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…

But there is yet one other cause that might hinder us, or rather cool us in the discharge of our duty towards other men: and that is, mens unthankfulness. For they whom we pleasure, do commonly […] us no thank, but rather think that we be made for none other purpose but too serve them. When we see them requite our seruis so evil, it spiteth us: and it were enough too make us leave of altogether. Now then it is needful for us too come back too that which Saint Paul telleth us: namely that God is above all degrees, and that he having superiority over the world, will have every man employ him self with all humbleness, and that all subjections which he hath ordained in the world, too remain firm and unuiolable. This is the effect of the thing that Saint Paul telleth us here.

But there is yit one other cause that myght hinder vs, or rather coole vs in the discharge of our dewtie towards other men: and that is, mens vnthankfulnesse. For they whom wee pleasure, doo commonly 〈…〉 vs no thank, but rather think that wee bee made for none other purpose but too serue them. When wee see them requyte our seruis so euill, it spyteth vs: and it were ynough too make vs leaue of altoogither. Now then it is needfull for vs too come backe too that which Saint Paule telleth vs: namly that God is aboue all degrees, and that he hauing superioritie ouer the world, will haue euery man imploy him self with all humblenesse, and that all subiections which he hath ordeyned in the world, too remayne firme and vnuiolable. This is the effect of the thing that Saint Paule telleth vs heere.

Now first of all we have too mark the general article which I come now to touch: which is, that when we have superiors over us, we must not obey them as enforced,¹ but because God hath ordained them, and there is no preeminence but of him, as Saint Paul declareth to the Romans. It is true that there he speaketh expressly of Princes and Magistrates: but yet for all that, it extendeth too all authority, as too that which parents have over their children, husbands over wives, and Masters over their servants. Therefore we must be fully persuaded of this, that Gods intent is not that all men should be shuffled together, (as it would come too pass, if there were no restraint,) but that some should rule and have authority too command others, and that they which are under them, should obey. Then is it an unrevocable sentence of God, whereunto we must hold our selves and be contented. For if we protest our selves too be willing too obey God, and in the mean while will needs remove all order that he hath set among us: all that we speak with our mouth is but hypocrisy. Therefore we must give a proof of our humility too Godward, by our willing and easy bearing of mans yoke which he hath laid upon us as it were his own hands. Let that be for one point.