A commentary of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle to the Colossians. And translated…A commentarie of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the Epistle to the Colossians. And translated…

21 Eat not, taste not.) Until this time they have translated it, touch not. but whereas by and by followeth another word that signifieth the same thing: there is none but he seeth, how cold and strange a repetition it would be. Furthermore the verb [Greek or Hebrew] among other things signifieth with the Greeks esitare to pickle or eat, as I have translated it. Plutarch in the life of Cesar useth it, when he showeth that his soldiers in extreme scarcity of all things, did eat such things as were not before meet to be eaten. And this order once is natural, and also very fit for the circumstance of the place. For ⟨p. 57⟩Paul doth in using and imitating their own words, paint forth, how far their waywardness is accustomed to proceed, who by their laws do entangle the consciences. Even from the beginning they are more rough than needs. Therefore they begin with forbidding not only to eat, but also to eat lightly or a little. After they have got that which they would, than go they beyond that commandment: so that afterward they pronounce it to be a great evil to taste that which they will not have eaten. At least for a man but to touch it, they make it a Purgatory matter, to deserve the pains of Purgatory. To be brief, there is no end when men have taken upon them like tyrants over other mens souls, but there are every day new laws put to the old, and many times there start up new decrees. What a plain and evident view may a man have hereof in the Papacy. Therefore excellently well doth Paul who warneth that mens traditions are a Labyrinth or maze, whereby the consciences are more and more enwrapped: nay rather snares, which do so bind in the beginning, that in process of time they will at length strangle.

21 Eate not, taste not.) Vntill this tyme they haue translated it, touche not. but whereas by and by followeth another word that signifieth the same thing: there is none but he seeth, how colde and straunge a repetition it would be. Furthermore the verbe 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 among other thinges signifieth with the Greekes esitare to pickle or eate, as I haue translated it. Plutarche in the life of Cesar vseth it, when he sheweth that his souldyers in extreme scarcitie of all things, did eate such things as were not before meete to be eaten. And this order once is naturall, and also very fit for the circumstaunce of the place. For ⟨p. 57⟩