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…

To govern the Church. The Greek word Poiemainein doth signify to feed. But by a fit similitude it is translated unto every kind of government. And we have said that this is the third argument drawn from the excellency of the function: as the same Paul telleth Timotheus elsewhere, that he take heed & see how he ought to behave him self in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar & ground of trueth. As if he should say, that there is no time to be idle in such a weighty calling, & that those are less excusable, whom God hath made stewards of his family, the higher that degree of honour is, unless they be correspondent to so great dignity, that is, unless they do their duty diligently Now if Bishops or overseers be made by the holy ghost, to the end they may feed the church, the Hierarchy of papistry is ridiculous, wherein bishops being proud of their painted sheath & vain title, do not so much as once meddle with the function of teaching, no not for fashions sake.

To gouerne the Church. The Greeke worde Poiemainein doth signifie to feede. But by a fitte similitude it is translated vnto euerie kinde of gouernment. And wee haue saide that this is the thirde argument drawen from the excellencie of the function: as the same Paul telleth Timotheus elswhere, that he take heed & see how he ought to behaue him selfe in the house of God, which is the church of the liuing God, the pillar & ground of trueth. As if he should say, that there is no time to be idle in such a weightie calling, & that those are lesse excusable, whō God hath made stewards of his family, the higher that degree of honor is, vnlesse they be correspondent to so great dignity, that is, vnles they do their duty diligently Now if Bishops or ouerseers be made by the holy ghost, to the end they may feede the church, the Hierarchy of papistry is ridiculous, wherin bishops being proud of their painted sheath & vain title, do not so much as once meddle with the function of teaching, no not for fashions sake.

Which he hath purchased. The 4. reason whereby Paul doth carefully prick forward the pastors to do their duty diligently, because the lord hath given no small pledge of his love toward the church, in shedding his own blood for it. Whereby it appeareth how precious it is to him: & surely there is nothing which ought more vehemently to urge pastors to do their duty joyfully, then if they consider, that the price of the blood of Christ is committed to them. For hereupon it followeth, that unless they take pains faithfully in the church, the lost souls are not only imputed to them, but they be also guilty of sacrilege, because they have profaned the holy blood of the son of God, & have made the redemption gotten by him to be of none effect, so much as in them lieth. And this is a most cruel offence, if through our sluggishness the death of Christ do not only become vile or base, but the fruit thereof be also abolished & perish: and it is said that god hath purchased the church, to the end we may know that he would have it remain wholly to himself, because it is meet & right that he possess those whom he hath redeemed.