Thirteen sermons of Master John Calvin, entreating of the free election of God in…Thirteene sermons of Maister Iohn Caluine, entreating of the free election of God in…

Wherefore they that have so great care of their credit and reputation, that they cannot abide to be abased either in one respect or other, et thē have regard to the mean: that is to say, let them prevent that they be not justly blamed, & herein they follow the example of Isaac. For we see that being a stranger in a barbarous Country, where there was nothing but Idolatry: nevertheless so it is that he is yet esteemed for a man fearing God, and that they could not raise up an evil judgement of him. And why so? Because they were convinced of the contrary by his good life and honesty: Let us do the like, & it is certain, that we shall stop many slanders and many reproaches. But yet we have further to note, that then there was such honesty amongst men, that if a man sported familiarly with his wife, it was in marriage. But now a days all is so overflowed, that a man must shut his eyes against the greatest villainies of the world. Let a man go into Courts, ô, it is certain that therein the wickednesses are so unruly, as a man can behold nothing more. And especially if a husband see his wife to be allured with an other mans eye, and that some do abuse her thereby as though she were an harlot, he must set a good countenance upon it: for if he show any sign, that he is grieved therewith, and that he do not laugh at it, as others do, ô, say they, he is a jealous ⟨p. 87⟩fool & a dizzard. Lo how it is in this case: For men are come even to the heap of iniquity, insomuch that they have lost all shamefastness, because they are given to such beastly liberty, that there is no more honesty amongst them. And I would to God this mischief were in no place else but in these courts: But it is even a deluge or flood, which a man shall see in all estates, yea even to the least, such gestures of incontinence, & dissolute wantonness, that it is pity to behold. But let us mark how far off we be from these men which were as it were miserable blind ones having no knowledge of God, having no law written, no nor yet any revelation: & yet notwithstanding they had this honesty, that none ticked nor toyed over familiarly with another mans wife. nor had any gestures whereby any evil might be suspected, as we see here. For trueth (saith he) this it thy wife. And whereupon doth he conclude it? It is because that vice was not accustomed there:

Wherfore they that haue so great care of their credite and reputation, that they cannot abide to be abased either in one respect or other, et thē haue regarde to the meane: that is to say, let them preuent that they be not iustly blamed, & herein they follow the example of Isaack. For we see that being a straunger in a barbarous Countrie, where there was nothing but Idolatrie: neuerthelesse so it is that he is yet estemed for a man fearing God, and that they could not rayse vppe an euill iudgement of him. And why so? Because they were conuinced of the contrary by his good life and honestie: Let vs doe the like, & it is certaine, that we shall stop many slanders and many reproches. But yet we haue further to note, that thē there was such honestie amongst men, that if a man sported familiarly with his wife, it was in mariage. But now a dayes all is so ouerflowed, that a man must shut his eyes against the greatest vilanyes of the worlde. Let a man goe into Courtes, ô, it is certaine that therein the wickednesses are so vnruly, as a man can beholde nothing more. And especially if a husband see his wife to bee allured with an other mans eye, and that some doe abuse her thereby as though she were an harlot, he must set a good countenaunce vpon it: for if hee shewe any signe, that he is greeued therewith, and that hee doe not laugh at it, as others doe, ô, say they, he is a iealous