Sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the.X.Commandments of the Law, given of GodSermons of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the.X.Commandementes of the Lawe, geuen of God

let them be as mirrors & spectacles to show good example, let them hold their subjects in such good awe, & rule them in such order, that the name of God be blessed, & the mouth of all evil speakers closed up & stopped. Lo one point for them. Let fathers & mothers have the care of well instructing their children, let them study to make them to know God for their only father: and touching their men servants and maids, let them so serve themselves with them, that God have always the principal place. Let them not do, as accustomablie men are wont, who, so they be served to their own profit and contentation, care not if God be forgotten. But let masters know that God must bear rule over them: as also over those, which are under their subjection. And this is spoken and noted touching them which are in authority. Now on our part let us consider, that when we have Magistrates set over us, if we be rebellious, if we presume to arm our selves against the rule of government, if we seek to subvert the order which God hath set, that we commit not this outrage against men only, but that we assail & bid battle unto God. And what can we win by warring with him? Can we he the stronger in this conflict? No: but he will revenge himself without striking any blow, so that we shall be astonished to behold how he shall maintain that which by his own mouth he hath ordained, even by a power admirable and wonderful. Thus much ⟨p. 52⟩touching the first point. And again, let children also consider and take heed they be not over arrogant and presumptuous, they be not headstrong & given to their lusts and appetites: but that they order themselves quietly to the obedience of their fathers, knowing that they are in combat against God, when they cannot subject themselves under the yoke which God putteth upon them. Let men servants and maids know, that if they refuse to be subject unto men whom they serve, that God is thereby offended, and that they in the end shall be found guilty of so great a fault as this, that they would not be governed by his hand. Now in the mean time let us note, that God must be obeyed first of all, that the people so obey their princes and magistrates, that this derogate & take away nothing from the right which God reserveth unto himself, as he is also worthy thereof.

let them bee as mirrours & spectacles to shew good example, let them hold their subiectes in such good awe, & rule them in such order, that the name of God be blessed, & the mouth of all euill speakers closed vp & stopped. Loe one point for them. Let fathers & mothers haue the care of well instructing their children, let them studie to make them to knowe God for their onelie father: and touching their men seruantes and maides, let them so serue themselues with them, that God haue alwayes the principall place. Let them not doe, as accustomablie men are woont, who, so they be serued to their owne profite and contentation, care not if God be forgotten. But let maisters knowe that God must beare rule ouer them: as also ouer those, which are vnder their subiection. And this is spoken and noted touching them which are in authoritie. Now on our part let vs consider, that when we haue Magistrates set ouer vs, if we be rebellious, if we presume to arme our selues against the rule of gouernment, if we seeke to subuert the order which God hath set, that wee commit not this outrage against men onelie, but that we assaile & bidde battell vnto God. And what can we winne by warring with him? Can we he the stronger in this conflict? No: but he will reuenge himselfe without striking any blowe, so that we shalbe astonnished to beholde how he shall mainteine that which by his owne mouth he hath ordeined, euen by a power admirable and wonderfull. Thus much