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…

That (say I) is the cause why Saint Paul setteth down this saying expressly, as touching the flesh. It was not too bring masters in contempt for reigning over their slaves, but too prevent all objections that men might allege, when they would seek privilege too exempt themselves from obedience too God, and too all order that he hath set. And therewith all he doeth us too understand also, that the same subjection is no prejudice too the faithful, but that they may continue still in full liberty, as in respect of their souls. For the devil useth that colour also. What (sayeth he)? Seeing that our Lord Jesus Christ hath shed his blood too purchase us freedom, why should we not continue in it? Yea, but Saint Paul answereth thereunto, (as he hath done with more large circumstance in the fifth Chapter of the first Epistle too the Corinthians:) that the bondage which we yield too our superiors, is only as touching the flesh, and that our souls and consciences cease not too be always frank and free before God. And therefore it is a childish objection, too say, that seeing our Lord Jesus Christ hath set us free, why should men make us bond? He hath not set us free as touching our bodies, for it is his will that there should be principalities and Lordships still in the world: which cannot be, but that some must be subject, and othersome have preeminence and authority. Forasmuch then as our Lord hath so distinguished the two governments of the body and of the soul, and that the one is spiritual, and too be governed by his word, as in respect of our walking before him too attain to the kingdom of heaven: but when it cometh too the behaving of ou• selves towards men, which are of our own body, then we must learn too frame our selves too all good policy: let us assure our selves that yet for all that, our state is no whit worse before God, than if we were Kings and Princes, and all […] trembled before us. Yea and the things which we do heartily in serving of creatures, do turn so much the more to the exalting & magnifying of God. For needs must he be a man of noble mind, which can stoop so low as too obey willingly, (not regarding) how great, how skilful, nor how rich so […] ⟨image 335⟩change their state: for we see how Saint Paul hath cut of all occasion of such dealing.

That (say I) is the cause why Saint Paule setteth downe this saying expresly, as touching the flesh. It was not too bring maysters in contempt for reygning ouer their slaues, but too preuent all obiections that men myght alledge, when they would seeke priuiledge too exempt themselues from obedience too God, and too all order that he hath set. And therewith all hee dooeth vs too vnderstande also, that the same subiection is no preiudice too the faythfull, but that they may continew still in full libertie, as in respect of their soules. For the diuell vseth that colour also. What (sayeth he)? Seeing that our Lord Iesus Christ hath shed his blud too purchace vs freedome, why should wee not continew in it? Yea, but Saint Paule answereth theruntoo, (as he hath doone with more large circumstance in the fifth Chapter of the first Epistle too the Corinthians:) that the bondage which wee yeeld too our superiours, is alonly as touching the flesh, and that our soules and consciences ceasse not too bee alwayes frank and free before God. And therfore it is a chyldish obection, too say, that seeing our Lord Iesus Christ hath set vs free, why should men make vs bond? He hath not set vs free as touching our bodyes, for it is his will that there should bee principalities and Lordshippes still in the world: which cannot bee, but that some must be subiect, and othersome haue preheminence and authoritie. For asmuch then as our Lord hath so distinguished the twoo gouernmentes of the bodie and of the soule, and that the one is spirituall, and too bee gouerned by his word, as in respect of our walking before him too atteyne to the kingdome of heauen: but when it commeth too the behauing of ou selues towards men, which are of our owne bodie, then wee must learne too frame our selues too all good policie: let vs assure our selues that yit for all that, our state is no whit woorse efore God, than if wee were Kings and Princes, and all rembled before vs. Yea and the things which wee doo hartly in seruing of creatures, doo turne so much the more to the exalting & magnifying of God. For needs must he bee a man of noble mynd, which can stoope so lowe as too obey willingly, (not regarding) how great, how skilfull, nor how riche so