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…

But the matter it self doeth plainly declare, that they fight not so much for the altars as for the fi•es: to wit, that they may have hot kitchings. They can well wink at filthy blasphemies against God, so they lack nothing of their revenues, Only they are more than courageous in maintaining such superstitions as are meetest for their purpose.

But the matter it selfe doeth plainely declare, that they fight not so much for the altars as for the fi•es: to wit, that they may haue hot kitchings. They can well winke at filthie blasphemies against God, so they lacke nothing of their reuenues, Onely they are more than couragious in maintaining such superstitions as are meetest for their purpose.

Therefore being taught by such examples, let us learn to make choice of such a kind of life as is agreeable to the doctrine of Christ: least desire of gain provoke us to enter a wicked and ungodly combat: and as for those who through ignorance or error are fallen unto any ungodly occupation, or are entangled in any other impure and wicked kind of life: let them notwithstanding beware of such sacrilegious rashness. And as touching godly teachers, let them learn by this example, that they shall never want adversaries, until the whole world through denial of it self offer peace: which we know will never come to pass. Because Pauls doctrine taketh away Demetrius and the rest of the silver smiths gains, they leap out furiously to put out the same, will not they do the same, whom the Gospel shall contrary? But there is no man who hath not occasion to fight. For all the affections of the flesh are enemies to God. So that it must needs be, that how many lusts of the flesh there be in the world there are as many armed enemies to resist Christ. It will in deed oftentimes fall out that God will bridle the wicked, least they raise some tumult, or break out into open rage. Yet whosoever is not tamed, and brought down to bear Christs yoke, he shall always hate his gospel. So that faithful & godly teachers must persuade themselves that they shall always have to deal with great store of enemies. Demetrius his covetousness is manifest. Nevertheless we must also know this, that he was Satan his fan, who seeking by all means to overthrow Pauls doctrine, found this fit instrument. Now forasmuch as we know that Satan is a deadly enemy to Christ and the truth, do we think that he shall ever want ministers, who shall rage through his motion and persuasion, either with open rage, or else seek to work the overthrow of the Gospel by secret practises, or spue out the poison of their hatred, or else at least show some token of enmity by fretting and murmuring.