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 too the intent we may have the fuller and certainer understanding of this text, we must mark first of all, that (too speak properly) we have no father but only God. True it is that now and then he is called the father of our souls and of our spirits,¹ according as he is spoken of in the Epistle too the Hebrews. Howbeit, even as in respect of the flesh also, the honour and dignity of bearing the name of father,² belongeth not too any mortal creature: for it is God that fashioneth us, as it is said in the book of Job. Is the seed of man (which is but corruption) able to• fashion a body, wherein appeareth so excellent workmanship of God? (No.) Then let us understand, that forasmuch as our bodies are all of them records of Gods wonderful power: he only deserveth too be held and accounted as our father. Yet for all that, they also that beget us, and by whom we be brought into this world, are our fathers. By what title? Because God hath vouchsafed too make them partakers of the honour that belongeth too himself alone. And hereby we be put in mind, that in striving against our fathers and mothers, we make war against God. For he hath imprinted his mark in them, & that title of theirs doth us too wit, that God hath set them as it were in his place. Therefore we must hold it for an undoubted truth, that in honouring our fathers and mothers, we yield God the service that he requireth of us, and which we owe him. And contrariwise, if we despise our fathers and mothers, and hold scorn too do• our duties towards them: God is expressly offended in it, not only because we break the commandment of his law, but also because we despise his majesty, whereof our fathers and mothers do bear a certain mark, as I have said afore. And that is the cause why there is so rigorous punishment in the Law, against them that were disobedient too their fathers and mothers,³ that whosoever had despised his father or mother, or uttered any cursing against them, or done them any harm, should be stoned too death. Therefore when ⟨image 326⟩children be so far out of square, as too set light by their fathers […] mothers: God will have them dispatched out of the world: for they be monsters, and an infection too defile the whole earth. Also he will not have any long examination, for such as lift up themselves against their fathers and mothers: