The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the…The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the…

And forasmuch as the heathen folk and unbelievers were acquainted with marriage, and had given judgment of it: therefore we need no holy scripture (sayeth he) too teach us in this behalf, for the ignorant souls which had but natural understanding, and walked as their mother wit directed them, knew that the wife is a piece of the husband, and that there goeth an inseparable bond betwixt them, and that the one ought not too forsake the other, unless they will tear themselves in pieces. Seeing that the blind wretches perceived this: what a shame is it for such as are enlightened by Gods word, and have bin taught familiarly as household folk, even as a father hath his eye upon his children: (too be ignorant of it?) Seeing (say I) that God speaketh so familiarly too us, and as it weer month too mouth, so as he showeth us his will, and telleth us our duty: must it not ⟨p. 293⟩needs be that we are worse than the Infidels, and much more grievously too be condemned than they, if we continue hard har••d, or stop our ears least we might receive the advice that he giveth us? Then let us mark well, that seeing Saint Paul hath set us forth our Lord Jesus Christ (for an example,) and told us that he is so given us: it is good reason (considering how we be linked unto him) that we should show our selves willing too follow him, and fashion our selves like unto him, by pitying such as are in distress, by bearing patiently with the vices and infirmities of our neighbours, and by relieving such as have need of us, if we may conveniently, and have wherewithal. Let us think well upon that.

And for asmuch as the heathen folk and vnbeleeuers were acquaynted with mariage, and had giuen indgment of it: therfore wee neede no holy scripture (sayeth he) too teache vs in this behalf, for the ignorant soules which had but natural vnderstanding, and walked as their moother wit directed them, knew that the wyfe is a peece of the husband, and that there goeth an inseparable bond betwixt them, and that the one ought not too forsake the other, vnlesse they will teare themselues in peeces. Seeing that the blynd wretches perceyued this: what a shame is it for such as are inlyghtened by Gods woord, and haue bin taught familiarly as household folk, euen as a father hath his eye vppon his children: (too bee ignoraut of it?) Seeing (say I) that God speaketh so familiarly too vs, and as it weere month too mouth, so as he sheweth vs his will, and telleth vs our deutie: must it not