Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin (continued)
Commentary on the Corinthians
(Matthew 11:29, 30.)
The Prophet also says of him, His voice will not be heard in the streets: a bruised reed he shall not break, etc. (Isaiah 42:2, 3.)
That gentleness, therefore, which Christ showed, he requires also from his servants. Paul, in making mention of it, intimates that he is no stranger to it. 1638 "I earnestly beseech you not to despise that gentleness, which Christ showed us in his own person, and shows us every day in his servants, nay more, which ye see in me."
Who in presence He repeats this, as if in the person of his adversaries, by way of imitating them. 1639 Now he confesses, so far as words go, what they upbraided him with, yet, as we shall see, in such a way as to concede nothing to them in reality.
2. I beseech you, that I may not be bold, when I am present. Some think, that the discourse is incomplete, and that he does not express the matter of his request. 1640 I am rather of opinion, however, that what was wanting in the former clause is here completed, so that it is a general exhortation. "Show yourselves docile and tractable towards me, that I may not be constrained to be more severe." It is the duty of a good pastor to allure his sheep peacefully and kindly, that they may allow themselves to be governed, rather than to constrain them by violence. Severity, it is true, is, I acknowledge, sometimes necessary, but we must always set out with gentleness, and persevere in it, so long as the hearer shews himself tractable. 1641 Severity must be the last resource. "We must," says he, "try all methods, before having recourse to rigor; nay more, let us never be rigorous, unless we are constrained to it." In the mean time, as to their reckoning themselves pusillanimous and timid, when he had to come to close quarters, he intimates that they were mistaken as to this, when he declares that he will stoutly resist face to face the contumacious 1642 "They despise me," says he, "as if I were a pusillanimous person, but they will find that I am braver and more courageous than they could have wished, when they come to contend in good earnest." From this we see, when it is time to act with severity — after we have found, on trial being made, that allurements and mildness have no good effect. "I shall do it with reluctance," says Paul, "but still I have determined to do it." Here is an admirable medium; for as we must, in so far as is in our power, draw men rather than drive them, so, when mildness has no effect, in dealing with those that are stern and refractory, rigor must of necessity be resorted to: otherwise it will not be
1638"Il n'est pas nouueau a la pratiquer;" — "He is no stranger to the practice of it." 1639"En contrefaisant les propos qu'ils tenoyent de luy;" — "By imitating the speeches that they uttered respecting him." — See volume 1, p.65.
1640"Et le sens seroit, Ie vous prie, afin qu'il ne faille point vser de hardiesse;" — "And the meaning would be, I beseech you, in order that I may not have occasion to use boldness."
1641"Docile et traittable;" — "Teachable and tractable." 1642"Aux rebelles et obstinez;" — "The rebellious and obstinate."