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…

The women also are so light minded, that they could find in their hearts too be unmarried twenty times in a year. And whereof cometh that? Even of that they have not an eye unto God, who is the author of Marriage? Truly though we had no scripture at all (as I said:) yet would the brutishest man in the world reverence marriage. And why is that, but because it was our Lords will too leave that record engraven in mens hearts? His meaning then is too show, that sith the most ignorant and grossest sort understand that man and wife should join in good love every one in their degree: men must bend that way. But now, we have teaching, and we have exhortations added too spur us the further forward, too the intent we should not •latter our selves in our vices: and yet what are we the better? It is too be seen daily, that men storm at their wives, and wives check at their husbands: it is an ordinary matter in every house, and ever among there fly and fling out cursings and bannings: too be short, there is nothing but frowardness and disdain. Now where these things are, it is unpossible that the man and wife should have any access too come unto God. For after what manner ought our repairing unto God be, that we might receive mercy, and be under his protection, and he have a care of us? It is by prayer.

The women also are so lyght mynded, that they could fynd in their hartes too bee vnmaryed twentie tymes in a yeere. And wherof commeth that? Euen of that they haue not an eye vntoo God, who is the author of Mariage? Truely though wee had no scripture at all (as I sayd:) yit would the brutishest man in the world reuerence mariage. And why is that, but •ycause it was our Lordes will too leaue that record ingrauen in mens hartes? His meaning then is too shewe, that sith the most ignorant and grossest sort vnderstand that man and wyfe should ioyne in good loue euery one in their degree: men must bend that way. But now, wee haue teaching, and wee haue exhortations added too spurre vs the further foreward, too the intent wee should not •latter our selues in our vyces: and yit what are wee the better? It is too bee seene dayly, that men storme at their wyues, and wyues checke at their husbandes: it is an ordinarie matter in euery house, and euer among there flye and flyng out cursings and bannings: too be short, there is nothing but frowardnesse and dis•eyne. Now where these things are, it is vnpossible that the man and wyfe should haue any accesse too come vntoo God. For after what manner ought our repayring vntoo God bee, that wee myght receyue mercy, and be vnder his protection, and he haue a care of vs? It is by prayer.