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…

But here by the way we see that it is lawful for the children of God to enter into league & friendship with heathen people, and such as profess nothing but false religion: as long as it is not to join our selves with them, not too draw in the same yoke. For we must mark well, that admonition of Paul, who saith: Take heed that you draw not in the yoke together with unbelievers: For he speaketh this by way of comparison, as if two oxen were coupled together, to draw in one yoke, they must one answer the other: & though they be wild & sometimes straggle, yet being tied together by the necks with the yoke, they must follow the same train. Saint Paul would show us, that we must not be coupled with unbelievers, in such sort, that we be holden with their chains, and that we be so entangled with them, that we consent unto evil, neither in any respect too be tied therein: but only for too nourish peace, too stop outrages and violences, it shall always be lawful for us too enter into league with them. ⟨image 137⟩Let us take heed therefore that we be separated from all their malice, and therein that we have no acquaintance with them, & especially that we condemn their iniquity as much as lieth in us, so as we be not so much as companions and brethren with the wicked, no not complices: as it is said, specially in the 15. Psalm, that we must hare them. But nevertheless, to stop their rage, and to take away all occasion of hurt, and to shut the door against them, to the end they put not in practise their lewd enterprises, we may well meet with their evil by making league with them, too the end they may not flow to all licentiousness of evil, when we shall have put such a bar first before them. Yea we see that God hath showed us this favour and grace, that we should take his name to witness, to the end we might be assured either of other: whereby he showeth, how acceptable a thing Concord amongst men is unto him, & in what detestation he hath all quarrels, wars, wrongs, hurts, outrages and oppressions, which men shall do each unto other. For this is no small matter, that God giveth his own name so to be used, and as it were, pawneth it. And when a Prince must give some of his children for hostage, he will do it with great difficulty and much a doe:

But here by the way wee see that it is lawfull for the childrē of God to enter into league & friendship with heathen people, and such as professe nothing but false religion: as long as it is not to ioine our selues with them, not too drawe in the same yoke. For we must marke well, that admonitiō of Paule, who saith: Take heede that you drawe not in the yoke togither with vnbeleeuers: For he speaketh this by way of comparison, as if two oxen were coupled togither, to drawe in one yoke, they must one answere the other: & though they be wilde & sometimes straggle, yet beeing tyed together by the necks with the yoke, they must followe the same traine. Sainct Paule would shewe vs, that wee must not bee coupled with vnbeleeuers, in such sorte, that wee bee holden with their chaines, and that wee bee so entanged with them, that wee consente vnto euill, neither in any respect too bee tyed therein: but onely for too nourishe peace, too stoppe outrages and violences, it shal alwayes be lawful for vs too enter into league with them.