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…

And as we said of late, that those are condemned by this sentence,¹ who disputing philosophically, least they should teach any thing which is removed from the common sense of men, and therefore odious, do corrupt with their leaven the purity of the scripture: so, both sharply and sore doth Paul thunder against them, who for fear of the cross and persecution do speak only doubtfully and darkly.

And as we said of late, that those are condemned by this sentence,¹ who disputing philosophicallie, least they should teach any thing which is remoued from the common sense of men, and therefore odious, do corrupt with their leauen the puritie of the scripture: so, both sharply and sore doth Paul thunder against them, who for feare of the crosse and persecution do speake onely doubtfully and darkly.

1. 11. Cor. 13.12.

I am clean from the blood. I do not doubt but that he had respect unto the place of Ezekiel:¹ where God denounceth that his prophet shall be guilty of the blood of the wicked unless he exhort them unto repentance. For upon this condition doth he appoint pastors over his church, that if any thing perish through their negligence an account may be required at their hands: yea, that unless they show the way of salvation without guile and crooks, the destruction of those who go astray may be imputed unto them. Those men must needs be wonderful dull whom such a sharp threatening cannot awake. Wherefore the Epicurish impiety of the popish clergy doth the more bewray it self, where though they crake and brag of their honourable titles, yet they think no more upon giving of an account for so many souls which perish, than if there sate no judge in heaven, neither is their ungodliness any whit less filthy before the whole world, in that being given only to devour sheep, they usurp the name of Pastors. Furthermore the Lord showeth how dear souls be to him, seeing that he doth so sharply punish the Pastors sluggishness, for their destruction: but we see what small account many men make of their own salvation, for which even God himself doth vouchsafe to be careful.