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 our Lord Jesus telleth them, It is true that God granted it too your fathers: howbeit that was because he was fain too deal with them as with wild beasts. So then, he granted them more than was lawful: but yet know ye, that although he punished them not with rigour, yet is it not meant that you should therefore take occasion at it too do yet worse. Therefore have ye an eye always too the beginning, when God created Adam, and shaped Eve out of his side: he said (at that time) that two should be one flesh. He then that taketh two wives, is worthy too be cut asunder, and he that takes three, is worthy too be cut in three pieces: for it is all one as if he would defy God and nature, seeing God hath printed a mark in the person of man and wife, too the intent that wedlock should be kept as it ought too be. Wherefore if a man disannul the ordinance of God, deserveth he not to be wiped out quite and clean? The thing then which we have yet still to bear in mind, is, that a man must bridle all his senses, and not cast his eyes wandering here and there, least his mind be carried away when he sees a woman that seems fairer too him than his own. And let the wife also not look upon any man but her husband, otherwise than with simplicity. And let them always think, we be but two, yea and yet one flesh: I can not be a whole person, except I be with my husband. And let the husband also on his side think, I am but half a creature, when I am asunder from my wife, seeing that God […] ⟨p. 301⟩ye see what we have too remember upon this saying, that […] shall be one flesh.

But our Lord Iesus telleth them, It is trew that God graunted it too your fathers: howbeeit that was bycause he was fayne too deale with them as with wyld beastes. So then, he graunted them more than was lawfull: but yit knowe yee, that although he punished them not with rigour, yit is it not ment that you should therefore take occasion at it too doo yit woorse. Therefore haue yee an eye alwayes too the beginning, when God created Adam, and shaped Eue out of his syde: he sayde (at that tyme) that twoo should bee one fleshe. He then that taketh twoo wyues, is woorthy too bee cut asunder, and he that takes three, is woorthy too bee cut in three peeces: for it is all one as if he would defye God and nature, seeyng God hath printed a marke in the person of man and wyfe, too the intent that wedlocke should bee kept as it ought too bee. Wherfore if a man disanull the ordinance of God, deserueth he not to bee wyped out quyte and cleane? The thing then which we haue yit still to beare in mynd, is, that a man must brydle all his senses, and not cast his eyes wandering heere and there, least his mynd bee caryed away when he sees a wooman that seemes fayrer too him than his owne. And let the wyfe also not looke vppon any man but hir husband, otherwyse than with simplicitie. And let them alwayes thinke, wee bee but twoo, yea and yit one fleshe: I can not bee a whole person, except I bee with my husband. And let the husband also on his syde thinke, I am but halfe a creature, when I am asunder from my wyfe, seeyng that God