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…

Religious. And what manner religion could that be, where there was no reverence of the word of God? We must note that there be four kinds of men: as there be few which worship God sincerely & from the heart, so there be few who openly profess the manifest and gross contempt of him. These be two sorts. And the more part is neither quite without religion, neither is it altogether void of the common worship of God: but yet notwithstanding whiles they do coldly and as it were overfields play with God, if they be throughly examined, they be but profane. Like as at this day the ungodliness of many is after a sort shrouded under ceremonies, and the feigned profession of the worship of God. So that in all ages there have bin certain worshippers of God who have worshipped him like stage players, whose holiness did wholly consist in gestures and vain pomps. In Pauls time, even as at this day, a peculiar study of godliness was to be found in a few: whose religion though it were impure, and their heart feigned, deceitful, and double: yet are they counted after a sort religious in respect of their zeal. But hereby appeareth what account we may make of bare religion, which driveth headlong through unadvised heat the professors thereof, to resist the kingdom of god, & to oppress his glory. Furthermore it is to be thought that though these matrons had not altogether given their name to Judaism, neither had they bin nuzzled in the doctrine of the Law, yet were they half Jewesses and that was the cause that they did so willingly take ⟨p. 327⟩upon them the defence of the nation. For thus are women led about captive being loaden with sins as Paul witnesseth.

Religious. And what maner religion could that be, where there was no reuerence of the word of God? We must note that there be fower kinds of men: as there be few which worship God syncerely & from the heart, so there be few who openly professe the manifest and grosse contempt of him. These be two sorts. And the more part is neither quite without religion, neither is it altogither voide of the common worship of God: but yet notwithstanding whiles they do coldly and as it were ouerfields play with God, if they be throughly examined, they be but prophane. Like as at this day the vngodlinesse of many is after a sort shrowded vnder ceremonies, and the feigned profession of the worship of God. So that in all ages there haue bin certaine worshipers of God who haue worshiped him like stage players, whose holines did whollie consist in gestures and vaine pomps. In Pauls time, euen as at this day, a peculiar studie of godlinesse was to be found in a fewe: whose religion though it were impure, and their heart feigned, deceitful, and double: yet are they counted after a sort religious in respect of their zeale. But hereby appeareth what account we may make of bare religion, which driueth headlong through vnaduised heat the professors thereof, to resist the kingdom of god, & to oppresse his glory. Furthermore it is to be thought that though these matrons had not altogither giuen their name to Iudaisme, neither had they bin nousled in the doctrin of the Law, yet were they halfe Iewisses and that was the cause that they did so willingly take