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…

Now hereupon Saint Paul allegeth the commandment of the Law, Honour thy father and thy mother. And again he addeth further, that it is the first commandment of promise. As if he should say, that God intended too bring us by all means too the subjection which we should yield too our fathers and mothers. It ought too suffice us that it is acceptable too God: but seeing he allureth us moreover by gentleness, and will not fray us with authority & force, but promiseth too prosper us, in serving our fathers and mothers: that ought too make us too like the better of our subjection. Therefore Saint Paul having showed us that we must be subject too our fathers and mothers, except we will be rebels too God, and bend our horns against him, and turn all right and order upside down: addeth, that we shall be too hard hearted and wilful stubborn, if after Gods commanding of us, this promise of his move us not, whereby he intendeth too induce us so graciously, too do the thing that he willeth us. And surely if we be not moved, yea and even meekened by it: it may well be said, that the devil reigneth wholly in us, and that he possesseth our hearts. His saying then is, that it is a commandment which hath a special promise, and so hath none other commandment of the law but that. The promise is, that we shall live long upon the earth, yea and in prosperity, because God will bliss us, if we honour those that were the means whereby we came into the world.

Now hereuppon Saint Paule alledgeth the commaundement of the Lawe, Honour thy father and thy moother. And agein he addeth further, that it is the first commaundement of promis. As if he should say, that God intended too bring vs by all meanes too the subiection which wee should yeeld too our fathers and mothers. It ought too suffyze vs that it is acceptable too God: but seeyng he allureth vs moreouer by gentlenesse, and will not fray vs with authoritie & force, but promyseth too prosper vs, in seruing our fathers and moothers: that ought too make vs too lyke the better of our subiection. Therefore Saint Paule hauing shewed vs that wee must bee subiect too our fathers and mothers, except wee will bee rebels too God, and bend our hornes ageinst him, and turne all ryght and order vpsyde downe: addeth, that wee shall bee tootoo hard harted and wilfull stubborne, if after Gods commaūding of vs, this promis of his moue vs not, wherby he intendeth too induce vs so graciously, too doo the thing that he willeth vs. And surely if wee bee not moued, yea and euen meekened by it: it may well bee sayd, that the diuell reigneth wholly in vs, and that he possesseth our hartes. His saying then is, that it is a commaundement which hath a speciall promis, and so hath none other commaundement of the lawe but that. The promis is, that wee shall liue long vppon the earth, yea and in prosperitie, bycause God will blisse vs, if wee honour those that were the meanes whereby wee came into the world.