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 then let wives look well too their duties, and understand that when they contend with their husbands, it is all one as if they would reject God▪ because he hath not created them otherwise than with condition, and too the end they should be subject too their husbands. True it is that they will be so proud and stately, as to say, Should my husband have my head under his girdle? Yea, but the wife that doth so, showeth that she is loth that God should have any authority over her, and would fain put Gods Law under her foot. Howbeit, forasmuch as there is none other shift but women must needs stoop, and understand that the ruin and confusion of all mankind came in on their side, and that through them we be all forlorn, and accu•sed, and banished the kingdom of heaven: when women ⟨p. 280⟩(say I) do understand that all this came of Eve and of the womankind, (as Saint Paul telleth us in another place:) there is none other way for them but too stoop,¹ and too bear patiently the subjection that God hath laid upon them, which is nothing else but a warning too them too keep themselves lowly and mild. But if they lift up themselves against their husbands, and cannot find in their hearts too be ruled by them: it is as it were a setting of their seals too the sin of Adam and Eve, and too the disobedience by them committed, too declare that they be not willing that God should heal that wound again, notwithstanding that it be deadly. Now, when they do so make war against the grace of God: what can come of it but utter confusion? But the wives that are lewd headed, will not think of that: but yet is it registered before God, and they must be fain too yield an account of it too their utter confusion. And therefore let us look that we keep this warning better, too the end that every man may glorify God in his own house.

Now then let wyues looke well too their dewties, and vnderstand that when they contend with their husbandes, it is all one as if they would reiect God▪ bycause he hath not created them otherwyse than with condition, and too the end they should bee subiect too their husbandes. Trew it is that they will bee soo proud and stately, as to say, Should my husband haue my head vnder his girdle? Yea, but the wyfe that dooth so, sheweth that shee is loth that God should haue any authoritie ouer hir, and would fayne put Gods Lawe vnder hir foote. Howbeeit, forasmuch as there is none other shift but women must needes stoope, and vnderstand that the ruine and confuzion of all mankynd came in on their syde, and that through them wee bee all forlorne, and accused, and banished the kingdome of heauen: when women