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 now if there had bin any cheeftie or supremacy, so as it had bin Gods mind too have assigned a seat in this world, the Bishop whereof should have had superiority over all the Church, and his Commission have reached so far, that his sovereignty must have taken place every where: surely Saint Paul would not have forgotten it, or else if he had, it had bin a very foul fault. Spake he by the holy Ghost, and yet left he out the principal and most convenient point of his matter? (No:) and therefore if there were no more but this only text, surely it were enough too confound the shamelessness of the Papists, when they say, there must needs be an underhead in this world, and that because Jesus Christ is gone out of this world, therefore he must needs have a Vicar. But it is certain that Saint Paul meant too show the thing which we have seen in other texts: which is, that Saint Peters Apostleship extended not unto us. For he was appointed peculiarly too the Jews,¹ as is declared in the second too the Galatians. But howsoever the case stand, we see here the continual order, which we must keep, and whereunto we must hold us, if we mind too be subject too our Lord Jesus Christ. And that is not to have a Pope: but that every Church have his Shepherds and Teachers, according too their need, according too the number of the people, and according as the place requireth: that when we be so knit into one body of a Church, we may have a lawful government, which it is unpossible for us too forbear, by reason of our rawness and the weakness of our faith, in respect whereof it standeth us on hand too have the remedy which our Lord Jesus Christ hath given us, that men may hold themselves too his saying and authority. That is it in effect which we have too mark upon this strain.

But now if there had bin anie cheeftie or supremacie, so as it had bin Gods mynd too haue assigned a seate in this world, the Bishop wherof shoulde haue had superioritie ouer all the Churche, and his Commission haue reached so farre, that his souereintie must haue taken place euery where: surely Saint Paule would not haue forgottē it, or else if he had, it had bin a very fowle fault. Spake he by the holy Ghoste, and yit left he out the principall and most conuenient poynt of his matter? (No:) and therfore if there were no more but this only text, surely it were ynough too confound the shamelesnesse of the Papists, when they say, there must needs bee an vnderhead in this wrold, and that bycause Iesus Christ is gone out of this world, therfore hee must needs haue a Uicar. But it is certeine that Saint Paule ment too shewe the thing which wee haue seene in other texts: which is, that Saint Peters Apostleship extended not vntoo vs. For he was appoynted peculyarly too the Iewes,