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…

Concerning the first point, here Isaac is reproved, of his inconsideration and folly. For that as much as was in him, he laid his wife open to be defiled. And why so? We have seen before that the husband ought to be as a veil or coverture to his wife. When a woman shall be married, and that her husband shall live with her doing his duty, this is to the end, she may be there as it were in safeguard, and that none come to deceive nor defile her. Now therefore Isaac, for the discharging of his duty, ought to have been as a veil or coverture to his wife: that is to say, under the name of a husband and of marriage: he ought to have let that none should have attempted to withdraw her, whether it were to have her to wife, or after any other manner: For marriage is as a safeguard, (as we have said) and God would have it honoured in all ages. And although adulterers would abandon it, as Swine and Asses: yet notwithstanding they have always had remorse in it: and evermore even amongst he Paynims, adulterers went not unpunished. It is known that if ever any thing in this world was privileged it was marriage: yea, & thefts & other crimes ought a great deal rather to be borne with, then such enormities: to wit, when the covenant & company ⟨p. 91⟩which God hath dedicated in his name, to the end it should be holy, as it were separated from profanation, is violated.

Concerning the first pointe, heere Isaack is reproued, of his inconsideration and follie. For that asmuch as was in him, hee layde his wife open to be defyled. And why so? Wee haue seene beefore that the husband ought to be as a vayle or couerture to his wife. When a woman shal be maryed, and that her husband shall liue with her doeing his duetie, this is to the end, shee may be there as it were in sauegarde, and that none come to deceaue nor defile her. Now therfore Isaack, for the discharging of his dutie, ought to haue beene as a vaile or couerture to his wife: that is to say, vnder the name of a husband and of mariage: he ought to haue let that none should haue attempted to withdrawe her, whether it were to haue her to wife, or after any other manner: For mariage is as a sauegarde, (as wee haue saide) and God woulde haue it honoured in all ages. And although adulterers woulde abandon it, as Swine and Asses: yet notwithstanding they haue alwayes had remorse in it: and euermore euen amongst he Panims, adulterers went not vnpunished. It is knowē that if euer any thing in this world was priuiledged it was mariage: yea, & thefts & other crimes ought a great deale rather to bee borne with, then such enormities: to wit, when the couenant & cōpany