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…

We have seen already, that besides the general rule which God hath given too all men, here are also several warnings, how every man should behave himself in his degree and calling. And we have seen already what the husbands ought too be towards their wives, and how the wives should behave themselves towards their husbands: what gentleness parents ought too use towards their children, and what subjection children ought too use towards their parents. Now Saint Paul speaketh of Masters and Servants, howbeit, not of such servants as we have now adays, for at that time there were no servants that served a year or two for wages, but they were held in bondage for life and death, and were in the same taking that they be whom now adays we call bondslaves. But we need not too stand any longer as now too have further knowledge of them. Yet notwithstanding we have great cause too praise God for taking away of such bondage from among men. For no doubt but it was too excessive an authority which masters had in those days over their servants. They held them as brute beasts, and they had liberty too kill them ⟨image 331⟩for every fault. And in deed they had prisons in their houses to keep them locked in the stocks, they racked them, they rent them in pieces, and (too be short) they used them horribly, yea and even beastly. Yet notwithstanding, because of mans naughtiness, it was our Lords will that this state should be still suffered. Moreover, we see that even they which are avowed too have lived in the fear of God, and to have excelled in his Church, left not too keep bondmen or slaves in their houses, howbeit, they used another manner of gentleness towards them, than the Infidels did, according as we shall see here in Saint Pauls teaching.

WEe haue seene already, that besydes the generall rule which God hath giuen too all men, heere are also seuerall warnings, how euery man should behaue himselfe in his degree and calling. And we haue seen already what the husbandes ought too bee towardes their wyues, and how the wyues should behaue themselues towardes theyr husbandes: what gentlenesse parentes ought too vse towardes their children, and what subiection children ought too vse towardes their parentes. Now Saint Paule speaketh of Maysters and Seruantes, howbeeit, not of such seruantes as we haue now adayes, for at that tyme there were no seruantes that serued a yeere or two for wages, but they were hild in bondage for lyfe and death, and were in the same taking that they bee whom now adayes wee call bondslaues. But wee neede not too stand any longer as now too haue further knowledge of them. Yit notwithstanding wee haue great cause too prayse God for taking away of such bondage from among men. For no doubt but it was too excessiue an authoritie which maysters had in those dayes ouer their seruantes. They hild them as brute beastes, and they had libertie too kill them