Thirteen sermons of Master John Calvin, entreating of the free election of God in…Thirteene sermons of Maister Iohn Caluine, entreating of the free election of God in…

It is true that in this case we must thoroughly examine our affection: for it is a very hard and rare thing, that a man who shall have been provoked & offended, that he should not be moved with some passion, and so always pursue his own particular cause. And therefore I have said that we must enter into our selves, and diligently mark, if we be not moved with some desire of revenge, or tainted with some hatred or rancour: when we shall ⟨image 130⟩have thoroughly known this, and find our selves clear, then we may have an open mouth to show them their offence, that shall have wronged us, not too be revenged in condemning of them: but to the end that they flatter not them selves in their sins, as this is a very common evil amongst men. Lo then a point which we have diligently to mark: that is, that the patience of the faithful is not without all touch of any passion, neither is it against this, that we frankly show them: ye have done me wrong, and ye have offended GOD, and ye have had no occasion to do so: and yet: that they always have special regard unto the salvation of those, who have persecuted them, and have been their enemies. For this that Isaac nippeth them withal, was undoubtedly as an admonition, whereby he sought the good and salvation of them, to whom he spake so bluntly: For if he had dissembled it, what profit might come to him thereby? The others would have thought it deep hypocrisy, if he had made show to have bin contented & well pleased with them, and that he had nothing but honey in his mouth, and have said: Lo it is even so: Abimilech knowing himself to be faulty would have thought, See, a double man and a liar. Lo what they gain that dissemble so much, and set such a fair countenance upon it. So then, although the Children of God be patient, and that they be always ready ro forgive all wrongs committed against them, and have not any manner of ways cankered harts against ⟨p. 122⟩their enemies, yet they cease not oftentimes too say, See wherein you have done me wrong: and this is to show that they walk in all roundness & simplicity. And this end ought always to be kept:

It is true that in this case we must thorowly examine our affection: for it is a very hard and rare thing, that a man who shall haue beene prouoked & offēded, that he should not be moued with some passion, and so alwayes pursue his own particular cause. And therfore I haue said that we must enter into our selues, and diligently marke, if we be not moued with some desire of reuenge, or taynted with some hatred or rancour: when wee shall