The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…

How they do. Paul knew that amidst so great lightness and inconstancy of men, and as their nature is inclined to vice, if there be any thing well ordered among them it doeth seldom continue stable & for any long time: and especially that Churches do easily decay or grow out of kind unless they be looked too continually. There ought nothing under heaven to be more firm, than the spiritual building of faith, whose stability is grounded in the very heaven, yet there be but few in whose minds the word of the Lord doth throughly take lively root: therefore firmness is rare in men. Again, even those who have their anchor firmly fixed in the trueth of God, do not cease notwithstanding to be subject to diverse tossings: whereby though their faith be not overturned yet hath it need of strengthening that it may be underpropped and stayed. Moreover we see how satan doeth assault, and with what subtle shifts he goeth about privily to pull down sometimes whole Churches, sometimes every one of the faithful particularly. Therefore it is not without cause that Paul is so careful for his scholars, least they behave themselves otherwise, then is to be wished: and therefore is he desirous in time to prevent, if there be any inconvenience risen: which cannot be until he have taken view.

How they doe. Paul knewe that amidst so great lightnesse and inconstancie of men, and as their nature is inclined to vice, if there be any thing well ordered among them it doeth seldome continue stable & for any long time: and especially that Churches doe easily decay or growe out of kind vnlesse they be looked too continually. There ought nothing vnder heauen to bee more firme, than the spirituall building of faith, whose stabilitie is grounded in the very heauen, yet there be but fewe in whose mindes the worde of the Lorde doth throughly take liuely roote: therefore firmnes is rare in men. Againe, euen those who haue their anchor firmely fixed in the trueth of God, doe not cease notwithstanding to be subiect to diuerse tossings: wherby though their faith be not ouerturned yet hath it neede of strengthning that it may be vnderpropped and stayed. Moreouer we see how sathan doeth assault, and with what subtile shiftes hee goeth about priuily to pull downe sometimes whole Churches, sometimes euery one of the faithfull particularly. Therefore it is not without cause that Paul is so carefull for his scholars, least they behaue themselues otherwise, then is to be wished: and therefore is hee desirous in time to preuent, if there be any inconuenience risen: which cannot be vntill he haue taken view.