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…

But yet howsoever the world go, so long as we be married, this stands continually, that we cannot change the order which our Lord hath set, yea even too be unuiolable. Therefore we must not pass what the persons are: insomuch that although a woman have too rough & sharp a husband, & such a one as dealeth over hardly with her, yet must she always consider, that he is her husband, and that when God matched them together, he allotted her that portion, because she was worthy of it: and let her also enter into examination of her sins, that she may pray God too take away that rod, and too deal more gently with her. Then like as the wife must on her side continue the bond of marriage, and submit her self, even without respecting what her husband is: so when the husband hath not a wife too his liking, let him think likewise, my wife doth not her duty, I cannot live with her: but yet doth wedlock dure still. Who ordained it? God. Then if I forget my duty, and revenge me of my wife, or fall too stoutness without regarding what belongs too my charge: it is not against a mortal creature, that I shall bend my self. When the husband overshoots himself after that sort, surely he fighteth against God, and endeavoureth too disannul the thing that is inviolable by nature. So then let every of us put this doctrine better ⟨image 313⟩in ure on his own behalf, and let not only married folks, but also all men in general understand, that we cannot estrange our selves one from another, and become unkind, merciless, and unpacient one toward another, but we must be as witless creatures that have no reason nor regard from whence they come, or to what end we live in this world. That is the effect of the things which we have too bear in mind.

But yit howsoeuer the world go, so long as wee bee maried, this standes continually, that wee cannot chaunge the order which our Lord hath set, yea euen too bee vnuiolable. Therfore wee must not passe what the persons are: insomuch that although a woman haue too rough & sharp a husband, & such a one as dealeth ouer hardly with hir, yit must shee alwayes consider, that he is hir husband, and that when God matched them toogither, he allotted hir that portion, bycause shee was woorthie of it: and let hir also enter intoo examination of hir sinnes, that shee may pray God too take away that rod, and too deale more gently with hir. Then lyke as the wyfe must on hir syde continue the bond of mariage, and submit hir selfe, euen without respecting what hir husband is: so when the husband hath not a wyfe too his lyking, let him thinke lykewyse, my wyfe dooth not hir duetie, I cannot lyue with hir: but yit dooth wedlocke dure styll. Who ordeyned it? God. Then if I forget my duetie, and reuenge mee of my wife, or fall too stoutnesse without regarding what belongs too my charge: it is not ageinst a mortall creature, that I shall bend my selfe. When the husband ouershootes himselfe after that sorte, surely he fyghteth ageinst God, and indeuereth too disanull the thing that is inuiolable by nature. So then let euery of vs put this doctrine better