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…

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.

The number encreasing. We ought to wish for nothing more then that God woulde encrease his Church, and gather togither many on euerie side vnto his people: but the corruption of our nature hindereth vs from hauing any thing good or happie in all pointes. For there arise many discommodities also, euen of the encreasings of the Church. For it is a harde matter to keepe many hypocrites from creeping into the multitude, whose wickednesse is not by and by discouered, vntill such time as they haue infected some part of the flocke with their infection. Moreouer many wicked, froward, & dissolute persons, do insinuate themselues vnder a false colour of repentance. And that I may passe ouer innumerable things, there is neuer such agreement amongst many, but that according to the diuersitie of their maners, their opinions are also diuers: 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 irksomnes ought so much to preuaile, but that we must alwaies be desirous to haue the Church encreased, but that we must studdie to enlarge the same, but that we must cherish so much as in vs lieth, vnitie, with the whole body.