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 there is also another bond,¹ which doubleth still the subjection of the wife: for we know that she was beguiled. Women therefore must remember, that in being subject too their husbands, they receive the hire of Eves sin: and they must consider, that if marriage had continued sound and uncorrupt, there had bin nothing but joy both for man and wife. For know that things were blessed of God, and there was not any thing which should not have turned too gladness and felicity. But now although Gods blessings shine forth every where both above and beneath: yet are there always tokens of cursing imprinted in them, so as we cannot behold neither heaven nor earth, nor any other creature, but we may partly perceive that God is become a stranger too us, because our father Adam fell from that noble and excellent state, whereunto he was created afore. This is too be seen every where in all things, and specially in marriage. For women ought too feel the fruit of their sins: and men feel enough of it for their part. For surely if Eve and Adam had continued in the righteousness that God had given them, the whole state of this earthly life had bin as a Paradise, and marriage had bin so beautified, that man and wife being matched together, should have lived in such accord, as we see the Angels of heaven do, among whom there is nothing but peace & brotherly love, and even so had it bin (with us.) Therefore as now when a man hath a curst and shrewd wife, whom he cannot wield by any means: he must consider with him self, Lo here the fruits of original sin, and of the corruption that is in my self. And the wife also on her side must think, good reason it is that I should receive the payment that cometh of my disobedience towards God, for that I held not my self in his awe. Thus much concerning the word subjection, which is set down here.

But there is also another bond,¹ which dubbleth still the subiection of the wyfe: for wee knowe that shee was beguyled. Women therfore must remember, that in being subiect too their husbands, they receyue the hyre of Eues sin: and they must consider, that if mariage had continued sound and vncorrupt, there had bin nothing but ioy both for man and wyfe. For knowe that things were blissed of God, and there was not any thing which shoulde not haue turned too gladnesse and felicitie. But now although Gods blissings shyne foorth euery where bothe aboue and beneathe: yit are there alwayes tokens of cursing imprinted in them, so as wee cannot behold nother heauen nor earth, nor any other creature, but wee may partly perceyue that God is become a straunger too vs, bycause our father Adam fell from that noble and excellent state, wheruntoo he was created afore. This is too bee seene euery where in all things, and specially in mariage. For women ought too feele the frute of their sinnes: and men feele ynough of it for their parte. For surely if Eue and Adam had continued in the ryghtuousnesse that God had giuen them, the whole state of this earthly lyfe had bin as a Paradise, and mariage had bin so beautifyed, that man and wyfe being matched toogither, should haue liued in such accord, as wee see the Angels of heauen doo, among whom there is nothing but peace & brotherly loue, and euē so had it bin (with vs.) Therfore as now when a man hath a curst and shreud wyfe, whom he cannot weeld by any meanes: he must consider with him self, Lo heere the frutes of original sin, and of the corruption that is in my self. And the wyfe also on hir side must think, good reason it is that I should receyue the payment that commeth of my disobedience towards God, for that I hild not my self in his awe. Thus much concerning the woord subiection, which is set downe heere.