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…

It pleaseth not. It is in Greek ouc areston. By which word the Grecians do now express every opinion or decree which is better then other, or which is to be preferred as being better. I do rather think that the Apostles declare what is profitable, than simply what they have decreed. But if it be not expedient for them to meddle with this business, they seem not to acknowledge some fault in that that they ministered hitherto. And surely that is true, that, Use is the father of wisdom. Wherefore there shall be no absurdity, if we shall say, that the Apostles desire of the Church to be unburdened of that function, after that they have tried that it is not meet for them. But if there were any fault, it ought rather to be ascribed unto necessity, than unto them. For they took not this burden upon them greedily, but seeing there was no other way as yet, they had liefer burden themselves out of measure, than that the poor should be forslowed. And when as they say that it is not meet that they should be occupied in providing for the poor, their meaning is that they are unable to endure both burdens, so that they must needs let the one alone. For it is as if they should say: If thou wilt enjoy our ministry in the preaching of the Gospel, deliver us from the charge of the poor, because we are not able to do both. But this seemeth to be spoken out of season by them, because they had not left the charge of teaching before, although they had the oversight of the alms. I answer, for as much as the administration was confused, they were so inwrapped, that they could not wholly attend upon doctrine, as was meet. Therefore they refuse that function which draweth them away from the free and perfect charge of teaching. Notwithstanding we may not think that they had quite cast away all care of the poor, but that they did only seek somewhat to be lightened & eased, that they might attend upon their office. And in the mean season they declare that the ministry of the word is so painful, that it requireth a whole man, neither will it suffer him to be occupied about any other business. Which if it had been well considered, there had ben a far other order taken in the Church. The popish bishops did sack up great riches under colour of the ministration or deaconship: nevertheless they entangled themselves in divers businesses:

It pleaseth not. It is in Greeke ouc areston. By which word the Grecians do nowe expresse euery opinion or decree which is better then other, or which is to be preferred as being better. I doe rather thinke that the Apostles declare what is profitable, than simplie what they haue decreed. But if it bee not expedient for them to meddle with this businesse, they seeme not to acknowledg some fault in that that they ministred hitherto. And surely that is true, that, Vse is the father of wisedome. Wherfore there shall be no absurditie, if we shal say, that the Apostles desire of the Church to bee vnburdened of that function, after that they haue tried that it is not meete for them. But if there were any fault, it ought rather to be ascribed vnto necessitie, than vnto them. For they tooke not this burthen vpon them greedily, but seeing there was no other way as yet, they had leifer burthen themselues out of measure, than that the poore should be forslowed. And when as they say that it is not meete that they shoulde bee occupied in prouiding for the poore, their meaning is that they are vnable to endure both burthens, so that they must needs let the one alone. For it is as if they should say: If thou wilt enioy our ministery in the preaching of the Gospel, deliuer vs from the charge of the poore, because we are not able to do both. But this seemeth to be spoken out of season by them, because they had not left the charge of teaching before, although they had the ouersight of the almes. I answere, for as much as the administration was confused, they were so inwrapped, that they could not wholy attend vpon doctrine, as was meete. Therefore they refuse that function which draweth them away from the free and perfect charge of teaching. Notwithstanding wee may not thinke that they had quite cast away all care of the poore, but that they did onely seek somwhat to be lightned & eased, that they might attend vpon their office. And in the meane season they declare that the ministerie of the word is so painefull, that it requireth a whole man, neither will it suffer him to be occupied about any other businesse. Which if it had bene well considered, there had ben a farre other order taken in the Church. The popish bishops did sack vp great riches vnder colour of the ministration or deacōship: neuertheles they intangled thēselues in diuers businesses: