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…

Now S. Paul in saying, that our Lord Jesus Christ gave Apostles, and Prophets, and Evangelists, and Shepherds, and Teachers, doth us to understand, that the preaching of the Gospel, and the meeting of men together too hear the holy Scripture expounded, is not a thing invented by men: but that God hath so ordained it, and our Lord Jesus hath set it down for a law, and we must keep it without breaking of it. For in good sooth, were it not set down by the sovereign authority of the son of God, men are so high minded, that many of them would shake of that yoke. What have I too do (would every man say) too be taught by my fellow? Seeing we have the holy Scripture among us, ought we not too fetch thence whatsoever is meet for us too know? Why then should any one man be preferred before the rest of the company? Thus would there be an horrible disorder in the Church, so as no man would submit himself too be taught. No man would be a learner, too have a master or teacher over him, unless we were fully persuaded and resolved, that that order was not of mans device, but that it is a government set down for all the faithful by the son of God,¹ who will have them heard, which have the charge of teaching,² as men sent by him, telling men that they despise him, and do him wrong, and rebel against him and his father, if they receive not his doctrine with all humbleness, and that whosoever will be taken for a Christian, must also be a child of the Church. And so ye see in effect what we have too remember, when ⟨image 195⟩S. Paul imputeth the having of Prophets, Teachers, & […], unto the person of Jesus Christ.

Now S. Paule in saying, that our Lord Iesus Christ gaue Apostles, and Prophets, and Euangelistes, and Shepherds, and Teachers, dooth vs to vnderstand, that the preaching of the Gospell, and the meeting of men toogither too heare the holy Scripture expounded, is not a thing inuented by men: but that God hath so ordeyned it, and our Lord Iesus hath set it downe for a lawe, and wee must keepe it without breaking of it. For in good sooth, were it not set downe by the souereine authoritie of the sonne of God, men are so hygh mynded, that many of them would shake of that yoke. What haue I too doo (would euery man say) too bee taught by my fellowe? Seeyng wee haue the holy Scripture among vs, ought wee not too fetch thence whatsoeuer is meete for vs too know? Why then should any one man bee preferred before the rest of the company? Thus would there bee an horrible disorder in the Churche, so as no man would submit himselfe too bee taught. No man would bee a learner, too haue a mayster or teacher ouer him, vnlesse wee were fully perswaded and resolued, that that order was not of mans deuyce, but that it is a gouernment set downe for all the faythfull by the sonne of God,