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 Saint Paul having told us what we ought too know, yea and too judge of our own nature, returneth again too that which he had touched afore, that is too wit, that such as profess themselves too be members of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, ought to be persuaded by his example, too live quietly, friendly, and agreeingly with their wives. No man (sayeth he) loveth him self, but he loveth his wife (also.) Verily God hath ordained wedlock, in such wise, as the wife must be as the body of her husband. Therefore if a man love him self, his wife must be matched with him, or else it shall be a monstrous love. It is a thing that men ought most too abhor, that the thing which is most holy in mans life, should be utterly abased. Seeing it is so, he that loveth him self, will love his wife. For we be of his flesh, we be of his bones. Here he toucheth a thing that he spake not of before. For when he did set down the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, it was in alleging that he spared not him self, but did shed his blood to wash us from our filthiness and uncleanness. We then were defiled & stained before God, & our Lord Jesus Christ found the means too bring us in his favour again. And how? Even by his own bloodshed. But here he allegeth another reason, too confirm the matter yet better: which is, that we be bone of his bones, and flesh of his flesh. In so saying, he doth us too understand, that when men do their duty, it is too their own benefit. For thereby they may taste the inestimable and infinite grace of God, in that every man according too his degree, doth in his marriage represent the union that is between them selves and our Lord Jesus Christ.

And Saint Paule hauing told vs what wee ought too knowe, yea and too iudge of our owne nature, returneth agein too that which hee had touched afore, that is too wit, that such as professe themselues too bee members of the bodie of our Lord Iesus Christ, ought to bee perswaded by his example, too liue quietly, freendly, and agreeingly with their wyues. No man (sayeth he) loueth him self, but he loueth his wyfe (also.) Uerely God hath ordeyned wedlocke, in such wyse, as the wyfe must bee as the bodie of hir husband. Therfore if a man loue him self, his wyfe must bee matched with him, or else it shalbee a monstruous loue. It is a thing that men ought most too abhorre, that the thing which is most holy in mans lyfe, should bee vtterly abaced. Seeing it is so, he that loueth him self, will loue his wyfe. For wee bee of his flesh, wee bee of his bones. Heere he toucheth a thing that hee spake not of before. For when he did set downe the example of our Lord Iesus Christ, it was in alledging that he spared not him self, but did shead his blud to wash vs from our filthinesse and vncleannesse. We then were defyled & stayned before God, & our Lord Iesus Christ found the meanes too bring vs in his fauour agein. And how? Euen by his owne bludshed. But heere hee alledgeth another reason, too confirme the matter yit better: which is, that wee bee bone of his bones, and flesh of his flesh. In so saying, he dooth vs too vnderstand, that when men doo theyr duetie, it is too theyr owne benefyte. For therby they may taste the inestimable and infinite grace of God, in that euery man accordyng too his degree, dooth in his mariage represent the vnion that is betweene them selues and our Lorde Iesus Christ.