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…

Also let the husbands think upon their duty. For although (to speak properly) they be not subject to their wives, because their wives have no authority over them: yet are they advanced too that honour of superiority with certain conditions: namely that they should not be cruel towards their wives, nor think all things granted and lawful which they lift, but that their authority should rather be a companionship than a kingship. For doubtless the husband in not his wives head, too oppress her, or too make none account of her: but let him understand, that the authority which he hath, doth bind him so much the more too her. For seeing he is the head, he ought too have discretion and skill how too guide his wife and his household. And what is the way too bring that too pass, but too use gentleness and mildness, and too bear discreetly with the frailty which he knoweth too be in his wife,¹ according as Saint Peter exhorteth us. Ye see then that husbands must so require obedience at their wives hands, as they themselves must therewithal do their own duty, and consider that they shall not be borne with before God, if they give their wives cause too lift up themselves so against them. For it is certain that if the husband deal discreetly and uprightly, the wife shall stoop too him, and our Lord will so dispose her hart, as the house shall be quietly guided. But the first and chief point is, that God be called upon. For though a man use all the means that ⟨image 299⟩can be, yet if he trust to his own wit, he shall but loose his time. And why? Because God will laugh his presumption too scorn. But if husbands consider that God holdeth folks hearts in his hand, and boweth them as he listeth, and thereupon do pray him too give them grace and power too win their wives, that they may agree with them, and humble themselves too them: them shall they perceive that God worketh in that behalf. But most commonly it is to be seen, that men deal roughly with their wives, and think too win them by playing the termagants, so as they stick not too bruise their bodies, yea sometimes that the blood follows. These are hangmen and tormentors that will so martyr their wives: and yet notwithstanding they will allege the superiority that God hath given them. That superiority is not devilish, neither serveth it too make men like brute beasts:

Also let the husbandes thinke vppon their duety. For although (to speake properly) they be not subiect to their wyues, bycause their wyues haue no authoritie ouer them: yit are they aduaunced too that honor of superioritie with certeyne conditions: namely that they should not bee cruell towardes their wyues, nor thinke all things graunted and lawfull which they lift, but that their authority should rather bee a companionship than a kingship. For doubtlesse the husband in not his wyues head, too oppresse hir, or too make none account of hir: but let him vnderstand, that the authority which he hath, dooth bynd him so much the more too hir. For seeing he is the head, he ought too haue discretion and skill how too guyde his wyfe and his houshold. And what is the way too bring that too passe, but too vse gentlenesse and myldnesse, and too beare discreetly with the frayltie which he knoweth too bee in his wyfe,