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…

29 This is the sum of their answer, It is lawful for them, nay they ought to prefer God before men. God commandeth us to bear witness of Christ: therefore it is in vain for you to command us to keep silence. But I have declared before in the third chap. when this sentence taketh place, that we ought rather to obey God than men: God doth set men over us in such sort with power, that he keepeth still his own authority safe & sound. Therefore we must obey rulers so far, that the commandment of God be not broken. Whereas power & authority is lawfully used, then it is out of season to make comparison between god & man. If a faithful pastor do command or forbid out of the word of god, it shall be in vain for men which are stubborn to object, that we ought to obey god. For god will be heard by man. Yea man is nothing else but an instrument of God. If a magistrate do his duty as he ought, a man shall in vain say that he is contrary to god, seeing that he dissenteth in nothing: yea rather the contrary rule is then in force. We must obey gods ministers & officers if we will obey him. But so soon as rulers do lead us away from the obedience of God, because they strive against God with sacrilegious boldness, their pride must be abated, that God may be above all in authority. Then all smokes of honour vanish away. For God doth not vouchsafe to bestow honourable titles upon men, to the end they may darken his glory. Therefore if a father being not content with his own estate, do ass•y to take from God the chief honour of a father, he is nothing else but a man. If a King, or Ruler, or Magistrate, do become so lofty, that he diminisheth the honour and authority of God, he is but a man. We must thus think also of Pastors. For he which goeth beyond his bounds in his office (because he setteth bimself against God) must be despoiled of his honour, least under a colour or visor he deceive. The office of a Pastor is very excellent, the authority of the Church is great, yet so that no part of Gods power and, Christs mastership be diminished. Whence we may easily gather that the pride of the ⟨p. 117⟩Pope is ridiculous, who, when as he treadeth underfoot the whole kingdom of Christ, and doth set himself openly against God, will yet nevertheless lie hid under the name of Christ.

29 This is the summe of their answer, It is lawful for them, nay they ought to prefer God before men. God commaundeth vs to beare witnes of Christ: therfore it is in vain for you to commaund vs to keepe silence. But I haue declared before in the third chap. when this sentence taketh place, that we ought rather to obey God than men: God doth set men ouer vs in such sort with power, that he keepeth stil his own autoritie fafe & sound. Therfore we must obey rulers so far, that the commandement of God be not broken. Wheras power & authoritie is lawfully vsed, then it is out of season to make comparison between god & man. If a faithful pastor do cōmaund or forbid out of the word of god, it shalbe in vain for mē which are stubborn to obiect, that we ought to obey god. For god wil be heard by man. Yea man is nothing els but an instrument of God. If a magistrate do his dutie as he ought, a man shal in vain say that he is cō trary to god, seing that he dissenteth in nothing: yea rather the contrary rule is then in force. We must obey gods ministers & officers if we will obey him. But so soone as rulers do leade vs away from the obedience of God, because they striue against God with sacrilegious boldnesse, their pride must be abated, that God may be aboue all in authoritie. Then all smokes of honour vanish away. For God doth not vouchsafe to bestowe honorable titles vpon men, to the end they may darken his glory. Therfore if a father being not content with his owne estate, doe assy to take from God the chiefe honour of a father, hee is nothing els but a man. If a King, or Ruler, or Magistrate, doe become so loftie, that hee dimisheth the honour and authoritie of God, hee is but a manne. Wee must thus thinke also of Pastors. For he which goeth beyond his bounds in his office (because he setteth bimself against God) must bee dispoyled of his honour, least vnder a colour or visure hee deceiue. The office of a Pastour is verie excellent, the authoritie of the Churche is great, yet so that no parre of Gods power and, Christes mastershippe bee diminished. Whence wee may easilie gather that the pryde of the