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…

27 Not only this part. This is first disorderedly handled in that Demetrius is careful for religion after other things: because nothing ⟨p. 468⟩is more absurd then to prefer the belly before the goddess: but even this is also vain, in that he pretendeth that the worship of Diana is in hazard. For if he had suffered no loss by Paul his doctrine he would have sit quietly at home: he would neither have taken thought for the worship of Diana, neither would he have troubled others. What is the cause then he is so diligent and so earnest in his business, even this, because he was plagued at home? and because he saw that he and his copartners had no honest or probable cause to make any stir, he goeth about to colour the matter with some other colour. Therefore to the end he may cover the shame of his wicked fact, he cloaketh it with the title of religion; which is plausible. So that the wicked howsoever they strive frowardly against God; yet they gather here and there honest excuses impudently: but God doth not suffer himself to be mocked: but doeth rather pull them out of their starting holes. There needeth no other witness to refute Demetrius his hypocrisy because he cutteth his own throat with his own words, when he bewrayeth the sorrow which he had conceived, because of the loss which he sustained. In like state do the papists stand at this day: they boast with full mouth, that they be patrons of the catholic faith, & of the holy mother the church, but when they have spoken thus touching their zeal, in the very handling of the cause they breath out with wide open throat the smell of their kitchens. But if we have a desire to handle the cause of godliness purely and in earnest, let us forget our commodities, that the glory of God may have the chief place. For the show of profit doth so tie all our senses with enticements, that though we wander through all manner wickedness, yet do we flatter our selves, so long as we be determined to provide for our own commodity.

27 Not only this part. This is first disorderedly handeled in that Demetrius is carefull for religion after other things: because nothing ⟨p. 468⟩is more absurd then to prefer the belly before the goddesse: but euē this is also vain, in that he pretēdeth that the worship of Diana is in hazard. For if he had suffered no losse by Paul his doctrin he would haue sit quietly at home: hee would neither haue taken thought for the worship of Diana, neither would he haue troubled others. What is the cause then he is so diligent and so earnest in his businesse, euen this, because he was plagued at home? and because he saw that hee and his copartners had no honest or probable cause to make any stirre, he goeth about to colour the matter with some other colour. Therefore to the end hee may couer the shame of his wicked fact, he cloketh it with the title of religiō; which is plausible. So that the wicked howsoeuer they striue frowardly against God; yet they gather heere and there honest excuses impudently: but God doth not suffer himselfe to be mocked: but doeth rather pull them out of their starting holes. There needeth no other witnesse to refute Dimetrius his hypocrisie because he cutteth his owne throate with his owne words, when he bewrayeth the sorow which he had conceiued, because of the losse which he susteined. In like state do the papists stand at this day: they boast with ful mouth, that they be patrons of the catholik faith, & of the holy mother the church, but when they haue spokē thus touching their zeale, in the very handeling of the cause they breath out with wide open throte the smel of their kitchins. But if we haue a desire to handle the cause of godlines purely and in earnest, let vs forget our commodities, that the glory of God may haue the chief place. For the shew of profite doth so tie all our senses with inticements, that though wee wander through all manner wickednesse, yet doe wee flatter our selues, so long as wee bee determined to prouide for our owne commoditie.