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 sayeth expressly, in the Lord: meaning that there is a double bond too hold us in this subjection. For (first) there is the order of nature, and again, God telleth us, that he hath set us in this earthly life with condition, that fathers and mothers should have superiority over their children. The Heathen men shall not fail too be found guilty, though they had not the law too direct them, nor were taught the doctrine which we hear now by the mouth of Saint Paul. Insomuch that if a child were stubborn against his father and mother among the heathen, he was as it were abhorred, and there was neither great nor small which could not judge of it: Neither shall they scape Gods hand, sith they be condemned already in this world: for (as I said afore) it is a thing that is graven in the harts of us all, and also as manifest as may be. Howbeit, besides that which we know naturally, God addeth his own will for a further and more ample confirmation, and telleth us, that he hath so ordained and appointed it, and therefore that we must pass that way. Then sith we perceive that God holdeth us under awe of our fathers and mothers: it is certain that we be so much the more unexcuzable, if every of us submit not him self with meekness and humility. And they that have followed the order of nature among the heathen and poor blind souls, shall be our judges. For who hath stirred them up thereunto? ⟨p. 306⟩They had not the helps that we have: and yet they performed their duty. That then is the thing which Saint Paul intended, in saying, that children ought to obey their fathers and mothers in the Lord.

And Saint Paule sayeth expresly, in the Lord: meaning that there is a dubble bond too hold vs in this subiection. For (first) there is the order of nature, and agein, God telleth vs, that he hath set vs in this earthly lyfe with condicion, that fathers and moothers should haue superioritie ouer their children. The Heathen men shal not fayle too bee found giltie, though they had not the lawe too direct them, nor were taught the doctrine which wee heare now by the mouth of Saint Paule. Insomuch that if a chyld were stubborne ageinst his father and mother among the heathen, he was as it were abhorred, and there was nother greate nor small which could not iudge of it: Nother shall they scape Gods hand, sith they bee condemned alredy in this world: for (as I sayd afore) it is a thing that is grauen in the harts of vs all, and also as manifest as may bee. Howbeit, besyds that which wee knowe naturally, God addeth his owne will for a further and more ample confirmation, and telleth vs, that he hath so ordeyned and appoynted it, and therfore that wee must passe that way. Then sith wee perceyue that God holdeth vs vnder awe of our fathers and moothers: it is certein that wee bee so much the more vnexcuzable, if euery of vs submit not him self with meeknesse and humilitie. And they that haue followed the order of nature among the heathen and poore blynd soules, shalbee our iudges. For who hath stirrred them vp theruntoo?