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…

Also there was a reason that constrained masters sometimes too use the greater rigour towards their slaves, because it was a common proverb among them, that look how many slaves they had, so many enemies they had: and that was by reason of their holding of them in awe by extreme force and violence, as those are now adays upon the Sea, which are called Galley slaves. And I have already touched what & how excessive outrages were done unto them. There was a great number of those bondfolke, and rich men had as it were half armies of them, insomuch that some had five thousand slaves in one house, and that was the way too have ones throat cut five thousand times, if there had not bin good heed taken too keep them fettered. And this came of sin, as one mischief tolleth on another, until things be come too utter confusion. But if we consider what the right or authority of masters was, we will always say, it was a thing utterly against all order of nature. For we be all fashioned after the image of God, and therefore that a reasonable creature in whom God hath printed his mark, should be put too such reproach, it was too far out of all square. But such are the fruits of the disobedience and sin of our father Adam, that all things were turned topsyturvy. Also on the other part, inasmuch as servants were in such subjection: it seemeth that if they could by any means pluck their necks out of the collar, it ought too be lawful for them, and it was an honest excuse so too do. But howsoever Servants fare, Saint Paul commandeth them to obey their masters, & too be subject too them. In deed he doth also exhort the masters not too abuse the power that was given them, nor too think that the thing which was granted them by the Law of man, was so rightful and unpartial before God, as they could not be blamed for it. Saint Paul then ⟨p. 313⟩counselleth masters too assuage the excess of their superiority: but yet will he have their servants too submit themselves too it, and too bear the yoke that was so hard and heavy. Now it might seem that he did servants wrong therein, and that he should rather have cried out against the common abuse, that such outrage might have bin laid down. But we have two principles to remember to restrain us from attempting of any change.

Also there was a reason that constreyned maysters sometymes too vse the greater rigour towardes their slaues, bycause it was a common prouerb among them, that looke how many slaues they had, so many enemyes they had: and that was by reason of their holding of them in awe by extreme force and violence, as those are now adayes vppon the Sea, which are called Gallie slaues. And I haue alredy touched what & how excessiue otrages were done vnto them. There was a great number of those bondfolke, and riche men had as it were halfe armies of them, insomuch that some had fyue thousand slaues in one house, and that was the way too haue ones throte cut fyue thousand tymes, if there had not bin good heede taken too keepe them fettered. And this came of sin, as one mischeef tolleth on another, vntyll things bee come too vtter confuzion. But if wee consider what the ryght or authority of maysters was, wee will alwayes say, it was a thing vttterly ageinst all order of nature. For wee bee all fashyoned after the image of God, and therefore that a reasonable creature in whom God hath printed his marke, should bee put too such reproch, it was tootoo farre out of all square. But such are the fruites of the disobedience and sin of our father Adam, that all things were turned topsiteruie. Also on the other part, inasmuch as seruantes were in such subiection: it seemeth that if they could by any meanes plucke their neckes out of the collar, it ought too bee lawfull for them, and it was an honest excuce so too doo. But howsoeuer Seruantes fare, Saint Paule commaundeth them to obey their maysters, & too be subiect too them. In deede he dooth also exhort the maysters not too abuse the power that was giuen them, nor too thinke that the thing which was graunted them by the Lawe of man, was so ryghtfull and vnparciall before God, as they could not bee blamed for it. Saint Paule then