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 Saint Paul in saying, As too the Lord, meaneth not too ⟨image 298⟩make men equal with God, or with our Lord Jesus Christ: for that were too great an oversight: but he showeth that the fear and reverence which a woman ought too bear unto God, and the subjection which she oweth too her husband, are two things that cannot be put asunder: like as when he exhorted us erst too link together in mutual subjection:¹ he added this saying, in the fear of God. And why? For if we pretend too honour God, and to obey him, and in the mean while reject and despise our neighbours, so as every of us is wedded too him self, and will needs be exempted from all law and rule: it is too gross hypocrisy. Also if a wife pretend never so great devotion, and seem too be throughly seasoned with the fear of God, and in the mean while be a fiend, so as there is nothing but scolding and brawling, and wrangling, and such other things with her at home in her own house: therein she shows her self not too have one spark of the fear of God, forasmuch as she doth so hold scorn of her husband who is her head, and as it were Gods lieutenant in that behalf. Therefore let us mark that Saint Paul hath not set down this similitude too match husbands (who are mortal creatures, yea & very worms of the earth) in equal degree with Jesus Christ: but too show briefly, that forasmuch as our Lord Jesus hath authority over marriage, men must have an eye unto him, and every person submit himself patiently, because no man can refuse his part, without despising of him which will have wedlock maintained with mutual duty, so as the man love his wife, and the wife be subject too her husband. That is the pith of the matter which we have too remember upon this strain.

Now Saint Paule in saying, As too the Lord, meaneth not too ⟨image 298⟩make men equall with God, or with our Lord Iesus Christ: for that were too greate an ouersyght: but he sheweth that the feare and reuerence which a woman ought too beare vntoo God, and the subiection which shee oweth too hir husband, are twoo things that cannot bee put asunder: lyke as when he exhorted vs erst too link toogither in mutuall subiection:¹