this manner of proceeding which I obserue. Nowe, in the meane time we must take heede, that we loose not the bridle to anie excessiue bitternesse of reprehending. For albeit we haue a good zeale, & are not moued with anie ill will: yet notwithstanding, we shal verie much offend, when we shalbe ouer bitter in reprouing.