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…

The world seeth how ill this lesson is put in ure: but we must consider, that the root of the mischief is, that in marriage few or none have an eye unto God. In deed Gods name shall run roundly enough, and even the wickeddest could find in their harts that he should bliss them & make them to prosper: but that in their marrying they put themselves into his hand and guiding, and call upon him unfeignedly: that is no point of their meaning. Some seek wealth and gain, and othersome pleasure and voluptuousness. In like case is it with the women. And no marvel though the end be out of all order, when the beginning was so out of square. For God must needs be revenged on his part, when he is so lightly esteemed and despised. Therefore let us learn too mark well this lesson of Saint Pauls, that like as marriage was ordained of God: so they that are too enter into it, must betake themselves wholly unto him, and make him their refuge, knowing that it is he which bindeth the man and the wife the one too the other, and which knitteth them together, and therefore that either of them look too their own duty.

The world seeth how ill this lesson is put in vre: but wee must consider, that the roote of the mischeef is, that in mariage fewe or none haue an eye vntoo God. In deede Gods name shall runne roundly ynough, and euen the wickeddest could fynd in their harts that he should blisse them & make them to prosper: but that in their marying they put themselues intoo his hand and guyding, and call vppon him vnfeynedly: that is no poynt of their meaning. Some seeke welth and gayne, and othersome pleasure and voluptuousnesse. In lyke cace is it with the women. And no maruell though the ende bee out of all order, when the beginning was so out of square. For God must needs bee reuenged on his part, when he is so lyghtly esteemed and despyzed. Therfore let vs learne too mark well this lesson of Saint Paules, that lyke as mariage was ordeyned of God: so they that are too enter intoo it, must betake themselues wholy vntoo him, and make him their refuge, knowing that it is he which byndeth the man and the wyfe the one too the other, and which knitteth them toogither, and therfore that eyther of them looke too their owne dewtie.

Whereas he sayeth concerning wives, that they owe subjection too their husbands: we have too mark, that this subjection is double. For man was already the head of the woman even before the sin and fall of Eve and Adam.