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…

Again on the other side, Saint Paul allegeth our Lord Jesus Christ too the Husbands also, too the intent they should not abuse the authority that is granted them, nor break the friendship which ought too be maintained in wedlock, by being over churlish as they are wont too be. And the thing that he setteth them down in our Lord Jesus Christ, by demanding how he hath loved his Church: is first and formest that he hath given him self for it, and that he spared not himself when he took mans flesh upon him. In deed all power and dominion were given unto him, so as all knees must needs bow before him,¹ (as Saint Paul him self sayeth) and all of us both great and small must do him homage: but yet notwithstanding, what hath he done for his Church? Listed he too reign in such sort as too exercise tyranny over us? No: but contrarily he humbled him self, and whereas he had sovereign dominion over the Angels of heaven, he became subject too the Law,² and was called a Servant, yea and he was utterly emptied for our sakes. Now when we see that God beareth us so inestimable love in our Lord Jesus Christ,³ that he hath put himself in the person of a husband, and vouchsafed that we should be as a wife unto him: I say, when we see that, should we now which are but worms of the earth and a thing of nothing, refuse too follow the example of the Son of God, who had no regard of his heavenly glory and majesty, too the end too abase himself in such wise for our sakes? So then, it is enough too meeken the hearts both of the one party and of the other, if there be not too beastly lewdness, or rather stark devilishness as well in the husbands as in the wives. For considering that our Lord Jesus Christ did so abase himself, for the love that he bare unto us which are but carrions and nothing worth: and also hath told us that there is nothing better, than for the wives too be subject too their husbands, and the husbands too bear with their wives: if that move them not, it is a sign that they be too beastly high minded, or rather that there is neither wit nor reason in them. For were there but one drop, surely the thing that Saint Paul telleth us, ought too make us amend all things, that might hinder the doing of our duties, as ⟨p. 282⟩well on the one side as on the other. And were this well regarded: