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…

Therefore the beginning of sects among the Jews was the corruption of the law: like as the Lord did revenge the profanation of his word, which was corrupt with divers inventions of men with like punishment in popery. Wherefore we must the more fear, least horrible, & more lamentable scatterings hang over our heads, then was that which was in time of popery: whereof there appear some tokens. And no marvel seeing we provoke the Lord to wrath so many ways with our unthankfulness. But though the face of the church be blotted and blurred with many spots and blots: and what manner of deformity soever fall out hereafter, let us comfort our selves with this: that, as God was careful then to deliver the church wonderfully from destruction, so thorough his grace there shall always some seed continue. It cannot be ⟨p. 528⟩in deed but that godly minds will somewhat despair, when they see things so far out of order: but let us learn straightway to hold up that buckler, that the Lord who in such a thick mist of errors, in such an heap of superstitions, in the unbridled licentiousness of sects, did preserve his Church among the Jews, will never suffer the same to be quite put out wholly in the world. The same thing did likewise happen in popery. For when as the worship of God was overthrown there, the doctrine of salvation was oppressed, the kingdom of Christ was thrown down, and ungodliness did openly reign: yet God did save certain hidden remnants, and there was always some wheat in the chaff. It is very profitable to confer these examples together. When as we inveigh at this day against popery, the hired patrons thereof cry out on the other side, that nothing is more absurd, than that we should imagine that the Church of God was extinguished during many ages: as if we did imagine that God had no people left, when those had forsaken him who ought to have maintained his pure worship. Yea we complain that those tyrants did corrupt the church, that the temple was by them profaned, so that it did not greatly differ from an hogstie, that the flock of Christ was scattered abroad, and his sheepfold broken down. Finally that the church was hidden from the eyes of men, yet so that the Lord knew his elect, though they were dispersed, and did brood them under his wings.

Therfore the beginning of sects among the Iewes was the corruption of the law: like as the Lord did reuēge the profanatiō of his word, which was corrupt with diuers inuentions of men with like punishment in popery. Wherfore we must the more fear, least horrible, & more lamentable scatterings hang ouer our heads, then was that which was in time of popery: whereof there appeare some tokens. And no maruell seeing we prouoke the Lord to wrath so many wayes with our vnthankefulnesse. But though the face of the church be blotted and blurred with manie spottes and blottes: and what manner of deformitie soeuer fall out heereafter, let vs comfort our selues with this: that, as God was carefull then to deliuer the church wonderfully from destruction, so thorow his grace there shall alwayes some seede continue. It cannot bee