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…

We must also mark the subtlety of Satan, who to the end he may take from us the use of the gifts of God, goeth about this continually, that it may not remain pure and sound: but that being mixed with other discommodities, it may first be suspected, secondly loathed, and lastly quite taken away. But the Apostles have taught us by their example that we must not yield unto such engines and policies of Satan. For they do not think it meet (being offended with the murmuring) to take away that ministry which they know pleaseth God: but rather invent a remedy whereby the offence may be taken away, and that may be retained which is Gods. Thus must we do. For what offences soever Satan raise, we must ⟨p. 126⟩take good heed that he take not from us those ordinances which are otherwise wholesome.

Wee must also marke the subtiltie of Satan, who to the end he may take from vs the vse of the giftes of God, goeth about this continually, that it may not remaine pure and sounde: but that being mixed with other discommodities, it may first be suspected, secondly loathed, and lastly quite taken away. But the Apostles haue taught vs by their example that we must not yeelde vnto such engines and policies of Satan. For they do not thinke it meete (being offended with the murmuring) to take away that ministery which they know pleaseth God: but rather inuent a remedy whereby the offence may be taken away, and that may bee retained which is Gods. Thus must we doe. For what offences soeuer Satan raise, we must ⟨p. 126⟩take good heede that he take not from vs those ordinances which are otherwise wholesome.

The number increasing. We ought to wish for nothing more then that God would increase his Church, and gather together many on every side unto his people: but the corruption of our nature hindereth us from having any thing good or happy in all points. For there arise many discommodities also, even of the increasings of the Church. For it is a hard matter to keep many hypocrites from creeping into the multitude, whose wickedness is not by and by discovered, until such time as they have infected some part of the flock with their infection. Moreover many wicked, froward, & dissolute persons, do insinuate themselves under a false colour of repentance. And that I may pass over innumerable things, there is never such agreement amongst many, but that according to the diversity of their manners, their opinions are also divers: so that one thing cannot please all alike. This offence causeth many to be desirous to choose a few for a Church, it causeth them to loath or else to hate a multitude. But no trouble, e irksomeness ought so much to prevail, but that we must always be desirous to have the Church increased, but that we must study to enlarge the same, but that we must cherish so much as in us lieth, unity, with the whole body.