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…

And by the way we have too mark further, that although husbands be froward, and wives untoward too be ruled, yea and utterly uncorrigible: yet is that no release too them, that either of them both should not do their duty. As for example: It may be, that if a husband had a gentle and tractable wife (as I touched afore,) he on his side could bear with her, and there should be a marvellous good liking and life betwixt them. But peradventure one man will say, he hath a drunkard or a glutton, another, that his wife is given too garishness and over much bravery, so as all that she can rap and rend, is too little too trim her and deck her withal: and another, that his wife is an idle housewife, and will do nothing. Well, these things may have some colour before men: yea and (as I said afore) if the matter concerned but the parties themselves: every of them might have their defence at hand, to cast of all yoke. But the husband ⟨image 301⟩must think in that case, I have an ill disposed woman, or a sot, or one that hath neither manners nor good behaviour, nor any care at all of her household: but how do I also behave my self, not only in these worldly affairs, but also towards God? Now when the husband shall have bethought himself well, and examined his own faults throughly: he will hold his peace, & patiently bear with his wives faults, until God give her the grace too amend them. And in the mean while, howsoever the world go, let him not cease too play the good husband in applying himself too his wife, too win her unto God. For he is not set in degree of superiority, but for the benefit and welfare of his yoke fellow. And forasmuch as it is an inviolable law, the same reason also must persuade the women. Insomuch that if a woman have a drunkard, or haunter of Taverns and Tippling houses, or a Gamester, or a Spendall, or an unthrift and a rioter, or a Churl that is never in quiet with her, so that, do what she can too obey him and to please him, she can never have any peace or good will at his hand: let her consider, Alas, it is Gods scourge upon me, for I have not bin as I ought too be in obeying my God, and in submitting my self to his will. For how have I applied my self too serve and honour him? How have I quit my self of the charge that he hath committed too me?

And by the way wee haue too marke further, that although husbandes bee froward, and wyues vntoward too bee ruled, yea and vtterly vncorrigible: yit is that no release too them, that eyther of them both should not doo their duetie. As for example: It may bee, that if a husband had a gentle and tractable wyfe (as I touched afore,) he on his syde could beare with hir, and there should bee a maruelous good lyking and lyfe betwixt them. But peraduenture one man will say, he hath a drunkard or a glutton, another, that his wyfe is giuen too garishnesse and ouer much brauery, so as all that shee can rap and rend, is too little too trim hir and decke hir withall: and another, that his wyfe is an ydle huzwyfe, and will doo nothing. Well, these things may haue some colour before men: yea and (as I sayd afore) if the matter concerned but the parties themselues: euery of them myght haue their defence at hand, to cast of all yoke. But the husband