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…

Men, ye are brethren. There is indeed amongst men a general conjunction, so that they ought to use great courtesy one toward another, & to abstain from all injuries: but this is more unmeet, and untollerable when those hurt one another, who are nearer linked together. Therefore Moses doth not only use a general reason, that it may revoke their minds which were desirous to do harm: but he mentioneth their kindred & fellowship of blood to mollify their cruelty: yet all in vain: for he which had done injury to his neighbour, doth frowardly thrust him from him, & addeth thereunto threatening. And this is a common thing amongest men. For an evil conscience doth drive men into fury, & the worse every mans cause is, the more boldly & cruelly doth he extol himself. But under what colour doth he which hath the worse cause set himself so stubbornly against Moses? He saith, he is no judge but he did not reprove them according to authority: but did only friendly admonish them. Is it the duty of a judge alone to admonish us when we do amiss? But this is a common vice used of all stubborn & unruly persons, to give place to no admonitions, save only when they are enforced by violence & authority: yea they are like frantic men who rail upon their physicians. For which cause we must be the more careful to bridle our lusts: least we run headlong with such blind fury against those which are desirous to cure our vices. Furthermore we are taught by this example, that the servants of God cannot so do their duty in reproving such vices of men, but they shall suffer many injuries, offend many, & incur dangers: & chiefly when they do well, they shall surely hear evil. But they must swallow up the unworthiness of these evils, that they may not therefore cease to do that which the Lord commanded them, & which he alloweth. ⟨p. 152⟩Moses is burdened here with a cruel false accusation that he usurpeth the authority of a ruler, & by this means they lay treason to his charge. Secondly it is objected unto him reproachfully, that he slue an Egyptian? both these were very odious. Whereby we may gather with how dangerous a temptation the mind of the holy man was stricken.

Men, ye are brethren. There is indeed amongst men a generall coniunction, so that they ought to vse great courtesie one toward another, & to abstain from al iniuries: but this is more vnmeet, and vntollerable when those hurt one another, who are neerer linked together. Therefore Moses doth not onely vse a generall reason, that it may reuoke thir mindes which were desirous to do harme: but he mentioneth their kinred & fellowship of blood to mollifie their crueltie: yet all in vaine: for hee which had done iniurie to his neighbour, doth frowardly thrust him from him, & addeth thereunto threatning. And this is a common thing amongest men. For an euill conscience doth driue men into furie, & the worse euerie mans cause is, the more boldly & cruelly doth he extoll himselfe. But vnder what colour doth hee which hath the worse cause set himselfe so stubbornly against Moses? He saith, he is no iudge but he did not reproue them according to authoritie: but did only friendly admonishe them. Is it the duetie of a iudge alone to admonish vs when wee doe amisse? But this is a common vice vsed of al stubborn & vnruly persons, to giue place to no admonitions, saue only when they are enforced by violence & authoritie: yea they are like frantike men who raile vppon their phisitions. For which cause we must be the more carefull to bridle our lusts: least we runne headlong with such blinde furie against those which are desirous to cure our vices. Furthermore wee are taught by this example, that the seruants of God cannot so doe their duetie in reprouing suche vices of men, but they shal suffer many iniuries, offend many, & incurre dangers: & chiefly when they doe well, they shall surely heare euill. But they must swallow vp the vnworthines of these euils, that they may not therefore cease to do that which the Lord commanded thē, & which he alloweth.