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…

but this law was given to all the world after the flood, whereby it came to pass that those which were not quite grown out of kind, did loath blood. I do not only speak of the Jews but of many of the Gentiles. I confess in deed that even that commandment was but temporal: yet notwithstā ding it was extended farther then unto one people. No marvel therefore if there might arise greater offence thereupon, which to cure seemed good to the apostles. But there ariseth a harder question concerning fornication: because James seemeth to reckon the same among things indifferent, whereof they must beware only in respect of offence. But there was another cause for which he placed fornication among those things which were not of themselves unlawful. It is well known what unbridled liberty to run a whoring did reign & rage every where: and this disease had gotten the upper hand principally among the men of the East country: as they be more given to lust: assuredly the faith and chastity of wedlock was never less observed and kept any where then among them. Moreover, he doeth not entreat indifferently in my judgement in this place, of all manner fornication or whoredom, as of adultery and wandering and unbridled lusts, whereby all chastity is violate and corrupt: but I think he speaketh of concubineship as they call it: which was so common among the Gentiles, that it was almost like to a law. Therefore whereas James reckoneth up a common corruption among things which are of themselves not corrupt, there is therein no inconvenience: so that we know that it was not his meaning to place those things in one order which are very far unlike among themselves, For whereas unclean men do thereby colour and cloak their filthiness, they may easily be refuted. James saith, they coupled eating of blood with whoredom: but doth he compare them together as things that are like, at least which disagree not in any point. Yea he doth only respect the wicked and corrupt custom of men, which was fallen away from the first law and order of nature appointed by God. As concerning the judgement of god the knowledge thereof must be fet out of the continual doctrine of the scripture: & it is nothing doubtful what the scripture saith:

but this law was giuen to all the world after the flood, whereby it came to passe that those which were not quite growen out of kinde, did loath blood. I do not only speake of the Iewes but of many of the Gentiles. I confes in deed that euen that commandement was but temporal: yet notwithstā ding it was extēded farther then vnto one people. No maruell therfore if ther might arise greater offence thereupō, which to cure seemed good to the apostles. But there ariseth a harder question concerning fornication: because Iames seemeth to reckon the same among things indifferent, whereof they must beware only in respect of offence. But there was another cause for which he placed fornicatiō among those things which were not of thēselues vnlawfull. It is wel knowen what vnbrideled libertie to run a whoring did reigne & rage euery where: and this disease had gotten the vpper hand principally among the men of the East countrie: as they be more giuen to lust: assuredly the faith and chastitie of wedlocke was neuer lesse obserued and kept any where then among them. Moreouer, hee doeth not intreat indifferently in my iudgement in this place, of all maner fornication or whoredome, as of adulterie and wandring and vnbrideled lusts, whereby all chastitie is violate and corrupt: but I think he speaketh of concubineship as they call it: which was so cō mon among the Gentiles, that it was almost like to a lawe. Therefore whereas Iames reckoneth vp a common corruptiō among things which are of thēselues not corrupt, there is therein no inconuenience: so that we know that it was not his meaning to place those things in one order which are very far vnlike among thēselues, For wheras vnclean men do thereby colour and cloke their filthinesse, they may easily bee refuted. Iames saith, they coupled eating of blood with whoredome: but doth he compare them together as thinges that are like, at least which disagree not in any point. Yea he doth only respect the wicked and corrupt custome of men, which was fallen away from the first law and order of nature appointed by God. As concerning the iudgement of god the knowledge thereof must be fet out of the continual doctrin of the scripture: & it is nothing doutful what the scripture saith: