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…

If external and professed enemies do resist the Gospel, this doeth not so much hurt to the Church, as if inward enemies issue out of the bosom of the Church which at a sudden blow to the field, or which unfaithfully provoke the people to fall away: and yet God hath from the beginning exercised his Church with this temptation, and now doth exercise it. Wherefore let our faith be fortified with this defence, that it fail not, if at any time it so fall out that Pastors begin to rage like wolves. He sayeth they shall be grievous wolves that he may the more terrify them: secondly they shall be authors of wicked opinions, and that to the end they may draw disciples after them: because it cannot almost otherwise be but that ambition will corrupt the purity of the Gospel. By this it appeareth also how frivolous and vain the brag of the Papists is, touching their continual succession. For seeing we can easily show that these horned beasts are nothing less than that which they will be thought to be: being always ⟨p. 489⟩convict, they fly unto this fortress, that they succeed the Apostles by a continual course. As if these did not also succeed them, of whom Paul willeth to take heed. Therefore seeing that god, either to prove the constancy of his, or in his just judgement doth oftentimes suffer wolves to rage under the person of Pastors: the authority doth not consist in the name and place alone: neither is succession any thing worth, unless faith and integrity be joined therewithal. But and if the Papists object, that they cannot be called wolves, one word of Paul shall be as a touchstone to prove whether this be so or no: that they may (sayeth he) draw Disciples after them. And to what end tendeth all popish religion save only that mens lust and pleasure may reign in steed of Gods word? But Christ hath no Disciples, where he is not counted the only master.

If externall and professed enimies doe resist the Gospel, this doeth not so much hurt to the Church, as if inwarde enimies issue out of the bosome of the Church which at a sodaine blow to the field, or which vnfaithfully prouoke the people to fall away: and yet God hath from the beginning exercised his Church with this temptation, and now doth exercise it. Wherefore let our faith be fortified with this defense, that it faile not, if at any time it so fal out that Pastours begin to rage like wolues. He saieth they shalbe grieuous wolues that he may the more terrifie them: secondly they shal be authours of wicked opinions, and that to the end they may draw disciples after them: because it cannot almost otherwise be but that ambition will corrupt the puritie of the Gospel. By this it appeareth also how friuolous and vaine the bragge of the Papists is, touching their continual succession. For seing we cā easily shew that these horned beasts are nothing lesse than that which they will be thought to be: being alwayes