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…

And therefore let us learn by that which is told us here, that first and formest we must have God as it were fastened before our eyes, and know that he hath set us in this world too serve one another in such sort, as we must notwithstanding live together in all humility, and not disdain too do our duty even towards such as are not so sufficient as we could wish, & as we take our selves too be. Be we once at that point, it is certain that we will every of us submit our selves willingly according too the state that God calleth us too, and hold our selves in the place where he hath put us.

And therfore let vs learne by that which is told vs heere, that first and formest wee must haue God as it were fastened before our eyes, and knowe that he hath set vs in this world too serue one another in such sort, as wee must notwithstanding liue toogither in all humilitie, and not disdeyne too doo our dewtie euen towards such as are not so sufficient as wee could wish, & as wee take our selues too bee. Bee wee once at that poynt, it is certein that wee will euery of vs submit our selues willingly according too the state that God calleth vs too, and hold our selues in the place where he hath put vs.

Now if Saint Paul would that the Slaves of his time should be so obedient too their masters, there is less excuse in these days, for Servants that take wages. Let us compare the one with the other. Those poor souls (as I told you before) were handled so rigorously, that their masters might imprison them, put them in the stocks, rack them, dismember them, maim them, yea and kill them. It was a grievous case, and yet were they bound too it for life and death.¹ There was no limitation of term but only among the Jews, among whom God had appointed a term. But the common and general law of all nations was, that bond folks with their children should continue bond for ever, so as the father had no more right too his own child, that a horse (as ye would say) or any other beast had over the young ones that came of their seed. And was not such a state as bad as a hundred deaths? Yes: for man doth always covet liberty, and too take his ease, and too eat his bread with quietness: and those wretched slaves had not a bit of bread at their own appointment. As touching their persons, they were worse than Captives, as I said afore. And yet for all this, God willeth and commandeth straitly, that they should bear this state patiently, and perform their duties faithfully, and fall too it with a free and cheerly hart. Now what is too be said of hired servants, which may warn themselves away, and have their wages paid them when they have served out their year, and are used and treated much more gently and liberally than those poor slaves were? For they were fain too labour every one in his trade and craft, they earned their bread, they drunk water many a time scarce their fill, and they were shut up in Cabins, where they were enforced too do their tasks. Then if Servants now adays can not stoop so low as too bear the state