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…

The .xli. Sermon, which is the ninth upon the fifth Chapter.

The .xli. Sermon, which is the nyenth vppon the fifth Chapter.

28. Men ought so too love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife, loveth himself. 29. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but (rather) he nourisheth and cherisheth it, as the Lord also doth the Church. 30. For we be members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones,

28. Men ought so too loue their vvyues as their ovvne bodyes. He that loueth his vvyfe, loueth himselfe. 29. For no man euer yit hated his ovvne fleshe, but (rather) he nurrisheth and cherisheth it, as the Lord also dooth the Churche. 30. For vvee bee members of his body, of his fleshe, and of his bones,

Seeing that the holy scripture exhorteth us to be kind hearted, meek, and patient one too another, and setteth us down the example of God, who is reconciled too us in the person of his Son our Lord Jesus Christ, and showeth us therewithal that Jesus Christ spared not himself, but showed the love that he bare us, and the care that he had of our salvation, in that he gave himself too so hard and bitter a death: it must needs be that our hearts are harder than steel, if they be not meekened by it. And yet notwithstanding, all these exhortations cannot suffice us, by reason of our wilfulness and corruption. God therefore, too put us too the greater shame, sendeth us back too the order of nature: as if it were said, that although we had never heard any word of Gods mouth, nor never had had any teaching by holy Scripture: yet ought every of us too enter into himself, and too consider his own state, for that will be enough too hold us convicted, without any other witness. And that could the heathen men tell us full well: who having neither belief in God, nor any Religion, could notwithstanding well skill too say, that the wild beasts make not war one against another. For one Woolf eateth not another: the Bears and Lyons that live abroad in the wild woods, have a certain thing that holdeth them in order, so as they hurt not one another. And yet have they no discretion as is among men: but they have as it were a natural oving which driveth them too love one another, so as every of them